How Pain Led Me to Purpose

The Wake-Up Call

Back in 2016, I was 50 years old, the heaviest I’d ever been, and dealing with shoulder and back pain, among various other aches and pains, that made everyday life a constant struggle. I don’t actually know how heavy I was, because I was afraid to step on a scale.

I’d get stuck getting out of chairs. I couldn’t stand up straight. I would avoid the stairs at work because my knees and hips hurt. Even simple things felt uncertain or risky, and I was constantly adjusting my movements to avoid triggering pain. I started to believe maybe that was just how life goes when you get older.

Then one night, I ended up in the ER with chest discomfort. Thankfully, my heart was fine, but that moment was a turning point. I realized how far I’d drifted from the version of myself I used to take pride in: someone strong, capable, and active. I knew I had to make a change.

A Different Kind of Trainer

I went back to the gym. I was greeted by a salesperson who kept pushing a free personal training session. I was skeptical: every PT I’d worked with before had thrown me into aggressive, high-pressure workouts that left me feeling broken instead of helped. But for some reason, I said yes.

That trainer, who would later become my co-founder at Gratitude Strength Club, did something different. He didn’t try to impress me. He listened. He asked me what was holding me back. He wanted to know what I wanted to get back to doing. Then he ran movement assessments to figure out what was actually causing my pain and limitations.

That conversation felt like the first time someone in a gym actually saw me.

I committed to training with him, and right away, I started seeing progress. My pain started to ease. My strength returned. My energy came back in ways I hadn’t expected. And I found myself doing things automatically, like standing tall or moving freely, before realizing I wasn’t bracing for pain anymore.

Building Something Better

That personal shift planted the seed for what would become Gratitude Strength Club. We were training out of a big-box gym at the time, but I knew we needed a space of our own: something smaller, more intentional, more aligned with the values that helped me heal.

I’ve always hated the traditional gym model: pack in members, hope they don’t show up, and keep the doors open with good intentions. I wanted the opposite. Unless someone is coming in, getting seen, and making progress, we don’t want their money.

We’re not selling access. We’re building change.

The Long Game

To be clear, I still face struggles. I wrestle with things like late-night snacking. But I’ve learned to keep my focus on the long game, on my future self. The version of me a year from now that’s proud of the choices I’m making today. And honestly, being in a space where I help others stay consistent helps me stay accountable too.

If you’re in a place where your body feels like it’s fighting you… if you’ve lost trust in your strength or just feel stuck… I get it.

A Question Worth Asking

So here’s what I’d say:

Fast forward a year.

Imagine the version of you who committed and did the work. Healthier. Stronger. Proud.

Now imagine the version of you that stayed where you are.

Which one will look back on today with gratitude? Which one will look back on you today with pride?

If you’re ready to move forward, we’re here to help you build a plan that fits your life and supports your goals.

Fred

Gratitude Strength Club

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