Season 3 Episode 2 Personal Trainer Marie Ande shares with us the importance of strength training for women

Most of us know that exercise is important for our health. But not a lot of us really understand why. Marie shares with us all the reasons why strength training in particular can help you now physically and mentally, and later in your life, by keeping you strong and mobile, and it can even lengthen your life!

Debbie Weiss shares how she ended up being a client of Marie's and how good it has been for her.

Marie's approach is warm and supportive, she runs morning classes with small groups of women who support each other and that helps overall.


You can reach Marie at:
Website: www.herfitnessnj.com
Phone Number 9008-963-5257

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Hi, everyone, and welcome back to the BW Nice Voice podcast. I am your co host, Debbie Weiss and I am here with Lynne Thompson, my other co host and our special guest today, who is Marie Ande. So Lynne, why don't you tell us a little bit about Marie? Hi, Debbie. Hi, Marie. Nice to have you here. Marie is a member of the Hunterdon county BW nice chapter, she joined in 2011. And then again in 2021. Her career is personal trainer. The name of her business is Her Fitness. She has been doing it for 28 years. And one of the messages she wants to get out there to women, is they need to strength train. And we're going to talk more about that. So welcome, Marie. Hi, Lynne. Hi, Debbie. Thank you for having me. Excited for today. The second time I'm seeing you once in person. And now once on Zoom. So I'll just say upfront that I am a loyal, loyal Marie 6am strength trainer. And I'm sure later on I will divulge how that happened, and how I was not a willing and eager participant. I love that you are always the light of the session too thank you. So Marie, why don't you tell us a little bit about how you got into fitness and strength training and how you started your business. Okay, so let's see, when I went to college, I had a number of majors before I decided on Exercise Sciences, Sports Studies. And I loved anatomy, I just it was really interesting to me. And I think that's, that's really what started me on that on the path. In terms of schooling. What really interested me, I think, in health wise is because of my personal background and my family background that my dad had asthma, my whole my whole life, as long as I was alive, and you know, I saw how it impacted the quality of his life, the quality of the family life. And he did die at a young age. And I think that really had a big impact on me and weight in terms of like, you know, what, if if you don't take care of your body, if you don't have your health, it's it's hard to do life, and it's really hard to be all that you can be. And so once I found exercise science and and with also that kind of in the background looming in the back of my head, and not knowing anything about health, fitness, anything at all. I realized like I have to, I have to go to school and learn this stuff. And when when I was in school, I thought I wanted to do physical therapy, I thought, you know, I had a job in physical therapy, I wanted to do it. And you know, God had other plans for me, thankfully, because I love what I do now. And I think I would have been okay, it was PT, but it there's a lot of paperwork involved in that a lot of insurance paperwork. So I started my business after going after graduating college, I did still work in physical therapy. But I was just was young still, I just didn't know exactly how I could really use my degree to do what I wanted to do. And I sort of was pushed into going out on my own and doing my own business when that physical therapy clinic closed, so I was like, You know what, I'm just gonna go do my personal training, I was doing it in the clinic. You know, I thought I'm gonna go out on my own and I did it in. In home, I went to people's homes, and I was doing one on one training for one time. And then I got pregnant and wanting to work closer to home and that's when the group training started. And I just really love the strength training component of fitness. It made me feel confident it made me just feel really good about myself and made me feel strong. I like to I like to feel that way. I like to feel capable, physically capable. And it did that for me and I wanted to share that with other women and I particularly do like to work with other women. And for those reasons, because I think it's just we, you know, women have a we have we have an impact on on everybody. You know, the stereotype, I think is that men are the leaders, but it's always the women, it's always the women were the one that makes make things happen. We're the ones that have the influence. And some, sometimes it might might be quiet and you know, in the background, but we have the influence on spouses, children, friends, neighbors community, so it's, it's expands beyond our little unit. And I just think that is so powerful. And when we feel good physically, when we take care of ourselves, and we are spending time, every day or a few times a week, taking care of our health. You know, that has an impact that you're showing other