Alive Magazine - January 2007
Top-Notch Trainers
By Rose Martelli
Photo by Steve Perotti
Mike Jaudes - Owner, The Fitness Edge
Personal trainer is the only job title Mike Jaudes has ever had. After studying business and food science nutrition in college and doing some competitive bodybuilding (he’s a former Mr. Missouri), he founded The Fitness Edge, a training-only get-fit facility (The Fitness Edge, 10571 Old Olive Street Rd., Creve Coeur, 314.993.3343).
How he got started in the personal training biz:
I got a summer job at a gym during college, and the owner asked me if I’d train him. We worked together four times a week, and it was a real trip for me to make that kind of money. Word of mouth spread so quickly that within a year I was training clients seven days a week.
Most creative way to keep clients motivated:
We really promote the lifestyle aspect [at The Fitness Edge]—either you do it or you don’t. You can’t work out for three months, then decide you’ve got other things to do.
Best quickie workout:
At least 30 minutes of interval training, focusing on what I call the “big rocks”: squats, pull-ups and bench presses. Those areas can be worked with multi-joint exercises, which means you’re getting more weight bearing bang for your buck.
Best way to lose the last 10 pounds:
Don’t quit. When you’re climbing a mountain, the air gets thinner as you get closer to the top and you feel more fatigued. But you wouldn’t turn around and head back down the mountain when you’re so close to what you’ve worked so hard for. |
