I help people to change their lifestyle behaviors that they could not do on their own; and thereby, achieve a new level of wellness consistent with their life vision. Through practical application of the fitness and nutritional sciences and wellness coaching, I can help you reach your goals to help make your life vision a reality.
I am a National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and Fitness Institute International (FII) certified, Personal-Fitness Trainer and a Wellness Coach. Coach Fran, (GFBW, LLC) is the name of my company. I graduated from West Virginia University in 1973 with a degree in Biology. I have continued my education by taking numerous computer sciences, natural and environmental sciences courses at Boward College and Florida Atlantic University. I have been training for health and fitness for more than 24 years and I am an avid tennis player. I love Tai Chi; hiking; kayaking; in-line and ice skating; and Alpine and Nordic, snow-skiing. I love all things outdoors and just being in the mountains or on or near the water is where I want to be. After retiring from a successful and rewarding, 40-year career in water resources, I decided to pursue my other loves of fitness and wellness by attending and graduating (2015) from a professionally, highly-rated and recognized personal training program taught by Dr. Antony Abbott, at Fitness Institute International, located here Boca Raton, Florida. I have additional specialists certifications in Strength and Conditioning, Nutritional Education and Weight Management, Fitness Testing and Assessments, and Post Rehabilitation and Special Populations Training. I am also a certified Basic Life Support Provider (CPR/AED).
My story
After quitting smoking at the age of 35, my weight gain culminated at 267 lbs and my blood pressure reading had increased to 155 over 95 at age 47. I can remember the struggle to just tie my shoe laces ending with a gasp for air as I finally tightened the knot. I had it!
Life was not fun being so overweight and out of shape, but I did not know what to do. I had tried various diets in past only to find my self ultimately weighing more than when I started. Then out of the blue, I bought a pair of inline skates. I guess on some level I had to be thinking maybe what had been missing was exercise.
My first time out, I skated two whole blocks! Before you know it, I was skating the entire length of our street. Next, I bought a tape player and headphones that really made skating fun! It was more like a dance and got to the point that I didn’t want to stop. Before you know it , I was skating all of streets in our development, ten miles, every morning! Next, I joined a gym and worked with a personal trainer and did weight lifting training. I also, starts playing tennis.
Along with a modest decrease in calories and the skating, weight lifting and tennis, I lost 80 pounds in ten months. But the skating was so much more than just exercise, it was a spiritual awakening to the joy of movement! I was very fortunate to have found this intrinsic motivation without even searching for it, because it is the secret to keeping us moving and regaining what many of us have lost, our health and well-being.
That was more than 20 years ago and I have been fortunate to have kept my good health and fitness since! I no longer skate every day, but I have continued to lift weights and I play tennis on most days. I have also added other activities such as High Intensitiy Interval Training (HITT) that has replace skating to help maintain my cardio-respiratory fitness with a less of a time commitment.
Today, I want to coach you. To share with you not only what I have experiences, but also what I have learned. After graduating from West Virginia University in 1973 in biology with a minor in chemistry, I continued there with graduate studies in aquatic ecology. I moved from West Virginia to Fort Lauderdale in 1978 and worked for 35 years in water resources management for Broward County. Upon retiring in 2013, I attended Fitness Institute International (FII) in Boca Raton, Florida where I completed the 360 hours of classes and in the gym training and graduated in 2015. As a result, I am now certified as Personal Fitness Training Specialist (CPTS), a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Nutrition Education and Weight Management Specialist, and a Post-Rehabilitation and Special Populations Training Specialist.
I will bring my years experience, education, and training to help you to know what it means to have lasting success like I have had. I want to help you find what’s fun and joyful in your life, and then chase it! I view eating real food, mostly vegetables, movement, sleeping, breathing and adopting healthy habits as a path to living life with purpose. I talk to clients about enjoying good food, getting outside to play, about feeling good in their bodies, not ashamed or exhausted. I want to be your guide on your road to a flourishing and well lived life. While you may be hesitant, I can grab your hand and offer to go in with you rather than shoving you forward, alone.”
If you could have done it by yourself, you probably would have done it by now! Improving a lifestyle is not always easy. You’re working at overcoming very old habits. Work with a pro who knows how to help and holds your agenda as THE agenda. Work with me, Coach Fran.
Call or text me at 561-376-8901 or write to me at Fran@getfitbewell.com.
Coach Fran Henderson, CPTS, Certified Fitness and Wellness Coach
Get Fit Be Well (GFBW LLC)