Sunday, March, 15, 2015 - 6:06:43 AM
Photo by Gord Bowes
Fitness coach Jeremy White spots Kim Petrie during one of her five weekly workouts at John Savitis Lean & Fit as she increases her fitness to stave off the effects of Parkinson’s.
By Gord Bowes, News staff
Three years after her Parkinson’s diagnosis, under a lot of stress from employment upheaval and other factors, Kim Petrie’s condition had worsened and her doctor increased her Parkinson’s medication.
“I went home and thought, what am I going to do?” the east Mountain resident recalls.
Petrie, 49, knew exercise was very important after a Parkinson’s diagnosis, and the doctor would often ask her what she was doing, which she admits was nothing.
She watched a documentary about Kayla Montgomery, a teen with multiple sclerosis who decided to train to become a top high school runner.
After seeing that, Petrie was inspired to get into good physical condition. She asked an old friend, fitness guru John Savitis, to help develop a program to dive into rather than start with the standard bootcamp.
He assigned her fitness coach Jeremy White.
“I needed somebody who was going to commit to me and push me, because I had not been doing any type of exercise in years,” says Petrie.
White has done that. He developed what he says it is an “intense” program.
“We push the limits every time she is here,” says White.
Petrie is now training at John Savitis Lean & Fit for a half-hour five days a week plus spending time on the treadmill every night at home.
It started in January. She says she has noticed results already.
In the first two months, she lost 12 pounds of fat while maintaining her muscle mass. Not an easy task, but it shows what can be done if dedicated.
“I went home and thought, what am I going to do?” the east Mountain resident recalls.
Petrie, 49, knew exercise was very important after a Parkinson’s diagnosis, and the doctor would often ask her what she was doing, which she admits was nothing.
She watched a documentary about Kayla Montgomery, a teen with multiple sclerosis who decided to train to become a top high school runner.
After seeing that, Petrie was inspired to get into good physical condition. She asked an old friend, fitness guru John Savitis, to help develop a program to dive into rather than start with the standard bootcamp.
He assigned her fitness coach Jeremy White.
“I needed somebody who was going to commit to me and push me, because I had not been doing any type of exercise in years,” says Petrie.
White has done that. He developed what he says it is an “intense” program.
“We push the limits every time she is here,” says White.
Petrie is now training at John Savitis Lean & Fit for a half-hour five days a week plus spending time on the treadmill every night at home.
It started in January. She says she has noticed results already.
In the first two months, she lost 12 pounds of fat while maintaining her muscle mass. Not an easy task, but it shows what can be done if dedicated.
More importantly, Petrie says, it is helping in her battle with Parkinson’s. The tremors have not stopped, but her pace has picked up when walking and she no longer drags her left foot, a habit she developed because her left side has been much weaker since Parkinson’s set in.
The focus on hand-eye co-ordination and isometrics, with resistance training and boxing, has helped train her brain and muscles.
And the bouts of depression come with Parkinson’s have become less severe, says Petrie.
“My overall mood has improved.”
White admits he knew nothing about Parkinson’s before meeting Petrie, but from what he has researched and seen firsthand, he believes doctors should push their patients to get to the gym as soon as possible after a diagnosis.
“You need to have somebody push you to the limit beyond where you think the barrier is,” he says.
The focus on hand-eye co-ordination and isometrics, with resistance training and boxing, has helped train her brain and muscles.
And the bouts of depression come with Parkinson’s have become less severe, says Petrie.
“My overall mood has improved.”
White admits he knew nothing about Parkinson’s before meeting Petrie, but from what he has researched and seen firsthand, he believes doctors should push their patients to get to the gym as soon as possible after a diagnosis.
“You need to have somebody push you to the limit beyond where you think the barrier is,” he says.
http://health.einnews.com/article/254888738/24GbiQhyOhwnH2FsPetrie and White will discuss her program and results at her annual fundraiser. The third Let’s Shake fundraiser for Parkinson’s research is April 17 at Michelangelo Banquet Centre, 1555 Upper Ottawa St. For tickets and other information, see lets-shake.com
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