Body and life transformation. How the combination of Fluid Running and GLP1 helped Linda Kettle lose over 100 pounds, gain strength and get her life back! “It’s been a godsend.”
Tell us a little about yourself
My name is Linda Kettell. I am 69 years old. I am married and I have an adult son. I have been a tennis coach for about 25 years. I attended the University of Florida and I have a BS in Recreation Administration. I have always been active and was even a runner in my 40’s .
I started to gain weight after my son was born. I lost some weight and gained it back. I have always been active, teaching and playing tennis, although my knees are ruined by the wear and tear and the extra weight. My knee doctor told me that my left knee was bone on bone and I was a candidate for knee replacement. That was something that I did not want. I decided then to make a change. I was also having issues with swollen feet and ankles. By December 2023, I weighed 250 pounds.
What was your relationship with exercise at your highest weight?
Besides teaching tennis, my relationship with exercise was pretty non-existence. I tried walking and did not like it and besides it made me get out of breath.
What led you to consider GLP-1 medication—and what concerns or hopes did you have when starting it?
I considered a GLP-1 medication because I had tried just about everything and I was out of options. I did not tell my husband that I was starting on the medication just in case it didn’t work or I did not follow through with it. I finally told him about four weeks in. My purse dumped over and he saw a bottle of medicine for nausea and came screaming into the bedroom! “What is wrong with you? ! What is this medicine? Do you have cancer?” I had to fess up – and from that moment on he has been my biggest cheerleader!
How did you first learn about Fluid Running, and what made you decide to give it a try?
The way that I found out about Fluid Running is from my high school friend, Debi Mitchell, who was featured in a Today.com article and I thought that if Debi could do it, so could I.
What was your first workout like? Were you surprised by anything?
My first workout with Fluid Running was at Interlay Pool with the City of Tampa. I went into the pool, the pool wasn’t crowded and I was grateful for that. I told the lifeguard that he should just ignore me if I just started floating. I started with the Deep Introductory. My phone got too hot and stopped working with about 15 minutes left in the workout. I was kinda happy about it. The workout was different, I actually enjoyed being in the water and I knew that it was something that I could get in to.
Was it important to you that Fluid Running was joint-safe or accessible regardless of weight or fitness level? Why?
Exercising without joint pain was so important to me to keep going. Being in the water and not feeling like I was injuring myself was so important to me. I have never gotten out of the pool with anything hurting me. It’s such a great feeling to work out and feel great when you’re finished.
As the weight started coming off, what role did Fluid Running play in your transformation?
As I started to eliminate the pounds, Fluid Running became just part of my daily routine. I would get up, drink a protein shake or eat a protein bar and go to the pool. Fluid Running helped me build strength while on the GLP-1, I definitely noticed the difference in my arms and legs!
What surprised you most about your progress once you committed to the program?
What surprised me the most about Fluid Running is how easy it is to commit to. I love to do the program and know that I am exercising and it doesn’t feel like it at all to me. The quick recovery is the best part, you can be dog tired, but when you are instructed to “jog it out” you forget just how tired you were!
If someone is nervous about being in a swimsuit or stepping into a pool at a higher weight, what would you suggest to them?
My advice to someone who is worried about how they look in a bathing suit, is the same advice I give a beginner tennis player when they start playing and feel like everyone is watching them…”don’t worry about what other people think, you are doing this for you and you alone.” No one but you matters, and you are doing something to help yourself.
What do you wish you had known earlier in your journey about Fluid Running or movement in general?
I really do not have any regrets about not moving or finding Fluid Running sooner. I am very happy that it is in my life now and I am not the type of person who lives with regret. I believe I’m right where I need to be.
What’s your life like now that you’ve lost 100 pounds—and still love working out?
Now that I have eliminated over 100 pounds, my life is great. I live without pain, I am able to walk up stairs and even sit on a swing without worrying that I will break it. My knees no longer ache, I am off all my blood pressure medication, and I can see veins in my feet! People are friendlier to me (which I think is terrible), and I don’t have to wear elastic waist pants anymore. However, it was easier to use the bathroom before when I didn’t have to unzip and undo my belt! Shopping for clothes is fun again and I feel like I teach a better tennis lesson now because I have so much more energy. I credit the medicine, my family and Fluid Running to my new life!
Fluid Running has been a godsend. It is the perfect exercise and I just love it. With the app, I’m able to Fluid Run year round!