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Larry Sacks

Writer

imageI came to Andy Petranek in March, 2004 looking to increase strength and get help with a recurrent back problem. I have been physically active most of my life and a few years ago tested at the ninetieth percentile for aerobic fitness for my age group (over fifty.) Unfortunately since I neglected a strengthening program I experienced significant decline due to age related muscle mass loss.

Two years ago I began working with the book Strength Training past Fifty and did the recommended program twice a week. Progress was very slow and the exercises were extremely boring and tedious. During that time I had also been doing Swiss ball exercises from a Paul Chek video a chiropractor loaned me. I don't live in America and planned to visit Colorado last spring and contacted a Chek practitioner in the state from the website. When my travel plans changed she recommended Andy.

I have worked with him for about nine or ten sessions during two visits to LA this year. Since beginning an upper and lower body strengthening program in the last three months I have made incredible gains of about five or six times what I started with. I would have believed this to be impossible only a few months ago. There have been major improvements in my bicycle riding and roller skiing as a result. I'm don't need someone to motivate me but Andy gave me the confidence that I could push myself way beyond what I was doing. I have found him to be a very knowledgable, patient, and skilled teacher and highly recommend him. I look forward to working with him the next time I'm in LA.



Sacha Dybnis

Dentist

imageBased on my excellent results, I highly recommend to you the Physical Training Services of Andy Petranek.

In January of 2003 I began training with Andy. At the time, I was 57 years of age, with cardiac stints, in mediocre physical condition - that is to say no strength in my arms, legs, and abdomen and no stamina. I was plagued for the past few years with shoulder pain (untreated rotator cuff injuries) that severely limited my range of motion and knee pain (due to untreated torn meniscus cartilage) that hurt with every change of position. For all my height of 6’3”, I was overweight at 233 lbs. I had, for several years, resisted my physician’s recommendations to have my shoulders and knees surgically treated. As a practicing dentist, I’m frequently called upon to treat my patient’s TMJ pains and I’ve found much success with non-surgical therapies. On the basis of these successes I was sure that there must also be non-surgical approaches to the healing of shoulder and knee joint injuries.

During my first 12 months with Andy, we met three times a week. It was not a “quick fix” but a satisfying “complete fix”. Andy began with exercises that strengthened my “core muscles” as well as the muscles that fed into and surrounded my suffering joints. Whenever an exercise caused pain to any joint, Andy immediately stopped the process and presented me with an alternative way to work the target muscles without triggering the joint pain. I’ve been very impressed by Andy’s wide knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics, and exercise physiology that guided me to improve my muscles without further injuring or stressing my joints.

Prior to beginning each session, he reviews my medical and physical status to learn of changes that may have developed since the last session or may impact the current session. During each session he takes thorough notes on the exercises that I do as well as the response and results I may have. He often refers back to previous notes to track progress and maintain continuity. In the medical arts we say that “A doctor is only as good as his notes” and I believe that the same holds true in Andy’s profession. I believe that Andy is a true professional in his field.

After the first year, I found that all of my joint pains were eliminated and I had regained my full range of motion without discomfort (the only exception was my left knee when sitting in a kneeling meditation position). By the time of this writing. I’ve learned to exercise on my own and I see Andy about three times a month for refinement and stamina development.



Timothy P. O’Brien

Esq., President
Motivational Management, Inc.


imageAndy is expensive and he should be. He’s the very best at what he does. He’s what I call a physical fitness devotee. Andy will drive five hours to a seminar just to pick up 1 or 2 new ideas.

This type of commitment to his craft enables Andy to make profound changes in your physical fitness and overall health after just a couple of visits. I know because he did it with me. I was so impressed I signed my wife up. The question is not, “Can I afford Andy?” The question is, “Can I afford not to go to Andy?” Your answer should be obvious if:
- Your health is a top priority, if not the top
- You are focused and need results now
- Your life and career demand maximum energy
- You want the best physical fitness coach you can find



Steve Mass

Senior Loan Officer, SGM Group

image Andy Petranek is more than a fitness trainer, he's an educator. I started training with him 18 months ago after suffering a knee injury. I had become sedentary, was gaining weight, and no longer felt comfortable in my own body. Andy immediately evaluated my lifestyle and recommended that I change my eating habits and exercise three to five days a week. At first, I didn't listen to him.

A year later, I weighed the same and my knee still was in pain, so I decided to take Andy's advice. He analyzed my metabolism; based on the results, he educated me on the types of foods I should and shouldn't be eating. He then designed specific exercises that would strengthen my knee.

The end result: For the first time in my life, I've successfully incorporated regular exercise and healthy eating habits into my lifestyle. My knee feels great and I've dropped 23 pounds. I love my new body. My wife loves my new body. We both love Andy!



