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By Kenya Godette

It’s Wednesday, which means you’ll find Jeanne Walters and Jay Gill at the gym doing their regular workouts. The retired Norfolk couple visits the �������� Recreation Center three times a week to get in a good exercise session guided by their personal fitness plans, designed just for them.

They are participants in T.E.M.P.O (Therapeutic Exercise to Maximize Patient Outcomes), a Wellness Institute and Research Center (WIRC) structured exercise program for individuals with known chronic diseases. Walters and Gill have been involved for as long as they’ve been married — eight incredible years.

Gill, a Navy veteran who has undergone quadruple bypass surgery due to blocked heart vessels, along with knee and hip replacements, begins his sessions with a blood pressure check before moving on to a 20-minute walk on the treadmill, weight machines, resistance bands, balance exercises and stationary biking.

Walters’s workout is completely different, on account of a cardiac condition that causes her heart to beat too quickly and irregularly.

“Jay’s heart issues are plumbing, and mine are electrical,” Walters said.

Because of that, her routine focuses on strengthening her heart and bones. She begins with 20 minutes of rowing, followed by planks and upper and lower body exercises using weighted machines and free weights.

But T.E.M.P.O is not all work and no play.�� The couple has built a strong community of friends through the program, who they affectionately call their extended family. You will catch them socializing between exercises about “the grandkids,” travel recaps and the latest in sports.

They have also developed a strong bond with Rylie Hughes ’24, this year’s WIRC graduate assistant and an exercise science master’s student. She is the brains behind the couple’s workout plans and designs routines for all T.E.M.P.O. ��participants based on their individual fitness goals and health condition. She incorporates guidance from their doctors and makes regular updates based on real-time feedback from participants. ��

Hughes said her experience with the program has helped her gain a better understanding of how to tailor exercise programs to specific chronic diseases and conditions, and working with the aging population has transformed her perspective on exercise and rehabilitation. Through this hands-on learning opportunity, she has not only gained practical experience for her career but has seen first-hand the many rewards of staying active.

“I have been able to watch older adults gain confidence in completing daily tasks. I have watched them recover from hip and knee replacement surgeries. And most importantly, I have watched them connect with each other through exercise,” she said.

“The social aspect is one of my favorite things about our program.”

Leryn Reynolds, director of the WIRC, agrees, saying the opportunity to connect with peers plays a vital role in keeping participants engaged and consistent with workouts, some for nearly 30 years.

“You’re not exercising on a treadmill next to a 20-year-old who’s training for a marathon. You’re exercising with people that are just like you. They’re at the same stage of life as you are,” she said.

Reynolds, also an associate professor in the School of Exercise Science, studies how physical activity impacts cardiometabolic diseases, especially in older adults. Her research has revealed key findings like removing exercise for just three days results in higher blood glucose levels after a meal (even in younger adults); and being physically inactive for five days reduces blood vessel health.

Reynolds’ oversight to T.E.M.P.O gives her an opportunity to implement findings from her research in real-time by connecting with participants, sharing her

knowledge and working to expand the program. She hopes to eventually offer additional hours and hire a second graduate assistant.

But Gill and Walter’s say they are doing just fine with Hughes by their side, and that the next graduate assistant has big shoes to fill.

When asked about her friendship with Gill and Walters, Hughes grinned at Gill who playfully responded, “Come on, say it!”

“Despite his setbacks, Jay still shows up every day,” Hughes said. “And Jeanne, she’s like the mayor! She’s very determined and is making progress all the time.”

Gill and Walters are excited to continue the program, having learned to listen to their bodies and respond appropriately by altering their exercise routines. Walters said she feels stronger and has greatly improved her balance and agility.

Gill can now fully enjoy his favorite hobbies like golfing and cutting the grass, saying his exercise routine has increased his muscle strength and endurance.

“We want to stay as strong as we can for as long as we can,” Walters said.

For anyone on the fence about joining the program, Gill’s advice is to simply give it a chance. Walters says it’s “just nice being with the older folks, because you don’t feel so…”

“Intimidated!” Gill said finishing her sentence.

This is music to Reynolds ears, who says working out should be a lifelong habit.

“And we hope that it will be a lifelong habit for our members,” she said.

To learn more about the T.E.M.P.O program, operating hours and cost, visit the website or call 757-683-4974. The WIRC also offers “Forever Fit,” a structured exercise program for individuals without chronic conditions aged 55 and older.