Category: Featured Trainer

Featured Personal Trainer Jamaal Dickerson

Congratulations to Featured Personal Trainer Jamaal Dickerson for being selected as this weeks Trainer of the Week!  Jamaal received a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and is a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He is a Precision Nutrition Level 1 Coach and TRX L1 Qualified. Jamaal has 15 years exercise experience and played college and semi-pro football.  He also has experience as a performance coach of High School Basketball and Football. He works with a wide variety of populations through many different fitness domains including weight loss and weight management, strength and conditioning training, sports performance training, power lifting, TRX suspension training, and nutrition coaching.

Q & A with Featured Personal Trainer Jamaal Dickerson

What type of training do you provide?

As a nutrition coach, I am able to provide plans for weight loss, weight gain or maintenance of current weight. I also combine nutrition coaching with exercise programs that include Strength and Conditioning Training, Sports Performance Training, Power Lifting, and TRX Suspension Training. I am qualified and certified with different types of exercise equipment to help achieve clients’ goals.

What do you think are some of your most valuable skills that lead clients to enjoy working with you?
Having the ability to relate to people. Any personal trainer with the right education can help you get results, but not all personal trainers with the right education can help you enjoy the process. Being able to relate to my clients allows them to be open with me as their trainer and truly allows me to assess their needs and concerns during the entire training process.

What are your clients’ favorite things about your training style?

I customize workout and nutrition plans based on each clients’ goals, flexibility, needs, and overall lifestyle. No clients have the same plan and this keeps them motivated, inspired, and determined to push towards their goals. I also continuously update my clients’ workout and nutrition plans to keep things fresh and ensure they aren’t hitting a plateau. Most importantly, I touch base with each client and follow up on their progress. My clients are always informed on where they currently are at and how far they need to go.

How do you keep things fresh with your clients?

I use Periodization Training to achieve clients’ goals and prevent plateaus. The goal with periodization is to maximize my clients’ progress while also reducing their risk of injury and the staleness of the protocol over the long term. The three Periodization cycles (macrocycle, mesocycle and microcycle) vary for each client. The key to using periodization training with my clients is to always “mix up” the routine to force my clients’ muscles to be “shocked” and confused into growing stronger and bigger. Without consistently changing workout routines, clients will plateau. The reason they hit a plateau is because their muscles are getting the same stimulus every week.  This plateau happens due to the same exercises, same number of reps, same number of sets, etc.. I ensure I change the elements in my clients’ routine to keep their muscles progressing.

What are some of your favorite resources to use as a trainer and why?

FitSW has allowed me to track my clients progress and allows empowers my clients to take control of their health. My NSCA Membership has allowed me to look at current research to see the best methods to help clients to reach their goals. Also, Precision Nutrition has helped me with learning how to coach my clients into the behavior modifications they need to make in order to reach their body composition goals.

What are your must do’s for your initial consultation with clients?

During each initial consultation, clients will complete the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire. During this process I ensure I obtain clients’ goals, exercise history, health concerns, risk factors, and/or injuries. I also learn their likes and dislikes as well as their comfort level. Once I understand my clients’ goals, I create a custom workout plan and provide a one-hour sample workout.

What do you like about online trainer and what are your clients’ favorite things about it?

The ability to track my clients’ progress from workouts, progress graphs, diets, and tasks/goals is game changing! It helps me keep track of what my clients do outside of the sessions that we do together. My clients really enjoy the ability to take charge of their wellness by being able to access their information and workouts and enter their own data.

More Info on Featured Personal Trainer Jamaal Dickerson

Web: https://www.brickbodies.com/1-on-1-training/

FitSW Page: https://www.fitsw.com/JamaalD/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamaalPersonalTraining/

About Personal Trainer of the Week

Once a week, FitSW highlights one Personal Trainer worldwide that stands out – someone who keeps their clients on track & motivated, and consistently gets results.  We let them share their story and hold a quick Q & A to understand what works for them and what has made them successful.  We feel this gives you a chance to see what is working for these personal trainers.  It also allows us to recognize the personal trainers who are getting real results.

Featured Personal Trainer Melanie Pereira​

Congratulations to this week’s Featured Personal Trainer Melanie Pereira!  Melanie created Give Me 100 online personal training and has been doing an amazing job at helping women improve their health and reach their fitness goals.

About Melanie & Give Me 100 Online Personal Training

“Give Me 100 online personal training was created so that I can help women achieve their fitness goals and discover the unimaginable benefits that naturally occur by living a healthy lifestyle. For many years, I was overweight and tried to get in shape with fad diets and trendy workouts, but was let down every time. I experienced a life changing transformation, physically and mentally, am so passionate about it, that I became a certified personal trainer and created Give Me 100 because I want to create this experience for anyone who has a desire to improve their health and lifestyle! Even after my pregnancy, I was able to get in better shape using the Give Me 100 principles.”

Q & A with Featured Personal Trainer Melanie Pereira

What type of training do you provide?

