Working Out a Better Future

Heroes are placed in our lives to help us understand and become the people we ultimately want to be. Whether by encouragement or by example, heroes bring out the best in others.

There are those who invest their entire lives, their entire careers, to achieving just that end. Cartersville resident and personal trainer Jennifer Plummer is one such hero.

Jennifer has enjoyed a long history in Cartersville, her family having moved here when she was only 1 year old.

“I went to Cass High School and graduated in 1995. After that I went to college at West Georgia and ended up staying in that area for 10 years. Eventually I moved back in 2005,” said Plummer. “I grew up attending Sam Jones Methodist Church and have a lot of places in Cartersville that I love to visit. My favorite thing to do though is to watch my boyfriend Easton’s band, Day’s Forgotten, perform around town at places like Knight’s. “

Plummer has a significant background in competitive gymnastics and cheerleading that she believes contributed to her ultimate decision to become a personal trainer.

“I was a Cartersville Twister  back when that program got started and I was a cheerleader even in college,” said Plummer. “My love for working out definitely started back in high school.”

Plummer has been a personal trainer at Bodyplex Fitness Center in Cartersville since 2006.

“Being a personal trainer was an idea that always interested me, but I had put it to the side and gotten my degree in real estate. Around the time when real estate began slowing down, I got an offer to be a personal trainer and I jumped on it,” said Plummer. “I feel I’ve really found my calling, I can’t imagine life without this.

“It’s very satisfying to help people and be able to see a noticeable difference in their lives beyond just the physical, but in their self-esteem. It’s very satisfying, and I’ve never felt that way about anything else in my whole life,” she added.

For Plummer's clients, it's also about improvements in many areas of their lives. Many overcame depression and anxiety and the hour they spend in the gym with her is the only hour they get to themselves all day and feel it is well spent. Many of her clients claim their relationship with their kids and family members improved after physical fitness training.

“You see people come out of their shells, and after a month or so, they’re all smiles and loving life,” said Plummer. “It s a great feeling to know I’ve been able to help someone in more ways than one.”

She specializes in several types of personal fitness training, but focuses mainly on weight loss and muscle building. She also works with many senior clients on functionality training, improving strength, stamina and quality of life, ensuring that they can get around safely and comfortably.

Plummer also works on focused sports training, with most of her current sports clients being golfers.

“I have several golfers that I work with,” said Plummer. “I’ve been training my mom, Vivian Plummer, for four years now. She’s an avid golfer.”

Over the past five years Plummer has worked with more than 150 clients and maintains a client base of 25 individuals at any given time.

Plummer feels that personal fitness trainers are a huge asset to the city of Cartersville.

“First and foremost, training helps people become healthier, which is really quite important these days with obesity rates continuing to rise,” said Plummer. “It helps people to feel better about themselves, which in turn will make them more productive people in the community, in their families, in their careers and jobs, and all the way around. People end up spreading their smile around one way or another.”

She doesn’t see herself as a hero, but Plummer does care very much about her work and the impact is has on people’s lives.

“I’m just doing what I love, and that’s helping people accomplish goals,” said Plummer. “I feel like I’ve been able to help my clients in so many many ways to make their lives better. I just want to thank my family and friends and clients for believing in me, because I certainly believe in them.”

For anyone who hasn’t visited Bodyplex Fitness Center in Cartersville, Plummer urges them to come check it out. She offers free orientation sessions to both gym members and non-gym members who think they may like to join.

For more information contact Jennifer Plummer at 770-354-9648 or Bodyplex Fitness Center at 770-382-6116.