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.
The post Client Spotlight: Mary DiRienzo and Finding Resiliency appeared first on Prototype Training Systems.
Previous Blogs
Greg is an amazing part of our community — consistent, encouraging, and ready to get after it. He truly represents what the PTS community is all about. Prototype of the Month is well deserved! Below, he answers a few questions about his time at PTS. Share your experience at Prototype—favorite memories, moments, or stories or what’s your favorite part/what do you look forward to? I definitely look forward to that feeling of clarity after finishing up a workout. I feel ready to tackle the rest of the day. Sometimes I have trouble getting mentally ready for a tough looking metcon, but I always feel better afterwards. Who at Prototype has made the biggest impact on you and why? All the coaches and members are great, I look forward to seeing everyone when I am there, but the person who has made the biggest impact is Bridget Owens. She is my motivation and always pushes me to keep going and push myself to get better. What are your hobbies and activities outside the gym? I love cycling and mountain biking, the workouts at prototype have definitely helped improve my fitness so that I can do better on the bike even though I don’t get out as often as I would like. Also spending time with my family, grilling and BBQing when the weather is nice and getting to the beach in the summer. How has Prototype helped you or solved a problem for you? Prototype has helped enormously with my level of anxiety, I was really struggling when we first moved into town, the community and workouts at Prototype have been a life saver for my mental health. What are your current fitness goals? I want to get better at gymnastics, maybe get some toes to the bar. Favorite Quote Two Quotes: “Bone on bone, stack it” -Jon “Activate the lower half” -Brian
Prototype Training Systems at Westborough High School Winter Sports Meeting
Devon is a fantastic part of our community — always kind, coachable, easy-going, and consistently putting in the work. She shows up, supports others, and truly represents what PTS is all about. Prototype of the Month is well deserved! Below, she answers a few questions about her time at PTS. 1.) Share your experience at Prototype After what felt like an entire year of sitting during grad school, I knew I wanted to be more active. I came back to Prototype, and it was the best decision. I’ve made so many new friends here who make every class fun (no matter how tough the workout is) but my favorite moment has to be meeting my boyfriend Ed! 2.) What is your favorite part about being at Prototype? I used to do at-home workouts and always felt like something was missing. When I came to Prototype, it felt like I finally found that missing piece, the community! It truly makes a huge impact. Everyone here genuinely wants the best for you. 3.) What are your hobbies and activities? If I’m outside, I love playing pickleball, skiing, and going for walks. And if I'm inside I enjoy crocheting, reading, or baking! 4.) How has Prototype helped you or solved a problem for you? Prototype has shown me that if you put your mind to something, you can truly do hard things. I also know I will always feel better after going to the gym. Sometimes the hardest part is just getting in the car, but I never regret it once I’m there. 5.) What are you continuing fitness goals to this point? To get some form of movement everyday and to one day get a pull up. 6.) Favorite Quote “Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, dreams are forever.” -Walt Disney
Climb to New Heights
Prototype Training Systems is more than a gym - it is a lifestyle. Join us today!
