Little did I expect the pure passion that erupted
during the interviews. No, no I don’t necessarily mean romantic passion (although
after interviewing the couples I’m sure that’s a part of it). I mean the sheer,
unbridled passion for leading a clean, healthy life. For these couples, working out not
only enhances their lives, it’s an intrinsic part of their daily routine, a focal
point around which the rest of the world revolves.
I was stunned, enlightened and personally motivated to make fitness
more of a commitment in my life after hearing how these dynamic duos have done it in
theirs.
Doris and Kevin Hurley are the epitome of converts to fitness.
Doris, 59, began exercising 20 years ago when her high powered position began taking its
toll.
“I was gaining weight which had never been a problem
before,” she reveals. “I wasn’t feeling right about myself. At that point,
I had never exercised in my life. I didn’t even own a pair of sneakers. I lived in
high heels.”
Doris joined an all-female gym and has been faithful in her workouts
ever since. Her sexy, youthful figure and glowing complexion are a reflection of her
dedication. Although their ages and circumstances differed remarkably, all the couples
shared the philosophy of total commitment. Once they made up their minds to change, they
followed through.
KEVIN AND DORIS HURLEY
“She’s my role model,” admits hubby Kevin, 58. The
tall, deep voiced former executive says he was a smoker, drinker and avid non-exerciser
until he hit his mid fifties.
“I was always active and I guess I got away with murder,”
he says. “And then one day I realized that my body wasn’t what it used to be and
I began to shape up.”
The couple, who travel extensively, are so hooked on the value of
fitness they choose their vacation homes and cruises based on fitness facilities.
On a recent cruise, Doris found that the aerobic classes
weren’t challenging enough so she asked the ship’s dancers if she could work out
with them.
“Sometimes I have to hold myself back from working out too
much,” says Doris who takes classes and trains with Abbie Appel while Kevin gets
“beat up” by his trainer Bob Esquerre a.k.a. “Satan”.
Kevin has always been supportive of Doris in all her endeavors and
is now similarly “hooked” on the value of exercise.
They make a great pair and prove that marriage can be a most
productive partnership when both parties enjoy each other’s company and work together
for a common goal.
Doris is strict about her nutrition and Kevin lovingly makes sure
she has her soy products available wherever they travel—even if it makes shipping the
goods ahead of time to meet them at a designated port!
They love eating out, and even though Kevin looks like a two fisted
meat and potatoes man, he’s a sushi connoisseur.
“I still like my single malt Scotch,” he laughs, “But
I try to eat clean and healthy foods whenever possible.”
Doris adds that their dedication to fitness and health has a much
deeper motivation than appearance.
“We want to be around for each other in our golden years,”
she says. “We know that health is much more important than money or power. Without
health, we could not enjoy our children and grandchildren, and especially each
other.”
MICHAEL FRANK AND MICHELLE WOLNER
Here’s a tale with an almost fairy tale
quality. Picture our own laconic and much married Michael Frank walking into a tony New
York eatery and seeing an old flame before him—a flame ready for some sparks!
“I’m a firm believer in visualization,” says Michelle
Wolner, 52, former manager of a restaurant situated right across the famous Dakota
apartment house in New York City. “I was ready for a change in my life, for a
commitment to my soul and body. I wasn’t happy about how I looked and how my life was
structured.
“And then Michael walked in to the restaurant and my heart
skipped. We had known each other 25 years ago and here he walked back into my life at a
time I was ready for his kind of dedication and discipline to health.”
Naturally, they talked about fitness and setting goals. Michael was
enchanted and returned to Florida with Michelle still very much on his mind.
“Our phone bills were outrageous,” he says.
Finally, in December, Michelle left her job and moved here to Boca
to join Michael. She takes care of the culinary part of their healthy lifestyle while
Michael rules the gym.
Frank, 55, is a professional personal trainer at MBS as well as a
partner. He’s known for his “iron hand in velvet glove” techniques.
“He definitely pushes me, but I thoroughly trust the fact
he’d never ask me to do more than I can,” says Michelle.
“She’s added a whole new dimension to my routine,”
says Frank. “Michelle is a gourmet cook who makes delicious meals according to my low
fat, low sugar, high fiber and nutrient dense eating plan. She knows how to make simple
foods delicious.”
Michelle modestly says, “I do in the kitchen what Michael does
in the gym. I try to be creative while sticking to quality ingredients.”
Michael and Michelle are wonderful examples of how couples who
work—and workout together—can be supportive and bring their workouts to a new
level.
“She’s the light of my life,” says Frank.
SAM AND MINNIE SIEGEL
The Siegels have been married for 63 years, and like Energizer
batteries are still going strong.
Sam, 88, has been athletic since boyhood.
“I used work to in a chicken farm,” he says. “I
hoisted 100 pound bags of poultry. So when I stopped doing that, I took up weight lifting
because my body was used to it.”