I provide comprehensive online training programs and my clients receive a completely personalized experience throughout the entire program. I create individualized workouts and provide macro coaching according to each client’s goals to maximize their results. Regular check-ins through phone calls and video chats ensure accountability and allow me to continually motivate my clients to stay on track to reach their fitness goals.

What do you think are some of the most valuable skills that lead clients to enjoy working with you?

As a certified personal trainer, I view my role as an educator and motivator. I enjoy educating my clients about proper nutrition (no fad diets!) and proper exercise techniques. I can empathize with each client because I experienced the same struggles!

What are some of your must do’s for your initial consultation with clients?

The first thing I do with a new client is have a conversation with them to ensure I understand their fitness goals, learn their motivation for wanting to achieve their goals, and get a comprehensive picture of their current lifestyle. All of that information allows to me to create a fitness program that best meets their needs. I then explain to them the amazing and unimaginable physical and mental benefits they will achieve through the program!

What are some of your favorite resources to use as a trainer and why?

FitSW is a great platform for online personal training. It’s easy to use, convenient, and customizable to each client. I really like how it includes progress graphs so that my clients not only see the proof of their success in the mirror, but also through data.

How do you keep things fresh with your clients?

All of the programs that I offer have different phases and offer different challenges. This method not only keeps my clients from getting bored of the same routine, but also helps to ensure they do not hit a plateau that hinders their progress. By tracking their progress throughout each program, they get regular feedback and positive reinforcement because of their great accomplishments!

Melanie’s Website and Personal Trainer Social Media

Website: www.giveme100.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GiveMe100pt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giveme100pt/

About Personal Trainer of the Week

Once a week, FitSW highlights one Personal Trainer worldwide that stands out – someone who keeps their clients on track & motivated, and consistently gets results.  We let them share their story and hold a quick Q & A to understand what works for them and what has made them successful.  We feel this gives you a chance to see what is working for these personal trainers.  It also allows us to recognize the personal trainers who are getting real results.

Featured Personal Trainer LaRita Laktonen-Ward

This week’s Featured Personal Trainer LaRita Laktonen-Ward has done amazing work helping her clients achieve their goals both onstage and in their personal lives. LaRita develops nutrition and training plans for amateur and professional male and female clients that compete in everything from bikini to bodybuilding. Prior to her natural bodybuilding career, she has been nationally qualified in NPC bikini. She has been a professional figure competitor since 2015 and holds a PNBA Pro Figure Universe champion title, 3rd and 4th in Natural Olympia Pro figure, 2nd at PNBA Team USAs, as well as most recently the OCB Pro Bowl overall figure title.

Online Personal Training Business

LaRita’s business, Tru Life Fitness, provides online:

• Contest prep coaching
• Individualized weight management or performance based nutrition plans
• Goal focused training that include individualized strength and cardio plans

Q & A with Featured Personal Trainer LaRita Laktonen-Ward

What do you like about online training and what are your clients favorite things about it?

What’s been the most effective method of finding new clients to work with and why?

LaRita’s Personal Training Social Media

Featured Personal Trainer Sylvia Smith

This week’s Featured Personal Trainer Sylvia Smith is a versatile trainer who has worked with clients of all ages .  Below are some quick facts about Sylvia and her business.  Check it out to find out which volcano she has climbed to the top of and how old her oldest client has been!

Education / Certifications

Bachelor of Science, Public Health
ACE-Certified Professional: Profile

Personal Training Strengths, Experience and Specialties

• Life coaching
• Preparation for fitness adventures (ie: running events, backpacking excursions etc.)
• Weight loss/weight management
• Strength/Stability improvement
• Wellness for individuals diagnosed with Body Dysmorphic Disorder
• Geriatric Fitness

Personal Training Philosophy

• You must love yourself before you will be able to change yourself.
• Weight loss isn’t easy, it’s really, really tough.
• Lift heavy. Always.

Personal Interests

• Backpacking/Hiking/Camping
• Volleyball
• Going on adventures with my dogs
• Yoga/Meditation

Fun Facts

• I’ve climbed to the top of Mount Vesuvius
• I’ve backpacked in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ozarks, Red River Gorge and plan to add another trip this year!

Q & A with Featured Personal Trainer Sylvia Smith

What do you think are some of your most valuable skills that lead clients to enjoy working with you?

I am a versatile trainer with experience working with individuals from 12 years-102 years (that’s right, I said 102!) I am well trained in behavior change, and my goal is to help clients move through the stages of change at their own pace in their own time.

How do you keep things fresh with your clients?

I love to switch things up with my clients; from using different types of cardio, to throwing in some kickboxing or yoga into their weekly routines. Exercises are always targeted, but you never know what we’ll do next!

What are some of your favorite resources to use as a trainer and why?

I love using the Exercise List / Library (and adding to it!) page of the FitSW website. It really allows my clients to see what I mean when I’m using exercise jargon; and it allows me to customize the exercises I’m trying to demonstrate. It helps keep my workouts versatile!

