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Paying It Forward in the Gym | Sharing Your Passion by Coaching Others

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired 104763

   

 

Working out is a passion of mine and specifically weight lifting.  Three and half years ago, I decided to get healthy.  Not only did that include changing the way I ate, but it also included becoming very active.

I was deeply involved with the weight loss group at our local hospital.  I spoke at many of the meetings that were open to the public promoting weight loss surgery.  I also spoke to groups at the hospital about the value of exercising and specifically weight lifting for women. 

There were women who wanted to get involved with this activity, but they were intimidated by the thought of going to a gym with muscle bound men and well- shaped women.  I would spend many sessions with them at the gym, and coached them on how to use resistance ropes to prepare for weight lifting.

I continued to meet with them, until they felt comfortable going on their own.  My meetings with them became once a week rather than every day, and eventually, they were on their own.

This may not sound like much of a “paying it forward” effort, but it meant a lot to women who were morbidly obese; had weight loss surgery; and wanted to improve their health and physical presence. It was major to them, and I remember when it was major to ME.

I was very successful with the weight loss program, and I wanted to pay it forward by helping others gain confidence, so they, too, could be successful.  It worked well, and those women are helping others now.  What goes around, comes around!!

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Barbara Todaro, Great Grandmother to Caleb, Santino, Aiden and Gianni       

Todaro Team - Retired

508-918-9148

               

             Copyright © 2009 - 2021 Barbara Todaro

                               All Rights Reserved



 

Comments(34)

Belinda Spillman
Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO
Colorado Living!

This sounds like a huge pay it forward.  For women who are overweight, going to the gym can be very intimitading.  You supporting and encouraging them could have easily made all the difference in them stepping up and making a change in their lives.  Good job.

Nov 24, 2016 08:37 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Barbara,  You are great at helping these other gals and it is major what you do for them.  Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Nov 24, 2016 08:44 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

BarbaraT- I cannot think of a better coach than you!   I'll bet you've inspired them to seek a healthier life through diet and exercise.  Happy Thanksgiving to you, and you are my inspiration. 

Nov 24, 2016 11:04 AM
Jane Chaulklin-Schott
TEAMCONNECT REALTY - (407) 394-9766 - Orlando, FL
TeamConnect Luxury Homes - Orlando, Florida, 32836

Barbara Todaro, what a wonderful way to help others. Your encouragement, inspiration, and sharing has to be a special blessing to the lives you touched. Wish we lived closer  because I could use a coach/mentor, however, your post has put new energy and life in my goal to  improve my health and lose a few pounds. Thank you, Barbara. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.  

Nov 24, 2016 08:11 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Thanks so much, Jane Chaulklin-Schott your kind words mean alot to me.... believe me on that... and I'd love to coach you....you'd be fun.... but DO stay healthy....the older we get, the healthier we NEED to become....

Nov 25, 2016 04:02 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Barbara Todaro - Changing bodies; changing lives - one woman at a time!!!

Go Barbara!!!

Nov 25, 2016 09:07 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Barbara, if you will pardon the pun, this is a HUGE pay-it-forward! Especially in this day and age when obesity is rampant, even in our children. And of course, being surrounded and barraged by svelte and perfect women (thanks to airbrushing and nip&tuck), women's self-images can be very downtrodden. I think of you every time I work out--seriously! Larry and I had a great workout in our Tuff Shed gym yesterday morning (pretty darned cold out there, but, whatever) just before I spent the rest of the morning/afternoon making him his traditional Turkey dinner. Since doing all of the barnwork that I do now because or our mule and horse, I am stronger and even tho I don't do weight workouts as much as I used to, I can handle jumping in and not being ridiculously sore for the a couple of days! 

Larry always wanted to be a personal trainer, but it didn't pay. He is a big proponent of working out regularly as I am...and as you well know, it's a LIFESTYLE, not a quick fix.

