The Big Day Fitness Show

Cathleen Johnson asked her doctor for Ozempic. He said no. So she joined Big Day Fitness. A former 50-marathon, 10-ultra runner who stopped cold for almost a decade, Cathleen hit her breaking point when she couldn't open her dog's prescription bottle. Her bloodwork was going the wrong way and she was pre-diabetic. Four months and three sessions a week later: LDL down 40, A1C down, body fat...

Big Day Fitness member Sarah Filandrianos joins Bobby and Maria to talk about what changed when she stopped chasing perfect and started just showing up. A lifelong all-or-nothing person, Sarah used to need a Monday, a first-of-the-month, and a big goal before she'd start anything. Now she's booked three days a week whether her eating is on point or not — and the results have followed her o...

Four years ago, Amanda Rand answered a Facebook ad, then said "I don't have time" — three times. Maria kept calling. Today Amanda is a 5 a.m. regular who went from not being able to do a single sit-up (after two C-sections and a spinal fusion) to knocking out 20 push-ups from the floor. Amanda, a teacher and mom of two, joins Bobby and Maria to talk about why she stopped putting hers...

Ten years of coaching adults over 40 boiled down to the tips that actually change how you feel: why you need to breathe when you stretch, why you should never train through pain, why leaving the gym wrecked is a mistake, and why two or three strength sessions a week beats six. Bobby and Maria walk through the underrated rules they run Big Day Fitness on, including the "battleship, not a canoe...

He's one of the best-known real estate agents on the South Shore — and two years ago, Billy D was out of shape, frustrated, and had already quit every gym he'd ever joined. Nothing stuck past six months. In this episode, Bobby and Maria sit down with Billy to unpack what changed: nearly 200 workouts in two years, 25 pounds down, 10 pounds of muscle up, and a training session his 17-year-ol...

She turned 65, hurt her shoulder, and typed "gym for older people" into Google. What Ellie Hickey found instead got her back on the water — rowing out of Cohasset Harbor at 66, pressing 25 pounds overhead with the arm she once couldn't raise, and winning the gym's body composition challenge she was nervous to even weigh in for. Bobby and Maria talk with Ellie about strength train...

Suzanne Bloom joined Big Day Fitness in Norwell about five months after losing her husband. One year later, she's down 10+ pounds, up 2 pounds of muscle, sleeping through the night, and rowing every Saturday. Bobby and Maria talk with Suzanne — a nurse of 33 years and a founding member of our Duxbury location — about starting over after five years as a caregiver, why she calls movement a privi...

Fresh off a trip to Spain — where Bobby and Maria got married a second time so her family could finally be there — they unpack the moments that stuck with them. Front and center: Bobby's 92-year-old grandmother, who flew across the world, danced through Madrid, and walked him down the aisle. It's the clearest proof of a simple idea: your health is an investment, and moments like these are...

Dr. An-Louise Johnson — "Doc," a South Shore oral surgeon and mom in her 50's — spent nearly a decade building muscle. When she started a GLP-1, she had one rule: don't lose it. She gets honest about how she pulled it off. In this episode: Why "strong" beat "skinny" — and made fitness finally sustainable The muscle-loss risk of GLP-1s, and the plan she used to keep every pound Hitting 143g of prot...

Most people think they ate "pretty good" today — and have no real idea what they actually put in their body. In this episode, Bobby and Maria break down the nutrition basics that actually move the needle for adults over 40: building awareness before chasing perfection, why protein is the easiest first win, and how hidden fats quietly blow up your calories without you noticing. What we co...

What if the gym could actually be fun? In this debut episode of the Big Day Fitness Show on WATD, hosts Bobby Gasdia and Maria Gutierrez introduce themselves and share the story behind Big Day Fitness — a gym built specifically for adults over 40 who are done with cookie-cutter workout programs that leave them burned out, injured, or just plain bored. Bobby and Maria break down why strength traini...

Bobby and Maria dive into what really happens during perimenopause and menopause — the symptoms no one warns you about, why they happen, and what you can actually do to feel better. Maria also shares insights from her brand-new book,  The Guide to Perimenopause and Menopause , a simple, no-nonsense resource for women who want real answers and practical solutions.

