Member Spotlight

Shu Juan Liu & John Brownell

Shu grew up in China and moved to the United States to work in hospitals as an Emergency Room Technician. She completed courses to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and has been working in the role for over 15 years. She met John in 2001 and they were married in 2014.

John suffered a stroke and lost a lot of his motor function and balance, along with his speech. Because of Shu’s background in nursing, and her passion for exercise, she was able to assist John in his recovery. He attended sessions for Physical and Occupational Therapy, but she felt he needed more. Shu took six months off from work to support her husband. She assembled devices and equipment around their house to allow him to exercise at home and to engage in his activities of daily living with more ease. John’s fitness journey started with him just trying to stand up, using assistance from a walker or a rope/band tied across from him. Then he performed squats against the wall and utilized the steps for cardio and balance. He also rode a stationary bike at home with support from a band to keep his balance sturdy. Shu documented his progress since day one, writing down his improvements in strength and taking videos to demonstrate his enhanced abilities in activities, like biking and walking.

When interviewing the couple, Shu was ecstatic to announce that John was recently able to go down a step with no added support! Eventually, Shu and John decided to join the Wellness Center to utilize more of the weights, cardio machines and pool and to continue with their fitness journey. Shu was grateful for the PT and OT sessions to get John started with his fitness journey, but she knew he needed more than just a few sessions a week to really see improvement. They firmly believe that repetition and practice are necessary to become a stronger and healthier version of oneself. Shu was also very interested in the machines offered at the Wellness Center, as they are manageable for her and John to add variety to their exercise routine. Now he is able to work out on the NuStep, abduction and adduction machines, the low back extension machine, leg extension machine (up to 15 lbs!), and the rear deltoid/row machine.

Shu has seen a noticeable improvement in John’s strength, balance, and overall health and mood since joining the gym in December 2021. Their biggest challenge in this journey has been finding the time to prioritize their fitness. Shu and John try to come a few times a week after she gets out of work. They are dedicated members and you can always count on them to show up with a smile on their face or thumbs up from John! 

Shu is very proud of the achievements John is making on his own, and she sees every independent action as its own victory. When asked what advice they would give others to help them succeed in their fitness journey, they shared, “Take everything day by day. Break it down and appreciate each moment. Every step counts because it is gradually getting you closer to your overall goal, no matter how big or small." Shu emphasized, "Don’t give up!”

Larry

Larry began his journey with the Hunterdon Health and Wellness Center at Whitehouse Station in 1998 as a charter member. At the time, he was a young father starting his career and raising a family of four daughters with his wife, Susan. His initial goals were to increase his cardiovascular endurance and gain strength. Over the years, he modified his routine to achieve new goals along the way. To help achieve his goals, Larry has taken advantage of the many opportunities and classes the Wellness Center offers, including personal training, massage therapy, Fit for Life, the pool, swim lessons, Martial Arts, Boot Camp, and Body Pump classes.

In 2020, a serious medical challenge triggered Larry to concentrate on his fitness goals to an even greater degree. This motivation to do something he had never done before, nor expected to do in his lifetime, led him to participate in his first triathlon. The New Jersey State Triathlon involves swimming, biking and running. Mind you, at the time, Larry didn’t know how to swim. After six months of lessons at the Wellness Center in Clinton and a rigorous training routine both inside and outside the Center, Larry successfully completed his first triathlon.

To ensure he wasn’t dreaming, he decided to compete again in July of 2022. Being a two-time triathlete has given him the confidence to continue striving to achieve new goals and successes. Larry credits his health and fitness achievements with utilizing the Wellness Center for all it has to offer. He states, “The Centers have everything I need - workout equipment, classes, special programs, sauna, steam room and pool. It’s like being able to do one-stop shopping for all one's fitness needs!” Larry goes on to say, “Over the years, the staff at the Wellness Center have been like a family to me.”

Having a fitness plan and committing to it led Larry to be healthy and successful. He is currently a brown belt in karate, attending classes at Whitehouse Station, with the goal of achieving his black belt. His days are full and lifestyle busy but maintaining a regular exercise routine provides him with greater energy, a positive outlook on life and additional confidence in how he feels and looks. When asked what advice he would give to help others succeed in their fitness journey, Larry states, “We all have ups and downs on our journey. It’s important to be kind to ourselves when our journey leads us away from our fitness goals. There will be obstacles to be faced along the way, which sometimes make it difficult to move forward. Life is rarely a straight line from point A to B, and detours are to be expected. Never give up, take time for yourself, and when you schedule time at the Wellness Center, realize you are making an appointment to better yourself.”