When Peg Burgess was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2022, her treatment plan included an eight-hour surgery and multiple rounds of chemotherapy treatment. After several months of treatment, her body was at its weakest.

“When I got out of the hospital after each round of chemo, I couldn’t walk more than five steps,” Burgess, 70, recalls. “I wanted to do something to feel strong, and I decided I wasn’t going to let cancer run my life.”

In October 2024 — after hearing she was in remission and would likely be for at least 15 more months — she decided it was time to rebuild her strength, so she signed up for an Intro to Dynamic Personal Training session at Life Time MetroWest-Boston in Framingham, Mass. It’s made all the difference. Exercise has helped Burgess not only regain strength and continue to fight her disease, but it’s also lead her to a close friendship that’s a vital part of her support system.

Determination Makes the Difference

Burgess’s determination stood out to Ronald Drago, Dynamic Personal Trainer at Life Time MetroWest-Boston, who met Burgess in that introductory session. “Right off the bat, I noticed that even though she was unfamiliar with weight training, she was a high-effort performer,” he says. “She puts 100 percent into every single rep and set. I’ve never worked with someone who works quite as hard as Peg — and I’ve been doing this for over two decades.”

“Before my diagnosis, I had previously worked with a number of personal trainers, but I would go for a month and then stop,” Burgess explains. “But with Ron, I immediately felt comfortable during that first session. It had been so long since I last worked out, just moving my body felt amazing, and it got better every time.”

Burgess’s motivation was inspiring for Drago from the get-go, but as they worked together and he learned more about what she was dealing with, it became even more extraordinary. When her cancer returned in February 2025 and she had to begin treatment again, their partnership became even stronger.

“I decided to stay with it because it made such a difference in my life,” she says. “Every day I come into the club, and I can do something I couldn’t before on the workout floor. And over time, even everyday activities are just easier for me.”

Strength Found in Showing Up

Drago and Burgess continued training together three to four times a week. While their original goal was to build Burgess’s resilience to withstand treatment, she also discovered a love of strength training and developed a wonderful friendship with Drago.

“I get disappointed if I’m not sore after a workout,” she laughs. “It’s not work for me, it’s a delight. Ron and I have become very good friends. We have a lot of fun.”

Although there are plenty of times when Burgess doesn’t feel great, she never gives up. Immediately following an infusion is when patients often feel their sickest, and there are times when she can’t make it to the club. So Drago goes to her house, and they continue to work together until she feels strong enough to come back to Life Time.

“Peg has a unique quality in that she pushes every rep to the max,” says Drago. “Even if the volume needs to be adjusted, the level of intensity is always high, even when she’s not feeling great.”

As Burgess has continued with cancer treatment, she’s become a bright light for other members at Life Time MetroWest-Boston who are awestruck at her journey and success. “I’ve talked to other members who have undergone cancer treatment, and they’re in disbelief that Peg is able to work out four to five days a week while going through it,” Drago says.

Burgess admits that she’s not out of the woods yet, but the plan to strengthen her body is working — and so is her treatment. While there’s no end-date set for her infusions, she’s had positive visits with her doctors who are encouraged with her progress; they see a path to reducing the treatment load in the future.

She’s also feeling less sick after each chemo session and seeing muscle in places that she never has before. “You can definitely see how Peg’s muscle mass has increased, and every time she finds a new muscle, she’ll show it to you,” Drago laughs. “I was watching her train one day and I said to myself, She doesn’t appear to be someone who’s getting sicker. The good days outweigh the bad now.”

The Force of Friendship

Drago and Burgess’s friendship is clear to anyone who sees them training together, but especially to Mark Airoldi, personal training leader at Life Time MetroWest-Boston.

“Ron is a hard-nosed ex-Marine, and to see the degree of love and care he has for Peg is inspiring,” says Airoldi. “I’ve seen Ron transform as a person since they met. The fact that he has shown that degree of care has inspired our entire team. It puts into perspective what we do and why we do it. To say it’s been powerful wouldn’t do it justice.”

Burgess can attest. “Working with Ron and strength training has made such a difference in my life. I’ll never do strength training without Ron. He’s my absolute favorite, and I adore him. I feel like he’s saving my life.”

