The Perfect Client

by Jen Pliemann BS, C

The perfect client walks thru the door of FIT five to ten minutes prior to a workout with a smile on his/her face, gives me and everyone else in the group a hug or a high five, and immediately asks "what do we get to do today!!??" The perfect client asks if we can "stop talking and get started." He/she gives 110% every time he/she is at FIT. I have yet to hear a complaint about what we are doing for the day. The perfect client stops mid squat as I praise his/her efforts and says, "aw, thanks Jen, thanks for telling me good job." He/she looks in the mirror at the end of a the hour, turns to one side and pats his/her belly, turns to the other side and looks to me with little tears in his/her eyes and exclaims, "JEN, I JUST LOOK AMAZING!!!" At the end of the hour, I can’t WAIT to see the perfect client again.

Six months ago I found four perfect clients: FITBuddies. For those of you who have not seen us in action or heard about us (you can hear us a mile away every Wednesday from 4:30-5:30pm), FITbuddies is a group of individuals with characteristics of Down Syndrome and Autism. I was recently asked for an update on the progress and success of the group. After six months, I feel I could write a book on these four unique individuals. The stories above about the perfect client are truly representative of a typical hour, but there is so much more.

In order to understand the progression of this group, I think it is first important to understand my goals and purpose for starting this group. As a trainer, I have some of the basic goals for FITBuddies that I have for all my clients: strength, coordination, flexibility, weight loss (depending on the individual), power, endurance, and so on. We have also made some personal goals that FITbuddies came up with themselves. Some examples include learning how to jump rope, running a mile without stopping, push ups!!, and "getting strong so I can find a ‘special’ girl” (one of my favorites). This is why my job is easy: I have some of the most motivated clients with fairly simple, straight forward goals.

My goals for FITbuddies extend beyond these "basic" goals. Many individuals with Down Syndrome, a genetic disorder marked by an extra chromosome, face many physical obstacles. These physical challenges can include extreme deficits in motor skills, poor balance, poor overall muscle tone, poor reflexes, and heart conditions (many are prone to CHF, chronic heart failure). Many individuals with autism, a neurological disorder, face either hypoactive or hyperactive sensory responses. These may in turn result in “abnormal” behaviors such as aggressive behaviors toward themselves or others, rocking back and forth, making abnormal noises and many more self stimulatory behaviors. I feel that thru high intensity exercise some of these behaviors can be modified or even eliminated and that these individuals can learn more appropriate behaviors to help regulate their moods.

These conditions are some of the main reason I started FITbuddies. When the average person is told they have something wrong (heart condition, overweight, poor muscle tone, depressive behaviors, etc), they are often told seek physical activity. Their options are endless. There are trainers, gyms, and classes on every corner for them. When a parent is told their child has Down Syndrome or Autism, they essentially receive the exact same advice yet their resources are very limited. This leads me to my final reason for starting FITbuddies. I know I am not going to be the individual that finds the cause of autism or better yet a cure. I know I will most likely not be the one who finds a way to prevent Down Syndrome. I CAN help make people more aware. I feel if people have a better understanding of these disorders and spend more and more time with these amazing individuals then eventually they will see that they are "just like you and me." That is why I started this group and why I am writing this article.

These individuals and their parents face many challenges and acceptance and awareness in the community is one thing that may make their life a little bit easier. After getting to know these individuals better, you may soon realize you too can learn a lot from the perfect client.

Finally, the big question: has FITbuddies been successful?

Success: "To Laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. "

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Stop in for an hour and you will see success. These kids never stop laughing (neither do Michelle or I). They are constantly cheering each other on. The gain in confidence among the group is amazing. This is the most motivating group I’ve worked with. And yes, I think they make FIT a better place! A few weeks ago, my college roommate stopped in for the hour and is now looking into starting a group in Wisconsin. FITbuddies is growing!

We are working every week to reach our goals: both theirs and mine. After six months, most are finally able to jump rope at least once or twice in a row. Running, overhead squats, sit ups, push ups, and rowing are requested on a weekly basis. I reach my goals by targeting their basic goals. I love it and they do too.

Last but not least, a big thank you to YOU! YOU have helped make FITbuddies successful. Clients and trainers have been nothing but supportive and are constantly checking in with us to see how we are doing. Thanks to Michelle who helps me out every week. I couldn’t do it without you! Also, I recently have picked up a new part time job, as many of you know, working as a behavioral therapist for children with autism for I CAN TOO Learning Center. I am still working full time at FIT but now spend the afternoons at individual’s homes working with children and their families on the autism spectrum. Thanks to my clients and trainers who have been very supportive during this transition. I am learning more and more everyday and the best part about it, is so are you. I have read more articles and seen more shows on autism since I’ve started this job and the information is coming from my clients! I love it. I constantly receive emails from YOU telling me about a show airing next weekend. One of my clients even went to the library to make copies of an article for me!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is why I am doing what I am doing.

This, for me, is SUCCESS.

For more information on autism:
www.cureautismnow.org
www.autismspeaks.org
For more information on Down Syndrome:
www.ndss.org
www.ncpad.org