07/28/2026
Every once in a while, someone reminds you what true strength looks like.
Joanne has been living with MS since she was 19 years old. It has shaped her life in many ways, but it has never taken away her determination to keep showing up.
Week after week, she works hard. She celebrates progress. She continues proving that strength isnāt about perfection - itās about perseverance.
The victories we celebrate arenāt just about lifting more weight. Theyāre about building confidence, gaining independence, and improving quality of life.
In Joanneās wordsā¦
āThe hardest part of starting my fitness journey was pressing send.
Since my MS diagnosis, every decade has brought a different battle.
In my 20s and 30s, my disease was invisible to the outside world. The battle was emotional: Will I be able to be ālike everyone else,ā and for how long?
My most challenging battle has been in my 40s and 50sālearning to navigate the new ways my body shows up for everyday life. When I first started using a cane, I felt so much shame every time I stepped outside. I worried people would see me as weak and incapable. I began avoiding going out with friends or enjoying life, which became very isolating.
It wasnāt until I reconnected with Sara and started seeing her posts that I worked up the courage to press send. It was the best decision Iāve ever made. From day one, Sara has made me feel capable. We started slow, but every session was filled with encouragement, understanding, and laughter.
Every week, I notice a difference. I now have the strength to hold my arms up long enough to put my hair in a ponytail, and I can walk across my backyard on the grass without my cane. I see so much improvement from strength training, nutrition, and consistency. It has changed my focus from āI donāt think I can do thatā to āLook what I can do!ā
Iām showing up for myself. I want to live a long, capable life where I can take care of myself and be there for my son and my parentsā.
ā¤ļø Thank you, Joanne, for allowing me to share your story. Coaching you is an absolute privilege.
