Training Day

You’re never too old, never too young, never too out of shape, so it’s never too late to start an exercise regimen that will change your life according to these local personal trainers who serve clients of all shapes, sizes and lifestyles.

Rod Stewart

Owner- Club Performax

Rod Stewart and his wife Risa like to think of Club Performax as “the anti gym.”  Rod’s philosophy is simple: “Keep it fun-workouts have to be fun and interesting or people won’t come back; keep it safe and keep it effective. We start with an initial consult to direct people what path to take. This is very important because people come here for different reasons. Some are here to lose weight, some to recuperate from an injury, some to maintain. Based on their goals and the time they have available to devote to their training we put together a program designed especially for them.”

Rod says, “the newest trend would have to be our Power Stretch training. It’s a fusion of yoga, stretching and massage that allows your body to move better. I see that as the trend of the future because we’re getting older but people still want to be able to move and do the things they’ve always been able to do.”

“Everybody is unique and has different goals and desires. The key is to develop a program that will work for them.”

Just some of the programs Rod offers at Club Performax include:

-Metabolic Conditioning.  “This is movement training that works on cardio, endurance, flexibility, mobility, strength and power. We’ve found it burns more calories and is way more interesting than just working on machines.

-Fast Track Program.  “This is a take-off on “The Biggest Loser”. A 60-day program that gives people an end date with a final solution and outcome. We work with them on everything from working out to nutrition counseling.”

-Outdoor Area.  “Because some people want to be outside and do something a little different. We have everything from wheelbarrows and tires to sledge hammers. It’s not your traditional gym exercise but it’s a great workout.”

-Speed School.  “Teaches kids how to be better athletes,” by focusing on exercise form, proper body mechanics, safe muscle building, core stability, reaction time, speed and power.

Denise Duda Connery

Owner- Ocean Fit

After seven years at the Suntree YMCA Denise Duda Connery is back to doing what she loves. “During my time there I ended up in management, now I’ve gotten back to my roots.” As owner of the newly opened Ocean Fit in Cocoa Beach, Denise says training on the beach provides her clients with amazing opportunities. “They can run sprints on the sand, do yoga on the beach and kayak in both the ocean and river,” to name just a few of the activities she encourages her clients to participate in, “This environment is very conducive to the whole idea of mind-body-spirit.”  Of course everyone’s personal plan “depends on the clients needs, goals and comfort level.  We like to change things up, you’re muscles have memory and your body finds shortcuts. Fitness should be fun. You’re going to get more exercise adherence from the client if it’s fun for them.”

“I think getting your family involved is really important. In addition to providing a great opportunity for family togetherness, it’s important for children to see their parents’ exercise and practice proper nutrition. You set a good example.”

A good trainer should

-Provide motivation

-Establish a varied program consistent with your body’s needs

-Ensure exercise adherence

-Provide nutritional guidance. “Half of the key to results is exercise, the other half is proper nutrition”.

-Establish short and long-term goals that are both measurable and realistic.

-Have their client provide a written commitment. “This makes it more real.”

-Suggest a workout calendar and schedule in their exercise every day, just as they would their business appointments. “It keeps them involved and honest.”

-Encourage family involvement. “The more you surround yourself in that positive environment, the more successful you’ll be. Plus it brings families together promoting a healthy lifestyle.”

Christie Piontkowski

Senior Trainer- MIMA Lifeshape Fitness Center

At Lifeshape Fitness Center Christie Piontkowski deals primarily with post Lap-Band® surgery patients and the extremely overweight. “One week after surgery there is nothing Lap-Band® patients can’t do and we encourage them to do anything they can to get moving.”

Christie says, “when people come to me they are asking for help and willing to do whatever it takes. They are putting that responsibility in my hands. We start really slow, getting them moving and teaching them good habits. Sometimes we even begin exercising sitting down. Because I deal with very overweight people I am constantly monitoring their breathing and heart rate. The job of many trainers is to push their clients as hard as they can; I have to start slowly with most of my clients. They know they have to change their behavior or their lifestyle will be drastically altered. They may hate it, but they know what they have to do.”

“Someone who weighs 450 pounds does not go to a gym.  We’re able to work with them here in a community where they feel safe, and therefore our success rate is very high.  Because we cater to an overweight population many gravitate here because they feel comfortable.”

Christie, who has a degree in psychology, tries to “get into the head of the person. I ask them the right questions and part of my job is teaching them how to be a better person through exercising and figuring out-How did they get to this point?

-For many, especially women, something happened in their childhood, some traumatic event

-Pregnancy. “Women who gained weight during their pregnancy saw their priorities change after the birth of their child and they stopped taking care of themselves.”

-Wealthy-over indulgence. “This many times also stems from a childhood, when they had nothing. Now that they have the means they over indulge in many things, including food

-The super sizing of today’s society. “People no longer have any idea what proper portion size is.”

-Divorce “has played a role in creating a society of unhealthy children.  Parents give the children anything they want, including food.”

