I weighed 385 pounds...and I’m down to 338.

Better health abounds at Adult Wellness Center

ROGERS — Clif and Gayle Jones were among the first to join the Adult Wellness Center when it opened here almost a year ago.

“We were numbers 16 and 17, in fact,” Clif said. “I joined because I knew I would be taking Gayle over all the time. I sat and drank coffee while she was in the therapy pool. I could see people exercising and decided to try the NUSTEP, a recumbent bicycle. I could only pedal it for four or five minutes when I first started, but I kept after it and got up to higher levels and more minutes after several months.”

Moving to northwest Arkansas after Clif’s retirement from his career as an airtraffic controller, the couple settled east of Rogers, near Garfield. Although Clif was diagnosed with early-stage leukemia a few years ago, the disease has not progressed because he continues to take chemo in pill form. He also had a scare with his heart, but again, he was lucky.

“The doctors determined that my heart wasn’t damaged at all,” Clif said. “They told me moderate exercise would be good for me, so I came right back to the Wellness Center. I do 30 minutes on Level 8 on the NUSTEP, and that’s just right. I weighed 385 pounds when I started exercising, and I’m down to 338. Gayle and I love it here. We’ve made a lot of friends and look forward to spending time over here several times a week.”

Gayle smiled and agreed with her husband.

“When we first started going to the Wellness Center, I could just barely walk with a cane,” Gayle said. “I have arthritis and couldn’t move much at all. I kept gaining weight and got up to 240 pounds. I’m now at 211 pounds, and I don’t use a cane anymore. I can walk, and I feel so much better than I did. I even sleep better.”

“I exercise in the warm-water therapy pool. I walk and move my arms in the water. It’s just great for both of us.”

Parents of two sons, Clif and Gayle are the grandparents of three and have three great-grandchildren. Clif teaches the Arkansas Boating Course as a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He also serves as president of a local chapter of the National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees.

Gayle enjoys the Coast Guard Auxiliary activities, too, and she’s active in social events held in their Lost Bridge community. They both describe themselves as “just loving people.”

Clif and Gayle are excited about the first anniversary of the Adult Wellness Center later this month. The celebration is scheduled to begin at 1: 30 p. m. Sept. 26. There will be cake, punch, coffee and dancing. An informal event, it will be an opportunity for members to visit and have fun.

“Everyone knows that without Dean and Jan Muetzel, this Center wouldn’t be here,” Clif said. “They’re so enthusiastic and worked for 30 years to get the Wellness Center. Of course, others joined along the way, and Mayor (Steve ) Womack stuck with it. I’m just so glad it’s here. Look how it’s grown in just a year. There are more than 6, 300 members now. That says a lot.”

Gayle smiled again.

“The Adult Wellness Center is just the best thing that any town could do for their seniors,” she said. “We’re so happy that it’s here.”

taken from NWANews.com