See what’s possible when you
take your body back.
Matt Epstein
Dad of a 5-year-old, late 30s ·
Program: 1:1 personal training, about 4 months
I can run around with my kids. They were like, 'Hey, Dad, you're moving better.' And my wife has said, 'Hey, you look better with your shirt off.
Where he started:
Two years of decline he could feel. His mobility was going, his muscle was fading and his metabolism was slowing. He had surgically repaired knees, and he worried about them. The breaking point: he couldn't keep up with his 5-year-old.
What changed:
Four months of joint-first training turned the slide around. His muscle came back. His flexibility came back. His aches, headaches, knee pain and back pain dropped way down. His kids noticed first. Then his wife did.
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Before |
After |
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Keeping up with his kids |
Couldn't keep up with his 5-year-old |
Outsprints all the kids |
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Body weight |
220 lbs |
205 lbs |
|
Sports |
Worried about his knees |
Back on his softball team |
Bonus win: He played an hour of lacrosse with a bunch of 20-year-ol
StartAfraid to run on his knees
Week 2Knee aches gone
Week 4Sprinting
NowOutsprints his son
Murtaza Sayd
Dad and business owner ·
Program: 1:1 personal training
In 2 weeks my knee aches were gone. By week 4, I was sprinting.
Where he started:
He couldn't run without the fear of "blowing up his knees." Long workdays left his shoulders aching.
What changed:
Four months of joint-first training turned the slide around. His muscle came back. His flexibility came back. His aches, headaches, knee pain and back pain dropped way down. His kids noticed first. Then his wife did.
Megan Powell
Lawyer and former soccer player, 29 at the time ·
Program: 1:1 personal training
Being able to kneel on that knee has changed the quality of my life so much.
Where she started:
She blew out her knee playing soccer and had a serious surgery. She finished physical therapy and then stopped, because nobody showed her it could get better. Twelve years later, her knee pain sat at a solid 7 out of 10. She couldn't kneel on that knee at all.
What changed:
Her knee pain is at a 0 now. She squats below parallel with 100 lbs. She kneels to tie her shoe and to work in her garden. She hikes and runs, and her ankle and lower back pain came down too. She recently dug holes for 5 hours, 4 to 5 feet into the ground, and felt fine the next day.
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Before |
After |
|
Knee pain |
7 out of 10, for 12 years |
0 out of 10 |
|
Kneeling |
Couldn't kneel on that knee |
Kneels in her garden |
|
Squat |
Couldn't squat deep |
Below parallel with 100 lbs |
|
Running and hiking |
Held back by her knee |
Runs and hikes without pain |
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|
Before |
After |
|
Shoulder |
Frozen and painful, replacement recommended |
Much better range and strength |
|
Knees after a match |
Painful |
"Considerably less pain" |
|
Time |
3 months |
Dave Zillig
67, lifelong athlete and tennis player ·
Program: 1:1 personal training, 3 months
[My] ortho doctor told me he had no options left other than a shoulder replacement." And: "He has done a great job of meeting me where I was at in terms of flexibility and strength, and steadily but safely made progressions.
Where he started:
Decades of sports left him with knee pain and a frozen, painful right shoulder. His orthopedic doctor told him he had no options left other than a shoulder replacement.
What changed:
He chose to train first. Three months later his "frozen" shoulder has much more range and strength. His knees hurt far less after a tennis match, and he moves noticeably better on the court.
Mimi
Longtime CrossFit athlete ·
Program: 1:1 personal training
I was taking ibuprofen a few times a day for it, and then I went to zero ibuprofen.
Where she started:
Her sciatica flared up. Back MRIs, doctor's appointments, and a recommendation for surgery. She took ibuprofen a few times a day. She had never had a personal trainer.
What changed:
We trained her back, her core and her sides through the ranges CrossFit never touches, with no pain in the workouts. About 2.5 months in, her sciatic pain was gone, and she went from ibuprofen a few times a day to none. Her squats improved so much that her CrossFit coaches call it out in class. A 15-hour car ride later stirred some pain back up. This time she knows how to work through it.
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Before |
After |
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|
Sciatic pain |
Flared, with MRIs and a surgery talk |
Gone at about 2.5 months |
|
Ibuprofen |
A few times a day |
Zero |
|
Surgery |
Recommended |
Avoided so far |
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Before |
After |
|
|
Sports |
Never back to sports after surgery |
Basketball and tennis every week |
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Squat |
Painful workouts, limited mobility |
Squats with weight again |
|
Split squat |
Started at the top of the rack |
Lower every session, with more weight |
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Time |
About 9 months of physical therapy |
About 3 months with Ruben |
Devon Williams
Basketball and tennis player ·
1:1 personal training, 3 times a week, about 3 months
The fact that we're putting weight on my squats, I feel like that's day and night progress of where I was to where I am now.
