• Personal Trainer -- Downtown Berkeley YMCA
• Personal Trainer who makes house visits?
• Running Trainer/PT Trainer
• Swim coach/personal trainer for swim workout
• Personal Trainer for fitness routine
• Personal Trainer in Lamorinda
• Personal Trainer for Abs
• Personal Trainer for getting into shape
• Personal Trainer During Pregnancy
• Personal Trainer for tailoed regimen at home
• Personal trainer at the Courthouse or the Y
• More recommendations

Personal Trainer -- Downtown Berkeley YMCA

I'm a woman, I'm in my mid-thirties, I belong to the Berkeley Y, and I'd like to find a great personal trainer starting in July. By great, I mean someone who will push me hard. I've exercised my whole life, but it's easy for me to fall into a pretty easy routine so I want someone who will motivate me to get out of my comfort zone. I think the Y only allows personal trainers associated with the Y to train people at the Y, and that concerns me a bit, because most of the trainers I've observed seem to be working with older (55+) people and acting as physical therapists (focusing on rehabilitation).

The Ice Chamber has about three different programs and one will be right for you. There is the ''personal coaching,'' which is a one-on-one session and will kick your provervial flabby butt. There are also two kinds of group classes. The morning ''BOOT CAMP'' is the most intensive workout you can get, and believe me, by day 3 you are cursing Steve (your trainer) and yourself for having gotten this far out of shape. The evening ''FITNESS CLASS'' is also intense and is for long-termers (this option you probably do not want since you are already a member of the Y). Remember gym class? This is like that but harder and without the creepy coach.

My story: At 43 and a former competitive athlete (high school and college), even though I was skiing and jogging and swimming, I was out of shape and had not lost my baby weight ( my kid was 2 years old). I thought I knew what to expect: I'd worked out with a personal trainer before so I was ready for the challenge (when I was competing, I worked hard, too, or so I thought).

Enter the ICE CHAMBER. After the first day, all I could do was kiss my son and go to bed. The second day, I managed to kiss my husband and son... and then go to bed. The third day, several motrins later, as I stumbled in for my workout, Steve said, ''This is what it's like to hit the wall. You have to hit the wall to know where your threshold is.'' That was in April (I can't believe it's only April).

Since those fateful first three days. my BMI and body fat count are lowering, I'm losing weight and almost back to a 4 petite (I'm in a 4 now), and I am probably in better shape than I was in my 20s . . . or at least getting there. I am still pretty much contsantly sore, because Steve and Maya rotate the exercises and push you costantly. My abs are killing me, but I see the indentations of muscles showing through. I still have to ice my hams now and again, but they are well defined and ST-rong. I don't have waddly chicken arms, either, so I am ready for tank top season.

My food intake has changed, too. I learned that because I don't produce the kind of growth hormone at 40 that I did at 20 (duh), I simply cannot eat crap food (like Goldfish off my kid's plate, and potatoes, and burritos laden with cheese), and expect recover in time for my next workout. Naturally, I'm drinking more water and green tea, eating more energy foods (protein and leafy greens). More importantly, I'm eating less ''lazy'' foods: risotto, pasta, sandwiches, and the like (you know, kid food). And when I do choose to have a piece of cake or a glass of wine, I make sure it's worth eating. I figure I'm old enough not to drink bad wine or sugary cake just to be polite. Besides, at 43, I can always pat my stomach and say ''I'm on a diet.''

If I sound a bit evangelical, I confess that I am a convert. I had planned to only do the bootcamp for 1 month (blitz), but now I cannot see ever giving it up. My husband, too. After seeing my results, he joined the evening class and is probably going to cancel his Y membership. He was a former competitive rower who got a little chunky, and after only one month, has seen incredible results. Neither of us realized how much time we were wasting going through the motions at the gym.

