Barbara says, “I come in and laugh! It’s a great workout, and always very short for me.”
“A lot of people come in and complain and moan and groan, says Barbara Richmon. “I come in and laugh! It’s a great workout, and always very short for me.” Those good spirits are in spite of numerous problems that could have easily sidelined Barbara. Up until the age of 66, she had no health problems. She always maintained a good weight, worked out regularly, and kept active. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Luckily, they caught it early and she didn’t need chemotherapy or radiation, but her health problems started shortly after that. She got neuropathy in her feet, which has since gone up to her calves, causing pain when standing or walking. Severe arthritis in her big toes causes pain in her feet. Within three years she had three back surgeries, then carpal tunnel surgery, and more knee problems. “You lose your strength and endurance after surgeries,” Barbara says. “And the neuropathy affects your balance. It puts you at risk for tripping and falling. That was the biggest thing.”
Barbara joined The Perfect Workout because it was close to their home, she wanted to do weight training to get her strength back, and she liked the idea of having someone with her all the time. Prior to this, she and her husband, Joe, had a personal trainer who came to their house for many years. He came once every six to eight weeks and gave them instruction. She also belonged to a local gym, but with all the problems with her joints, wasn’t able to do the machines on her own anymore. Working with the trainers at the Oakland studio has been great. Her current trainer is Jessica, and Barbara says, “She’s fabulous! Very focused, and really follows the training protocol. She’s very skilled, knows the theories behind the slow-motion strength training, and is pleasant to work with. I hope to be with her for a long time.”
In fact, Barbara was so taken with Jessica that she convinced Joe to do a workout with her. He initially dismissed the idea, but after trying it for himself, he signed up, too. Barbara acknowledges that she has a long way to go on building strength, but considering where she’s been, she’s happy with the results so far. When she started at The Perfect Workout almost two years ago, she couldn’t go up the stairs without holding on. Now her goal is to run up and down the stairs! Her strength, balance, and posture have all improved, and she’s aiming to hit 200 pounds on the leg press this year, up from 162 currently. It will help with all the upcoming trips she and Joe have planned. They’ll be in Florida in March with their daughter and her family, Nice, France, in June with their son and his family, and Lake George in upstate New York in August with everyone. Barbara’s philosophy is “If you do a little bit every day, and don’t give up, you can accomplish anything. It takes discipline. I truly love The Perfect Workout.”
The Perfect Workout Oakland/Piedmont
3645 Grand Ave #305,
Oakland, CA 94610, United States
+1 510-254-3763
