I have worked with a handful of Personal Trainers at multiple gyms in our area. Doug is, by far, the most effective and supportive trainer I have ever had. Each session begins with a checkup of how you are feeling, how your nutrition has been, and if you feel adequately rested. Thanks to Doug, I now know how each of these three components helps fuel my workout.
Yes, Doug makes a killer workout that will get you great results.
Yes, he will ensure that your form is correct to maximize your time spent in the gym and to help keep injuries at bay.
Yes, he will encourage and push you through your last reps enthusiastically.
All of these things are things your trainer SHOULD be doing. Doug goes beyond these things.
He also empowers you to believe that you deserve and are capable of great results. My relationship with food has completely shifted. When I first started, I would label foods as “good” or “bad,” but Doug made me realize that food is not something to demonize. I now make the right choices with my workouts in mind. Do I still have calorie-dense food? Sure, but Doug uses that information to help create a workout that will be effective based on my nutrition choices; he doesn’t shame me.
Doug will tell you every scientific fact that you ever wanted to know about fitness, how your body processes nutrients, and the origin of each particular training method he uses. He is constantly reading professional development books (by choice!), and he has a true passion for fitness, particularly powerlifting. His knowledge allows him to pivot to different coaching techniques if you have an “off” day.
Doug also makes me feel as though I belong in the gym. At first, seeing others in the gym working out in the weight area would seem intimidating. After taking years off and hitting an occasional cardio machine, free-weight, or even a squat rack seemed as if it was a place for only the experienced. Doug and I trained in these areas, and he made sure I was comfortable and confident to follow through and complete these exercises on my own.
Doug encourages you to push yourself in workouts and prioritize your self-care, and he will be right there to celebrate every PR or goal achieved along the way. I am down 25 lbs, two pant sizes, and the strongest I have ever been. Doug’s support has been invaluable, and I look forward to my continued progress with him as my trainer!