MP90 Training - Richmond, California

Ari A

Working with Chris allowed me to place myself in both a mentally & physically stimulating environment where failure is not only expected but encouraged. Chris is patient & answers questions to the best of his abilities. As someone who requires multiple technical explanations & demonstrations when learning, it was important for me to work with someone who had the patience to go over concepts multiple times.

Weightlifting & fitness became more than a routine; they became passions that I cherish daily. While I could exhaustively extol the benefits of training at Mags Fitness, I'll succinctly express that for those seeking sustainable lifestyle changes & a supportive community, training at Mags Fitness is a rewarding choice.

frecoder

I started coming here about eight months ago. From moment I set up an appointment with Chris and the amount of time he spent with me, I felt that this gym was going to be different from others I have joined in the past. Paradise Gym is like no other experience. The support that you get from Chris is unmatched. Not only does he address your goas in achieving you desire fitness level, he also serves as a nutritional coach. I would recommend this place to anyone that is trying to reinvent themselves. Not only will you receive a great place to work out, you will meet a network of people all with one similar goal: stay healthy. I tend to believe that Paradise Gym played a pivotal roll in giving me another chance at life and enjoy showing up to completely disconnect.

Jarred Gomez

Before I started working with Chris I considered myself an active person and was working out, 5-6 days a week. I already had a good routine of going to the gym but something wasn’t clicking.

I often felt like I was not making any progress and continued to gain weight. What I struggled with the most was, one, understanding food and the importance of nourishing and refueling my body. Two, although I was going to the gym often, I really had no understanding of proper form and technique and I often felt like I was going to hurt myself. Lastly, I wasn’t sure how much I should be working out, the idea of rest days was not included as part of my fitness goals.
I was growing increasingly frustrated, disappointed and often wanted to stop all together.

Since I started working with Chris in November 2023, my body has changed considerably. In the short amount of time I’ve worked with him I know that my body has changed, physically I can feel and see the difference. My clothes fit better, aren’t as snug, and overall I fell more confident when I get dressed in the morning.

Chris has helped me tear down the misconceptions of rest days. I used to think that if I don’t workout nearly everyday then I’m not doing enough. He’s taught me that rest days are a necessity and that my body needs this time to recover. He also emphasizes the importance of sleeping well, minimizing stress and to monitor my energy level.

Where Chris has helped me the most though is with food. I’ve never been on a diet before and just the thought of it was daunting. I truly had no clue of what to eat, how much to eat and how often to eat but under his guidance I’ve been able to get a handle on my food intake. His meal plans are straightforward, includes a variety of proteins, fruits and veggies and a gallon of water a day. One thing that I really appreciate is that Chris has a realistic approach to food. I love food, going out for meals and using this time to connect with my husband, family and friends and Chris encourages me to be present and to enjoy it and then get back on track with my next meal. His approach to dieting, meal plans and built in flexibility has been very helpful, is realistic and sustainable.

I’d recommend this program to anyone who has made a decision to prioritize their health. I was ready to get serious about my fitness journey and having Chris on my side to guide and support me is exactly what I was looking for. If you’re looking to become a better, healthier version of yourself then joining Chris at Paradise Gym should be one of your first steps!

Janelle Zervan

Working with Chris has dramatically improved every area of my life. Before working with Chris, I was overweight, lacked motivation, and feared getting my butt kicked in every training session. I worked with several trainers when I was younger but now being 45 years old, I knew my body wouldn’t be able to take the beating in the gym it once had. Chris has taught me that consistency is key. Although it took longer to get back to where I was, mostly due to my age, I’m stronger than I have been my entire life and I look forward to our workouts; I dreaded sessions with previous trainers. He has taught me to ‘embrace the suck’, which I have applied to every area in my life to grow as a human.

Chris works with you to understand your roadblocks and helps put an action plan together to overcome the hurdle that is preventing you from reaching your goal. He checks in regularly throughout the week, which is something I hadn’t experienced with previous trainers. This shows that Chris really cares about his clients achieving their goals. Also, being a busy professional, Chris is flexible in working with your schedule, which again isn’t something I experienced with previous trainers.