people, you're showing your family, that that health, your health is important that you matter that you you know, you take time for yourself, you love yourself, you love them. I love the quote by I think it was Jim Rohn. He says, I'll take care of me for you if you take care of you for me. And so a husband and wife situation is what that's what he was referring to. And I think of that in my family, too. I'm taking care of myself, because when I'm stronger, I can take care of everybody else better. I kind of went on and on. I'm sorry. No, that's great. You're making connections. It sounds like if you would have stayed in PT -- It just didn't light you up the way this does. I would say that. Yes. I would absolutely say that. Yeah. So how did you? Did you have any trepidation opening up your business on your own when you had no experience doing that? Well, you know, my family, my father had a business. And I had seen my parents go from working for other people to slowly move into their business when they both had job first, my mom didn't work out that full time. Then she when I was getting older, she had full time job. And then they open up a business. She ran it. He my dad did all the backend stuff, right, he still work somewhere else. And then I saw him quit his job and go full time. So they had a business a long time. And I think that probably gave me a little confidence. And also at the time, I still lived at home. So I It wasn't as hard for me. You know, I had that security of not worrying about the housing and stuff like that. So because I was in my early 20s. So I think that was really I was really lucky. Because if I was right here right now, I don't know what I would do. But yeah, yeah, that's what I was that they were such good role models. Yeah, yeah. And in that way, absolutely. My dad took took risks. You know, my mom did too. But he was the one that he was the risk taker. And sure, I do think that we had an absolutely did have an influence on me as well. Starting, were you? Were you doing early on? Were you did you go right into strength to like this specific area of strength training and exercise? were you back then doing it all? Like, did my my business model change? Or any? Yeah, yeah. I mean, if you started in your early 20s I know what it looks like. Now, I'm sure you weren't. I'm guessing that in your early 20s, you weren't gearing programs towards women over 40? No, I was kind of working with anybody and everybody. And it really was a lot more cardio based. It's funny that you say that because I kind of thought that, um, and it was more, like, let's see how hard I can crush this person and make them feel like they have this, you know, got a whole workout. And, yeah, good. I didn't know you then. And it was it was more haphazard. You know, I've got you know, you learn things now I've got systems in places for that for things and, and, yeah, and I just know the importance of strength training. And, you know, as you as you get older, you learn what's good for your body. As you know, women we all we all age, there's certain age things that happen as all people age, but you know, things are different for women when we age or there's just more hormonal fluctuations in women throughout the month and throughout our lifetime than men have. It's not that they don't have it, but we definitely have more fluctuations on a regular basis and then over the long haul of our life. So um, When I was in different stages of my life, I had some slightly different interests. But I think I have a much better perspective now on the, on the on the range of, you know, when you're 25, this is good exercise when you're 65, this is going to be a little bit better. And you know what, and somewhere in between and those perimenopausal years, this is gonna be a little bit better for you, too. So strength training all the way all the way no matter what. But I don't think I realized the the importance of it on your longevity and health that I do now. So it's always good for looking good for feeling good and being stronger. But the fact that having muscle is equated equates to longevity, and better physiological health. The numbers, you know, that I don't, I didn't realize when I was younger. Well, and wasn't it? I mean, it seems to me in the last decade or so that's been something that is much more come to the forefront in the field that it wasn't there. 30 years ago. Everyone talked about that. Yeah. It helps your mental health too. I mean, the more studies they do, the more helpful they say it is. Yeah, it's actually really important. It is very important for your for your mental health. They've done studies that show that it works better than drugs for depression. And some of the reasons they don't even know why they can't even pinpoint it's just exercise. Just go do exercise. Yeah, so I, you know, it's such a good point, Lynne, about the mental health aspect of it, I think especially now there's a lot of people suffering. We have poor quality food, we don't get outside in the sun enough. We don't exercise, we stay up late, we're on screens very late. You know, where a lot of people are home. So there's actually more access and ability to work. So