Talia Reversed Metabolic Damage + Chronic Back Pain

5-Year Back Injury Reversed Metabolic Damage Recovery -19 / +6 Muscle in 6 Months Couldn't Walk Week 1 → Deadlifting Month 5

The week before Talia started at Train With Dave, she could barely walk. Even if she tried to just stand, she would be in excruciating pain. A combination of an eating disorder, metabolic damage, and a stressful work environment made her pack on the pounds. She was at a complete and total loss — in which she wanted to change for the better.

"I was also struggling with a previous eating problem (caused by a previous trainer from another gym, who had me on a 1200 calorie diet for 3 years), that left me with metabolic damage that took me 5 years to get out of."

The Story Leading Up To Train With Dave

Nearly a decade of being failed by the fitness industry.

2012Started a 1200-calorie diet under a trainer at another gym. For 3 years she ate quinoa, chicken, egg whites, and broccoli every day. No cheat meals. She began getting migraines constantly.
2015Ended the 1200-calorie diet at 106 pounds.
2016Started CrossFit and gained 24 pounds within a few months.
2017Diagnosed with stage 3 metabolic damage. Injured her lower back at a CrossFit competition. The injury reoccurred five more times.
2021One week before starting at Train With Dave, she couldn't stand or walk for a week.

The Goal

Get rid of the pain. Get her strength back.

A chiropractor made it clear that Talia's lower back issues were due to a muscle imbalance between her back and core. Her main goal was to strengthen both — so she'd never have to deal with back pain again.

"A week before I started at TWD, I couldn't walk. I had a lower back injury in 2017 that happened at a CrossFit competition that has reoccurred several times. This was the worst time of my life."

How The Change Began

A trainer who took the time to actually understand her body.

Talia was paired with Dixie — a trainer whose personality matched hers well. Dixie focused attention on the lower back so the excruciating pain wouldn't return.

"Dixie has paid a lot of attention to my lower back pain and has found several really helpful warm-ups and in-between lifts and stretches that I now utilize during every lifting session. She has also paid a lot of attention to my lifting posture and form and helped fix a lot of issues. She has made the workouts fun and pushes me to lift more while keeping solid form."

The Outcome

Within 5 months, she had lost more than her original goal.

"I have been to many gyms before, and Dixie is by far the best trainer I have ever had. She has been very patient and encouraging with me, she takes caution with my lower back, she finds ways for me to work out when my lower back isn't feeling very well. She listens to me and works to help me reach my goals. Most of all, I've never felt judged even when I was at my worst."

— Talia · Train With Dave Client

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