Member Spotlight: Ken Kelley
Here at Coastal Strength & Fitness in Newport News, VA we believe our members are the heartbeat of our great community and provide amazing inspiration to others overcoming their own challenges.
MEET KEN:
1. When and Why did you first start coming to Coastal Strength & Fitness?
I first joined Coastal about a year ago. I had been working out at a couple of other gyms but did not feel the challenge or experience much variety in the workouts. One gym had machines and weights without regular trainers on staff. The other gym had a few weights, dumbbells, and kettlebells but most workouts were isometric in nature with trainers that demonstrated the exercises and monitored everyone for form and function. Don't get me wrong, isometric exercises built Charles Atlas, however, if there are other methods available to build strength and muscle, let's do it. I had heard about Coastal, a little bit, and decided to give the gym/program a try. I definitely needed a change of scenery/program and boy did I get one!
2. What fitness activities/sports were you doing before you joined Coastal?
My physical activities before joining Coastal was a daily boring routine at the gym/studio I left along with weekly yard work. My other activity was target practicing (rifle, shotgun, pistol) a couple of times each month. Other than that, climbing the stairs a few times a day to get to our 2nd floor was the most I would exercise.
3. What results have you seen since you joined Coastal Strength & Fitness?
Lets set the stage for this one... I have been working on a goal of losing weight and building strength with stamina for 8 years now. In 2013 my wife took a picture of me and at the time my weight was 275. Way too much weight for a 5ft 7in 59 year old... Since starting my fitness journey I have slowly lost 86 pounds, inches off my waist (other places as well), and gained defined muscle. Not to mention gained a lot of strength. I remember the day I deadlifted 135 (using a barbell) and thought I had accomplished a lot. I will say that I did progress over 6 years to 300 with a barbell. One of the photos I will send shows me deadlifting 305 with a trap bar at Coastal. OMG... As far as weight loss, the pandemic saw most gain some weight, about 35 pounds for me. After getting back into a routine the weight started coming off. When I arrived at Coastal my weight was about 215. Today, I'm at 189 (now 67 years old). Upfront not a lot of weight was lost, however the amount of strength and flexibility I have gained. Well, I'm not complaining.
4. What do you like most about Coastal Strength & Fitness?
What is not to like at Coastal... The most valuable asset any organization has is professional talented personal. A gym can have every machine in the world and overwhelm patrons with variety or flash/bang, with very little staff. For me, professional personable talented staff is what I like best at Coastal. The second thing I like best is the rest of the environment (facility, equipment, programs, and patrons).
5. What is your favorite Coastal training day of the week and why?
My favorite training day hands down is... Saturday morning Smack Down! My reason, I enjoy the challenge to finish as many rounds as I can with the thought of doing one more round better the next week. My personal feeling is SmackDown is a great finisher for the week. Some may think me to be crazy but, for everyone one who is younger that might think that, I wore their shoes once and today I wish, way back when, that I had a crazy old fart show me the way. I pray that I'm setting an example for others to follow. ;-)
Lightning Round Questions:
1. What is your Spirit animal?
Seahorse.
2. If you were a Superhero, what would your super power be?
Aquaman.
3. What is your favorite treat meal?
Broiled Surf and Turf Feast (King Crab, Oyster, Shrimp, Scallop) with a 6oz portion of Ribeye...
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