people are pressured or feel pressured or self driven to work more hours, actually. So there's a lot that goes into it. And then, you know, if you forget that exercise component, you're just, I don't know, what's not taking care of your body. I mean, for me, it just takes me out of my own mental. I don't want to say anguish, but whatever is going on, right, the stress, I say, it takes me out of the stress of my life, because I have to solely focus on what I'm doing with my body because it's not necessarily easy. And it just requires it requires brainpower to and then that allows me to get outside of my regular world. Yeah, absolutely. That's a part of it. That's definitely that's actually a huge part of it is that your focus and your concentration? is present, its present. And how often are people present in the moment? It's, you know, you hear all the time people are either thinking about the future, or they're thinking about the past. Absolutely. They forget about the presence and and exercise strength training, especially strength training, that's heavy. You know, you've got to be thinking about your forearm to be safe. You've got to be thinking about how you're executing the movement. So yeah, good point. Great point, Very powerful. Yeah, it is. There really is. So on a business topic. Let me ask you, how do you find your customers? I mean, I know -- Great. Customer. Oh, I don't mean like that. Like, where do you go? Well, yes, thank you. Where do you go look for them? How do you acquire new customers? That changed over time? Hmm, that sort of changed a lot with with my family I think like, well, also over the period, don't forget, like there wasn't Facebook and -- Exactly. So what do you do then? I used to network a lot. I still like to network. It's actually one of my favorite ways. And I'm the most comfortable with that. Because of what I do also it is a personality match there has for me and my business there has to be a personality match and really not just with me because as you know Debbie, there has to be a good gel and a good click between the other clients together not just me and the client but the client and the other people because I want to have I have a culture there I want this these women to gel and support one another. And you know there's all different personality type types, but right but But we haven't we make it work. And we gel. And I want that. And I think that's a really important part of her fitness and also just a part of being successful in our business, but successful for my clients to do what they're doing. Because if they don't like the other people, or it's not fun, like there's no, like, you're not going to come back, you don't want to come back. Something in the back of your head is saying, Yeah, I feel like going today, if you don't go, you don't get results, your body doesn't change. And you know what all the women that I work with are really fantastic. I'm really proud of them. They're kind, they're caring, they're supportive. They're uplifting, and I really, I cannot say enough. And it's not just because you're in front of me, Daddy, I always, I always feel this way. Like, it's just, they're just good people. And it's who I want to work with. You know, and I am that and that just as a business owner, that's huge. So I get to pick that person too. And I know, in some businesses, women, people don't get to pick their clients, they just, they just, you know, do the drudgery of the work, so to speak. But my work is not drudgery. And my work is fun, and uplifting, and it's motivating and inspiring for me to go in every day and see my clients working hard and trying something new and challenging themselves and, and being open. And so as much as they may learn from me, I have grown grown in so many different ways in so many different aspects from from being around my clients on a regular basis, you know, they, they've helped me be a better mother, a better wife. I mean, you know, business is business, but it's, you know, the real life is your is your family and your attitude and what you're giving back. And they always inspire me to be a better person and help me grow in that way. So it's, it's a good thing. You know, we haven't really talked about exactly what you do. And I I personally think that something that women don't think about, besides the strength Well, let me just say that I always loved cardio, I love to dance. I never had any interest in strength training. And I it's not like Maria shamed me. I don't know why I, I think because I knew how important it was that I had to figure out a way that I could do it. That wasn't drudgery. Just like you said, I figured if I give it a try, I know what's going to happen. I'm not going to like it. It won't be dancing. It won't be this, it won't be that. And, you know, I, in my mind, basically set myself up for failure, telling me that I'm not going to go. But one of the things that I found the a lot of things that I found different was the fact that you're focusing on functional fitness. And then that really allows you to think, oh, yeah, when I'm 70, I want to be able to get off the floor or, you know, whatever it is, and pointing that out. I think it