Here’s how MaxStrength Fitness helped one local woman stop toying around with her health

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Judy Williams (L) struggled with pain and was guilty of letting her health slip. A devoted client of Jeff Tomaszewski’s MaxStrength for the last six years, she’s lost weight and is practically pain-free. (Photography: Felicia Vargo)

By Patricia Nugent

Meet self-described yo-yo dieter and lifelong couch potato Judy Williams.

This vivacious go-getter had plenty of excuses to fall back on for letting her health slip a little—a high-level career in HR, a double hip replacement and a diagnosis of osteoarthritis.

But she also saw the writing on the wall of her future health, and six years ago decided to do something about it. Judy was one of the first clients to join MaxStrength Fitness in Westlake.

She says the three things that attracted her most were the level of professionalism of the trainers, specialized equipment, and convenience to fit in her busy lifestyle.

“The trainers here are amazing, always intent on proper form and getting the most out of each movement,” she says. “Due to the arthritis, I had lost range of motion in my shoulder. My left knee was so bad, every step was painful. At age 40, I had been accepted into the Executive MBA program at Case Western Reserve and had to use a cane to get through it. Today, I’m practically pain-free and feel wonderful.”

In addition to fitness, Judy joined the Wellness Coaching program in 2022 to push the envelope further. Working with MaxStrength coach Jennifer Puhalsky, she took a holistic approach to wellness, looking at key areas of her life—nutrition, exercise, stress management, getting the best sleep, attaining financial security, and finding happiness by expressing daily gratitude.

“I’ve lost a healthy six pounds a month since joining and so far am down 30 pounds,” says Judy. “Jen helped me set realistic goals and workable strategies for attaining them. I’m someone who has yo-yoed through every popular diet out there, from Nutrisystem and NOOM to Weight Watchers. Working with Jen doesn’t seem like a diet to me. It’s a sustainable lifestyle.”

Something Completely Different
Founded by local fitness guru Jeff Tomaszewski, MaxStrength studios have earned a reputation for transforming the lives of hundreds of Clevelanders over the past 15+ years. Here’s a short list of things that make them different from everyone else:

  • Intense, trainer-led workouts are only 20 minutes, twice a week, conveniently fitting into busy schedules.
  • Specialized resistance equipment triggers adaptive change in the muscles by pushing them to the point of failure, then allowing them time to fully rebuild between workouts.
  • Since studio temps are kept pleasantly chilly, the “no-shower” workouts allow clients to work out on their lunch hour or way to work.

“Whether you’re looking for a new fitness and training protocol or an accountability partner through our Wellness Coaching program, we’d love to be part of your wellness journey,” says Jeff.

MaxStrength Fitness is located at 4212 State Route 306 in Willoughby. Call 440-226-8080 and at 2211 Crocker Road in Westlake, 440-835-9090 or for more information or to view more testimonials, visit MaxStrengthFitness.com.