Remodeling isn’t for the faint of heart.
Neither is getting your body back into shape.
The funny thing is, after spending more than 40 years remodeling homes, I never realized how much remodeling a house and remodeling your body have in common. They both take a plan, patience, determination, and a coach who knows what they’re doing.
Four years ago, my body was waving the white flag.
I couldn’t kneel down without wondering how I was going to get back up. Getting on and off the toilet had become my own version of the “Commode Olympics.” Every trip deserved a scorecard from the judges. If I stuck the landing, it was a gold medal day!
I even caught myself wondering if I was going to have to install handicap grab bars by the commode. Now that’s one remodeling project I wasn’t ready to budget for.
Then there were my arms.
Let’s just say those “flapping flags” had a life of their own. If there had been a breeze, they could have directed traffic. Sleeveless tops? Not happening! Menopause had shown up 20 years earlier, but apparently the unwanted side effects decided to keep arriving fashionably late.
That’s when I met Brittany Smith with Fit4Function. 
She became my new general contractor… for my body, instead of my house.
Just like every remodeling project starts with a consultation, Brittany asked me what I wanted to accomplish. She evaluated where I was, developed a plan, and gave me a realistic timeline to reach my goals.
Sound familiar?
That’s exactly what happens when you remodel a home. Before we start picking paint colors, countertops, or cabinets, we need a plan. The projects that go the smoothest almost always begin with clear goals and realistic expectations.
Whether it’s a small update or a full-blown renovation, remodeling invades your sanctuary. This is the place where you kick off your shoes, recharge after a long day, fix meals, relax with your family, and sometimes even work out.
Then the plans are finalized, the contracts are signed, and the money changes hands.
That’s when it gets physical.
You start moving furniture. Cleaning out closets. Packing boxes. Climbing ladders. Hauling things around. Some families even move out while the work is being done.
Remodeling a house can wear you out physically.
But it also works you out mentally.
If you’ve ever lived through a remodel, you know exactly what I mean. The decisions. The dust. The delays. Wondering if you’ll ever have a normal kitchen again. It all takes more out of you than most people expect.
Our homes age just like we do. What worked twenty years ago may not fit our lifestyle today. Rooms become outdated, spaces no longer function well, and sometimes they simply need a fresh start.
The same thing happens with our bodies.
There were weeks my workouts were hard. There were mornings when every muscle introduced itself before I even got out of bed. I wondered if Brittany had secretly added “Professional Soreness Coordinator” to her job description.
Some days I questioned whether I was making any progress at all.
But I kept my goal in front of me.
I kept showing up every week with Brittany.
I also worked out four or five days a week at home.
The first year brought a lot of improvement.
By the third year, I could really see the difference. My body had changed. My clothes didn’t fit anymore…and for once, that was a reason to celebrate! I had to buy smaller sizes instead of blaming the dryer for shrinking everything.
Now here I am celebrating four years.
Honestly, I feel better today than I did twenty years ago.
I actually look forward to my workouts each week with Brittany. If you had told me four years ago I’d say that, I probably would have laughed…and then asked if you had the right Coleen.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is this:
The stronger you are physically and mentally, the smoother your remodeling project will go.
Will it still be hard?
Absolutely.
Just like exercising, remodeling has seasons where it feels like nothing is happening. You wonder if all the work is worth it.
That’s true in remodeling too.
There are weeks when it feels like your house is actually getting worse instead of better.
You’re surrounded by dust. Contractors are coming and going. Money keeps leaving your bank account. You start wondering if you’ll ever cook another meal in your own kitchen.
Then suddenly…
Cabinets go in. The paint is finished. Then the countertops are installed. You can finally see the vision again.
Our last remodeling project had what felt like the longest paint and stain stage in history. It seemed like it would never end. Then Mother Nature decided to join the fun with weeks of rain.
We rescheduled electricians, plumbers, security installers, and flooring crews more times than I could count. It was so frustrating. But eventually, we reached the finish line.
That’s exactly how working out feels.
You stay consistent. You trust the process. Then one day you realize you’ve crossed a milestone you couldn’t see coming.
Looking back over this past year of remodeling our fixer-upper, I can honestly say having a stronger, healthier body made the entire project easier. I had more energy, better balance, greater endurance, and far less soreness than I would have had four years ago.
Who knew that remodeling my body would help me remodel my house?
So today I’m celebrating four years with Brittany.
She helped me remodel something even more important than my house.
She helped me remodel me. Looking back, I thought I was simply remodeling my home.
What I didn’t expect was how much I would be remodeled in the process. So if you’re getting ready to start a remodeling project, here’s one piece of advice I never expected to give:
Prepare yourself as much as you prepare your home.
Take a few walks before the project begins. Stretch a little. Build your strength. Get plenty of rest. Remodeling asks a lot of homeowners, both physically and mentally, and the healthier you are going into it, the easier it is to navigate the unexpected bumps along the way.
Because your house isn’t the only thing being transformed.
Sometimes the best remodel isn’t your home.
Sometimes…
it’s you.