They say a couple who trains together stays together ……
Well this could very well be a good way to sum up Herb and Roz Ellerbock’s fitness journey. Fitness has always been a part of both their lives since an early age and they have only gotten stronger since.
They can usually can be seen coming into the gym early in the mornings with big smiles on their faces. Here’s a little more insight into their lives…..
How long have you been together and have you both always been into health & fitness?
We have been married for 46 years. Roz was a competitive swimmer until the age of 17 and Herb played Australian Rules football, Rugby Union and a bit of Rugby League until the age of 36. We both took up Golf in 1977 but now play infrequently.
When we were younger we lived life to the fullest and probably over indulged on many occasions. But we are a bit more reserved now. We mostly eat and drink sensibly.
How long have you been training together?
More than 25 years.
What’s your training routine?
We try to train on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, typically for 75 minutes. Approximately 50% cardio and 50% weight bearing exercise.
What do you get out of training together?
We are both quite competitive. It’s a great motivator so neither of us can slack off. We are both retired so it provides some routine in our lives.
What challenges do you face now compared to in earlier life?
Before we met, Roz had a severe car accident where she nearly lost her leg. Her challenge is that she has had a full knee replacement in the damaged leg and the ankle is completely fused in such a way that she can only train and walk in high heeled shoes. High heeled gym shoes are hard to come by.
In 2013 Herb was diagnosed with Aortic Stenosis where the operation of the aortic valve has now been severely degraded. He was also diagnosed with Coronary Heart Disease with multiple blockages ranging from 50% to 70%.
What do you both enjoy most in the gym?
We enjoy meeting the other regulars in the gym, the light hearted banter and being inspired by the effort being put in by the other members.
How long have you been members of health culture?
We moved to Rutherglen in late 2010 and joined Health Culture in early 2011.
Why do you train and how important is it to you both?
Herb promised Roz that he would look after her for life but Roz is blessed with much better genes, meaning that Herb has to work hard to keep up. Both of us have conditions that can become debilitating very quickly if we don’t keep ourselves in reasonable shape.
Do you have a goal you are working towards?
Roz’s goal is to lose 10 kilos and Herb’s goal is to outlive Roz.
What advice or words of wisdom would you like to pass on?
Do not allow training to become an obsession but treat it like an investment which you build to a point where you are no longer prepared to lose its value.
No matter what obstacles life throws at you, there’s always a way around them. Although it does definitely help to have that one person who’s got your back and pushes you at the same time!
If you would like to work on good health for life Call Health Culture: 02 60331060