Mrs Frances Pogson was born on 17th November 1944. She attends Studio Glo for 2  x 30 minute sessions per week. Started Personal Training 2 years ago.

Kylie Pogson

My mother has worked hard all her life and has been the sort of person who never sat still. You know the sort of woman I’m talking about don’t you? Puts everyone else first and never complains. Mum would often get aches and pains but would shake them off after a few days.

Mum always thought she was healthy because she felt fine. She ate her meat and vegetables and didn’t eat much take-away. She didn’t think there was a problem with drinking 10 cups of coffee a day instead of water, smoking a packet of cigarettes a day and drinking a little too much wine to help her get to sleep. As she kept saying, she felt fine, and was still getting up at 5:30 or 6am everyday to get Dad off to work!

When Mum turned 60, suddenly things weren’t as good as they used to be. Her entire body was in pain and she could hardly move. She could hardly get out of a chair or car, couldn’t lift her arms to hang up washing and couldn’t vacuum. She could only sleep for 20 minutes at a time until she had to get up and walk around to stop the pain in her neck and shoulders. She was nauseous and couldn’t stomach food and we noticed a dramatic weight loss; 20kg in total. We actually thought she had cancer but, thankfully, after months of visiting various GPs, consuming buckets of pain killers and anti-inflammatories she was diagnosed with a condition called Poly Myalgia Rhuematica. It’s an auto immune disorder which typically affects people between the ages of 55 and 70, lasts about 2 years and its major symptoms are muscle wastage, joint stiffness and weight loss.

In the medical community, lifestyle is overlooked as a possible contributing factor, but I'm not convinced of that. One of her doctors had wanted her to have an operation to fuse the vertebrae in her neck! Fortunately, my mother took a more alternative route, and started visiting an osteopath and a Dr/Naturopath in Integrated Medicine. She removed all refined foods and caffeine, and consumed only meat, vegetables and clean filtered water. She did use medication for a short time when her pain was unbearable but also fed her body the nutrients and extra supplements which she was advised.

It’s been about 2 years since mum was diagnosed. She is definitely in recovery and looks better than she did 10 years ago. I’m so proud of how she has pulled herself through this health crisis. I think she has learnt to respect her body and realises that she needs to look after herself if she wants to sail into old age, or older age!     

Liz Yochum

When I first met Frances she was very thin, her posture was stooped, she walked slowly and very stiffly. Frances weighed 60kg at the beginning and every movement was an effort. She found it difficult to lift the weights, light though they were, found difficulty in walking, could hardly get down onto the floor and then found it very challenging to get back to her feet. It was going to be a slow process.

Now 12 months on, Frances has put on muscle, is able to walk for longer and at a faster rate, her posture is far more erect, she has more energy and improved flexibility and she has put on 5kgs. She is off her medication, can get up and down off the floor more easily, and is feeling so much better in herself. To add to her list of successes, Frances has cut down her smoking habit to les than half what it was, drinks far less coffee and her alcohol intake is non-existent.

If anyone is an inspiration it is Frances. She has gone through pain from her condition, her workouts, withdrawals and medication side effects. She has made an effort to make exercise a routine and has changed her eating habits. All of this has been done with a smile, a great sense of humour and more than her fair share of phrases: “I don’t want to do this”, or “is it over yet”, “isn’t that the end of the session”, or “I can’t walk because it’s raining and I’ll get my hair wet”!

Frances is a delight to work with. We have had many laughs and I look forward to many more.

Frances Pogson

What a difference a year has made to my health and wellbeing since I changed my lifestyle. I didn’t realise just how bad I had been treating the ‘old bod’ over the years. Looking back now, I wonder how I survived!

It all started changing for the better by doing a 12 week cleanse to get rid of all the toxins which I had been happily feeding my body over the years. No coffee (that was hard) but plenty of meat and vegies complemented by vitamins and minerals. Over time I realised a lot of my aches and pains were diminishing and I was able to do things that I used to be able to do. All this happened without having to go ‘under the knife’ as I was threatened with by one GP. She thought that might take away all the pain in my neck. What about all the pain everywhere else! Drugs were her answer. Not an option said my daughter Kylie most adamantly and she dragged me off to her favourite osteopath for treatment. The osteopathic treatment was great. But although I was feeling better I was very scrawny and also very weak. Up steps Kylie again (talk about role reversal!). One day out of the blue she informs me she had made an appointment for me to see Liz. It’s definitely one of the best things she has done as I wouldn’t have done anything without a big shove!

Liz has been fantastic, and patient. Over the months we have steadily built up my strength and fitness and we have even had a few laughs along the way. My Doctor is very impressed with my vast improvement. I still have symptoms of my condition but they are so far removed from this time last year that I’m not constantly thinking about how bad I feel, like in the past.

It's amasing what a difference the right advice can make to your life!

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