“I knew I had to do something about my weight long before the doctor said a word,” Jeffrey said. “I mean, I couldn’t even walk across the office without getting winded. But going to the gym was difficult for me. I spend a lot of time at work, which means I’d either be able to work out very late at night or very early in the morning – and the crowd at that gym during those times aren’t exactly supportive to a big guy like me.”

After a check up that made the need for fitness a top priority for Jeffrey, he began looking into having a home gym built. “I knew once I had a finished basement, I could use that space for working out,” he said. “It’s convenient, it’s private, and let’s be real – it’s affordable. Have you looked at Boston gym membership prices lately?”

“Rather than going with a general contractor, I went with a company that specializes in basement renovations,” Jeffrey explained. “They explained the different basement finishing systems to me, and helped me pick which option would work best given my home’s layout.” After the walls were covered, and flooring and lighting installed, Jeffrey had a spacious bright area for his workout routine. “In the beginning, I didn’t have much in the way of fitness equipment – just a treadmill and an exercise bike.”

His wife had doubts about the entire endeavor. “I’d promised to get fit before, but nothing really came of it,” Jeffrey said. “So she had plans to turn this into a quilting studio once my enthusiasm wore off.” That was over a year ago. In that time, Jeffrey has lost almost 40 pounds, and his energy level has increased dramatically. “Having the basement turned into a gym made it so easy for me to get serious about my fitness,” he said. “Now I come down here before and after work and just do what I need to do. My doctor is thrilled, and so am I!”