Williams fitness: Transforming lives one squat at a time

Walking into a gym is a lot like the first day at a new school, everything seems foreign and unfamiliar, you’re not sure where to begin or even how to begin. You scan the room for guidance, but hesitate to ask for help. All of a sudden you’re feeling overwhelmed, intimidated and ready to retreat back to the comforts of home. It becomes clear that you need a little direction, a teacher to help walk you through that first day. Before Zabala begins working with a client, he first asks them to come in for a free assessment so they can discuss their goals, abilities and basically get to know one another.

“I work with clients from age 14 to 84 and adjust each workout routine to the individual’s needs and capabilities,” he said. “The senior group that I work with, that ranges in age from 65 to 80, has thankfully become aware that they can improve their bone density levels as well as cardiovascular health if they just keep moving. Some of my clients never touch a weight — we’ll spend the whole hour working on their flexibility.”

While the clients Zabala works with greatly vary in age and ability, they all had to start somewhere.

Thirty-three-year-old Tifni Sutton had reached a point in her life where she knew it was time to make some drastic changes and at that moment, there was nothing holding her back.

“I started with Lucas four years ago, and when we began, I couldn’t even do a single push-up, now I’m doing one armed push-ups,” Sutton said. “Lucas has stayed with me through rough times and good times. He’s adjusted with my lifestyle as I move forward and has literally pushed me to my physical limits, but most importantly, he’s believed in me.”

Sutton, a smoker since the age of 12, had never worked out a day in her life, but after short time under the tutelage of Zabala, she experienced positive changes at every level of her life.

“I didn’t realize what a transformation my life would undertake,” she said. “I learned to love myself no matter where I was at. My confidence and self esteem is through the roof and I now know just what my body is capable of.”

While Sutton is definitely a standout among the many clients Zabala trains, she is only one of the many success stories.

Twenty-six-year-old Sarah Hayword began her Spartan training with Zabala just under two years ago and the results have been astonishing.

“I began training with Lucas to get in better shape for a mission trip to Africa, and over the eight-month period prior to the trip I lost 42 pounds,” Hayword said. “Over the last seven or eight months, Lucas prescribed a nutrition plan along with my workouts and I started losing a pound a week; I have now lost a total of 72 pounds.”

Likewise, 77-year-old Carol Delander has been working with Zabala from the very beginning and has become a firm fixture in his hour of power classes.

“I retired in 2012 and started coming to the gym just before then. I was very intimidated by the gym when I first started and just kind of did my own thing for a while until it was suggested that I could have a personal trainer,” she said. “Around 2015, I started taking classes with Lucas and have been there ever since. Right now, I’m the oldest one in the class, most of the girls are 20, 30, 40 years younger than I am, but I do my very best to keep up with them.”

Delander currently attends classes no less than five days a week and has developed the skills necessary to utilize all of the machines.

“I love coming to the classes and miss it when I’m not able to make it,” she said. “Anybody that is hesitant on getting into the gym I tell them, just come, we have fun, we laugh, we harass Lucas and if I can do it, anybody can do it.”

Delander is an inspiring example of someone who overcame their fears of the gym by applying a little determination and a whole lot of self motivation.

Additionally, Father Thielo Ramirez arrived in Williams July 1, 2019 with the mission to guide his devout congregation through the perils of life and assume the responsibility over St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. After a month of warm welcomes with local residents and a gut full of native history under his belt, Ramirez decided to step out of his comfort zone, head to the Fitness Center and undergo the free assessment offered by Zabala.

“After the assessment I started meeting with Lucas twice a week,” Ramirez said. “I wanted to have someone that would help motivate me, and hold me accountable. I had tried a personal trainer before at a big gym, but it was too impersonal and very easy to slip under the radar.”

Ramirez said this is the first time he has noticeably felt his endurance.

“Having a personal trainer that encourages you, pushes you and understands your situation has been very helpful,” he said.

Ramirez said physical activity coupled with healthy eating habits has had an overall positive effect in several areas of his life. He is sleeping better, the aches and pains that used to plague him are starting to dissipate and he has inspired others to follow in his footsteps and improve their health.

While beginning a training regimen with Zabala or on your own is an important step in improving your health, it’s only one side of the coin.

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