The adoration is mutual. “I feel that I’ve learned as much from Peg as she’s learned from me,” Ron says. “It’s helped me become a better trainer. We laugh a lot. We try to make the best out of the situation. I have someone who I feel will be in my life as long as we can.”

Lindsay Guentzel was in the best shape of her life in early 2023. After spending her teens and 20s dealing with serious ups and downs in her self-confidence and motivation, Guentzel had finally found a sustainable rhythm with her health and fitness in her 30s.

“I worked hard to come to terms with why I struggled with disordered eating and my body image,” reflects Guentzel, now 39. “I figured out a way to make movement a part of my life without it feeling taxing, like it was a job, or like always a struggle to get to the gym.”

She was specifically hooked on GTX and Alpha classes at her local Life Time clubs in Plymouth and New Hope, Minn. An avid participant since 2017, she was drawn to the classes’ personable instructors, the accessible formats for all fitness levels, and, most importantly, the community.

She decided to put her fitness to the test during a hiking trip to Sedona, Ariz., in January 2023, with her partner. She could never have anticipated, however, that an incident on a particularly tough trail would change her life as she knew it.

Guentzel hiking in Sedona, Ariz., in January 2023. She considers this her “last healthy photo.”

An Unexpected Change of Course

During the 4.6-mile hike, Guentzel was pricked on her leg by cactus spines. She didn’t notice the spines until the end of the hike and also didn’t give the incident much thought as she pulled them out of her skin at the car.

But when she woke up the next morning, her face was swollen to the point of being unrecognizable, and a rash and infection — which she initially thought was an allergic reaction — had developed on her leg where the spines had pricked her skin. “I had no idea what was happening to me,” Guentzel recalls.

It was the start of what she describes as the “worst two months of my life.” “Every time I would go to the doctor, they’d do blood work and get me in for a referral to see the next person. And it just kept happening — I kept getting passed along.”

On top of the continued extreme facial swelling, Guentzel had trouble moving her body due to severe muscle inflammation, and she wasn’t sleeping well due to the stress of not having answers.

After three emergency room visits, including one in Phoenix, Ariz., during her trip, and nearly 20 doctors’ appointments, Guentzel finally met with a dermatology resident who, upon seeing her elevated liver enzymes, advocated for her to get the blood tests that ultimately led to her diagnosis.

“My formal diagnosis is dermatomyositis associated with antisynthetase syndrome,” she says. “It’s an autoimmune disease where my body is attacking my muscles, causing muscle deterioration and weakness.”

Dermatomyositis is a form of myositis — chronic muscle inflammation caused by the immune system attacking the muscles throughout the body. Dermatomyositis, which affects both the skin and the muscles, is a rare disease that affects about 1 in every 100,000 people and more often occurs in women than men. Its exact cause is unknown but genetic and environmental factors can play a role — in Guentzel’s case, the pricks from the cactus spines triggered an infection. As with other types of myositis, there is no known cause or cure for dermatomyositis.

Investment in Self

Even as she was navigating the emotional turmoil and uncertainty, Guentzel did her best to maintain her health and fitness routine. “I was still going to the club, even though my face was horrendous and my fitness ability was different — the amount of weight I could lift and the things I could do on the treadmill changed,” she says. “I was fearing the worst.”

She initially felt relief when she finally had a diagnosis and some clarity on what she was dealing with. “Then comes the whole side of having to learn everything about the disease and this new life and how I’m going to handle it,” she says. “It’s a full-time job that I didn’t ask for, and it’s a lot.”

Yet she considers herself luckier than most in the rare disease community: On average, it can take seven to eight years for a formal diagnosis, with the potential of misdiagnoses along the way.

Since her diagnosis in 2023, Guentzel has had more than 350 doctor appointments and spent more than 39 days in the hospital. She often cycles between a 15-pound muscle loss and gain — losing muscle when she encounters a flare-up, building that muscle back up when it subsides, and then losing it again when there’s another flare-up.

She never could have predicted that her active lifestyle would provide a slight cushion for her chronic illness. “I was able to overcome the first wave of muscle inflammation and muscle loss because of the shape I was in,” says Guentzel. “The muscle deterioration didn’t significantly start until long after I had been diagnosed because my disease had more muscle to sink its teeth into.

