Catherine: Rediscovering Her Health After Putting Everyone Else First (A Client Testimonial)

Catherine shared her Recoup journey with us, and we were deeply moved by her story. It is one of resilience, perseverance, and learning to make her own health a priority again after years of putting everyone else first.

We are honored that she trusted us, and our community, with such a personal chapter of her life.

Here’s how her story begins:

As a DI college athlete, I grew up surrounded by sports and fitness, and staying fit and active was a huge part of my life. In my 20s, I competed in triathlons, mud runs, and other friendly competitions, and being active was always a source of fun as well as a normal part of my lifestyle, even in the midst of a demanding career at high powered law firm in LA.
Like so many women, when I welcomed my first child in my early 30s, the needs of my growing family took priority over my own fitness goals. I also had a number of health setbacks, including fertility challenges and treatments, multiple surgeries, three successful pregnancies, and two very difficult miscarriages. Through the process, I gained three amazing kids, but they brought their own challenges, including autism, ADHD, anxiety and more. Their childhoods demanded my full attention, and on top of it, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and rheumatoid arthritis, which made exercise extremely difficult and fatigue a total constant in my life. 

The next fifteen years were spent focused on the needs of my husband and my children, and my needs alwayscame last, which is often the case for women in this season of life. Between no time in my schedule and no energy to exercise, my fitness took a back seat.

Recoup changed all of that for me. One day while walking in my neighborhood, I came across a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. She looked incredible! Fit, slimmed down, energetic and clear skinned. She told me she’d been working out at Recoup for a year or so, and connected me with Matt Fetters to check it out. After my first session, I never looked back, and now my husband, Matt, is also a part of the Recoup family.

The magic of Recoup is the consistency and accountability it provides. For someone with a packed schedule and responsibilities like me, a dedicated, non-negotiable spot on my calendar set aside for exercise before the week even starts is the key. I have no excuses, no running out of time and no reason not to exercise. 

The other beauty of Recoup is the personal attention you receive from the trainers. Since starting at Recoup, my health continues to be a journey. About nine months after joining, I had a serious back injury requiring surgery and months of physical therapy, followed by a second, unrelated surgery 9 months later. Recoup trainers worked with me each step of the way to design a program that allowed me to get stronger, while still protecting my back, and they coordinated directly with my physical therapist to design a modified workout routine that met both my strength training and mobility goals. I wouldn’t be where I am today without this collaborative approach and personal attention.

Recoup is more than just a strength training gym. Their focus on holistic health, including emphasizing nutrition and lifestyle habits (like prioritizing sleep, recovery and social connections) have all contributed to my success. Since joining Recoup, I am down close to 20 lbs, losing body fat (especially visceral fat) while gaining muscle mass, and my energy is better than it’s been in years. I know all of this because of Recoup’s disciplined and measurable approach toward exercise, including InBody scans and benchmark strength testing. Nothing is just anecdotally observed. Recoup tracks and measures everything along the way, so you know that your health is genuinely improving, and if it’s not, they adjust your plan to meet your needs in a different way. 

Thanks to Recoup, my health is finally back on track and a priority in my life. I can honestly say I am the healthiest I have been in years, and I am confident that next year I will be healthier still, as I stay the course with my workouts and nutrition and trust the process. 

Best,

Catherine Anderson