ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Robby Andrews, 53, said he’s using techniques that helped him on his long road to recovery from serious injuries to train clients at Burn Fitness on Central Ave.

What You Need To Know

  • Robby Andrews says he was injured after a fall from a fifth-story window in 2007
  • Andrews says determination and positive thinking helped him during a ten-year road to recovery
  • Earlier this year, Andrews began offering training sessions at Burn Fitness

“I was always trying to find my calling. I wanted to help other people, and I didn’t know what it was,” said Andrews. “My wife was like, ‘Well, you know, the task at hand is your task. What you’re doing now is the gift you can give to other people.’”

Andrews said he was injured in 2007 during an incident in Miami.

“I was, you know, living a life of opulence. I was just confused, and I ended up in a place where I shouldn’t have been, and I ended up going out a five story building. I don’t know how it happened to this day,” said Andrews.

Andrews’ injuries were extensive. He was in a coma for six months and underwent two amputations – first, to his left foot, then to that leg below the knee. 

“In my hospital bed, they put a trapeze, and when I started pulling on that, pulling on that, pulling on that, I was building my core strength. I couldn’t feel my lower extremities, so I just stretched all the time. I had a little shake in my leg, and I just kept shaking with it. After about a year, I got my leg all the way up, and then I started working on the other one,” Andrews said.

But the road to recovery wasn’t smooth.

“I was in my bed into a wheelchair for years because…I believed my diagnosis was my reality,” Andrews said.

Andrews said a doctor who cared for him in Miami was among those who inspired him to get out of that mindset and work at getting stronger.

“It was difficult, when you first start, to find a good doctor. I had one that just always was coming by. He was always like, ‘How are you doing? How are you doing? How are you doing?’ And something about that made me feel real good, because I needed someone that cared. That meant a lot to me,” Andrews said. 

Andrews said he eventually progressed from stretching his leg in bed to using a walker, then a cane. He would go for walks to deal with the pain, first from his couch to the mailbox, then around the block. He said it took about ten years to get to the level of physical fitness he’s at now. 

“I had many setbacks, but them setbacks. Now I look back, those were like milestones. Those were like, ‘Oh, I had a setback, but I got that far.’ I knew in my head I could get that far again,” Andrews said.

Earlier this year, Andrews began offering training sessions at Burn Fitness using his 40X Max Performance program, which is based on techniques he used during his recovery. 

“I’m big on the muscle-mind centric approach, because I believe that it builds up mental toughness, emotional resilience,” Andrews said.

“The biggest part of it is the energy that you’re bringing. He brings that to the studio, which is good. He’s always positive,” said Burn Fitness Co-Owner Jeff Ward.

Andrews said the most rewarding part is seeing clients overcome their own challenges to find success.

“I’m thankful for the accident I went through. It has made me the person I am today and made me a better person. So, I’m just grateful,” said Andrews. “The challenges in my life have a purpose. I find purpose and meaning in everything. Instead of looking at the negative, always focus on the positive and things become so much easier.”

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