1. How do I tone up?
To tone up means to reduce body fat and add lean muscle mass so you can see muscle definition. When you reduce the level of body fat from your body you will start to see muscle definition that was covered up by layers of fat. Building up some lean muscle mass will increase that defined look.

2. I have been working out really hard, why have I not gotten any results?
There are many reasons why people do not get results from working out. The number one reason is a lack of knowledge. A professional trainer is an expert at what he or she does. A professional trainer has spent hundreds of hours in classes and studying, as well as thousands of hours of training clients successfully.

In addition, a trainer will challenge you to do exercises you may not have tried before or do things you normally avoid. This causes your body to be stretched to meet the greater challenge and increase your strength, stamina, and flexibility.

3. What can I do to make my cardiovascular training more exciting?
Cardiovascular training can be boring if you let it. Do not get on a bike or treadmill for 30 or 40 minutes and be bored with this. That usually leads to people quitting within a couple of weeks of starting a program. Switching machines every 10 minutes can spice up the workout. When I use to train at a big gym I would have clients on their own time start with 10 minutes on the stair master, then 10 minutes on the recumbent bike and finish with 10 minutes on a treadmill. Cardio classes are a great alternative to machines. I utilize jump roping, medicine ball throws, rowing and punching and kicking of the heavy bag in my clients workouts. It is a lot more exciting that walking on the treadmill and more effective. My program with you changes over time to continually challenge you as you progress.

4. Should I lift weights if I am trying to lose weight?
Absolutely, weight training is a very misunderstood aspect of weight loss programs. If you lose 40 pounds by diet only, then you ended up losing a very high percentage of muscle. You do not want to lose very much muscle from your body for two reasons. Muscle burns calories and supports your bone structure. The more muscle you have on your body the more calories you will burn. The density of your bone structure is also closely related to how much muscle you have. You want as much muscle as you can keep on your body while going through a weight loss program. By lifting weights, you increase your muscle to fat ratio.

5. How do I stay motivated?
One of the most important jobs that a trainer does is keep their clients motivated. The biggest motivator for my clients is knowing that I am there to hold them accountable. I also try to push the right buttons for each client so they feel encouraged but not satisfied. I find that pictures can be a great motivator for people. Sometimes an old picture of yourself at the weight you want to be or a picture of someone that you would like to look like can help keep you motivated.