Let Beth Macy Inspire You With What She Has Overcome to Not Just Survive...But Thrive!

Beth Macy has been working with me virtually for just about a year now. When she first called me and explained that she was a personal trainer herself but wanted sessions from me, I was flattered because I realized that must mean I know things she wanted to learn, too! I wanted to make sure I could bring value to her in spite of all she already knows about the human body. When she explained her health history and that she has some chronic injuries that she had come a long way with but still wanted to get even stronger, I understood her inquiry and couldn't wait to get to work.

Beth has been a fabulous client for me to work with because she is self-motivated and is clear on what she wants to accomplish out of her personal training sessions. She enjoys taking a deeper dive into the anatomy and physiology of each movement and it's purpose, and I know she passes along much of what she knows to the clients and friends who work with her for their own fitness. I am proud of what Beth has accomplished so far and I know the future is even brighter! Let's get into the interview!

Let's Get into the Interview with Beth!

What were your first experiences in sports, fitness or enjoying physical activity? When did you become interested in “working out? Why?

As a kid, my mother was always dragging us out to walk, bike ride or play tennis. I took gym as a requirement until senior year in high school and was in intramural volleyball in high school but did nothing in college (except taking a remedial swim class since you had to pass to graduate). When I was in the Navy they had us go through a boot camp, but we weren’t too athletic after that.

When I taught at the Naval Academy Prep school, one of my fellow teachers convinced me to run a race. By then I was smoking 3 packs a day, so I ran it and threw up. But I liked running. When I worked for Lotus, my boss was a runner and she would tell us all to take a break and take us running from Cambridge to the ice cream shop over by Berklee College.

I stopped smoking and took up running more seriously. I ran my first 10k (the Bonnie Bell in Boston and ran many more) My boss took us to the Saucony store for my first real pair of running shoes and I still run in Saucony shoes!

When I was in my 40’s I decided I had to do more to keep fit. And this woman was doing an outside bootcamp so I joined that and then continued on working out in her gym. My startup went under and this woman said I’d make a great personal trainer. Since I was burnt out from high tech, I studied to become an ACE certified personal trainer for 3 months and then taught an offshoot of her camp that Spring and Summer while going to work for another startup. My mother used to say, the more you do, the more you can do. I found that I was healthier and had more stamina at work. I was hooked!

How consistent were you with your workouts prior to hiring a Home Bodies trainer?

I was very consistent until I got hit in the bike lane by a car while riding in Florida in 2015. Then I had to start from scratch. I couldn’t walk well and was rather spastic from cervical spine damage.

Have you used other trainers in the past? If so, how does your trainer compare?

I have used trainers in the past. Gina is the best trainer I have ever had. My first trainer was an old school, no pain, no gain type. Then I cycled through a few at a franchise gym. The last woman I had there as a trainer was only a few years out of school but was head and shoulders above the rest and on her way to be a superstar trainer when she had to leave and go into the family business. My next trainer was local but was not safe in what she wanted me to do, despite me telling her what I could and could not do. I went without one for a year and then found one that had a move move class for the older folks so I joined that just to do something twice a week. But it wasn’t at all challenging.

Beth's Navy days.

Have you used other trainers in the past? If so, how does your trainer compare?

If you are interested in setting up your own Virtual Personal Trainer, visit our Quote page.

What led you to choose Home Bodies for personal training?

I Googled looking for a personal trainer. Gina of Home Bodies had an excellent background and I liked her approach. So I decided to reach out and see if she was taking on any new clients. Thankfully she was.

Was working with a Home Bodies trainer what you expected? If so, what did you expect from a trainer? If not, what was different about us?

Home Bodies exceeds my expectations. Gina is so knowledgeable about what exercises affect which muscles and muscle groups. She goes beyond the standard exercises to create a truly personalized program that is extremely effective in a short period of time.

I like that we get things done but I also learn about why I am doing a certain exercise (benefits, muscles, the way the skeleton moves). The sessions start and end on time and cover an amazing amount. My trainer (Gina) is very professional but also warm and caring. She can see over Zoom when my form is just a smidgeon off and help me make a correction to get the most out of an exercise.

What were your goals when you started? Have they changed at all? What is your exercise program your trainer designed for you like? What do you like about it?

My goals are the same, but I’m more adherent to them than I have been in the past. The exercises I do through Home Bodies are fun, interesting, challenging and complex. They have helped me keep my hard earned abilities that I had to grow after the accident and have helped me work my stabilizing muscles as well as the larger muscle groups. My balance, my breathing, my running, are all improved.

Beth relishes her long runs now, something she was too injured to do years back.

What good results have you noticed with following our program?
My neck doesn’t hurt after and my running is stronger and faster.

Do you have any words of wisdom for someone who is thinking about using a trainer but hasn’t made the commitment yet?
Not all trainers are created equal. Do your research. And if it’s not a fit, try another one. Exercise should not hurt you. There’s the good ache of having a solid work out and then there’s pain. There’s a big difference between the two.

More About Beth

I live on Plum Island, Newbury, MA. I grew up poor in New Bedford, MA. Was stationed in RI and Wales, UK in the military. I worked at Apple computer and lived in California. I’ve worked in DC (Washington Post) and FL (Zumba). I’m retired from high tech and now an artist (www.plumislandpainter.com) and an author (www.moscownightsseries.com and www.moscownightsreturn.com ) I am a stained glass artist. I love doing home construction projects (built my friends in SC a couple of benches and a flower box when I visited them in Apr). I am a fine artist (oil on canvas) and also like to do wood sculpting. And I write every day and am on novel #5 of the Moscow Nights Series.