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The human body is a fine-tuned system that when properly fueled, every part works cooperatively to keep us going every day. But what happens when the body’s systems are no longer working in harmony?  That’s when much of our society turns to prescription drugs and surgeries to solve ailments. But since the body is a system, it’s important to get at the root of the problem. That is what drives Maxine Johnson of TempleFit. “I’m a nutritional therapist,” says Maxine, “I help people get well without drugs and surgery.”

TempleFit Olympia sign
At Templefit, food is medicine, allowing the body to heal itself. Photo credit: Jessica Reeves-Rush

A visit to TempleFit will start with a consultation and assessments. “I first listen very carefully to what a person says they’re feeling, how long they’ve been feeling it, and anything else they want to share. And I ask lots of questions. It’s important that, in that consultation, I have a clear understanding of what a potential new client is telling me,” Maxine explains. “Once I’m clear, then part of my assessment is doing an electronic heart rate variability test that tells me how well this person is able to adapt to different stresses through life, and how well the body is communicating with itself. Then I do muscle testing, which is a means to find what could be blocking this person from getting well, or if there is any neurological confusion interfering with the body’s ability to communicate with itself.”

It’s all work done with the autonomic nervous system (ANS) – the self-governing system that runs our bodies without us having to think about it. It controls blood pressure, digestion, heart rate, and thousands and thousands of processes and decisions that keep us alive.

The ANS is also responsible for healing. But, it can be hindered from doing its job by a variety of factors, and that is what Maxine is looking for – those stressors that have accumulated over time that are interfering with a person’s ability to be well.

TempleFit Olympia Maxines Trophy Case
Maxine competed as a female bodybuilder for three years and some of her trophies are on display at Templefit. Photo credit: Jessica Reeves-Rush

Maxine also asks clients to write down everything they eat. She is well aware that many find food diaries a trial. “It’s just a pencil and a piece of paper but the anxiety we all have about writing down what we eat is almost comical.” says Maxine. “The truth is, if you don’t want to write it down, then you don’t want to be held accountable. The food diary has to come every single week.”

Maxine’s journey to becoming a Nutritional Therapist started in the 1980s when, as a wife and mother of four small children, she discovered female body building. Between working split shifts, she carefully planned her workouts so that she would be able to get home to put dinner on the table, then back to work for her evening shift. She kept this up for four years during which time friends inquired whether she would ever compete. Though flattered by the idea, the body building went to the wayside as work and family tugged at her.

Fast forward to the year 2000 when Maxine’s sister passed away. The following year her marriage of 22 years ended. “Suddenly,” recalls Maxine, “I wasn’t a wife, and I wasn’t a mother of small children, as they were off on their own. But I had bodybuilding in my background and as part of my efforts to gain some control of my life, I went back to the gym. In the gym the battle is simple, it’s just between you and the dumbbell or that next rep. When people started asking me if I was going to compete, that’s when I started my soul search.”

Then the concept of TempleFit came to her.  “I’m a Christian and I read the Bible,” she explains. “I was reading about the construction of Solomon’s temple; they spared no expense. They used the finest cedar, pure ivory and gold. I felt the message was, ‘What makes you think you aren’t worth the time and effort to keep yourself well and beautiful? I spared no expense with Solomon’s Temple but I don’t live there anymore. I live in people, I live in you. And if I lose you there is no replacement.’ And I knew that, because I had just lost my sister, and there was no replacing her. So, I started the business because this, our body, is the Temple we live in and we want to keep it fit.”

TempleFit Olympia Maxine Body Builder
Maxine Johnson of Templefit knows all about being fit over 50 as she started competing at the age of 53 in 2004.
Photo courtesy: Maxine Johnson

Maxine did start competing as a body builder. She did nine shows in three years and has the trophies to prove it. Body builders use food, for good or bad, to produce a desired effect. It was through this process she started to see the impact food can have on the body.

“I became a personal trainer, and trained mostly female clients for six years,” she continues. “I wanted other women to experience how strong they can become. But I was disappointed because, even though I was helping women get strong, get fit and lose weight, they were still going home sick with things I didn’t know how to help solve, like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes.”

That’s when Maxine decided to study Nutritional Therapy. She studied at Nutritional Therapy Association (NTA) in Olympia and became certified as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. She went to work for a chiropractor in North Bend who was looking for a nutritional therapist.

“The Chiropractor had studied energy testing,” explains Maxine, “which is called Nutrition Response Testing. When I saw how that worked I was amazed that you can ‘communicate’ with the autonomic nervous system and get information from it, and it’s noninvasive. When coupled with the right supplements and holding people accountable for what they eat, they get well. It takes a little longer because you support the body’s natural healing mechanism instead of giving them drugs. Drugs get rid of symptoms which are the body’s cry for help. But even though the cry may disappear through the use of a drug, the cause for the cry may still be there. At TempleFit, through utilizing Nutrition Response Testing, the body is rebalanced and clients finally feel wellness they may have never felt before.”

TempleFit offers classes every two weeks. The classes are on various health topics, and traditionally short and to the point.

Maxine at Templefit Olympia
Maxine Johnson is a Nutritional Therapist who will evaluate your specific dietary needs. Photo credit: Jessica Reeves-Rush

“We point out that anything can cause anything”, says Maxine. “We don’t divide the body up because we are holistic practitioners, and we understand that the body doesn’t divide itself up. It’s all connected.”

Maxine recently taught classes on osteoporosis, digestive health and weight loss. Her class on weight loss is September 25 at 7:00 p.m. It’s best to call ahead to reserve your seat at 360-338-0481. You can learn more by visiting the TempleFit website.

TempleFit
605 11th Ave S.E. Suite 202, Olympia

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