I can remember the day when I decided that I wanted to get in shape. After my usual afternoon snack of whatever was left in the fridge and a few cans of coke to wash it down, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I was only 18 at the time but was at a crucial point of my life. I had always passed off my appearances by believing my mom when she said I was just "decently proportioned," but that wasn't cutting it anymore. I knew I needed to make some changes, at 210 lbs I was more than just overweight. I jumped off the couch, or more like rolled off, and rushed to the store to buy every fitness magazine I could get my hands on. I read them all front to back, with ever page I flipped I saw another incredible body, buff, lean, ripped, toned..each better then the last. It felt good to think that in three short weeks I too would have a sculpted six pack...well that is what the magazine cover said at least. Three grueling weeks later the only thing I lost was about 50 bucks buying all those magazines. Moral of the story folks: don't buy into everything you read. Abs don't happen in three weeks, nor can you - healthily I might add - drop 30 pounds in two weeks. Fitness, like any other walk of life, takes patience, hard work and is full of set backs and breakthroughs. Food Education 101 It took me years to learn how to lose weight, add lean muscle and more importantly eat healthy. I followed every fad diet you could think of. I ate grapefruit with every meal, cut out carbohydrates and drank soup for two weeks. After each I found myself still "decently proportioned" and starving. The road to becoming healthy is a long one and that is what most people don't realize. My goal is to get my clients to realize that fitness and exercise is a life style versus a quick fix. If I can do this then I can happily say I have done my job. I got into this field to help people turn their lives around and help them feel great about themselves - starting with myself I have done this hundreds of times over. That is what keeps me coming back each day. People often expect that because I'm a personal trainer I am going to turn them into Jennifer Lopez or The Rock, but that is not my training style. I train people to be healthy and incredibly toned, and being built like The Rock will come when you learn to embrace all aspects of fitness, starting with your diet. All too often my clients are confused when I tell them to meet me at the local supermarket for our first session. A healthy body starts with feeding your body the right nutrients and vitamins. That doesn't mean popping a pill or downing a shake; it means making educated food choices and incorporating these into every meal. The Fitness Element For each and every client I develop a personalized fitness regime designed around their fitness and life goals. Using a variety of techniques and programs I not only help my clients tone and shape their bodies but I provide them with the foundations and knowledge to build their own routines and continue on towards their fitness goals. I have joined Fitness Choices to bring you my education and experience so that you can lose weight, exercise right and have up to date information on everything from exercise equipment to weight training supplements.