Client Spotlight - Martha Fogler & Irwin Gross

"I feel good. I feel fit. I feel strong. I sleep better.
​I am more relaxed and happy. I have more energy."
-Martha 

Irwin & Martha are terrific to train.  They are always focused, willing to try their best, and have such a great attitude towards exercise and staying healthy.  Irwin has even learned how to jump rope - I’m not sure he thought it would be possible!  We love having Irwin & Martha as part of our training program because they are the example.  ​

Being active is a part of their life and has been for many years.  Their willingness to improve has allowed them to do some pretty cool things – they just spent two weeks biking through Europe and because of their training efforts, they enjoyed every minute of it!  Thank you for being great clients and keep up the great work, it is paying off in so many ways!

It has been a pleasure to see Irwin and Martha progress.  We have focused so much on perfecting form and really learning how the entire body is important for each exercise they perform.  It takes an incredible amount of focus, patience, and discipline to train in this way.  Martha & Irwin have earned all of their accomplishments by doing just that.

They also arrive early for every workout. And I mean early – 30 minutes, always completing the Peak Performance exercises. This is keeping them injury free and allows them to make the most out of each workout. Congrats for all you have accomplished and I look forward to hearing about more awesome adventures. You two are amazing! Thanks.

The Journey
-from Martha

I have been taking and enjoying group exercise classes for many years including classic aerobics, step aerobics, weight training, combat, stationary bike, yoga…you name a class and I have probably done it.  When I heard that Mike had opened his own gym and was offering Boot Camp classes I was intrigued; a class I hadn’t done yet!  After e-mailing for more information I was eager to give it a try. It sounded like fun and I wondered if I could move to a higher level of fitness at my age. I also wanted to learn what “functional training” was and what it could do for me.

I started at Wilcox Wellness and Fitness just shy of my 60th birthday. I was in good health and fairly fit (I bike, cross country ski and walk recreationally in addition to exercise classes). I quickly discovered that Mike’s Peak Performance System is different from the other classes I have taken.  Each member is given individual attention. We are taught, in great detail, how to do each move and even how to breathe correctly. We are asked to commit to a workout schedule. We are asked to work really hard and challenge ourselves, but never beyond our ability. Safety is a major focus.


I was surprised to learn that I wasn’t working to my potential in my other classes - nobody’s fault, that’s just the way it was.  At Wilcox, a warm up before class really warms you up. Breathless after the warm up? Yup. That was different but it made sense once I realized I worked harder, smarter and better after a full warm up that includes stretching, core strength moves and heart pounding aerobic work.  

I have committed to three workouts a week. My husband, Irwin and I have one personal training session a week (together) that is tailored just for our needs and goals. We started this partly because we wanted to be extra sure we were doing all of the exercises correctly to get the most out of our workouts and do them safely. We alternate between Boot Camp and Group Personal Training for the other two workouts.  

Inspired by the gym’s mission to encourage people to focus on being fit, eating well, and believing in themselves, I not only committed to the gym, I also made a personal goal to improve my eating habits. My goals were: watch portion size, eat more vegetables, healthful and higher protein snacks, no grazing, and wine with dinner on weekends only.

Martha with her Granddaughter

A Better Quality of Life

​I am amazed at what I have achieved in two years at Wilcox Wellness & Fitness.  I have lost 12 pounds. I have better cardiovascular fitness and I am stronger.  How do I know this?  Every move I make —- getting up out of a chair, bringing in bags of groceries, walking up a hill, digging up a plant in my garden —- is easier than it was 2 years ago.  I feel good.  I feel fit.  I feel strong.  I sleep better.  I am more relaxed and happy.  I have more energy. ​

Here is a simple example of how functional training makes a difference and examples of the exercises we do that contribute to the higher function level.  During a recent trip, I was getting on the Concord Trailway bus.  I had a fairly heavy back pack slung over one shoulder.  Time to board.  I gave the driver my ticket and skipped up the 4 steps onto the bus.  I didn’t think anything about that until I sat down and watched other people, most younger than me, grab the handrail and slowly pull themselves up the steps with effort.  I realized that had been me two years ago.  All of the intense endurance training (e.g. sled push) had given me the heart/lung power, strength training (e.g. squat ball tosses) had given me the leg strength, and core work (e.g. side planks) had given me the balance to dance up those steps without a second thought and without getting out of breath.  ​

Training Sessions & The Trainers

I like that every workout is different. I like that we do moves that I haven’t done since I was a kid.  That is fun! I like that we work with our own body weight, not equipment like treadmills or bikes. I like the challenge of learning a new exercise and how to do it correctly for the most benefit. I like being pushed to reach my potential. I like that I don’t have to worry about whether I am taking someone’s “spot” on the exercise floor or taking the “wrong” bike that belongs to someone else. I like that the trainers are consistent in how they teach the moves.

"Most of all I like the approach to teaching and coaching and their focus on all of us.  They are so encouraging, positive and helpful. I think that is a big reason why everyone appears to enjoy being at Wilcox gym."

"Give it a try. Life is short. It is a good time to invest in your health and happiness."