Extreme Makeover: Weight loss Edition has rapidly become a smashing success for the ABC network. Leading contestants through
weight loss goals exceeding 100 pounds, fitness coach Chris Powell has inspired countless viewers to live more healthfully. Coining the title of transformation specialist on the show, Powell represents a new generation of personal trainers who go far beyond the profession’s traditional duties, providing nutrition counseling, emotional support and encouragement to clients on a 24 hour basis. While many of us may not have as much weight to lose, we may still face some of the same obstacles as the show’s participants to getting healthier- losing motivation faster than weight, joining a gym that feels unwelcoming, and simply not knowing what exercises are effective or what nutrition plan will yield the best results.
Enter Gerard Gaona, licensed personal trainer and owner of Stackd Fitness in Moline, who has returned to the Quad Cities from Phoenix, Arizona on a mission to improve the health and fitness of the average person. Gerard knows well the challenges his clients face, he himself dropping from 220 pounds to his current weight of about 170. “What motivated me (to get in shape) was seeing my grandmother lose 3 of her 6 children to diabetes and chronic kidney disease”, continues Gerard, “what was sad was that it was all preventable.” He says the deaths of his three beloved uncles in a 5 year time span showed that the same fate was just around the corner for him if he did not make changes- and fast. Gerard hired a personal trainer and “became addicted” after seeing his appearance and health quickly improve. He also found his mission in life. “I don’t want anyone to lose a family member or a friend over something that can be prevented” says Gerard, “I sat down and told myself I have to help everyone out who was out of shape and not healthy as they should be.”
Trends of declining physical activity and skyrocketing consumption of processed foods driving obesity rates as high as 2 out of 3 Americans mean that Gerard and his fellow personal trainers clearly have their work cut out for them. With mounting research increasing knowledge of how excess weight affects conditions as varied as reproductive health, mood disorders and immune system strength, more people understand that the benefits of losing extra fat go beyond having a beach ready body. Unfortunately, there are still some who are finding out the hard way that counting on advances in modern medicine to undo years of damage done by unhealthy living is a dangerous and often unsuccessful gamble. Even if a person is fortunate enough to survive an acute complication arising from chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and musculoskeletal problems, quality of life can be greatly diminished with a decrease in mobility, reliance on others for care, and the requirement of expensive medication and medical intervention. Alarmingly, these disorders, once thought the bane of the elderly, are increasing in children as the rate of childhood obesity explodes. Cholesterol testing is now recommended as routine for children as young as 9 years old by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The obesity epidemic and its increase among the young has even reached the forefront of national security concerns. Mission Readiness, a group of elite former military personnel, made waves when it released its report entitled “Too Fat to Fight”, highlighting the growing crisis of the high percentage of potential recruits that are not able to pass the physical exam to enter military service specifically due to excess weight.
Even in the face of such disheartening statistics, Gerard Gaona remains infectiously optimistic that with an individualized approach, anyone can achieve a healthier lifestyle. He strongly believes in developing a relationship with his clients, taking the time to get to know their motives for losing weight, and as such their success his personal to him. He says seeing his clients’ hard work and ensuing success inspires him to continue his mission. Because he understands the odds that are stake, Gerard is prepared to do whatever it takes, even going grocery shopping with clients and into their homes to teach how to cook healthier recipes. He makes himself available almost 24 hours a day, encouraging anyone on his program to call for support whenever unhealthy habits might get the better of them. To ward off boredom and yield faster results, he incorporates indoor and outdoor routines into workouts. As a Quad City native, Gerard understands that getting and staying fit in the Midwest requires extra creativity and enthusiasm during the dreary winter months. Fortunately, those are two qualities he possesses in spades, and that special brand of dedication is paying dividends for his trainees. “One of my clients went back to the doctor (for a follow up visit) and the doctor thought he had pulled the wrong chart, his labs had improved so much” he says. Another young client’s blood sugar levels are returning to normal. Still another is a 26 year old stroke victim whose face hardly hints at its former lopsidedness. He highly encourages anyone who fears that such comprehensive service and outstanding results would be prohibitively expensive to talk to him. “I am willing to work with anyone’s budget” he says, adding that even though he runs a business, he would much rather clients delay a payment than skip workout sessions. However, Gerard does caution that there is one downside to joining the Stackd Fitness family. “One of my clients”, he says proudly, “has to buy new clothes every week.”
Stackd Fitness is located at 1318 4th Avenue in downtown Moline. Gerard can also be reached at 309-269-5756. Stackd Fitness is also on Facebook.
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