Deborah Stern

I have been a Personal trainer and Nutrition counselor for over 25 years. My passion is helping my clients to achieve their health and fitness goals. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing my clients feel healthier and happier due to moving their bodies and feeling increased strength, improved balance, more endurance, increased flexibility and improved coordination. I have worked with clients ranging from age 8-90 years old. I work with clients who struggle to lose large amounts of body fat, clients who have had hip replacements and want to gain strength, clients with eating disorders, clients who were sent from their doctors due to high blood pressure and possible diabetes and clients who just know that the only way they will step into a gym is to make an appointment with me!!! My job goes way beyond the training aspect. Because I have had my own struggles with body-image, food and weight gain/loss, I am able to empathize and have a ton of compassion for my clients . My clients share their struggles and I am there to listen and make sure that they know that they are in the best hands possible. There have been many clients who have come to me after years of staying away from exercise and fitness due to negative experiences with personal trainers. I love showing my clients that exercise, fitness and eating healthy is a lot of work but can be fun and extremely beneficial for the body and mind. I started dancing at the age of 3 and continued until the age of 22. Through Modern and Jazz dance, I learned so much about the body and how it moves. I just turned 53 and I still use so many of the incredible principles of dance in my personal training. When I went off to college at University of Wisconsin-Madison, I did not find a dance program that worked for me and that is when I discovered Aerobics (remember, I am 53!!!) I was hooked on how good the movement felt along with the sweating and fun. The day I stepped into a gym and tried weight training was the day that changed my life. I fell in love with being in a gym and I have been lifting weights and doing cardio ever since. Because most people do not love being in a gym but know it is very important to be strong and healthy, my passion helps make my clients have a great time learning and laughing and feeling awesome at the end of their sessions. My approach to Personal Training is that the training session is about YOU…not about ME. I work with you to achieve your health and fitness goals based on YOUR body, YOUR level of fitness and what you are looking for from me. My career is my passion and my passion is my career. I continue to read and learn and grow everyday. Certifications: *PTA Global *International Sports and Fitness Trainers Association (Functional Training Specialist) *Future Fit … show less.

Your fitness and nutrition plans need to change along with each stage of your life in order to reach your health and fitness goals.

My personal training style is based on each individual’s goals, fitness levels, age, injuries, and personality. In my 26 years of being a personal trainer, I have worked with knee, shoulder, back, and hip injuries to improve quality of life and relieve pain. You do not have to be intimidated, shy, or think that you have to wait to get in shape in order to work together, and allow me to guide you as a personal trainer. My approach as a personal trainer is gentle yet effective and I personalize each workout according to each individual client. Working one-on-one as a personal trainer gives me the hands-on approach to how YOUR body works and allows me to focus on your form and make sure you are exercising correctly. I also take into account that each client’s personality is different and we work together as a team to make sure you reach your health and fitness goals.

“After trying many different personal trainers I gave up exercising altogether. Each time, I was disappointed in their lack of knowledge and their ego trips. I told them I had bad knees and could not do lunges or squats…and believe it or not…that was the first thing they had me do. Then I met Deborah. I have been working with Deborah for 8 years and her gentle, yet effective approach has resulted in my increased strength and healthier lifestyle. Deborah goes at MY speed, not hers, and her awesome sense of humor and down-to-earth attitude has kept me a client for this long…3 days a week…for 8 years. Give yourself the ultimate gift…and hire Deborah to get you in shape…the RIGHT way.” Kristen, 42, LA, California “Deb is amazing – I researched until I found someone with a serious depth of experience with training and also with nutrition knowledge and Deb shines in both categories. I have lost weight that just would not budge before. Training with her has made me stronger in my 60s than I was in my 20s! She is a great listener and an outstanding motivator and has a great sense of humor! I wholeheartedly recommend Deb no matter what your goals are. She’ll help you reach them!” Barbara, 68, Deerfield, IL. ​ “I loved my virtual workout with Deb! It was a really convenient (and covid-era approved!) way to bring my favorite trainer into my home. If you’re like me, you know you should at least do a home workout if you can’t get to the gym or go outside, but actually doing it requires a level of motivation I just don’t have. I own almost no equipment but that was no issue- Deb put me through a tough full body workout AND kept me entertained with fun conversation the entire time. Can’t wait to do it again!” KATHY, 48, Chicago, IL. “I am an 83 years old man. About a year ago I realized that I was not moving about in a good way. I had trouble getting up from any position, my arms were weak as well as the rest of my body and I gained a lot of excess weight. That’s where Deborah came in to help. She is the first personal trainer with whom I have worked who has shown me how to keep fit with exercises that work best for me and that I can continue using for the rest of my life.” -Allen, 83, Evanston, IL. “From the get-go, I was hooked. Deb is absolutely amazing! I came to her with a bum shoulder and bad knees and was on blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol meds. I’m pain-free and my doctor reduced my meds by half. Now my goal is to get entirely off the meds and with Deb in my corner, I’m confident I can do it.” Mike, 75, Boston, MA.

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