“I didn’t know that I was spending all this time preparing myself for this pretty unimaginable future,” she says. “In classes, you always hear trainers say, ‘You’re not doing this for yourself now, you’re doing this for your future self.’ I am living that. I’m living what it means to invest in your body and take care of yourself.”

Navigating a New Normal

As Guentzel’s relationship with her body has evolved, so has her relationship with being physically active. She exercises now for muscle maintenance and has found that staying active helps with her joint and muscle pain.

Being physically active has empowered Guentzel in a whole new way. “I’m not the same person I was before I got sick, but knowing what I’ve gone through these last two years and still trying my best to go to class is pretty incredible.”

Heather King, Dynamic Personal Trainer and coach at Life Time in Plymouth, Minn., has worked closely with Guentzel in GTX and Alpha classes and witnessed her fitness evolution since she joined Life Time in 2017. King has seen Guentzel’s efforts to both build a consistent routine and navigate physical activity post-diagnosis.

Guentzel shares that King has subtle methods to encourage her to push herself a little harder during workouts. “Before I got sick, I would tease Heather about how she was always pushing me to lift heavier,” Guentzel laughs. “She’d come up behind me and just leave weights next to me as a hint.”

Looking back, Guentzel realizes that symptoms of her condition — like longer post-workout recovery time — were showing three to four months before the hike; she had brushed them off as signs of aging.

King also recalls noticing discrete physical signals that were peculiar but not enough to make the alarm bells go off. “Lindsay would foam roll and get severe bruising,” says King. “It was just one of those things we didn’t think much of because at that point we thought she was totally fine.”

Once Guentzel received her diagnosis, King became one of her most trusted supporters.  “Heather checked in on me, made sure I was doing OK, and always offered up modifications during class if I needed them,” Guentzels says.

She recalls the first day she couldn’t do a pushup anymore. “My arms gave out,” she explains. “As I was laying there on the mat, I cried, and then I cried again after class. But to have a community of people who are just so happy to see you there, it makes showing up to class and getting through those emotions so much easier — it helped me let go of the shame and frustration.

“It would be really easy for people to look at me and be like, ‘Oh, she’s not working hard,’” she says. “But to have this relationship with the instructors and for them to see what I’ve gone through and to continue to be really supportive is awesome.”

For Dynamic Personal Trainers and coaches at Life Time, the goal is always to meet members where they are in their unique fitness journeys, King says. This means fitness experiences may appear in many different ways.

“With Lindsay, it was about thinking outside the box,” King says. “If we were working on glutes, but hinging motions weren’t working for her, we’d figure out what she can do. Or instead of using heavy weights, maybe we need to focus on bodyweight or banded exercises instead.”

King says she approaches every member relationship with a “glass half full” mindset: “Even when you’re diagnosed with something that affects your life in so many ways, there will still always be things you can do.”

Looking Forward

Guentzel is currently undergoing a clinical trial that uses CAR T-cell therapy treatment — an immunotherapy often used for treating cancer; the goal is to bring her disease into remission.

Despite the tolls of the protocol, she still makes it to her regular Alpha and GTX classes when she can — and she takes advantage of other Life Time amenities, too. “Having a muscle disease means I take more opportunities for self-care like sitting in the sauna and the hot tub,” she says. “I used to think if I wasn’t exhausted after a hard workout, it didn’t count. Now I look at going to the club as a whole new opportunity to take care of myself.”

Over the last two years, Guentzel has only missed 2 percent of her medical appointments, compared to the clinical average of 30 to 40 percent, she says.

Guentzel acknowledges that she used to take her body for granted. “I’m getting this crash course on what my body is capable of, and it’s incredibly empowering,” she says. “I hope that everyone gets that moment of ‘aha’ — but without the rare and incurable disease.”

And she stresses the important of giving yourself grace. “Being kind to yourself and being proud of yourself for everything you’re accomplishing is so important — and when I say everything, I mean everything,” she adds. “Getting out of bed or making a doctor’s appointment — all the small tasks that we as humans look past. Celebrate that. Make note of that.”

“Becoming comfortable using mobility aids has been a huge part of my journey,” says Guentzel. “Learning more about dynamic disabilities has been incredibly helpful in that acceptance.”

