My Approach

Four words express my philosophy about fitness: moderate, appropriate, consistent, and uncomplicated:

Moderate

In my years as a trainer, I’ve found that people tend to make drastic changes when they start an exercise program. They’ll say things like, “I’m going to the gym every day,” or “I’m not eating any carbs.” They think that by aggressively addressing their goals in the beginning, they’ll lose weight and the weight loss will motivate them to continue. As a trainer, it’s difficult to watch someone with such great intentions set themselves up for failure. This approach is ineffective because it cannot be sustained.

I understand that people approach exercise with different levels of understanding, along with their personal experience of past successes and failures. Let me work with you to create a program that will be moderate and long lasting, that will fit your lifestyle and schedule, and that will produce the results you want.

Appropriate

While I never discourage my clients from trying to be as fit or fitter than they were at 25, it is important to consider how age affects the process. When I see a client trying to ignore the impact of aging, I remind them that they’re only getting closer to the physical therapist’s office, not the finish line.

When your body is sore, achy, tight, and lethargic, it’s time to scrutinize your fitness routine and make some changes. The alternative is an injury that can lay you up for weeks or months. If you train appropriately, there’s no reason you can’t maintain an intense exercise regimen well into your 80’s or 90’s.

My #1 job as a trainer is to show my clients correct technique for whatever activity or exercise they do. I am committed to my clients 100%, and create individualized programs that are thoughtfully designed and appropriate.

Consistent

Consistency is a major ingredient for long-term fitness. It has everything to do with your success. Exercise shouldn’t come in waves. Some people start a program and when a trip or illness interrupts their momentum, they can’t get back to it. Others get discouraged and quit when they can’t live up to their own high expectations. I see the most success in clients that have a plan for a moderate program and make it their absolute priority, week after week.

If breaking your commitment to a fitness program is a pattern for you, I can help you learn what it will take to stay on course for the long term. It’s important to discover your personal hurdles. Is your work so stressful all you can do is slouch in front of the TV when you get home? Is there a person in your life who always puts your fitness efforts down? Do you need a stronger circle of supportive friends? Do you need to change the time of day you work out? Do you need a workout buddy? What will it take to change this pattern of giving up on your fitness goals? My job is to help you say “yes!” to your own health by making whatever changes are necessary to be consistent.

Uncomplicated

Fitness doesn’t have to be complicated. By following just a few, simple guidelines, you can reach your health goals: don’t skip meals, have well-balanced meals, watch your portions, drink water, and get enough sleep, along with regular aerobic, flexibility, and strengthening exercise. But often, clients put pressure on themselves to be perfect. They will do things like count calories, count fat grams, use a heart rate monitor, weigh food, take supplements, drink protein shakes, etc. While all of these things are fine, they can also cause you to forget the basics.

For example, clients often want to know how to use a heart rate monitor. Heart rate monitors are important for people with heart conditions; however, people without these concerns often become fixated on the device, instead of listening to their own body. Simply ask yourself during your workout, “on a scale of 1-10, how hard is this?” Chances are, your body will tell your brain what the monitor will tell your eyes. The important thing is to consistently do the basics. Let me help you establish an uncomplicated routine using the basics of good health for your long-term success.