Lucas Jordan

Personal Trainer- Parrish Health and Fitness Center

Trainer Lucas Jordan focuses on core training and flexibility because “I believe that core training is misunderstood. Most people would refer this training to just abs, but they’re wrong. The core consists of muscles of the torso, abdomen and lower back. It’s the vital link between the shoulder and hip stability”. Lucas, who has been at Parrish just over a year, works to “make sure my clients are happy with what they are doing to improve their longevity and mental state.” And, although he believes advantages to having a personal trainer include establishing realistic goals and providing good motivational and inspirational skills, in the end it’s all up to the client. “The bottom line is that people need to create a positive lifestyle based on core values, physical activity and healthyeating that will fuel them toward success in every aspect of their life.”

“My advice for sticking to a program is to not take it so fast.  Many people tend to work really hard and over train. This leads to decreased motivation, fatigue and fewer trips to the Fitness Center. Take it slow and there will be measurable progression.”

Training Philosophy

(1)   Determination. “People need to understand that this is a long term strategy, but no matter how bad off some people are right now, they are not doomed to poor health if they take action immediately.”

(2)   Consistency. “Being consistent with your workouts achieves the best results. Keeping a balance can be tough, but having the right mindset can benefit as well.”

(3)   Teamwork.  “A personal trainer works around your schedule, sets realistic goals, provides inspiration and motivation.”

Melissa Vandett

Owner- Custom Fit of Brevard

Melissa Vandett loves working with all of her clients, but especially ones who are just getting into exercise for the first time, or back into it after a break. “They really end up changing their whole lives as a result. Through exercise they develop a new confidence and new outlook on life. When they arrive they may be suffering from low self-esteem and low energy levels, but exercise changes the entire pattern of their lives and has the biggest impact on them. Many people think of exercise as something they need to find a little extra time for, we show them they need to make it a priority and a regular part of their day. I like to reveal to people what they have inside themselves they may have never know about before. Everyone always has a little more inside them than they think they do.”

“I love the way exercise makes me feel. As a former competitive athlete I genuinely love instilling that feeling in others, showing the people who come to me that they too can experience that feeling.”

Exercise is

-A good way to relieve stress

-A good way to feel positive about yourself

-A good way to meet people.  “Being with other health minded individuals helps you keep on track

-A good way to escape.  “When you turn on the news these days everything seems dismal, adding exercise to your life at least gives you a fighting chance to not let it get you down.”

-Not a way to undo bad eating habits. “Learning proper nutrition is part of the package. Learning how to eat healthier is an important part of what we focus on.”

Jill Wattenbarger, MHA

Health First Pro-Health & Fitness Center

Group Fitness and Personal Training Supervisor.

Jill Wattenbarger is an ACE certified Personal Trainer responsible formanaging group fitness and personal training programming at Health First’s Pro-Health & Fitness Centers.  She teaches a variety of classes, including spinning, group weight training, and pilates as well as personally trains individual clients.

When it comes to fitness, you need to walk before you can run. This holds true once you’re in the gym, but also when searching for the motivation to get to the gym in the first place.

Starting an effective exercise routine means creating a program that fits your lifestyle. Unless you are planning on becoming a professional athlete, you need to start with a manageable routine that doesn’t interfere with your other responsibilities. Therefore, I recommend these simple steps that will help keep your interest, and more importantly your motivation high.

1)    Set realistic goals: What are you hoping to accomplish by working out?  Do you want to lose weight, increase fitness, or improve flexibility? If your goal is weight loss, set an initial goal that is attainable. If you ultimately want to lose 30 pounds, set your goals in five-pound increments. Small victories will keep you motivated .

2)    Pick the workout that is right for you: Selecting the right workout is critical. While some people enjoy the camaraderie of group classes or fitness clubs, others gravitate towards home-based routines. Are you a self-starter? If not, perhaps home workouts are not the right option.  Instead, you might benefit from appointments with a Personal Trainer or meeting with a few friends to attend workout classes together.

3)    Set a schedule that works for you and stick to it: If you don’t schedule your workout like other appointments, it will be the first activity that falls by the way side.  There are always activities competing for your time. Your fitness routine needs to be convenient. Ask yourself if your schedule lends itself more towards a morning or an evening workout.

Bonus: Three Hot Trends

If you’re the type of individual that needs to have the latest and greatest, consider a fitness routine that incorporates some of the hottest new trends in exercise.  Topping the list as we begin 2011 is “Small Group Training”.

Small Group Training provides the benefit of a Personal Trainer while enjoying the camaraderie of working out with a few friends. Many small group training sessions feature no more than four to five people, allowing the trainer to really focus on individual’s fitness needs.

Boot Camps also are among the most popular fitness choices. Boot camp workouts are efficient because you work your entire body—heart and muscles—by going from one exercise to another with no rest. Their popularity is due to the amount of variation they provide and the fact that they allow you to burn a large amount of calories in a short period of time.

Finally, if boot camp seems a bit much, how about dancing your way to fitness?   Zumba, a fitness program inspired by Latin dance, combines South American rhythms with cardiovascular exercise. Enrollment in Zumba-style classes has doubled in the last few years, and continues to grow.

Regardless of the goals, type, and timing of your workouts, make sure if you’re starting a new routine, it’s one you’ll stick with. Choose exercises that you enjoy, and do them at times that fit your lifestyle. Finally, carefully set goals that will continue to push you, but will also provide periodic milestones to show progress and personal achievement.  The more you put in to your fitness routine, the more you’ll get out of it. Good luck!

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