Nov 25, 2016 10:11 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Hi Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Realtor (503)755-2905  I almost did not write this post or enter this contest..... I promote good health so much, I thought many would be sick of reading it.... but the older we get, the healthier we need to be.... we're not in our 20's any longer.... the straight and narrow is how we go.... I now have a hex bar, olympic barbell and several different weights of discs in my basement now....plus a bench workout unit that has attachments for biceps and doing legs... but I did not buy heavy weights because I will continue to meet my trainer at the gym to train for one day of heavy lifting.... I only have 125 pounds at home for training in the evening....gym in the morning....

Nov 25, 2016 01:13 PM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Barbara, I need to take a photo of our gym (now) and send it to you. We do now have a treadmill, as I love to jog, but there are times when the weather is just so darned crappy that even don't want to run outside in it! That was a gift from our prior  friends/owners of the "Big House"(our 6210 sq ft lakehouse that we sold), and boy what a set-up of a gym we had! They left the treadmill as it was something he just felt he would use anymore. The thing was so god-awful heavy and upstairs to boot, that I am amazed the moving guys didn't get hernias. Larry hired a special gym moving guy who knows how to dismantle heavy gym equipment. We have a whole set-up that has travelled with us from home-to-home for years and even had a resting place in one of his employee's living rooms (a single guy, hah!) and he never used it so Larry bought it back from him when we finally had room for it again. I open the double doors and get to look out at pastureland and our "girls", Della and Pearl (mule and horse) while I jog. I hope to follow up with a picture at some point! It's wonderful having your own gym, but then I'm preaching to the choir. 

Nov 25, 2016 06:18 PM
Barbara Todaro

Post a photo on this post and tag me.... I want to see it....  please...or do a video.... Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Realtor (503)755-2905 

Nov 26, 2016 02:28 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Barbara Todaro, we are all so very proud of you and your commitment. Can you share what your grand kids think of you in a blog post. Your kids could probably give you what they say behind closed doors. I bet they are all very proud of you but forget to tell you to your slim face  

Nov 26, 2016 10:57 AM
Barbara Todaro

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, Broker, Tacoma Washington I'm very fortunate to have such loving family members, especially my grandchildren.... the boys NOW eat clean and workout with weights as I do.... the girls go to the gym and use the machines....they DO watch what they eat but not as routinely and intensely as I do.... I tease the boys about my lifting in competition with them....they laugh ...tell me they're impressed but I'm not as strong as they are!!!  


I say:  NOT YET!!

Nov 26, 2016 11:50 AM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Barbara

We have power to play it forward . . . . in that simple act we can change a person's life forever.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Nov 26, 2016 11:23 AM
Barbara Todaro

and those who are following through with it are very grateful....they tell me... and it's a nice compliment to me Lou Ludwig 

Nov 26, 2016 11:51 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

I remember well the trainer that I had at the gym years ago that not only helped me with the weight machines but my running form as well.

Nov 26, 2016 06:58 PM
Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227

Barbara, it only takes one good person to walk a nervous person by an intimidating group.  To do so has meant the world to anyone you did so with.  Mark

Nov 26, 2016 08:24 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Nice job Barbara! 

Coaching others is a rewarding pursuit for both parties.

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving greetings

I hope that you and your loved ones had a very special weekend!

Bob

Nov 26, 2016 11:03 PM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Sharing your passion and encouraging other women to embrace exercise and weight lifting is a great way to pay it forward.

Nov 27, 2016 01:27 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good Morning Barbara - women could certainly gain from your confidence and exercise is very important.

Nov 28, 2016 05:47 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Barbara Todaro Great way to pay it forward  It is not easy to walk into a gym and start exercising ..Great way to pay it forward  .

Nov 29, 2016 10:22 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Thanks so much, everyone, for tolerating my sharing what I'm passionate about.... it's not for everyone, and it can be boring to read about it.... thanks for your tolerance.... I DO appreciate it.

Nov 29, 2016 10:22 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Barbara - That's wonderful - providing encouragement and support like this has no doubt changed many lives. Kudos for sharing your positivity and help.

Nov 29, 2016 11:57 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Hi Dick Greenberg I'm sure many here are bored with my "get healthy and fit" posts, but to some folks, it's a matter of life or death.... no one understands unless they've been there!!  

Nov 29, 2016 12:05 PM