Where he started:
Knee surgery in 2024, then about 9 months of physical therapy. He could run around a little, but his mobility wasn't back, and he never returned to sports. In the 3 months after therapy ended, he lost a lot of ground. One basketball game told him he wasn't where he wanted to be. He tried chiropractic care, massage and acupuncture, and his full range of motion still didn't come back. Then he found the Knees Over Toes videos online.
What changed:
About 3 months in, training 3 times a week, he plays basketball once a week and tennis once a week. He squats with weight again. His split squats started at the top of the rack and got lower every session. Even getting up from a chair and climbing stairs got easier.
Aryel Lindeman
Mom of a toddler ·
1:1 personal training, 4 months
I'm excited to be able to keep up with my toddler so much easier now. Ruben's great at going at the pace you need with bio-individuality in mind.
Where she started:
A rough pregnancy and 20 weeks of bedrest. Her strength was gone, and she had a toddler to chase.
What changed:
Four months of training at her own pace, built around her body. When she started, she couldn't squat to full depth without help. Now she squats 95 pounds for reps, and she keeps up with her toddler so much easier.
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Before |
After |
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|
Squat |
Couldn't reach full depth without help |
95 lbs for reps |
|
Strength |
Gone after 20 weeks of bedrest |
"Tremendous growth" in 4 months |
|
Keeping up with her toddler |
Hard |
"So much easier" |
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Before |
After |
|
|
Dan's body weight |
309 lbs |
271 lbs (38 lbs down) |
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Susy's low back and hip pain |
8 out of 10 |
0 out of 10 |
Dan and Susy Geblein
A couple who trained together ·
1:1 personal training, about 4 months
He pushes you just the right amount: hard enough to see progress, never so much it feels miserable.
I have lost 31 lbs since starting 4 months ago.
Where they started:
Susy had terrible low back and hip pain, and a weight-loss fight that wasn't working. They trained together and learned to lift with proper form.
What changed:
Dan lost 31 pounds in his first 4 months and kept going. He's down 38 pounds so far, from 309 to 271. Susy's low back and hip pain went from an 8 out of 10 to a 0. She says the change has been huge, and she credits how fast Ruben adjusts a workout when something isn't working.
Michael Linn
63 at the time, four shoulder surgeries ·
Program: 1:1 personal training
It was kind of a miracle what happened with my knees and my legs. I'm literally 10 times stronger than when we started in my legs.
Where he started:
Years of knee pain. Four shoulder surgeries, and he'd been told he could never lift more than 30 pounds again.
What changed:
His knees are pain-free. He lost 26 pounds. He did the first pull-up of his life. And he's benching more than a 45-pound plate on each side of the bar.
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Before |
After |
|
|
Knee pain |
Years of it |
Pain-free |
|
Body weight |
230 lbs |
204 lbs |
|
Pull-ups |
Never done one |
First pull-up of his life |
|
Bench press |
Told to stay under 30 lbs |
Over 135 lbs |
Kieran O'Leary, 70
The body feels younger and stronger. Even though I'm 70, the body responds similar to when I was 20.
The Story:
Diagnosed with osteoporosis. His doctor said he'd lost muscle mass and told him to get a trainer. He had never trained. Three months later he does full chin-ups from a dead hang, sprints and pulls a sled.
Cartney Wearn, 56
I've lost weight, gotten much more flexible and much stronger.
The Story:
Both ACLs rebuilt after a lifetime of soccer. He struggled to lift groceries out of the car and felt scared to move. Now he lifts over 100 lbs and squats deeper without his knees "shrieking in pain."
Anna Loesch
I can show up not wanting to be there and still have a fulfilling workout.
The Story:
Former college athlete. In 2 months she lost 26 lbs of fat, gained 3 lbs of muscle, cleared shoulder pain left over from high school softball, and built a stronger lower back.
Tim Seiter, 53
I'm actually more flexible now. I'm able to do more than I was able to do in my 20s and 30s.
The Story:
Stiff hips and legs, and regular chiropractor visits. He gained 5 lbs of muscle, lost 5 lbs of fat, and walks and hikes with his family with far less discomfort.