Fit to Print Volume 23 Issue 4 December 2014 | Page 7

Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n

By Marianela Virella-Mielke, NSCA-CPT

Runaway Training Truck
Teresa Hoff’s Road to Fitness Recovery
undemanding yet achingly difficult
relationship. I explained to T that as a
means of distraction and as a way for
me to feel stronger and build up the
courage to go, I started exercising.
With the assistance of a Personal
Trainer and exercise videos, I lost
weight and started gaining mental
power. A few years later, I entered a
480 hour training program at The
National Institute of Personal Training
in Hoboken, New Jersey while working
full time in Manhattan. In April 2006,
after 4 years of sweating and
struggling, I walked out into the
unknown with a spring in my sneakers,
my trainer's kick-some-sass
words/shouts and a new light in my
eyes.
I told T to enjoy the chance to take
care of herself and trust that she will
eventually act on what's best for her. In
the meantime, I said we will work
closely together and focus on her
health and fitness. Either way, I
asserted, you will get into better
shape.

Teresa & Her Trainer, Marianela

I

n March 2008, Theresa Hoff and I met
for a fitness assessment. Theresa (T)
explained that fitness was the last
thing on her mind as she was currently in
a toxic relationship and was struggling on
how to put herself first. I sensed that T
needed to hear that she was not alone. I
shared some highlights from my own 8
year dysfunctional relationship in my late
twenties - m