Getting Fit With Bethany Geary

Bethany Geary stands in the recreation room of the Road Church surrounded by exercise equipment. People in her profession, Geary says, are losing the battle against obesity.

Connecticut’s obesity rate is expected to double by 2030 to 46.5 percent if the current trajectory continues. Geary, in her own way is trying to prevent that from happening.

“We have to make exercise fun, if it’s not fun people are not going to keep doing it.”

Geary recently expanded her personal training business to include Fitnostics, semi and private fitness classes that take place from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Geary and her two other coaches use the room in the Road Church as a studio. It's a way to keep costs down while she gets this part of her business off the ground.

As the oldest of six kids growing up in Stonington athletics were always part of her life, so it wasn’t really surprising that she got a degree in sports medicine. After spending five year traveling with Division 1 sports teams and assessing those athletes' injuries she jumped at the chance to move back to Connecticut and began working at UCONN Strength and Conditioning.

“My family is very important to me and they’re around here,” Geary said.

From UCONN she went to L&M Hospital where she worked in the sports medicine department.

“It was an interesting change from the elite athlete to the everyday person and I found that what I loved was helping people become the best them,” Geary said.

Three years ago she began in-home personal training and seasonal outside programs. Fitnostics is the newest piece of the business.

“The whole point is to put our roots in this community and build it up for studio space,” Geary said.

Fitnostics isn’t just an exercise program though. While the classes focus on functional movements the coaches also provide real life advice and try to personalize the training for each individual. Clients get newsletters and can opt for coaching calls during the week. It’s not just about losing weight Geary said, adding that 90 percent of her clients have something that hurts.

Most of her clients are in their 30s or in their 60s but they have an age range that spans from 12 to 95.

“It’s never the same day,” Geary said.

When she’s not at work, Geary is still exercising. She has two Golden Gloves in boxing and is hoping for a third and her nephews, ages one to three, keep her pretty busy.

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