As we've gotten older, we realize that this stuff about walking 45 minutes a day as a measure of good health just isn't cutting it. We're not trying to be 25 anymore (who would want to do that?), but we want to be able to telemark a run without stopping, and go bowling without throwing out our backs. Well, and it doesn't hurt to feel good about the way you look in a littel black dress.

check them out http://www.icechamber.com Tsan

Personal Trainer who makes house visits?

Hello! I'm the stay-at-home mom of a 1 year old, and wanting to get back into pre-baby shape. Can anyone recommend a good at- home personal trainer that will come to my home in Rockridge? arozum

I am looking for a personal trainer who could come to my home so I could exercise during my baby's nap times a few times a week. The emphasis would be on core strength since my pregnancy certainly changed that. I've looked through the old postings but they are rather dated and I'd love some more recent recommendations. Thank you! rachel

Running Trainer/PT Trainer

I am a 38 yo woman. I want to find someone to help me improve my running, maybe even train for a race. Ideally it would be someone who could run with me 2 mornings a week, on the early side (maybe 6:30 or 7am). For the past 15 years I have been pretty fit (exercising regularly in the gym, lifting), but in the past year have fallen off the wagon (1.5 year old son, C- section, busy work schedule, generally overwhelmed). I need to regain my aerobic fitness -- and I want to break my dependency on the gym (after all, you can run almost anywhere). I have run off and on in my past, but never get that ''high'' that people talk about -- I am hoping to get in the groove enough with running that it gives me meaningful release from stress, and that I can make it a regular form of exercise. Too busy to drive to the gym... :)

Swim coach/personal trainer for swim workout

This may be somewhat of an unusual request but I'm wondering if anyone knows of a swim coach/personal trainer with expertise in swimming that I might be able to hire to put together a swim workout plan for my husband. Thanks! Patrice

Personal Trainer for fitness routine

I'm wondering if anyone has any recent advice about someone who would meet with me a couple of times to help me organize a fitness routine. I recently lost a lot of weight, so now it's time to take it to the next step. I don't want to join a gym but would rather get some advice about organizing a fitness plan that I can implement on my own. I just need the kick-start. Thanks for any input you have! J.

Personal Trainer in Lamorinda

Hi, I am looking for a personal trainer in Lamorinda. Would prefer a female, very experienced and hopefully someone who can coach me on eating habits as well. I've been very idle for past 2-4 years, and tired of aching everytime I take a short walk. Need someone who is energetic, knowlegable and motivating! thanks so much, Brenda

Call Jennifer Hubbard at 415-543-1110. You will probably have to leave a voice mail message. She works in the City but lives in the East Bay. Jenn loves working with women over 40 and never overwhelms you with a workout that is too difficult. She is a pilates instructor and has completed many Ironmans. Tell her Sabrina gave you her name. Sabrina

Personal Trainer for Abs

I'm looking for a personal trainer who can help me get the amazing abdominal muscles I've always wanted. I'm 40 and I have some post-pregnancy fat around my stomach, and I haven't been able to make the time to do much exercise (I'm a single mom). >From what I've read, really ripped abs are mostly about losing fat and not so much about intense exercise--so maybe what I need is a diet consultant? I've always been thin and I don't really even know how to lose fat. I want a really really specific program and an idea of whether I can even have amazing abs or if i should forget about it, and if I can, how long it might take. I think this is my last chance to do something like this. Please no judgments as to how my time and energy might be better spent. Has anyone out there tried anything like this? Last Chance

Of course, the more muscle mass, you have, the higher your metabolism becomes, and therefore, you end up burning up more calories during the course of the day. But, I still emphasize cardio for people who want to lose fat.

To get really great abs, I'd recommend doing some fat burning cardio 4-5 X per week, (either moderate intensity like walking for a min. of 30 min. or jogging for a min. of 20 min.) and doing some abs resistance work, (crunches, planks, etc.) at least 3 X per week, resting a day in between.

One of the fastest way to strengthen your abs is to do crunches on a physioball. They're available at Elephant pharmacy, Walgreens, Barnes and Noble even I think. There's a great video that you can get for abs work on the ball at Elephant pharmacy that I'd recommend. Even replacing your office chair with a ball will strengthen your abdominal muscles. (Although it may take some practice first and getting used to!)