The gym is very clean and has state-of-the-art equipment. The clientele is more of a community of like-minded people who support each other.

I’m beyond grateful that I found Chris and I look forward to continuing to work with him on my health and fitness journey.

Jason Ortiz

Before joining Paradise Gym, I was lifting weights for years, but I struggled with frequent injuries, particularly a significant back injury that left me with decreased strength on my left side. Despite my efforts, I couldn't regain my previous strength. Since joining Paradise Gym and incorporating mobility exercises, my strength has seen a remarkable improvement, and I'm now around 80% recovered from my back injury. With Chris as my trainer, providing guidance on proper form and mental preparation, I feel confident in surpassing my previous strength levels. I highly recommend Paradise Gym for individuals at all fitness levels – from beginners to experts. The guidance and support provided have been instrumental in helping me work towards and achieve my fitness goals.

Sandra

Before training with Chris, I didn’t have any structure in my exercise or food habits. I was an athlete in high school, so I was able to get away with eating more or less of anything I wanted. However, my weight slowly crept up once I graduated. I started noticing that I wasn’t able to lift or move as easily as when I was in high school. I felt very weak and wasn’t happy with my physique. I realized that my life style wasn’t sustainable. I decided to make a life style change, so I submitted an application through Mags fitness. I was hesitant about getting a personal trainer, but I’m really happy I pushed myself out of my comfort zone.
I’ve been training with Chris for about 2 months and I couldn’t be happier with my results! Chris is very reasonable and never forced you do anything you’re uncomfortable with. His goal is to help you make small changes, so it’s sustainable lifestyle change. Now I have more structure to my dietary habits and it translates to training days. I feel more confident, stronger and have lost weight since joining.
I definitely recommend this program to people who are beginning their fitness journey. I was relatively new to lifting, so I had no idea what to do. There was an overwhelming about of information online, but Chris caters your workout routine to your goals. He makes a fun exercise environment. Everyone at the gym is friendly and it’s a positive environment. It’s definitely a plus for people who are intimidated by large gyms. I highly recommend joining because Chris pushes you to become your better self.

Vivian Tran

Sharing an updated testimonial in 2024, this experience continued to be the anchor of my fitness journey. It's more than a gym; it's a refuge – a safe, clean haven where you can truly focus on yourself. The addition of new and improved equipment brings a refreshing energy to every workout. What sets Paradise Gym apart is not just the physical upgrades but the genuine community it fosters.

Chris's personal approach goes beyond the typical trainer-client dynamic. It's like having a fitness mentor and friend rolled into one. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the emphasis on cleanliness ensures a hygienic space for everyone. Paradise Gym isn't just a place to sweat; it's where connections blossom.

The community here is something special. It's not about competition or comparison; it's about shared goals, support, and laughter. I've forged genuine friendships that extend beyond the gym floor. It's this camaraderie that makes Paradise Gym an integral part of my life. If you're searching for a gym where you not only achieve your fitness goals but also build lasting connections, Paradise Gym is the place to be.

Yvonne Tran

During, the pandemic, I gained 10 lbs. Before the program, I tried to lose weight by going to commercial gyms. But I was struggling with motivation to go alone and after work. When I did bring myself to the gym, I didn’t know how to use the equipment, didn’t know what good form looked like, and wasn’t sure how to structure my workout plan. I also wasn’t sure how to meal plan to get the results I wanted.

I decided to train with Chris after speaking with him about his “lifestyle approach” plan. I didn’t have a set meal plan and what I wanted, but still saw amazing results as I lost at least 1 lb every 1 - 2 weeks during the first 3 months of the program. Chris structured my workouts and corrected my form, which helped me not hurt myself when using the equipment. After 3 months, I focused on weight training, eating 80% and continued to gain strength and lose weight. Eventually, I was able to reach a PR of 265 lbs on deadlifts.

I would recommend this program to anyone else who is just starting out and looking for guidance, is looking to meet supportive people at the gym, have fun and see great results. If this has convinced you to reach out to Chris and start training under him, remember to don’t slouch and keep your chest up.