When Betty Lou Sweeney last spoke with Club Solutions Magazine in February 2012, she had recently secured a string of accomplishments — one of which included overcoming an illness perilously close to taking her life.
Add losing over 100 pounds, appearing on The Today Show, and breaking the Guinness World Record in planking to that string of accomplishments, and 2012 was an exciting 12 months for the 73-year-old mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
Now, 2013 brings another accomplishment to Sweeney’s list of accolades. On October 30, 2013, Sweeney became ACE certified in personal training, after six months of swapping training sessions for studying ones.
“I’m very excited,” said Sweeney. “I’m a little nervous because it’s something I’ve never done, but I have my ACE certification now, so I’m ready to go!”
According to Sweeney, she was encouraged to acquire a personal training certification by her personal trainer, Dave Candra, and fitness coordinator Hans Hartleben. “They said, ‘You would be so great because of what you’ve accomplished,’” she recalled. “They thought older populations would be more inclined to listen to me.”
In fact, Sweeney expects individuals 50 years of age and older to be her main clientele. “I’m fine with that,” she said. “I’m hoping I can encourage others to get moving. Maybe they can stay in their own homes a bit longer, versus a nursing home.” Sweeney said she, Candra and Hartleben believe older individuals will be more inclined to listen to Sweeney, versus someone younger in age.
Sweeney gave credit to Candra for helping her study for the certification. “He was tremendous,” she said. “Not only is he a great trainer, but he’s a great teacher as well.”
If all goes well — Sweeney still has to be officially approved by Candra and Hartleben to begin sessions with clients — she will join Anytime Fitness’ team of personal trainers, a team that changed her life almost two years prior.
“I’m really excited,” said Sweeney. “It seems like my story has encouraged older people to get moving, and that’s great.”
In addition to earning her ACE certification, Sweeney is a motivational speaker, a part-time nurse and still trains with Candra three times per week. An avid believer in the “Exercise is Medicine” philosophy, Sweeney hopes to transition out of nursing, and make personal training her main job. “I’m excited to see what 2014 is going to bring,” she said.
By Rachel Zabonick
