Client Spotlight: Mary DiRienzo and Finding Resiliency
Mike Collette • January 14, 2021
By: Leah Hantman (Prototype Coach)
Many of us have been in situations where we lose our drive for self-preservation. Often our loved ones are what keeps us going. This is a story of family, fitness and finding hope in unlikely places.
My client Mary, is the epitome of resilience. You see, this woman has been through so much this past year. On days when it would be easier to stay in bed, she shows up with a smile and puts in the work.
Her son Mark (one of our amazing CrossFit
members at Prototype
) surprised her with personal training sessions
much to her dismay. Upon arriving Mary was quiet and nervous. After an accident that resulted in a broken hand and foot, she noted feeling helpless and lost. She recounted no longer recognizing herself and told me about the past year with a heavy heart.
Mary told me how much she disliked exercise and how tired she was of dealing with her injuries. Upon hearing this I asked her what her main motivation was for getting stronger? She smiled and said, “My son Mark. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for him.”
Our first session together was tough on Mary. There were barbells
dropping from the CrossFit class
and we were trying out all sorts of new moves. Sitting down and standing up was next to impossible. I could tell that she was hard on herself and lacked a bit of confidence. This became her goal. To be able to move from sitting to standing without the use of her hands.
That first day we started with small sets, low reps and movements that were in her comfort zone. The second session she came back a little more confident than before. By focusing on being in the moment she was able to leave the stress of the world behind and focus on getting strong.
We all know how hard it is to focus when the rest of our world feels like it’s a mess. Mary showed up, she was present, she worked hard, often telling me fun stories about her family. The more she talked about her family, the more energy she had. The more energy she had, the harder she tried in her personal training
sessions. Mary’s foot has healed and her hand is still in a cast. She didn’t let her injuries stop her.
Fast forward 4 months. Mary is getting out of a chair without the use of her hands. In fact, she’s getting off the floor pretty with ease too. She’s climbing stairs every day and is now performing weighted squats in sets of 20 with the 24 lb vest. She’s doing agility work and even did a squat to a small jump this past week. The coolest thing ever? She’s doing modified CrossFit
workouts so that one day she can do a workout with her son Mark.
Quite
frankly
, she is kicking some major butt.
” I am so touched by Leah’s words. She is certainly right when she says I have never liked exercising. I have some medical issues , and I have come to realize that I used them as a reason not to exercise. In August, I took a very bad fall. I’m still in the process of recovering. My son Mark is a member at the gym. As a surprise, Mark and his wife Christina gave me 12 sessions with Leah. She is a fantastic trainer. Leah has motivated me as never before. She is gentle, informative, but makes me work hard. I must admit, Leah pushes me but is very aware of my limits. At the sessions when she gives me that “extra” push, I’m so grateful for those mandatory masks. She can’t see me cussing :-). For Christmas Mark, Christina and my son Matthew gave me 12 more sessions with Leah. I was thrilled. Now instead of hating exercise, I truly enjoy my time with Leah. She has given me confidence in myself, and pride in the progress I have made. A very special thank you to Leah and to my family for all of their support”– Mary DiRienzo
We can learn a lot from Mary.
1. Giving up is easy, showing up takes courage.
2. Family is everything.
3. Optimism wins out every time.
4. Strength is both an inside and an outside job.
5. Exercise makes everything better.
6. Never give up on yourself.
7. Never use the words “I Can’t”. Instead, shift your perspective to ” I’m not there yet but I will be.”
8. The world can be a scary place. Lean on your support and find things that give you energy and make you happy.
9. You are capable of overcoming anything you put your mind to!
10. Having a sense of humor is a must in any struggle!
Mary, we are so lucky to have you in our Prototype Family! We are proud of your resilience and we look forward to seeing you progress in 2021.
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