Sam Stokes struggled with the issue of weight which is what lead him to his current job as a personal trainer.

“It took me two to three years to really lose weight and keep it off,” Stokes said.

He uses this to truly relate to his clients and understand that losing weight is a struggle.

“You would never know it by looking at Sam but, he had a weight problem once,” said Patti Friedman, director of the program and personal trainer. “Through exercise, diet and practicing what he teaches he lost weight.”

Stokes said that he was a yo-yo dieter when he was attempting to get fit.

“I would lose then gain, lose then gain, and so on,” he said. He explains that he believed all of the wrong things such as lifting weights would get him in shape, or if he stopped eating he would lose weight.

“A friend in college showed me how to exercise and I started to research nutrition myself,” Stokes said.

Stokes works hard to help his clients understand how important it is to really make a lifestyle change.

“One of my favorite things about the program is that it offers a nutrition class, without that you are not even fighting half of the battle,” Stokes said.

He tries to explain that the body is not a machine that is geared to look good. One of his favorite things about being a trainer is seeing people reach their goals. One of Stokes’ client that he has been training the longest is an older lady who has put a lot of work into becoming fit.

“She really proves that age doesn’t matter,” Stokes said.

According to Stokes, last year the trainers enjoyed the New Year, New You program as well as worked out a lot of the kinks with it.

Stokes trains three of the New Year, New You participants including John Downs, Angie Dixon and Dr. Lauren Alter. Each of them have their own unique situations and Stokes says that the same routine will not work for anyone.

“It takes awhile to find out what will work for you,” said Stokes, “I really want to get them into a routine that is manageable and they can keep doing on a regular basis.”

He believes that if participants are not able to stick with the routine than the 12 weeks is not really worth it.

Stokes says one of his favorite things about Dixon is the commitment she has made to working out and the challenge in general.

“She has two kids, a full time job and helps out at her church. She has a lot of excuses as to why she cannot make it to the gym, but she does not use them,” Stokes said.

“John’s biggest challenge is his eating habits,” said Stokes. He tries to work with Downs by asking him about his diet as well as reminding him to write it down so he can see exactly what Downs is eating.

“John is always positive when he comes in. Most people would not want to be here on a Friday afternoon, but Downs enjoys what he’s doing,” said Stokes.

“I have a really good trainer,” Downs said.

“I really enjoy working with Dr. Alter because she is attempting to be an example. Instead of telling her patients what to do she can tell them what she is doing,” Stokes said.

The biggest issue for Dr. Alter has been her busy schedule, explained Stokes. He works with her by finding the opportunities that are best for her to work out.

Stokes tries to emphasis the point that getting in shape is not all about the amount of weight you want to lose, which is another reason why he thinks the nutrition class is so important.

“I tell them to look at things like how much more energy they have, if they’re sleeping better, if they’re stronger or more flexible because all of that is part of being in shape,” Stokes said.

Cameron Quick can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 15 or cquick@yourdailyjournal.com