Tony Moradian

Former USMC Cobra Helocoptor Pilot
Current Advanced Competition Aerobatics Pilot,
President, EnviroAqua Consultants, Inc.


imageAndy Petranek is no ordinary fitness professional. He is passionate about his work and it shows. The quality of his work is far beyond expectation, and one that you do not ordinarily see in others in the professional fitness industry. Additionally, his fitness programs are well though out. You can tell right away that these programs are proven and are derived from much thought and experience. They go just beyond somebody showing you to use a certain machine a certain way – in fact, we never even use machines. It is something that one can only explain from experience. It is like an old construction framer showing an apprentice a method of building something that comes from years of experience.

Through his experience he saved me time and effort by eliminating the “routine” from my workouts and maximizing the intensity and effect on my body. I’m amazed at how much I can accomplish in just 30 minutes with him. Andy has taught me how to make health and fitness a habit, and I actually enjoy pushing myself to my limits during his creative workouts. I’m never bored, and never know what to expect one workout to the next, which speaks to his vast knowledge and creativity. As an athlete, I also enjoy the functional movements he’s taught me. They have helped me take my speed, power and agility to the next level. He’s also taught me what to do when I’m traveling or on my own – my workouts will never be the same!

It has really been an amazing experience to watch my mind and body transform in such a short amount of time. Andy…. Thanks for your expertise, and the passion that you possess about exercise and physical fitness. Your enthusiasm is contagious.



Phil Tirone

President, Mortgage Capital Advisors
Author of 7 Steps to a 720

imageI’ve never been considered an athlete, and because of my hectic schedule, spending hours in the gym trying to "pump" myself up has always failed. In the past, I would spend about six months rigorously training, and then I would fall off the wagon. My level of fitness never progressed, and I never achieved the athletic body I wanted.

Working with Andy changed my outlook and my fitness routine. I work out in different ways (like through mountain biking and snowboarding), and when I do go to the gym, I’m in and out in 45 minutes. Because he created a specific workout that addressed my lifestyle, my fitness goals, and my particular body and metabolic type, I have slowly but surely turned into an athlete.











Dawn Heusser Forrester

Emmy Award-winning sports reporter
I’ve always been an athlete of sorts. My dad had me water-skiing at age five and running with him at nine. I ran track, played basketball, did mini triathlons, two NYC marathons and competed in a long expedition adventure race in New Zealand.

I met Andy in 1998, as one of two support crew for his adventure racing team in the Raid Gauloises, Ecuador. The first thing I remember about Andy was his charismatic smile and his happy, energetic personality and how extremely fit he was. He was always well organized, honest, and smart and I never saw him lose his temper or be condescending to anyone. His athleticism and dedication to what he was trying to accomplish and his teammates was admirable. Needless to say, I was impressed. After the race, my life took me away from my own athletic endeavors to report on the accomplishments of “real” athletes. I got a job as a reporter for Fox Sports, got married and in 2003 had a baby -- and gained 70 pounds!

I didn’t see Andy again until 2004 when I desperately needed someone that I could trust to get me back into the shape I used to be in. We met and talked about a program suited for me, which included not only training but nutrition as well. Andy is one of the most knowledgeable people in the fitness industry and he knew exactly what would work for me. His system is unlike any trainer I’ve ever met because it works your whole body in a short amount of time. You rarely do the same workout twice, except to see how you’ve progressed. When you finish his workout you’re sweating, exhausted and in awe that you were able to do what you did. Having Andy as a trainer has been the key to my mental and physical well-being. I feel like a better wife and mother because I’m taking care of myself again. I also feel stronger and have more energy. Yes, sometimes I still get frustrated that my body is taking a bit longer than I thought it would to bounce back, but Andy is always there, encouraging and pushing me; with that big charismatic smile. Thank you, Andy.



Phil Glosserman

Business and Sales Performance Coach
Andy Petranek is a fitness coach like no other. The program he has created at CrossFit LA is beyond compare. It is a perfect mix of both personal training and group/team training - giving me the best of both worlds... individualized coaching plus training in a group environment with my peers. The classes and community at CFLA compel me to challenge myself beyond the physical limits I once thought were insurmountable. These workouts are NOTHING like the boilerplate workouts I've done with other trainers or at other gyms - they help me address my own particular issues with coordination, strength, balance, mindset, and even competition. Besides being a great combination of trainer, educator, and motivator, Andy and his team at CFLA are inspirational. Even though I'm in my 50s and have been exercising regularly for most of my life, what I've gotten from my training at CFLA in the past year has taken my fitness and my mindset about what's possible to a whole new level.



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