Hello, I’m JP

This is my third attempt to write about myself because the other two were boring and looked like resumes. I’m not in a coffee shop or an office building, just sitting in the quietest place I could find at home. Which happens to be my bedroom but the baby is taking a nap in my bed so I’m sitting on the floor.  

It’s not as peaceful as it probably sounds. My other daughter just came in for the third time whispering “Daddy are you ready to see how I cleaned my room?” My son is playing his new video game so I can hear him shout “dang it!” every few minutes. All of this is making it difficult to focus but I wouldn’t want it any other way. Times like these remind me of the song “You’re Gonna Miss This”.

Here’s the professional stuff

I am the Global Chief of Personal Training Operations here at Simplify My Fitness. Actually, I’m the only trainer. It’s just me doing what I do best, showing you how to get and stay in great shape. But chief and global are the coolest words to have in any job title so I’m using them. 

My career as a personal trainer began over 20 years ago in a small training studio. Then I moved on to a hospital-based wellness center and following that I worked as an advanced personal trainer in a large health club.

From 2005 until 2015 I owned and operated a personal training studio (pictured above). Since 2015 I have been focusing more on helping people online.

I was first certified as a personal trainer In 1998 by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

In 2000 I was certified by the American Council on Exercise.

I was certified in Active Release Techniques in 2002.

and in 2011 I acquired my ACT personal fitness trainer certification.

In 2015 I received a personal trainer certification from the International Sports Sciences Association  (ISSA).

About me

 Let’s see… I’m about coffee every morning with my beautiful wife, weekly calls to my Mom and Dad (Dad’s done talking after 5 minutes then he says “Here’s your Mother she has 100 questions for you.”

I’m about forcing my awesome kids to play outside more and going to church on Sunday. Talking with my brothers and sisters regularly. I’m about having a wimpy beer every once in a while ( I’m talkin’ maybe once a year with my father-in-law but he drinks the manly stuff).

I’m about eating healthy and staying fit but I’m also about relaxing all day and eating a whole bunch of pizza and ice cream (usually on Saturdays).

I need to improve

This mindset mainly comes from my Christian faith because being humble is one of its most common teachings. When we get too proud we stop listening and improving. No matter how much experience and knowledge I gain, there will always be a lot more to learn. I’m driven by the question, how can I do better? As a husband, father, son, brother, friend and as a trainer.    

About my methods

 There is no easy way but there are shortcuts. By shortcuts I mean I can show you how to get in great shape with a lot less working out and far less deprivation in your diet than you probably think.  

My clients that loved exercise and eating healthy were easy to help. But I wanted to find a way to help my busiest clients and the ones that didn’t like working out but wanted to look like they loved it. So I became obsessed with trying to help those clients by designing ultra-short workouts and eating plans that minimized deprivation and hunger. 

Where I’m from and how I got here

I lived in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois for most of my life but now I live just south of Nashville, Tennessee. My wife and I have been married over fifteen years and we have three kids.

We love Tennessee and plan on staying here but we do miss our families, friends and Chicago’s pizza.

We also miss Lake Michigan, here’s my wife and son at the beach in 2010.

Here’s the whole family in 2019.

I grew up with two brothers and two sisters that I loved spending time with and we remain close to this day. My Mom and Dad gave me all the love, experiences, guidance and stuff that I needed. I spent plenty of time in the country, city, and suburbs. Sports and music were my passions from a young age.

Here I am sitting on my Dad’s lap with my siblings except for my brother who wasn’t born yet. This was taken on my Grandpa’s farm… If you’re over the age of forty you know “safety first” was our motto back then. 

            Little brother and Dad

My Mom and Dad say I was a nice, low-maintenance and all-around good kid. Although I had a hard time standing still, you can see how my Mom is ready to yank me back by my head if I try to leave her side before the picture is taken.

Since I was always moving my hands and feet my parents decided to sign me up for drum lessons. I didn’t want to but they forced me to go and it turned out to be an excellent idea. I liked playing in the band at school but the real fun began when my buddy asked me to form a rock band with him.

We and went on to record our music and perform in the clubs around Chicago. My friend was a gifted musician and I loved playing his songs but we just couldn’t seem to hit the big time so I moved on in search of a new career.

I was rockin’ in the ’80s with the highlighted hair, makeup and trying really hard to look like a rockstar. 

I worked Chicago Board of trade, The Chicago Mercantile Exchange. I sold insurance and men’s suits, then I managed a restaurant but I couldn’t find a career that I was passionate about. 

Spent a few years working in the city

I was always really into fitness and nutrition so becoming a personal trainer sounded exciting but I didn’t see it as a career option. Back then almost all the trainers making a good living were working with celebrities and I wasn’t moving to Hollywood.

But I remembered what my parents used to tell me… “Do something you love, become great at it and the money will come.” So I finally trusted in their advice and my career in fitness began. I loved it from the get-go, I was learning everything I could about exercise and nutrition.

But I was surprised to find out that understanding fitness and diet wasn’t enough. The most important thing experience has taught me is that life and people can be complicated.

So I learned to listen closely and understand my clients and their lives better. This is why a lot of people fail, you can’t create a fitness or weight loss program based solely on your goals or what you want.

You need a program that is designed around who you are too. That’s when you’ll say “this just feels right for me” and you’ll have the peace of knowing that you found your way and you’re set for life.

 What you really want to know about me 

You probably just want to know if I can help you. The good news is you can contact me here on my website and ask me any questions that you have. 

Some of my clients train 4 times a week, some once a week and others will come to get my help occasionally. But what’s really important for you to know, is that most of them train with me for a long time. That would not happen if they weren’t satisfied and didn’t trust me. I’ve been fortunate enough to train some exceptional people so this means a lot to me.