just brought to my mind even more. So the importance of you know, the workout. So maybe you can talk more about that functional component. Oh, are you ready talking about when we were doing things like getting up and digging down? And I happen to say you want to be able to do this? Or did that just when you're? Oh, no, no, because I couldn't do that get up, get down. That was too fast for me. But no, you know what, no, the fact that your system, the system that you use of evaluating people, right, so when a client comes in, I assess their movement patterns, to see where their strengths and weaknesses lie. And that helps me customize their program within the group setting. So we get the advantage of the group setting. But we also get the customization that each person needs because every person moves differently. Everybody has a different life. They're coming from different places, different starting points, different perspectives of life, different experiences and everything else. And when they come I assess them, we find out strengths and weaknesses. And so once we get to the group, we all we know I've got a system in place that says Ah, oh, that's right. Debbie. I'm going to push you in this movement pattern like say, a deadlift or a squat and maybe on a different different motion. You know, pressing or shoulder press, I'm going to, you know, have you do this exercise instead of, you know, something else. So, It allows for that customization so that people remain working hard to their ability without putting them at greater risk for injury. And I think that's really important because especially if you're already coming into to exercise program with a feeling a little intimidated or not wanting to do it, you know, you don't want to get hurt, and then be sidelined for two months or ever, you know, on the sideline, there's always risks to exercise, you're always there's always a risk, but the system allows us to minimize it. And then also help you improve your mobility, your control your strength, over time, or at the very least, you know, some people look there, they have, maybe they had an accident, and they have a spinal disc problem are something that doesn't go away. But what we can do is prevent it from from affecting your body, negatively on down the mile as you grow as you get older. You know, okay, this might be your starting point. But if you do nothing, you go, you know, a sharp downhill, let's at least maintain what you've got, or start increasing your mobility and strength, where we can, I guess, does that sound about right? Yeah, I think what you, one of the things that you do do really well is differentiate in the moment, you know, there can be eight people there, and five different exercises could be going on simultaneously, which is amazing. And the thing that I like is there's no judgement, right? Just because I can't do that with weights or I can't, you know, I never feel like anybody's looking at me and judging me because it is a cohesive group. And I, for me, I, I love the whole group thing. And once you feel a part of that group, if you don't show up, people are going to notice, and it also kind of helps with your accountability, like, oh, no, if I'm not there, that's right. be asking, Where are you this morning. It's not just me that asks, it's the other way, which is really important to know that somebody cares enough that you're showing up or you're not showing up. And if you don't show up, it's not, it's not hurting me, it's hurting you. because consistency is what makes a difference. It does the intensity of the workout is the least important thing. It's really showing up time after time after time after time like it, you know, it's not there's no pill, there's no pill, you have to you have to put the work in week after week after week. And if you don't show up and you don't put the work in, then things don't change. Great points. I think people really benefit from how much experience you have. And I think it's so cool that you are able to customize within a group setting. That's so neat. So Debbie, how did you get into it? So honestly, Marie, it was right before Christmas time I remember it was like the middle of December. And she was running. We were at a VW nice meeting. And she was talking that she was running a two week special, I think try it out for free. And I live about 15 minutes from the studio. And Marie has classes two times a day at 6am and 9am. And I couldn't do the 9am because I worked. So I said well, okay, if I'm going to come to your 6am class, that means I'm going to have to get up at like 515 brush my teeth, you know, throw the clothes on DRIVE 15 minutes at 530 in the morning to get to your place. Okay, I'll try it. But she also I guess, since the pandemic's has a hybrid option as well. So I said, I'll come to the studio for the first week, and then I'm never coming to the studio again. I'm only going to do it hybrid. And like I said earlier, I was like, Yeah, this is never happening. And I guess after the two weeks, I don't even know. I mean, it was it was Christmas time, like so we even missed a couple of days. And I was hooked and I was hooked because the camaraderie within the group. And