7 Tips for Maintaining an Exercise Routine During a Challenging Time

If you’re working to maintain an exercise routine while navigating health or other life challenges, King offers the following tips.

1. Keep showing up for yourself. “Just as when you aren’t injured or sick, remember that there are going to be good days and bad days,” says King. “Just keep showing up and doing what you can on the given day.”

2. Be flexible. “Have a plan but also be willing to pivot to listen to your body. Something is always better than nothing,” she adds.

3. Think glass half full. “Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, focus on what you can do,” King says. “Lindsay, for example, could still do some upper-body and core workouts, which kept the momentum going for her physical health. Think of exercise and movement as things that will make you feel better and improve your day, not as chores that need to be completed.”

4. Choose consistency over intensity. “Knowing that each day will be different, use rate of perceived exertion — how hard you think you’re pushing yourself during a workout — as a measure of success versus your weight load or other metrics.”

5. Make sure you’re fueling your body. “People often deprioritize nutrition when their exercise decreases, but the body needs calories and nutrients to heal,” she explains. “Make sure you’re giving your body the proper sustenance it needs.”

6. Build a strong support system. “The more people you have cheering you on, the more successful you will be,” says King. “Even after her diagnosis, Lindsay continued to attend GTX classes for the people and community to open herself up to support from others.”

7. Seek professional guidance. “Make sure to research your condition and get professional medical advice so you do not overexert or potentially harm your body,” she advises. “Communicate any physical concerns to your trainer so they can be prepared with the best modifications for you.”

See Angela’s Top 3 Takeaways

As I bring my hands to my heart center, I take a long, deep breath and look at everyone who chose to join my class. I exhale and bow my head forward as a gesture of gratitude for each person in attendance.

It’s the summer of 2010. I’m teaching one of my first yoga classes — sharing space, breath, and energy with the wonderful people in the room — when it suddenly hits me how much yoga hasn’t just changed my body; it’s changed my life. Through yoga, I’ve built muscle, yes, but I’ve also forged a stronger connection with myself, the people I love, and a wider community.

It has taken a lot to get here.

A Desire for Control

When my career in human resources began, it accelerated quickly. By 2002, I was traveling a lot, often sharing devastating news that changed people’s lives. Holding on to information, such as who was getting let go or who wouldn’t receive a bonus, was often mentally and emotionally taxing. It was also something I couldn’t control.

What I believed I could control in my life was food. I loved having unequivocal authority over what I ate, when I ate, and how much I ate. I spent many hours brainstorming the most satisfying or indulgent meal that would give me comfort, satiation, and satisfaction.

I also had my eating buddies. These were people I met up with to gorge on food at restaurants or in my home. We would order a smorgasbord of nine or 10 things and devour it all, even if it took us three hours. Even if we were already full.

It was an odd contradiction. At the time, I thought I had control over food, but it’s now clear that food had control over me.

I thought I had control over food, but it’s now clear that food had control over me.

After one of these sessions, in 2003, one of my eating buddies mentioned that she was considering gastric bypass surgery. She decided not to attend the presurgery consultation and asked me to fill in and report back. She eventually determined she wasn’t interested, but I certainly was.

Around that time, I’d noticed that my lifestyle choices were affecting my toddler son and 8-year-old daughter. It wasn’t just that they were learning from my bad habits; my daughter was also “working” for me, grabbing bottles, toys, or diapers so I wouldn’t have to move from my favorite spot on the couch.

I thought about how I’d like to take them to the beach and be more involved in their fun, rather than relax in one spot. I wanted us to live life to the fullest — jump in the ocean, play catch, and things like that. If I wanted to participate with my kids, I had to lead a healthier life.

The surgery would help me create a better relationship with food and encourage more movement and activity. In addition to weight loss, gastric bypass surgery has been associated with reduced food cravings and food noise — intrusive thoughts about food. I was confident this would all help me kick-start a healthier lifestyle.

No Sweat … Yet!

I had surgery on April 7, 2004. Gastric bypass surgery is generally safe, but it’s a major procedure. It takes weeks to months before you can reintroduce certain foods and fully engage in higher levels of activity.

After the procedure, my stomach could only hold a small amount of anything. I started with liquids, slowly working up to small portions of healthy food. As I introduced foods back into my diet, I documented how things made me feel: Protein shakes made with water or warmed into a soup, finely ground beef, and raw tomatoes were great. Chicken, anything creamy, and cooked tomatoes (at first), were not.