About Personal Trainer of the Week

Once a week, FitSW highlights one Personal Trainer worldwide that stands out – someone who keeps their clients on track & motivated, and consistently gets results.  We let them share their story and hold a quick Q & A to understand what works for them and what has made them successful.  We feel this gives you a chance to see what is working for these personal trainers.  It also allows us to recognize the personal trainers who are getting real results.

Featured Personal Trainer Channéll Holmgren

Question and Answer with Featured Personal Trainer Channéll Holmgren

I offer a variety of different fitness classes with fun music, ever changing progressions and styles of training. This gives my clients the opportunity to meet new people, develop a sense community and not skip out on training days!

What was the single most important thing you did in your first 6 months for your business and why?

The single most important thing I did was put myself, vision and ideas out there in organic conversations. I turned down no opportunity and agreed to every engagement I was invited to. I also consulted with my mentor, attending entrepreneurial mentoring and made sure I was the first in and last out every single day. Work ethic and passion speaks for itself.

Channéll’s Social Media & Websites

Instagram/Snap/Twitter: @channellnicole, @inspirememommym @inspiredbypurpose

Facebook: www.facebook.com/inspiredbypurpose www.facebook.com/inspirememommy

Websites: www.beinspiredbypurpose.com, www.inspirememommy.com

Links: www.nutrifitt.net  USE CODE CHANNELL10 for 10% off

Personal Trainer of the Week

Once a week, FitSW highlights one Personal Trainer worldwide that stands out – someone who keeps their clients on track & motivated, and consistently gets results.  We let them share their story and hold a quick Q & A to understand what works for them and what has made them successful.  We feel this gives you a chance to see what is working for these personal trainers.  It also allows us to recognize the personal trainers that are getting real results.

This weeks Personal Trainer of the Week is Bill Dunn.

Bill & His Business

Bill wanted to share this video, as something that really encompasses what our business is all about.

He also shared this story as an example of the type of client he works with and helps succeed.

A very good friend of mine was a great athlete that always stayed active by playing basketball, softball, and lifting weights on a consistent basis. Then his life style changed – he started supporting a family, and everything else was put on hold.

Fast forward 10 years, and I no longer recognized this person from before. 50 pounds overweight, sluggish, not active in anything other than traveling every Spring and Summer for his Son’s baseball team, but nothing cardio or fitness related.

Not sleeping well at night, high cholesterol, bouts with bladder and prostate cancer, nothing like the person I grew up with. What happened I asked?! He said, “…I got out of my groove, every dime I make goes towards my family and I do not have enough time to join a gym nor would I know what to do if I was there anyways!”.

I introduced him to the Bushido Fitness program, and everything changed.  If you are over the age of 30, you have to go to our Facebook page, and click the LEARN MORE and/or the MESSAGE button to hear more about this fascinating story.

Question and Answer with Bill

What type of training do you provide?

Within a 6’x6’ square foot area, teach how to perform resistance band and/or bodyweight and/or kettlebell routines within the comfort on one’s home, and within 30 mins or less.  In addition,  instruction on how to eat clean foods.  This a 6 month program that with teach you how to be consistent in both areas.

What type of clientele do you like to work with most and why?

Over the age of 35, married with children.  When you have some many family responsibilities on your plate, wellness is the last thing on your list, when it should be the first.

We educate individuals on how to be the exception, to set an example.  Our belief is – we cannot change the world overnight, but it can be changed one person at a time.  Coaching and encouraging each one so they can eventually pay-it-forward.

What are your clients favorite things about your training style?

We empower our clients on how to stay fit, and eat clean on a consistent basis.  In addition, each plan is tailored to meet their needs.  We do all the thinking and planning, all they have to do is follow what is given to them.  Consistent movement will produce positive results over a period of time

How do you keep things fresh with your clients?

This is what makes our business so much fun!  By no means is this a perfect science, but there is a process that everyone needs to go through.  98% of our clients are overweight, and extremely out of shape so they are very limited on what they can do initially.  The #1 factor that each client has to have is – determination and the drive to “keep at it.  Our area of expertise is knowing what type variety the individual needs at their current fitness stage, which keeps things fresh and exciting for the client.

What are some of your favorite resources to use as a trainer and why?

FitSW of course!  As well as, videos and monthly face-to-face(or facetime) meetings.  People who have a family and/or limited in their time, do not want to think or study what they need to do, but be shown.  Having an app that links directly to our website has been a game changer!

What are your must do’s for your initial consultation with clients?

Understanding their likes and dislikes, as well as, their fitness level.  If someone hates spinach, we cannot add spinach to their meal plan.  If someone hates to run, we cannot add jogging to their fitness plan.  There will be times when our clients will need to eat and/or do something they are not excited about, but this is will be the exception not the norm.

What is your favorite activity with clients to break up monotony?

Monthly face-to-face meetings – these are essential not only for progress measurements, and hands on training, but also to form bonds with the other members – it keeps things “fresh”.

More Info

You can find more info on Bill and the awesome work he is doing at https://www.facebook.com/BushidoWellness/

He also has a FitSW page: https://www.fitsw.com/bushidofhm/