Minnie, 85, was a tomboy from the get go.
“My girlfriends would hang around waiting for guys to call
them,” the New Jersey native recalls. “I’d say, ‘forget about it!
I’m going hiking!”
The couple met, appropriately, on the handball court.
“She couldn’t beat me, so she married me,’ Sam quips.
They have four children, seven grandchildren and six great grand
children.
Sam had a bypass in 1977 and has been a vegetarian ever since.
“We have a macrobiotic club that meets at Wild Oats every
week,” he says. “You’d be surprised at how many people have been cured of
dreaded diseases by eating whole foods.”
They love going to Silver Sneakers together although Minnie quips
that some Mondays, her sneakers are black!
“Especially when I walk in mud,” she laughs.
Both Sam and Minnie feel that exercise helps keep them mentally and
physically sharp.
“We also love the people we meet,” adds Sam.
“It’s a great way to get out meet new friends.”
ROLENE AND IRWIN GRAMS
That tall, striking couple that frequent MBS
each morning are South African imports who love living in Boca Raton and especially love
working out together.
"I've been working out for 24 years," says Rolene Grams, 45. "I started
right after the birth of my son. In those days we worked out in the garage of a famous
South African exercise guru named Denise Modlin.
"It was basic aerobics like Jane Fonda used to do. I even appeared in a video at the
time featuring Denise's techniques."
Grams, a pharmacist, eventually joined a real gym and coaxed her husband Irwin, 51, to
join her. Although he was always active, playing tennis and golf regularly, he'd never
stepped into a gym.
"Now he's addicted!" laughs Rolene. The couple work out religiously, using all
the equipment to make sure they cross train effectively.
"That's the secret," adds Rolene, who was also athletic in her youth. "You
need to keep jolting the body by trying different things so that you and your body never
get bored or complacent."
Their discipline paid off two years ago when they arrived from South Africa. Irwin went to
his doctor for a checkup and the physician noticed an irregularity in his heart pattern.
"They didn't release him but rushed Irwin right to the hospital where they performed
a bypass to open his clogged arteries," Rolene recalls. "He had a condition they
jokingly call a 'widow maker."
Within four weeks, Irwin was back at MBS. Since then the couple restrict fat intake,
eating health foods which they both prepare along with their 10 year old daughter.
"We eat fish twice a week, lots of chicken and meat rarely," says Rolene.
"We never eat junk food and prefer to barbecue our dinners because it's an easy,
healthy way to cook.
"We plan our days around our workouts and make sure we fuel our bodies accordingly. I
don't believe in deprivation but I am a firm believer in eating only when you are hungry
and eating only until you are full.
"I never forced me children to eat for that reason. Listen to your body. It will tell
you what it needs."
Irwin says that their daily workouts have definitely enhanced their relationship.
"We work together and work out together," he says. "It's a way of sharing
your life with the one you love the most and it definitely brings you closer
together."
MARSHA AND CHAIM INGBER
We've all seen that dynamo Marsha diligently working out in the gym or singing her way
through spinning classes. The 52-year-old guidance counselor and her 51 year old hubby,
Chaim, a stock trader are faithful members of MBS.
Marsha says that workout out definitely reduces the stress of her emotionally wrenching
job--she often has to deal with suicide issues in teens. It's also a time that she and
Chaim can be together in a neutral setting.
"Chaim works at home," Marsha says. "I go straight to Michael's after work
and he meets me there. For the next hour, we help each other in our workouts. In the
beginning, I pushed him. Now he's telling me what to do!"
Both Marsha and Chaim were very athletic in their youth. Marsha played kickball and
racquetball while Chaim's sport of choice was soccer.
He swims mornings for an hour before the market opens and then joins Marsha three times a
week for a kick-ass workout. "I watch the trainers and I listen and learn," says
Marsha. "Working out is a part of my life. I may be little but I'm tough!"
Chaim says that working out with Marsha gives them a chance to unwind and share news of
the day together in a stress-free environment.
"You get that happy feeling after working out," he says. "You lose the
tension of the day."
Marsha admits to feeling that euphoric "runner's high" during spinning class.
"I reach that wonderful state of feeling all's well with the world,' she says.
"That alone enhances your relationship!"
Marsha says that they eat healthful foods most of the time but doesn't mind cheating with
a donut or two when the mood strikes.
"Don't deprive yourself," she warns. "Eat what you want and avoid extreme
diet plans."
On the other hand, she says that she avoids temptation by banishing junk food from her
home pantry.
"I admit the spirit can be weak!" she jokes. "A bag of Hershey kisses
wouldn't stand a chance in my house. If I want something sweet, I will go out and get
it."
All our couples support each other and say that working out together has cemented their
common bond.
"It's something you share, you enjoy and can talk about together," says Irwin
Grams. "It's a part of your life."
Cupid's A Personal Trainer! 
CUPID'S A PERSONAL TRAINER!