Of course, diet plays a huge role as well, if you're wanting to lose weight. I am currently in nutrition school and am learning a lot about weight management. I'd be happy to meet with you and go over a few basics if you'd like. I could also get you started on an abs routine. Please check out my website: www.herestoyourhealth.info, or call me at 510-524-0810 Good Luck! Sylvie Nalezny

Personal Trainer for getting into shape

I'm looking for a personal trainer who can help me get into shape. I'd prefer to work with a woman, although I can be flexible with the right person. I'd love someone who is kind and easygoing, and who won't be judgmental, because I have a LOT of work to do. I'm looking to create a long term relationship so a sense of humor is also essential. Jill

Personal Trainer During Pregnancy

I am looking for a personal trainer to design a in-home workout for me that is tailored specifically to the needs of a pregnant woman -- to keeping my body in the best shape possible during my pregnancy and to preparing myself for childbirth. I especially want help working on my core strength. I have a ten-month-old baby at home, so the gym (where I practically lived during my first pregancy) isn't an option. I looked on the website, but only found general recommendations for personal trainers -- not recommendations geared specifically toward trainers who have the knowledge and experience needed to address the specific needs of pregnancy. Trainers who can help with nutrition a plus, but not absolutely essential.

Prenatal & Postnatal Fitness with Marie
Marie Morel-Seytoux
Certified Group Fitness Instructor
(510) 245-7587
mariemATstanfordalumniDOTorg

Personal Trainer for tailoed regimen at home

I would like to use my son's naptime for some exercise at home. Can anyone recommend a personal trainer or fitness consultant who can help me tailor a regimen that can be done at home to my fitness goals, using home equipment such as a treadmill and free weights etc.? What I am currently doing isn't working the way I would like it to. Help! I would also be interested in getting recommendations for childcare at gyms in Oakland specifically. My son is 16 months old. Thank you. cheryl

Personal trainer at the Courthouse or the Y

Seeking a great personal trainer. Would probably prefer a woman over a man, but not absolutely. Would especially be interested in trainers who work with clients at the Courthouse, the Oakland Y, or the Berkeley Y. Thanks.

Second, weight loss demands a multifaceted approach of strength training and aerobic exercise as well as a healthy, balanced diet. Be aware that calorie deficient diets over the long haul deplete lean tissue mass and lower metabolism. They actually make you fatter, not leaner.

Third, many gyms will not let in free-lance trainers any more. They require you to use people on their own staff. Generally, clubs get a 50% cut of what you actually pay the trainer. Unfortunately these tend to be the lowest paying jobs in the industry and therefore don't attract the top people. Expect to pay $60.00 per session for someone to come into your home. Which leads to the question-- Do you own any equipment? At a gym you can expect to pay $40.00- $60.00 per session.

Fourth, as to time, the first weeks of training should be devoted to acclimation to exercise and the learning of technical skills. The next three to six month block to improving aerobic conditioning a building lean tissue mass. (Don't worry, I'm not talking about bulk.) As to weight loss, you should aim for slow and steady, only one to two pounds per week. You want to improve your diet for life, adding healthy habits, rather than "going on a diet". A good trainer or nutritionist can fill in the details here. Good luck. Helene

More recommendations

For two years I worked with personal trainer Karen Emery, who is also a certified nutritionist and cooks for those clients who want that service. Her advice and one-on-one training helped me get in shape for a medically challenging pregnancy. My OB was amazed at how I'd "optimized my health" before pregnancy and how well things went during my pregnancy. Karen has also worked with my husband, who is in far better shape than I am, and a friend who has lupus, and several other people I know of who were in good shape, lousy shape, and so-so shape. She's great at taking it from where *you are* instead of where one might think you ought to be. She also does group training and can tailor her advice to the group. I highly recommend her.