I was rigorous about making sure I had enough water, protein, and other nutrients in my diet, and I didn’t experience too many cravings — though I longed for Fritos from time to time. But after my surgery, I enjoyed treats only on special occasions and in moderation.

I had a tremendous amount of support from my family, friends, and coworkers who kept me on track and accountable. I would get my Fritos, but I limited myself to eight per day if I had them, and then the little bag was stapled shut and returned to my colleague’s locked desk drawer.

Over time, I found that the food noise had quieted, and I was feeling more present in my life. I had more energy each day. So, the next change was embracing movement. I was ready to get active, but I didn’t want to sweat, and I didn’t want to exercise outside. It sounds a bit dramatic, but who wants to get all sticky and stinky and wash their hair twice a day?

When I saw an ad for a free yoga class, it seemed perfect. At the class, I was certain I looked like a jerky marionette puppet, trying to follow along as the teacher guided us from one beautiful shape to another. Afterward, she smiled at me and said, “You did really well, but you might want to try our beginners’ class.”

I did just that, and I noticed that I felt more relaxed, connected, and peaceful after practicing yoga. I also didn’t sweat — yet.

Then, just like my career, my passion for yoga took off. I practiced nearly every day. I had found a space that welcomed me in all facets and forms, and I was stronger and more present — not just in the studio but in my relationships as well. I even started embracing the sweat when it came because I believed it meant I was doing something right.

While my husband was at the gym, my son would often join me in class, sleeping with an eye mask until it was time for the “fun” poses, like standing on your head. My daughter took belly dance classes offered at the studio. The family dynamic that I’d dreamed of was coming to fruition.

Changing Poses

In early 2010, I left my job to take a six-month yoga teacher training course. I intended to return to work after completing the course, but before I graduated, I was offered a teaching opportunity at the first studio I practiced in. I committed to my passion and was teaching my own classes by July. My lifestyle had changed; working a high-pressure corporate job no longer aligned with the healing I wanted to bring to the world.

That August, I went to a yoga audition at Life Time. I was one of the least experienced people there, but I laid it all on the line. My story and teaching skills resonated with the group — and that’s where the next chapter began.

So many amazing things have happened since I was hired at Life Time. In addition to doing work I love, I’ve become codirector of Life Time’s BIPOC Network and part of the Inclusion Core Council. It means a lot to know that I’m helping ensure the company and its programming are as inclusive as possible. Outside of Life Time, I’ve taught yoga at facilities across the country, led classes for iconic brands, like Under Armour, and given lectures at universities and yoga companies.

Today, I’m 51, feeling better than ever, and enjoying my years of glitter. Without food noise occupying most of my brain space, I’ve been able to participate more fully in my life and relationships. I’ve embraced my new nickname, GrAngela, as I focus on being an amazing grandma. And the best part is that the important things remain constant, like my quirkiness, belly laughs, and love for my family.

My yoga and gastric bypass surgery journey has taken my life in a beautiful direction that allows me to share my love of movement and my story. Moving forward, I expect to continue creating spaces where people from all walks of life feel welcome, seen, and empowered. Spaces where they know they’ll receive support, advocacy, and healing.

And these days, when I go to the beach with my family, you’d better believe I’m playing with the kids and getting in the water!

Angela’s Top 3 Takeaways

1. Keep up with your screenings. People can be healthy at every size, but it’s important to keep on top of your health. Before surgery, I had never really explored my challenges with weight, and I’m grateful there were no bigger health issues going on — like diabetes or heart failure.
2. Create your own lifestyle. You get to decide what your healthy lifestyle looks like. Explore what type of movement brings you joy and don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. Put achievable boundaries around treats. Maybe you only indulge in cake when it’s an actual birthday, or you limit drinking to special occasions.
3. Get ready for forever. Living in a new, healthier way has no end point. You will face challenges along the way, be it with eating, your mindset, or your motivation, but the key is that you wake up the next day and try to be better.

See Brad’s Top 3 Takeaways

When I rolled into the Life Time in Frisco, Texas, in June 2022, I didn’t know what to expect. As a paraplegic who’d been using a wheelchair for 32 years, I felt limited in most gyms. At the least, I hoped to find an upper-body ergometer (a.k.a. an arm bike) and a swimming pool with a lift. I was excited to discover that the club had both.