Bobby and Maria reveal how sticking to simple, ordinary habits in fitness, nutrition, and life can compound into extraordinary results over time.

Snacking trips up even the most disciplined eater. In this episode, Bobby and Maria break down why snacks are so hard to resist, how food companies design them to keep you eating, and what you can do about it. You’ll hear practical tips like portion control tricks, choosing “stop-at-one” snacks, and using cues to end meals. Plus, we dive into the science of your stomach’s cleanup system and why co...

In this episode, we sit down with Big Day Fitness member Derek Levesque—runner, dad, and former teacher—who shares his 20+ year journey with running. From tearing his ACL on a softball field to completing multiple marathons (including Disney’s Dopey Challenge), Derek opens up about recovery, consistency, and how strength training at BDF has helped him stay injury-free and race-ready. We also get i...

Ben from XR Sandwiches joins us to share how he went from corporate life to slinging some of the best barbecue and sandwiches on the South Shore—all out of a gas station kitchen. We talk about how passion drives quality, why his kitchen’s size made him a better cook, and the importance of community (including his awesome partnership with local schools). We also brainstorm a new Big Day Fitness-ins...

In this episode, we sit down with Suzanne Ducharme, a pediatric speech pathologist with 30+ years of experience who now specializes in craniosacral therapy. Suzanne explains how this gentle, hands-on approach helps both children and adults release physical and emotional tension stored in the body — especially trauma from birth or injury. She shares how the work supports nervous system regulation,...

Why big goals often lead to burnout — and how just five minutes a day can flip the script. Bobby and Maria share real talk on building sustainable habits, staying motivated, and leading by example (even with a busy life).

We sat down with Marisa Donlin, licensed acupuncturist and founder of Blue Fire Acupuncture in Norwell, to unpack the truth about Chinese medicine. In this episode, you’ll learn what acupuncture really is (and isn’t), how it helps with anxiety, injuries, and sleep, and why it’s not just for the “woo crowd.” Marisa shares 20+ years of insight, along with simple at-home tools anyone can use to feel...

In this episode, Bobby and Maria break down insights from a recent member survey at Big Day Fitness—highlighting how many clients have lost 10–20 pounds (or more) without crash diets. They discuss the power of slow, sustainable changes like building muscle, increasing protein intake, and making simple food swaps. You’ll learn about the thermic effect of food, why extreme calorie cutting backfires,...

In this episode, we sit down with Holly Marquis, owner of Off the Beaten Path Holistic Studio, to talk about the connection between mind, body, and healing. From breathwork and massage to energy and self-talk, Holly shares practical tools and personal stories to help you feel better in your body—and take back control of your well-being.

In this episode, we break down one of our favorite client reviews and dig into why so many gyms miss the mark - either offering aimless workouts or beating you into the ground like a Navy SEAL boot camp. We talk about what actually makes a gym work for real people over 40, the importance of structured training, and why a proper assessment is the key to staying injury-free. If you’re tired of wande...

In this episode, Bobby and Maria share the inspiring story of a Big Day Fitness member who lost 50 pounds and transformed his health at nearly 60 years old. More than just weight loss, he regained confidence in himself after years of failed attempts. They break down the three key factors that made the difference this time: ✅  A Deeper “Why”  – He wasn’t just chasing a number on the scale; he want...

In this episode, Bobby and María from Big Day Fitness sit down with Brian Banks, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and owner of Lighthouse Mental Wellness, to explore the fascinating connection between mental health, fitness, and habit-building. Discover how small, consistent actions can rewire your brain, improve your mood, and set you up for long-term success. From innovative treatments like TMS...

Walking—it’s the easiest thing we’re built to do, yet most of us don’t do enough of it. In this episode, we dive into why walking feels so underrated, why it’s harder to stick to here than in other parts of the world, and how it benefits your body, mind, and even digestion. Plus, we get real about our own walking struggles and why shaking up your routine might be exactly what you need.