For those who once thrived on movement but now find themselves limited by pain, energy loss, or setbacks… Pat Cavadini’s story will resonate deeply.

A former repeat Birkebeiner competitor, Pat was no stranger to challenge or endurance. He had always been active, spending his free time cross-country skiing, biking, hiking, kayaking, and listening to his favorite classic rock and blues.

But over time, things changed.

Pat came to NorthStar with chronic, severe pain in the pelvic and lower back area that had drastically impacted his drive, stamina, and performance. He was no longer training like the athlete he once was—and it showed not just in the body, but in how he felt every day.  

He knew he needed to make a change, and that the way things are or trying things that he used to do, simply weren't going to make a dent, and were exacerbating some of the pain he'd been having. 

Determined to get back to the things he loved, Pat committed to following the NorthStar process—and the resu...

If you’ve ever felt trapped in a cycle of dieting, over-exercising, or relying on weight loss drugs just to feel in control, you’re not alone. Angela Hohmann has been there too—and her journey is one worth celebrating.

Angela wasn’t happy with where she was at, and like many people, she believed losing weight was the key to success. So she went all in.

She lost a lot of weight. And from the outside, it looked like a win. But inside, something else was happening.

Her metabolism slowed to a crawl. She began to lose muscle, energy, and strength. She became stuck in a frustrating loop: eating less and less, feeling guilty every time she ate something “extra,” and pushing herself to do endless cardio just to maintain her results.

She wasn’t sleeping well, her mental clarity was slipping, and her physical and emotional health were suffering.

Angela was doing what so many are told to do… and it was breaking her down.

That’s when she found NorthStar.

Through our 9-step Maximum Muscle Po...

Congratulations to Nancy Gilligan as this month’s client of the month!

Multiple Sclerosis is no match for this woman.  She has not let this be a label for her, but instead has risen up to excel through the power of resistance training, effective strengthening, and getting the right nutrition to overcome effects of MS, aging and chronic disease.  

Nancy has dropped significant weight loss -the right way by shedding body fat– and significant inches. Even more important is the positive mindset she’s developed by embracing the journey & trusting the process.  Nancy has dropped over 30 lbs and 22 inches the right way by stimulating her muscle to burn fat increase her metabolism.

Nancy puts her creativity and love of theater to work, as she is the Melrose-Mindoro HS Drama Director (on top of her full time job). She is an avid reader, and always has a book in the hand or one in the ear.
Not letting Multiple Sclerosis set her back, Nancy has significantly reduced her back pain through effec...

We wanted to warmly introduce Emma Hanson!

 Emma grew up in Winona, Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a degree in Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences. Emma grew up playing all types of sports but focused on basketball and swimming in high school. In college she held a position working sporting events where her love of sports and exercise grew. After college, she worked as a strength and conditioning coordinator as well as swim coach for different high schools.  

In her free time, she says, "I enjoy crocheting, cooking, outdoor activities (hiking, camping, sunsets), and traveling."

Emma says, "I am passionate about empowering individuals in their exercise and nutrition path. By dedicated myself to educating others on exercise and nutrition to help them build healthier lifestyles through informed choices and sustainable habits."

Northstar Fitness has a core team of Fitness Professionals that work with each client on their specific goals, limitati...

We are proud to announce the newest member of our growing team.  Welcome Quinn Steckbauer!  Quinn Joins us from UW-Oshkosh, where he played basketball for the Titans while he completed his bachelors degree in Strength and Conditioning with a minor in psychology from UW-Oshkosh.

Quinn grew up in Merrill, WI, and he recently received his Certification as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist.  In his free time, he enjoys anything outdoors including camping, biking, and hiking.   He enjoys basketball, golf, tennis, and volleyball, and playing with his cat Dudley, and is a fan of the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Bucks.

Quinn says, "I have enjoyed sports and exercise my entire life.  They improve my health and overall well-being.  I want other people to feel that same improvement and be able to achieve their goals!  There's nothing more rewarding than helping someone do something they thought wasn't possible!"

His fiance, Kamille, is going to school for Physical Therapy at UW-L, and ...

The first step of the fitness journey is the hardest.   We have a desire but no momentum.  And there are other barriers to getting started… 

We say we’ll start tomorrow.  The next day, we again say we’ll start tomorrow, and years later, we still haven’t made progress.  

Some of the most common reasons one fails to get started on their fitness journey:

• I’ve tried everything and it hasn’t worked. 
• I have nagging or chronic pain or I am worried about getting injured.
• I don’t like working out, don’t like to sweat, or don’t like feeling sore.
• I don’t know if anything will help
• I’m confused – there are so many options out there.
• I’m busy

Everyone has been there at some point.  Which one most resonates with you?  Is there one not listed here that has prevented you from starting?

Regardless of the reason, these become real roadblocks preventing us from taking that first step.  The good news is that there is an easy way to get started, and a proven way to stick with it and stay on...

 Which type of exercise endurance training vs. strength training best decreases the risk for coronary disease?

We've been taught to exercise daily through endurance training to best decreases the risk for coronary disease.   But when look at all the components of energy metabolism we see that strength training in fact is superior in decreasing the risk for coronary disease (McGuff & Little, 2009). 

When exercising at a low-intensity steady-state an individual is not able to achieve complete glucose depletion which results in a reduced ability of these muscles to store glucose.  Glucose storing capacity is reduced when glucose elimination is incomplete and leads to extra glucose in the bloodstream.  This extra glucose in the bloodstream will be diverted to fat cells which in turn increases the risk of developing coronary disease.  Endurance training such as running, for example, does not facilitate complete glucose depletion and thus decreases insulin sensitivity over a period of time...

Obesity related illnesses are set to surpass smoking as the number one cause of death in the United States.  The impact to individuals, families is heartbreaking, and medical costs and the financial burden associated with it are skyrocketing.

One of those Obesity related illnesses that you might be familiar with is diabetes.   Type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes mainly from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose get into your cells to be used for energy. (https://www.niddk.nih.gov › diabetes › overview › what-is-diabetes › type-2)

You may know someone who has died or has had to amputate a toe, a foot, a knee, a leg, or even an arm due to the effects of diabetes.    People with diabetes are prone to nerve damage and circulation issues that puts them at risk of lower limb loss. Diabetes is a signif...