From the start, the club felt different from other gyms. I could sense how supportive and encouraging the community was, even on the tour. I felt welcome and seen.

This feeling deepened when I made eye contact with a personal trainer who gave me a smile and a look that said, I can help this guy. I was startled — I hadn’t met a personal trainer who had experience working with people in wheelchairs — but something about her struck me. I learned her name was Sarah Winchester and immediately set up a training session with her.

It turned out Sarah had taught adapted physical education, coached Special Olympics athletes, and worked with wounded veterans. Her extensive experience with adaptive training was just what I’d been looking for.

In addition, her passion was palpable. When she looked at me, she saw my capabilities rather than my disability. It felt like a door was opening.

After three decades of feeling restricted in terms of fitness, I was ready to explore what I could do beyond the handcycle and pool.

A Long Fall

I grew up in Madison, Wis., playing football, basketball, golf — I’d jump into any sport. I learned a lot about fitness from my uncle John, who manufactured weightlifting equipment. I remained active into my 20s, when I began working construction.

That all changed in February 1990, when, at 24, I was injured at a worksite. I was setting roof trusses on a new bank office outside of Milwaukee. When the trusses collapsed, I fell 25 feet onto concrete. I broke my back and was instantly paralyzed.

I knew I was never going to walk or run again after the accident. Even so, I felt OK mentally while I was in the hospital. The environment was accessible for people in wheelchairs, and the community there was really supportive.

When I returned home, however, the reality of how much my life had changed hit me hard. I realized that not all buildings are accessible, doorways often aren’t wide enough, and streets and sidewalks are difficult to navigate. I learned to adapt, but it was tough. My mental health declined.

Fitness was a struggle too. Thanks to my uncle John, I knew how to exercise in a gym. But things were so different now. I didn’t know where to start. I didn’t watch my diet either; I consumed fast food, soda, and chips and dip the way I always had.

The Same Old Cycle

A couple of years later, I found a company that built a handcycle: a tricycle powered by the arms rather than the legs. This was great because I needed to do more cardiovascular exercise and gain strength in my arms, which would help me get in and out of my chair more easily.

In 1995, I moved to Texas and built a house with a pool. I hit the gym regularly with a good friend, Chad, using free weights and machines I could transfer onto for upper-body work. I kept in decent shape. It felt like a turning point.

I sustained this momentum until 2001, when I fell and broke my leg while transitioning from my wheelchair to my office chair. Making matters worse, I developed a severe pressure wound from the cast, leaving me bedridden for three months.

After recovering, I struggled to start and maintain a fitness routine again. The resulting muscle loss and weight gain made it harder for me to get around.

As the years passed, my shoulders and elbows were under incredible strain. I experienced substantial back pain, so it was painful to sit in my chair for long periods of time.

By early 2022, I knew something had to change. I was tired of repeating the same cycle, in which I tried and failed to meet my goals. It was taking a toll on me mentally and physically.

I needed a coach, someone who could help me find better ways to move and fuel myself. That’s when I found Life Time and Sarah.

Challenge Accepted

When Sarah and I started working together, the first thing she wanted to address was my back pain. She saw how weak I was in my core — which can contribute to back pain — so strengthening that became our first priority. We started using bands, battle ropes, and weighted medicine balls.

Within two weeks I noticed that I could sit in my chair longer. I was transferring myself with more stability. I had more energy. I was excited to do stuff again. The progress was promising.

Still, when Sarah after a few weeks mentioned the 60day Challenge, I laughed. I wasn’t even close to being ready for something like that.

Sarah was smart, though. She let it be for a few days, then brought it up again. This time, I considered how much I had accomplished over the previous two months. I figured, Why not?

The 60day Challenge started in September. My goals were to eat more-nutritious meals, establish a consistent workout routine, and lose weight.

The numerous recipes provided by Life Time were a huge help on the nutrition front. I never had to eat anything twice if I didn’t want to. I continued working with Sarah, who gave me ­additional nutrition advice and kept my workouts interesting.