also, since it's something I don't enjoy the fact that the exercises themselves, you weren't doing them for extended periods of time. It was like okay, you're going to do this for 40 seconds. Then you get a little bit of a break. Then you're going to do this for only 30 seconds and I thought to myself, well, my goodness, if I can't do it for 40 seconds It's like 40 seconds I can handle. And once I was there, and I saw the benefit of having Marie, well, I don't like it all the time when she's looking at me telling me, oh, we're going to try this now, but, but to have that benefit of her being able to tell me what I'm doing right what I'm doing wrong, maybe I should change something, but she does online too. But you know, in person, it's just easier. And then the camaraderie of the other people. Yeah, that was a year and a half ago. I'm still a 6am or Monday, Wednesday, Friday. So cool. I never miss it. Unless you know, if an emergency comes up, You're very, very consistent. Ready to go? Yes. Congratulations on that. But you're That's right. You were like, I'll try it for two weeks. expect much. I told her every reason why this isn't gonna work. I mean, I had every excuse. I don't, I'm not going to do this. I don't like this. I'm not going to travel this far. But I mean, like, I told her all, all the things before I even stepped foot into the gym, for goodness sake, I was a, you know, a non believer. You know, that's a good point to talk about the objections, because a lot of women, you know, objected away, you know, there's like you said, No, time is a really big excuse. So reasons, right? Like, we have reasons for these things, aka excuses for doing things. Something like we don't like it's it pushes our conference, we don't like to be uncomfortable. And we come up with reasons. Being time is one of them. It doesn't take that long. So with my in the setting, yes, there's going to be a little bit more of a time obligation. But you get a greater, greater benefit from it from being there, and being in person and following along. But even women who might be listening to this later on, you know, you don't have to go and go somewhere, you can be in your home, and do 15 squats and 10 Walk push ups and run up and down your stairs, and you've been active for the day. I mean, there's always a starting point. There doesn't need to be there's very few excuses. That I would say, oh, yeah, okay, yeah, no, one extra time, as busy as people are, the importance of what we're doing. There's there is really nothing more important. There's nothing that you know, a 10 minute workout. And you can't find that time. I mean, our presidents of her of the United States have been active, I'd love to see it when they showed people playing of our presidents running or basketball or, you know, if that person, yeah, can be can be active, like we all can. And we're not including the video with this interview. So I just want to say, you're a great advertisement for what you do. You're trim, you're strong, you have great muscles. You just you have a great attitude. Like when you get up at a meeting and you talk about it. I just love your energy. So you're, you know, you're a walking advertisement for what you do. I guess that's what sold me. Yeah. Linear next boy, watch out. I know, I feel this moment for you. What's the hardest thing about having your own business? Doing the social media? Like yeah, yeah. You know what? That really is. I mean, it sounds silly. And if it didn't have to be a part of my business, I wouldn't do it. I don't enjoy that part of it. I would have said a long time ago, like because my daughter's 14. So I've been doing this a long time. So when she was younger, it was the time management part of it when she was very little, when she went started going to school, that made things a lot easier. And so now I'm in a nice groove with that, since I love what I do, you know, all the all the other stuff, the admin stuff, that's okay, you know, being present on social media persistently, and with things that are interesting, or might or people might learn from, you know, I think that really is the hardest. Yeah, yeah, Especially I think all of us like solo-- solopreneurs. Right. I mean, it's such a part of it. And like you said, just content creation, what can you do differently? Well, and also just be on like, yeah, I don't want to be on screens that much. And to have to go in there and type stuff up. That's that's what I don't like. Yeah, I get most of your clients though. You've come from networking or referral, right? Yeah. Yeah. I do get some from the internet. So purchase. So some do come that way. So I need to be there to have a presence. And networking is my favorite When Audrey was little, she could probably do it now too, but there was more nighttime things. There's more opportunities before COVID. So yeah, I would I would go out at night on a week, you know, once a week or something like that. And now I don't I don't go out with the nighttime things as much and I doesn't seem like it as much availability or or opportunity for that. Maybe I'm just not seeing it. Because I'm not. You know, maybe I'm looking for it. Yeah, I think I think like, you