May Member Spotlight: Dennis Karahalias

Dennis Karahalias, 58, a long-time Body Zone member, has an enduring and inspiring message: When results from working out are nowhere to be found, “remember that you can’t outrun your fork, and abs are always, always made in the kitchen.”

The way Dennis talks about his health goals, you’d probably think he’s an aspiring bodybuilder. But in reality, he’s just working out to keep himself from ending up using a walker or being stuck in a wheelchair. Dennis has Kennedy’s Disease, or spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, which is an adult-onset condition that causes the degeneration of nerves and muscles in the body over a period of time. Staying active and keeping healthy is way more than a bodybuilding exercise for him – it’s his lifeline to sustained health in face of a disease that weakens the muscles over time.

Dennis started working out at Body Zone to improve his cardiovascular, mental and physical health – a range of needs that Body Zone trainer Melissa Figura ended up being the perfect solution for. For the last three years, Dennis has had what he calls “Happy Hours’ with Melissa. These “Happy Hours” are non-alcoholic, though, and involve a heavy dosage of strength and conditioning exercises that focus on Dennis’ particular physical needs.

They have a special relationship that Melissa describes as a “partnership” dynamic: She understands exactly what he needs to stay strong and flexible, and he accepts it no matter how challenging the workout may be. He trusts her ability to monitor his limits, and push them when necessary. Dennis and Melissa are a consummate trainer-trainee pair.

“He could easily give up and end up using a walker or wheelchair, but he constantly pushes himself and wants to stay functional for as long as he can,” Melissa said. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s never used an elevator at Body Zone.”

Dennis can’t say enough about Melissa, either. He’s credited her with being a constant, positive force in his path to healthy living, and recommends her to anyone looking for the best in the business. “Working with Melissa has helped me immensely,” he said. “She is the real deal when it comes to seeking out a fitness professional. She eats, breaths and sleeps fitness and her positive workout habits have been just what I was looking for in staying with the program.”