For example, she encouraged me to try pickleball and Pilates. Although I was initially skeptical, I took to both. Pickleball quickly became one of my favorite activities. It’s such a fun way to get moving and socialize with others. Pilates surprised me too — it’s a more intense workout than I expected.

Throughout the Challenge, the ­furthest thing from my mind was ­winning. I was focused on using the structure of the program to progress toward my goals.

It paid off — I ­remained consistent with my workouts and meal plan, which helped me build muscle, increase my range of motion, and lose weight. Other people noticed my progress as well, and to my surprise, I was selected as one of 20 finalists.

Beyond the Win

Heading to the club on the day the winners were announced, I reflected on how far I had come. I wanted to be with Sarah when I got the news because she had been such a big part of my journey. I wanted to let her know how much she had helped me.

The moment I rolled through the doors, cannons of confetti went off and air horns blew — I was one of four national winners! Nearly every staff member was there in the entryway to celebrate. I was completely overwhelmed and so honored. At that time, it was the most surreal thing that had ever happened to me. I’ll remember that moment for the rest of my life.

I’ve gained a new excitement for life. I’m eager to continue my journey toward becoming the best possible version of me.

I’m grateful to Sarah for opening my eyes to a new and healthy way of life, and for providing invaluable guidance and support. Winning the 60day Challenge demonstrated to me that my only limitations are those I place on myself, and I couldn’t have reached this point without her.

Today, I’m 58 and feel better than I have in years. Most important, I’ve gained a new excitement for life. I’m eager to continue my journey toward becoming the best possible version of me, with the confidence that I can accomplish more than I ever dreamed I could.

Brad’s Top 3 Takeaways

1. Good nutrition matters. “You can spend 12 hours a day in the gym, but you won’t get healthier if you fill your body with junk,” Brad says.
2. Sweat the small stuff. “Fitness technology tracks micro measurements that keep me motivated.”
3. Community creates accountability. “As I worked with Sarah, other staff offered words of encouragement. Fellow members would too. When I didn’t feel like going to the club, I knew those people would be looking for me,” he says. (Workout partners can help you stay committed to fitness and have fun. Here’s what you need to know to form an active relationship that gets results.)

Tell Us Your Story! Have a transformational healthy-living tale of your own? Share it with us!

See Speedo’s Top 3 Tips for Success

I’ve always been a person who doesn’t give up. I was raised in a tumultuous, low-income household in Virginia, where I experienced harder times as a child than I have so far as an adult. But after years of building my career as a bass-baritone opera singer, losing the ability to work during the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard.

In early 2020, I left a salaried position and became a full-time freelance artist. When performing arts venues suddenly closed, there were no more shows, which meant that many people lost their livelihood — including me.

I know many performers who remember that day well. At the time, I was living in Vienna, Austria, where protocols were even stricter than they were in the United States. I lost all my contracts — at least nine months of work.

When this happened, my wife, Irene, was seven months pregnant with our second child, and our first child was 2 years old. I felt hopeless, as if I were letting my family and myself down after all I’d worked toward in my career. I went into a bit of a depression. I didn’t leave my house and spent most of my time sitting on the couch doing nothing.

After a few months of this, Irene had had enough of my wallowing. “I know you’re better than this,” she said. “You’ve been through much worse. If you can’t work on your voice and you can’t perform, then you need to work on something else.”

Irene encouraged me to start taking daily walks. “Just go clear your head and figure out what you want to do,” she suggested.

Taking the First Step

I was never a fitness guy, or even what a person might call “in shape.” I had never lifted a weight, done cardio, or engaged in traditional exercise. And I had never paid any attention to nutrition.

When I went on my first outdoor walk, I barely took 2,000 steps. I was huffing and puffing, but it felt great. I felt as though I were dropping my sadness and depression out there with my sweat.

After a week or two, I was up to 5,000 steps per day. Then the next thing I knew, I was doing 10,000 steps every day.

Meanwhile, I didn’t want to compromise my healthy-movement progress by falling back on old eating habits like avoiding vegetables and consuming a lot of red meat. It was a kind of snowball effect: I wanted to eat better to support my new, healthier lifestyle habits.

Although I’d never been into fitness or nutrition, Irene had always been passionate about healthy living. She was studying for nutritionist certifications in Europe, and I wanted to tap into her wealth of knowledge.

