With the new FIT Gym Sandfly opening this fall, Drew Edmonds — our reader-voted Best Personal Trainer — shares his perspective on personal training, plus a little motivation to finish out the year strong.
Photography by SARAH KOHUT PHOTOGRAPHY
MAINTAINING A FITNESS ROUTNE IN THE FALL is easier said than done. From busy back-to-school schedules to new seasons of binge-worthy TV shows and everything in between, there is no shortage of tempting reasons to skip a workout — and perhaps indulge instead in some Halloween candy or pumpkin-flavored everything.
With 30-plus years of experience in personal training, three gym concepts (Train Me 24/7, FIT Gym and Bootcamp FIT) and a new FIT Gym location opening soon in Sandfly, Drew Edmonds is accustomed to a normal ebb and flow in his clients’ enthusiasm for fitness – but he also has the proven strategies to help those clients reach their desired results.
So, there’s no need to wait until January to refocus. Here, Edmonds shares his winning philosophy for staying consistent.
ON HIS PERSONAL APPROACH
“I utilize my 30 years of experience, along with my clients’ goals and health history, to create truly customized programs for each client. Some clients would also consider me an over-coacher. I strongly believe that technique should always trump intensity.”
ON FINDING THE RIGHT FIT
“I offer complimentary consultations where the client and I discuss health history, goals, budget and schedule. Based on the needs of the individual, I direct them to the best plan for their specific requirements. Some clients will best benefit from either personal training, the gym or Bootcamp, but sometimes it is a combination of the three. The key is to find the right fit for the best result.”
ON STAYING MOTIVATED
“If your momentum and motivation tend to come in waves, just make sure they are small waves and not tsunamis. It is much easier to autocorrect small deviations in enthusiasm and workout intensity versus a start-and-stop workout mentality. Try to focus on the things you are doing well, and you can ride that momentum to so many more victories on your fitness journey!”
“If your momentum and motivation tend to come in waves, just make sure they are small waves and not tsunamis. It is much easier to autocorrect small deviations in enthusiasm and workout intensity versus a start-and-stop workout mentality.” — Drew Edmonds
ON TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
“Over the years, we have seen an explosion of new exercise equipment options, online learning resources and fitness applications that help track our clients’ nutrition and exercise habits. These tools allow us to see, in real time or through online reporting, the challenges and successes in the prescribed fitness plan. This information creates an even better environment for customizing routines that truly fit each client’s lifestyle leading to faster and more sustainable results.”
ON GOING VIRTUAL
“We can now work with a client in person at one of our facilities or with live streaming resources from remote locations anywhere in the world. Our ability to help others has grown from a local brick-and-mortar location to a global online network.”
ON HIS LATEST VENTURE
“The Sandfly location will be the next evolution of our existing fitness offerings. We will have multiple interactive, on-demand class options (Peloton and rowers), along with a large functional training space and physical therapy. As always, we will have our team of trainers in-house to provide customized fitness programs.”
ON WHAT’S NEXT
“I am very interested in tracking how heart-rate training and interactive machines shape the new fitness landscape. These new innovations and scientific approaches to fitness are truly the wave of the future.”
New location at 7360 Skidaway Road, fitgymsandfly.com
