Interview with Rhonda Kacos

I decided to do an interview with Rhonda Kacos in order to help folks understand a little better how to get the most from their personal training sessions! Rhonda has lost a lot of weight and now has the lean, toned look that most people only dream about. This interview should be a tremendous help for new clients who want to be able to do what Rhonda was able to do. I think you'll like it!  Here it is:


Me:
Rhonda, how would you describe your journey as a client of "Pitman Fitness"?

Rhonda: "My journey has been tough, rewarding and incredibly educational!  I learned more about health, nutrition and my own body than I ever thought possible.  I got answers to questions I didn't even know I had :)"


Me: I'd say that you got results better and faster than anyone I've ever trained. Please let the readers know what it was that you did from the beginning in order to ensure that you got the most from your personal training.

Rhonda: "I really think the key to my success was putting my trust in you.  I remember that first session when you handed me some ridiculously heavy weight and told me to do a bent over row....I thought "this man has NO idea what a wuss I am", but I picked it up anyway and actually managed a few reps :)  I had decided from our first question/answer session that you were the expert and if I wanted results I'd have to do what you told me."


Me: Would you say that it has always been easy to believe the things that I have told you, especially in the beginning? What were some of the things that you thought?

Rhonda: "Ha, this is a great question!  No, I thought you were crazy at first :)  Really?  Eventually I'd stop craving cookies and chips??  Nope, not going to happen.  Guess what, you were right!
You told me we'd be doing "strength training", which meant lifting weights.  I was really wary of that because, as everybody knows, if a woman lifts weights (especially heavy ones), then she'll look like Arnold Schwarzenegger!  You assured me that wasn't going to happen and encouraged me to "just try".  Okay....I'm thinking "ha, two weeks from now I'm going to be a huge bulked up gorilla", yeah, that didn't happen, you were right again :)  I can't tell you how many times you'd tell me something or we'd start a new exercise and I would think "this man's crazy", only to read about how exactly what you were doing or saying was considered the very best way to train according to every fitness website I checked out. I always assumed running was the best way to keep my calories down. You convinced me I would burn more calories and achieve a stronger, more defined look if I weight trained more, another area I wasn't really sure you knew what you were talking about :)  Doesn't everybody know that running burns loads of calories and is the BEST way to lose weight??


Me: How would you describe my training style to someone new?

Rhonda: "Your style is a perfect blend of encouragement and expectations.  You don't EVER let me off easy, push me to my limits every session and get more out of me than I ever thought I had, but it works because you BELIEVE that I can do it.  Someone having faith in your ability is an incredible feeling.  I think you can sense when I need that extra boost, I'll be thinking I can't do one more rep and I hear "come on, 5 more, almost there" and suddenly I can do 5 more :)"


Me: In your opinion, what would you say is/are the most important thing(s) for a client to keep in mind while training?

Rhonda: "I think the most important thing to remember is you can't expect great results if you're not going to give 100%.  To me that means listening to what you're telling me, whether it's about form, intensity, calories, nutrition or sleep.  You train in a "whole body" style (which I LOVE!), so every piece is important. I can't just bust my butt during a workout then blow off what I'm eating."


Me: In what ways has your training paid off for you?

Rhonda: "I could write pages and pages on how my training has paid off for me but I'll try to give you the edited version :)  Not only am I in the very best physical shape of my life (ha, 47 and wearing a size 4!!)), but I feel so incredibly strong and confident!  My insurance premiums for work went down $25.00 every two weeks because my fitness level has improved (cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar...all in "optimum" range).  I have more energy and self discipline than I've ever had and I'm just overall a pretty darn happy camper!!"


Me: Is there anything that you'd like to add?

Rhonda: "It honestly is hard to put into words how much having you as a trainer has changed my life.  Beyond the building muscle, losing fat, eating healthy things....I feel like finding you was such a blessing in my life.  You continuously find new ways to challenge me, to improve myself not only physically but just as a human being."