“Fitness has helped me discover so much about myself and the things I can achieve.”

She taught me about her food-and-nutrition philosophy, and we started cooking and eating more meals together. It was something we could share and connect on. I incorporated fish once per week and limited red meat. I made healthier swaps: Instead of eating a hamburger, I would have a chicken burger, for instance.

I felt the benefits of the change in my walks and in my daily life over the next several months.

By that time, it was the winter of 2020, and opera houses were starting to reopen. Because of travel restrictions, many Eastern European singers couldn’t get into the United States, so I had a lot of opportunities there. I took on several roles at the Metropolitan Opera when it reopened in 2021. I had more energy thanks to the lifestyle changes I had made, and this helped me improve what I could do on stage. (One of these productions, Fire Shut Up in My Bones, later earned a Grammy for Best Opera Recording.)

In the fall of 2021, I joined Life Time Sky in New York City as the next step in my fitness journey. I liked being around individuals who were also trying to live healthy lives. But it wasn’t until a few months later that I would get the ultimate motivation boost.

The Role of a Lifetime

In December 2021, I was offered the lead role in Champion, composer ­Terence Blanchard’s operatic retelling of the story of professional boxer Emile Griffith, at the Met. This was a major turning point in my career — my first lead role at arguably the greatest opera house in the world.

I told Blanchard I was going to take this role very seriously, which meant I needed to get into the best shape of my life. I wanted it to be believable when people saw me on stage throwing and taking punches in a boxing ring.

I had no history with boxing, but the day after I got the role, I saw that Life Time offered beginner boxing classes. I signed up and went to my first class taught by Life Time dynamic personal trainer and boxing coach Joseph Witherspoon. At that first class, I saw a woman throw a punch and immediately knew this was some serious stuff. I had a lot of catching up to do in order to compete with these fierce athletes.

While taking Joseph’s group classes, I could tell how much his boxers knew about the sport and how much respect they had for him as a coach. In February 2022, I asked if we could start one-on-one training sessions. He agreed. We worked together five days a week for over a year to make my performance the best it could be, both by practicing boxing technique and training for strength.

The Met also hired a boxing con­sultant for the show — former heavyweight champion Michael Bentt. He was with us every day throughout the rehearsal process. It was impor­tant to me that he meet Joseph, and when he did, he validated my training plan. By the time Champion officially opened at the Met, in April 2023, I was ready.

I knew preparing for this role would improve my body, but what surprised me most was the mental strength I gained. Boxing isn’t just about throwing punches; it’s a pugilistic chess match. It’s one of the most mental-to-physical sports, and it’s helped me realize I am capable of so much more than I thought I was.

Looking Toward the Future

Like with any sport, you need a rest period — even Olympic athletes take time off from training — so I took some time off from exercising post-show. Going forward, however, I have formed a training-for-life mindset. Now that I know what’s possible, I have no excuse not to maintain at least half the intensity of my routine leading up to the show.

From what Joseph and my friends at Life Time taught me, I’ve estab­lished a three-days-per-week workout plan. I started running and jumping rope for cardio because these activities put a little less strain on my body compared with boxing. When I ran my first 5K, it took me about 42 minutes. Recently, I’ve been averaging under 32 minutes, and I’m constantly striving for improvement.

I always knew I was capable of great things, but I never thought I would see definition in my biceps. I never thought I would run a mile in under 10 minutes. And now, as a 37-year-old, I can do that whenever I want. It’s an amazing feeling, and I don’t ever want to lose it.

I want to live a long, healthy life. I want to be there for my kids and chase them around for years to come. Fitness has helped me discover so much about myself and the things I can achieve.

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Speedo’s Top 3 Tips for Success

1. Just start. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t started with that first 2,000-step walk,” Speedo says. “Wherever you’re at in your journey, find one small first step.”
2. Never give up. “If you want to achieve something, failure and pain are inevitable parts of your story. But I think the key is to never do anything half-hearted and to always keep trying,” he says.
3. Keep an open mind. Speedo notes that when he started his fitness journey, he was willing to learn, grow, and change. “Whatever you’re trying to do, trust the experts who are able to help you, and be ready to adapt.”

Tell Us Your Story! Have a transformational healthy-living tale of your own? Share it with us!

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