know, like, BW Nice. Once everything started coming back. Now it's a process of re growing. So hopefully, more of those in person. Events will will happen and pop up again. You know, right. I mean, look, my perfect networking time would be noon. Yeah. Is your classes are over and? And Audrey is in school? Exactly. We're all still awake. Yes. Yeah. Anyway, maybe we need to start one. bw nice meeting at that time. So any, any last thoughts? Anything? What would you tell someone who, like me, like I was, who had no interest? Or felt they just weren't capable of physically doing it? I was gonna say you haven't you did have some interest in it, even though it wasn't? Yes. It wasn't the interest of this was going to be pleasing to me. That was the interest of, you know, what I know, this is this is something good for me. So I should do it, even though I don't like it. Correct. So what would I say to what did I say to you? I, you know, your money? Because I came to you just for that reason, I think, you know, sometimes, just like you said, it wasn't something I wanted to do. But once you realize, and I think too, for me, and and maybe a lot of us, as we get older, you're then really starting to realize the importance of it right now. It's different. You always think you have time. Oh, yeah, I don't need that now. I'm young. You know, I'll do that later on. So I guess as that age kept creeping up, it's like, well, if not now, when, like Lynne said, every time you spoke, I thought, oh, gosh, I can't even make eye contact with her. Because I know she's looking at somebody just like me who should be doing it. And, you know, with so many things, we all of us in business have special offers. You know, you're getting that person who's on the fence. And yeah, you know, a good deal push you over. So I think that's what I thought, yeah, well, I think, you know, it's hard to it's, it would be hard for me to reach somebody who doesn't even isn't even open to it. But I, I really just believe in the power of what it does for our lives. That when you don't when you're not exercising, when you're not taking care of your of your body. Like I just know, the future, I guess. So it's really important for me, it makes me really angry, to see so many people on lots and lots of medications, like it's somebody my age, the average amount of medications is or not the average the minimum amount of it educate medication, I think it's like five meds, five, meds, medicine has side effects. It has emotional side effects as physical side effects. And as long term side effects, that short term side effects, just because they tell you that the benefit outweighs the risk doesn't mean there's not a risk. So there are risks to taking all of this medication, and then combine that with emotional stress and life perception. It could be a disaster, and people spend, you look at somebody who's, you know, 8088 89 years old. Hopefully we live at least that long. But most of them have been ill for 20 years, you know, they've been taking care of an illness for 20 years or more. That makes me mad, because I don't think it has to be that way. I think that the majority of us could be without medicine, we could be taking care of ourselves for a longer amount of time. We are not destined to be bedridden in a nursing home. But I think we've become as a society we have become accustomed to like that's just the path. Well, they're all there. They're in they're in a nursing home, or they're bedridden, or they're sick. You know, they can't really move. It doesn't have to be that way. inactivity, causes disease, improper lifestyle habits, including nutrition causes disease, so Oh, if I could just impress upon people to start now versus later, like you were saying, don't wait for the crash to happen start, when you're still somewhat, you know, able, you're going to have a better, better shot. But somebody who doesn't want to or is open to it fine, you know, match. It's a good match. Like, I think like we have a good personality match. You gotta find someplace somewhere that you'd like to do. If you dread going somewhere or doing something it won't last. So it's got to be something that lasts and, you know, it may be strength training with weights isn't your thing. But yoga is and you can do a power yoga class where you're using your body weight, try different things, talk to different people get different perspectives. I think that's important to open your minds to what's out there. Know that it shouldn't hurt to be on muscle soreness, things should not hurt your joints. If they are find a different place, find a different trainer. If you're continually going in and like the person is pushing you to do things that you don't feel are safe. You should always feel safe. You should enjoy it should fit into your schedule. No worry, you should be willing to rearrange your schedule and be okay with it. Like getting up a little earlier. Yeah. Yeah. Great advice. Yeah. So we'll include your contact info in our show notes. When can you know people can get in touch with you that way? Yeah. Thank you so much. it was great. Thank you for having me. It was really good. Thanks, Marie. Thanks, that'd be thanks.