Move to clinic revitalizes Calgarian
When Lynne Maher’s husband Nick suggested they join a private medical clinic, she resisted.
“I thought it was a waste of money — I could buy a couple of really nice pairs of shoes instead,” says the 46-year-old, laughing.
Neither husband nor wife had a regular doctor, instead relying on trips to a medicentre when necessary — including a regular trip every three months by Nick for a prescription refill.
Maher had moved to Calgary in 2001 from Banff — where she had a regular family doctor — but had been unable to find one in the city that was taking new patients.
“I just couldn’t find one, so after awhile I gave up looking.”
Nick, who she met and married in Calgary, started researching private medical clinics after a friend, who had joined Copeman Healthcare Centre, recommended its services, touting the access to doctors without lengthy waits.
“Because Nick was going to the medicentre every three months this seemed like a no-brainer,” says Lynne.
The couple toured the Copeman facilities. Nick joined; Lynne didn’t.
“He was excited about it. He was able to spend tons of time with a doctor, he was never rushed and it was super convenient — he could get in the same day.”
And for someone busy working in the electrical construction field, his prescription renewal has become an easy process.
But Lynne, describing herself as “healthy as a horse,” saw no need for a regular doctor or clinic for herself.
“I just didn’t see it. I never got sick; I’ve always been super healthy.”
But after a year, Lynne “bowed to pressure” from her husband, said OK and joined Copeman.
She hasn’t regretted a minute, or dollar, of it since.
While the annual exam included all the important on-site health tests, Maher also took advantage of Copeman’s wellness services of a kinesiologist, fitness tests and setting of health goals.
For Maher, the kinesiology services, which include working with a personal trainer twice a week, have provided the most important benefits.
“It’s amazing. We’ve worked on my posture — I was sitting hunched over and didn’t realize it. And now I am sitting straight.
“We work on core exercises and I have just gotten stronger. It has helped immensely. I can lift things I couldn’t lift before.”
Maher says at the time of joining, she was close to being obese, but was moderately active, taking her three dogs to the dog park each day.
“But now I am much more active.”
In addition to losing weight since joining Copeman, she gained muscle mass, trimmed her body fat level by eight per cent and decreased her recovery rate.
“I was always a yo-yo exerciser — I’d always do cardio but I’d go downstairs to the bike or treadmill and turn on the TV and say that’s enough after 30 minutes. I wasn’t working as hard as I have to at Copeman while incorporating core and weight training.”
And while her health has never been an issue, she says she is definitely healthier now.
“I just feel the older I get, I want to be able to live life. I want to be able to walk up stairs, to carry my groceries.”
If she hadn’t started on the personal training, Maher fears “I’d be one of those feeble old ladies who fall.”
She says she is encouraged looking at various landmarks in her fitness journey — “watching the progression, it’s incredible.”
In the end, the biggest and most significant change for Maher is “I am so much happier. I look forward to the workouts; they are so much fun. And I have so much more energy the rest of the week.”
Her Copeman trainer, she says, knows when to push and when to pull back, when to recommend massage or physiotherapy.
With new stamina, Maher says she can do longer hikes and walks while on vacation.
“I am revitalized.”