I have the tendency to expect the worst then become pleasantly surprised when the worst is not as bad as I imagined.
Such was the case when I had my fitness reality-check conversation with Dwayne the owner of Vertex Fitness. I needed to hear exactly what I needed to do to get the excess “baggage” I was carrying around off me for good.
What I thought was going to be a long, drawn out lecture on the good, bag and the ugly of working out and weight loss was actually a very short and sweet discussion. Bottom line: Dwayne assured me that I’d reach my goal of losing weight, bring definition to key areas of my body and become physically stronger with two 30-minute strength training sessions at Vertex Fitness. Yes, only 30 minutes is correct. In that half hour of time you work both your upper and lower half of your body through a variety (about 10) of weight machines under the supervision of a personal trainer. Dwayne advises following up the weight training session with 20 minutes of cardio on the treadmill, bike or elliptical machine. So much for having spend hours at the gym to get results. I was a bit skeptical, but Dwayne’s the expert so I’m listening to him.
The second major part of the equation along with exercising is watching what I’m putting in my mouth. The key to losing weight is burning more calories each day than you take in. It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? Radically changing your diet can be daunting in the beginning so Dwayne recommends making small changes at first: eat a third less of what you usually eat; try and cut a few hundred calories from your daily diet; and add in good-for-you foods like fruits and vegetables. “You don’t want to change too much, too fast so that you don’t stick with it,” says Dwayne. I really liked this advice because I’m not a big fan of deprivation.
I walked away from my conversation with Dwayne feeling optimistic that this was something I could do. He’s a pretty upbeat person so it’s hard not to get caught up in his passion for strength training and living a healthier lifestyle. You don’t know until you try and I know I’ll be trying my hardest to get this body to where I want it to be.
Parting Thought
You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be.
About the author
Dwayne Wimmer founded Vertex Fitness Personal Training Studio in 2001, excited to bring a new concept about personal training to the people of Philadelphia’s Main Line in Pennsylvania. Driven by knowledge and results both, while a strength coach at Villanova University, he worked closely with world class athletes such as Brian Westbrook, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles, on strength training and conditioning for optimal performance. Dwayne’s client base extends much further than world class athletes. Along with athletes, he works with adolescents to seniors, and he’s a highly acclaimed and sought out personal trainer who has received numerous awards, such as Best of the Main Line Personal Training Studio and Best Main Line Personal Trainer. A graduate of Missouri Western State University, Dwayne has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education, with an emphasis in Coaching. Aside from personal training, he’s spent time as a physical education teacher, strength and conditioning coach, and a football coach, but has found his passion and home in the fitness industry, inspiring and reaching out to others. As a strong believer in continuing to learn, Dwayne has also taken classes at East Stroudsburg University toward a Masters Degree in Sports Management. He can add author to his list of accomplishments, having created a chapter in the upcoming book The Soul of Success with Jack Canfield, renowned for the Chicken Soup series. To get to the point where he is now, Dwayne has always been thankful for the support of his father, a man who always believed in his mission and saw the need for what it was that Dwayne envisioned. During his free time, Dwayne is an avid motorcyclist who enjoys viewing the amazing landscapes and finding good restaurants to enjoy that are off the beaten path. He also takes advantage of opportunities to travel and experience many other cities while attending fitness seminars and giving presentations about the industry he is so passionate about. As a way to give back to the community that has been a part of his entire life, Dwayne has created Vertex Fitness PUMPED (People United Making Progress through Education and Donations), which provides support to area non-profits through a community-wide outreach effort. At this time, they help three non-profits per year in the Philadelphia area. For more information from Dwayne, you may contact him at (610) 525-6604, dwayne@vertexfit.com