At 85 years old, Ruth still heads off to the pool nearly every morning. Ironically, Ruth never swam a day in her life until middle age. When she took her own children to the local pool for their swimming lessons, she decided to learn as well. "From that point on I´ve been a swimmer,” says Ruth. At ACAC, Ruth can swim year around in the indoor 50 meter pool or choose to swim outdoors April through October in the heated 25 meter pool. Ruth is convinced her swimming at ACAC has kept her healthy as she aged. "I love swimming, it keeps me young!”

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As a trial lawyer, Bill´s days are high stress. Bill found exercise to be a great release after a tough day, but it began to be painful and no longer pleasurable. "I was experiencing pain in my chest every time I exercised, says Bill.” His doctor diagnosed his pains as classic exertional angina, caused by a 95% blockage to his heart. Bill was immediately scheduled for cardiac bypass surgery. Post-surgery, Bill did rehab therapy at the hospital. When he finished there, he returned to ACAC and began walking the track. "After a while, I wanted to do more, so I met up with Gayle, an ACAC personal trainer, and she slowly rehabilitated me until I was able to get back to where I used to be," says Bill. "Now, I´m back playing basketball and working out several times a week. I credit being here at ACAC, not only with getting me back up and running after surgery, but helping me realize something was wrong before I suffered a heart attack.”

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Bob Everton has always enjoyed exercise. But in the summer of 2005, he was having hip pain that just wouldn´t go away. It was making exercise uncomfortable. Bob was referred to Camille, an ACAC personal trainer. When Bob first spoke to Camille about his pain; he didn´t like what she recommended. "She wanted me to start stretching,” says Bob. "But I always thought stretching wasn´t a ‘man´s workout.´ However, I was in a lot of pain, so I gave it a shot.” Camille remembers the first time she worked with Bob as well, "He couldn´t bend down far enough to even touch his knees," she recalls. Camille showed Bob a variety of stretching techniques, and they continued to work together as Bob began to see steady improvement. By Labor Day, Bob not only decreased his hip pain, but he could bend over and easily touch his toes. "I incorporate stretching into my daily workout now," says Bob. "In fact, I just took my first yoga class, and I loved it! You´ll see me there more often.”

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Rob and Rachel Penczak have belonged to fitness clubs before, but since moving to Midlothian, neither of them had set foot inside a fitness club for almost 2 years. Rob had looked at several area clubs for himself, but he wasn´t convinced to join. When their oldest child, Brian, 7, needed a place to spend the summer, Rob and Rachel came to know ACAC. They signed Brian up for summer camp and soon saw that ACAC was a place that the entire family could enjoy. The Penczak´s credit ACAC for helping their family get up off the couch and enjoy family fitness. "We never thought about a fitness club for the whole family before, but ACAC offers something for all of us,” says Rachel. Rob and Rachel work out using cardio and strength training as well as taking Pilates. "I can actually pick up my kids now without it being a chore," exclaims Rachel! "I want to be healthier for my kids, to set an example for them,” sums up Rachel. The Penczak´s are now a happier, healthier and stronger family.