My name is Doug Collins. I am 34 years, and I live in Dayton, Ohio. I have been a certified personal trainer through the National Federation of Professional Trainers since 2011, working both out of a local private training facility and offering my services via the web. As of 2016, I have achieved the title of Master Fitness Trainer through the NFPT and have acquired the esteemed Precision Nutrition Level 1 Nutrition Coaching certification.
My life started out normal enough. My fondest memories of childhood included being outside, riding my bike, and playing sports. I guess I was the regular all American kid. I was never overweight growing up and was always fairly active. I can't pinpoint the exact time frame that I started to become overweight, but I can tell you that in my teens, I started playing a lot more video games, eating more junk food, and doing less and less physical activity than I had before.
Fast forward to 2006. I was hovering at approximately 375 pounds. I had a 50-plus inch waist, wore a 4XL shirt, and was having chest pains and other health issues no 23 year old should be having. A family member's death made me take a long look in the mirror one day, and that's when I said "ENOUGH!" I had no self esteem, I could go to any number of fast food restaurants and say "hey it's Doug," and they would know my order, and I was knocking on the door of heart disease, diabetes, and a possible early death.
I started doing all the research I could about losing weight, set a goal, and I was on my way. Between January 2006-August 2006, I got myself down to around 250 pounds with diet alone. I felt better, looked better, and had a newfound confidence that I hadn't had in many years. I mainly continued with just dieting and walking several times a week, and never really set foot in a gym until around 2008 when my good friend Tony told me I should start working out with him.
Let me tell you this, I may have a respectable bench press and excellent cardio now, but it wasn't always that way. I couldn't bench press the 45 pound bar, and the first time I used an elliptical (which was only for 5 minutes) I couldn't walk for days. I could have quit and been happy being skinny and weak for the rest of my life, but that wasn't enough. I became addicted to the gym and learning all the facets and mechanics of exercise. I read every magazine and book, and tried every new exercise I read about. This wasn't just a hobby, it was and still is a real passion. A passion I could have never in a million years dreamed I would have.
I held down a regular day job at a bank for almost 10 years, and moonlighted as a personal trainer for quite a while, until early 2013 when I decided it was time to stop wasting my time in a job I didn't belong at. I decided to chase my dream of truly helping people for a living. Being a trainer is so much more than helping people exercise and telling them what to eat. I get to change people's lives for the better. I get the opportunity to help them feel the way I have for the past 10 years. Nothing feels as good as being healthy and fit. I can say this with certainty because I know how it feels to be extremely unhealthy and NOT fit.
I look forward to helping change more lives for many years to come. This is one of the few passions I've had in my life, and it's one I'm extremely grateful for being able to share with others. It would be an honor to let me help you on your journey. If I could do it, anyone can. Let me show you the way!
-Doug
My life started out normal enough. My fondest memories of childhood included being outside, riding my bike, and playing sports. I guess I was the regular all American kid. I was never overweight growing up and was always fairly active. I can't pinpoint the exact time frame that I started to become overweight, but I can tell you that in my teens, I started playing a lot more video games, eating more junk food, and doing less and less physical activity than I had before.
Fast forward to 2006. I was hovering at approximately 375 pounds. I had a 50-plus inch waist, wore a 4XL shirt, and was having chest pains and other health issues no 23 year old should be having. A family member's death made me take a long look in the mirror one day, and that's when I said "ENOUGH!" I had no self esteem, I could go to any number of fast food restaurants and say "hey it's Doug," and they would know my order, and I was knocking on the door of heart disease, diabetes, and a possible early death.
I started doing all the research I could about losing weight, set a goal, and I was on my way. Between January 2006-August 2006, I got myself down to around 250 pounds with diet alone. I felt better, looked better, and had a newfound confidence that I hadn't had in many years. I mainly continued with just dieting and walking several times a week, and never really set foot in a gym until around 2008 when my good friend Tony told me I should start working out with him.
Let me tell you this, I may have a respectable bench press and excellent cardio now, but it wasn't always that way. I couldn't bench press the 45 pound bar, and the first time I used an elliptical (which was only for 5 minutes) I couldn't walk for days. I could have quit and been happy being skinny and weak for the rest of my life, but that wasn't enough. I became addicted to the gym and learning all the facets and mechanics of exercise. I read every magazine and book, and tried every new exercise I read about. This wasn't just a hobby, it was and still is a real passion. A passion I could have never in a million years dreamed I would have.
I held down a regular day job at a bank for almost 10 years, and moonlighted as a personal trainer for quite a while, until early 2013 when I decided it was time to stop wasting my time in a job I didn't belong at. I decided to chase my dream of truly helping people for a living. Being a trainer is so much more than helping people exercise and telling them what to eat. I get to change people's lives for the better. I get the opportunity to help them feel the way I have for the past 10 years. Nothing feels as good as being healthy and fit. I can say this with certainty because I know how it feels to be extremely unhealthy and NOT fit.
I look forward to helping change more lives for many years to come. This is one of the few passions I've had in my life, and it's one I'm extremely grateful for being able to share with others. It would be an honor to let me help you on your journey. If I could do it, anyone can. Let me show you the way!
-Doug