A Fitness Journey

It can be difficult to stay healthy, especially with the coronavirus outbreak. For Nicholas LaCasse, the Fitness Center operations specialist at PVCC, this struggle is nothing new. After fighting with various health issues for several years, LaCasse turned to fitness to get his life and body back in shape. 

After graduating high school in 2014, LaCasse began pursuing a general studies degree with a strong interest in Police Science. During his second semester, however, he began experiencing various health issues that greatly impacted his ability to take classes. He was forced to cut his semester short and seek immediate medical attention.

“These issues are very extensive, complicated, and far too much for me to easily cover here, but I struggled significantly with chronic fatigue, aching joints/muscles, insomnia, and digestive issues,” LaCasse said. “I struggled to get help from doctors and things often felt hopeless.”

LaCasse was kept out of classes until the fall semester of 2016, during which time he made the decision to switch his major to Police Science/Criminal Justice. After returning to PVCC, he successfully completed a year’s worth of classes, and in Fall 2017 he signed up for PED 101 with Christie Graf, a requirement for his degree. 

“I was nervous about taking this,” LaCasse said. “I played sports growing up (baseball) and took every gym class I could in high school because I loved activity, but once I got out of that time frame I lost my easy physical activities.”

Although he had improved, LaCasse still struggled with staying healthy, his weight being a particularly difficult battle. 

“I was always a very thin person, but when I got sick I dropped down all the way to 100lbs at my lowest,” LaCasse said. “I really struggled to eat (usually once a day at most), and at six feet tall, I looked incredibly unhealthy and I didn’t feel very good about my body.”

After starting Graf’s class, however, he began to see major improvements in his overall health. Working around his ailments, Graf helped him get the exercise he needed and came up with routines that worked best for him.

“Her class was like a lifeline for me,” LaCasse said. “It challenged me in ways I hadn’t been able to be challenged in a long time.”

By the end of the semester, LaCasse had put on 15lbs, gained muscle mass, and was hungry enough to eat more regularly. 

“Because my results were fantastic, I became addicted,” LaCasse said. “I wanted that time block that a class provides to continue to work out, so I took her class a second time despite not needing it for my degree.”

After graduating in May, he had several interviews lined up with various police departments, but, in fear of losing his newly gained health and falling back into negative habits, he thought twice about his career choice.

“I didn’t want to lose all of my progress because of the demands of the job,” LaCasse said. “There are just certain habits that typically follow people in that profession due to the crazy nature of it all. They often eat rarely, poorly, or both. They have weird sleep schedules and often rely on things like energy drinks/sodas to keep going. I was still having health issues and this made me nervous, so I politely pulled myself out of those hiring processes and got my job in the Fitness Center under Shawn Anderson.”

Since working for Anderson, LaCasse has offered his assistance in a variety of ways, from monitoring the gym during open hours to helping Graf in her classes. He also assists with various activities and events around campus, all while promoting the Fitness Center. Even with the Fitness Center temporarily closed due to the coronavirus, he still encourages people to stay active, offering several workout routines to try while stuck at home. Check out my other article, “Fitness from Home: Tips on Staying Active and Stress-Free,” to learn more.

Aside from his passion for exercise, LaCasse is also a Boston sports fan (Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox, Patriots) and makes a point to watch every game. He also enjoys playing video games, reading, spending time with his family and pets (three dogs and three cats), and watching movies. 

“I’m basically always up to try something new,” LaCasse said. “I really like to broaden my horizons, whether that be with activities, travel, or food.”