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It’s the time of year when many people decide that they want to change their lives in a positive way. Whether it be something as simple as eating more fruits and vegetables, or a more complex change, it ultimately comes down to the desire to make healthier decisions. Most people understand that for progress to occur, they must alter the decisions they’ve made in the past. The challenge lies in how to begin this process.

Trinity Health Exercise Physiology, located in the Minot Family YMCA, has the staff, knowledge and programming to get you moving toward a lifetime of optimal wellness. During a complimentary consultation, you can visit about your wellness goals and get aligned with the ideal program to reach them. One-on-one personal training offers the ultimate individual instruction and education, carefully progressed toward your success. If you prefer to work out with someone, Trinity offers couples and small group sessions. Trainers not only assist you toward physical improvement, but also target behavior modification strategies that can supplement your personal journey.

Many people think that personal training sessions are only for serious athletes or can be cost prohibitive. But this is not the case. Members pay a flat fee and can choose from a variety of packages that offer a fixed number of sessions, or unlimited class attendance. Not surprisingly, Trinity staff work with clients whose paths are personally motivated for a variety of reasons.

Bruce Carlson is a proud charter member of the Minot Family YMCA, which is to say he has been a member for decades. Because he lives outside of Minot, his workouts at the Y are varied and intentionally woven in to his trips to town for other reasons. He tries to work out two to three times a week.

In November, Carlson had the opportunity to participate in a guided elk hunt in Montana with his sons and brother. An avid hunter, Carlson had been on four elk hunts in his life, but had only fired his gun once. “They were disappointing, to say the least,” he said. For this hunt, the 67-year-old knew he had to up his game. His companions were much younger, and he knew from his previous experience there would be a lot of walking. “I didn’t want to be a boat anchor,” he said.

Carlson worked with Russ Gust, exercise physiologist, for five weeks. “I told him I wanted to lose weight,” Carlson said, “and he said to me, ‘No, that is not the goal. You need to build your core strength to improve your stamina.’ But I lost 15 lbs. anyway, which I am proud of.”

Carlson and Gust met two to three times a week for personal sessions. On his “off days” Carlson had “homework” which entailed hiking hilly trails or climbing steps to the Minot High School football field, while carrying a 60 lb. pack. Sundays were his only day of rest.

“The days were grueling,” he says of the hunt, “we were up at 4:30 and got to bed at 10, or later if we bagged an elk, but I couldn’t have done it without Russ’ help. He pushed me really hard, I give him all the credit.”

Chloe Cannon, 26, a senior airman at Minot Air Force Base, works with a personal trainer for very different reasons. She wants to lose weight and needs “the extra push,” and says her relationship with trainers has been a long-term commitment.

As a kid, the Chicago native was active in sports and participated in basketball, swimming, dance team, and wrestling. “I was the only girl on the wrestling team,” she said. “I took 4th in State.” Exercise came naturally.

Once she joined the military, Cannon found that lifestyle changes and work contributed to poor eating habits and weight gain. Cannon joined the YMCA, purchased a package of training sessions, and schedules workouts a couple of times a week.

“I have worked with trainers for six years, off and on,” she said. “I look at old pictures of myself and think ‘I want my 21-year-old body back.’ I want to feel good in my clothes again. Coming to the gym is one of those things I don’t really want to do but spending the money for personal sessions holds me accountable and keeps me coming back. After my workout, I can say I’ve done something.”

Cannon’s goal is to create new exercise habits and gradually wean the training sessions back to an occasional few. “I keep coming, but my goal is to work Russ out of a job,” she said.

In the meantime, Cannon says she intends to maintain the sessions for however long it takes to reach her goal.

Making positive change is not just about exercise, and the staff at Trinity Exercise Physiology understands that. Services include a variety of health risk appraisals and wellness assessments. These tools can help you visualize your improvement, and ultimately result in greater success over the long term. If you are living with chronic health conditions, there are program options to help you overcome many of the daily challenges you face.

To learn more or schedule an appointment with an exercise physiologist, contact Trinity Health Exercise Physiology at 701-857-2950 or 701-857-5626.