July 25, 2016

Meet Santa Monica Fitness Trainer: Paul A Adent

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul A Adent. Below you’ll find edited excerpts of our interview with Paul.

Paul, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?

I am the owner & trainer at Phit Pro and have been in the fitness industry for over 30 years. I have trained all over the world wearing many different hats but always in fitness.

I moved back to the US in 1990 to continue to expand my career here in LA – the mecca of all things fitness. My philosophy is to engage in a conversation with the mind – ground control of all things human – through the body. Use the body to change: lives, attitudes, thought patterns, health & eating patterns, self-destructive behaviors, personal frame of mind, self-esteem and accomplish goals that were once thought of as unattainable. I’m not a yeller but a hand holder, one-step-at-a-time kind of trainer. I motivate from the philosophy that – ” if you could have you would have – but because you can’t – you’re here – welcome”.

My role is to help guide you to accomplishing your goals while keeping you safe from injury as we push your body to its limits. We will do this together. We all know what healthy eating looks like, but why can’t we put down that SideCar doughnut, stop the 4 times a week Starbucks venti chai latte habit, order a 6 oz. steak & steamed veggies rather than fettuccine with pink sauce, extra speck, hold the greens? We all know that exercise is the key to a healthy and happy Mind Body & Soul so why do we get home from work early after a beautiful sunny SoCal day and plotz down in front of the tube rather than put on a pair of running shoes and go for a rejuvenating jog along the beach breathing in the salty ocean air, warm setting sun, stunning views both to the right left & jogging past us? Because most of us either don’t want to or can’t muster up the motivation do it.

This is where I come in, to change those destructive behaviors and slowly replace them with encouraging, healthy actions that start to have a domino effect in every other aspect of your life. If you were able to stop these self-destructive behaviors – get out of the “I deserve or earned this” frame of mind – trust me – you would have a long time ago. I’m here to help facilitate those changes – bit-by-bit, one small step at a time – accomplishing many small goals that lead to the ultimate objective – a HEALTHY & HAPPY person. Everyone is different: we all have been brought up by different influences, different thought patterns, different experiences, different perspectives and these unique qualities make up who we are but do not dictate who we become. This is a choice we get to make continually, every minute of our lives. I have the amazing pleasure of being invited in to help change destructive patterns & encourage positive, progressive behaviors – all by making you sweat, pant, do things you never wanted to do, accomplish things you thought impossible, laugh, complain, shake your head in disbelief and leave feeling challenged & accomplished!

Has it been a smooth road?

When I decided to open my own gym I had very specific requirements: ~ location: had to have easy access to all things west side, not in the heart of downtown Santa Monica but directly adjacent ~ the physical space had to be light & open ~ the design had to be up scale yet completely functional ~ when you walked in you went – WOW what a cool space” but never felt inhibited to sweat, yell or complain ~ a talented and knowledgeable group of trainers who have different training styles but all client focused ~ a space where after your third time walking in another trainer says good morning to you by name, the client they are training says hello, there is no competition between trainers but okay to have clients competing ;-} With these in mind it has been a very slow development but I am happy to say we have succeeded on all accounts!

What are your plans for the future?

I love the direction Phit Pro is moving in. We have a very select group of really awesome, qualified & charismatic trainers doing their thing here – changing people’s lives – with very diverse training approaches. This makes the cross section offered here really interesting. All of the trainers are secure in their craft so there is only laughter & camaraderie between trainers & clients – with the random exception of client trainer relationship where the trainer is pushing their client to reach a new goal… We have borrowed from the “Cheers” approach where “everyone knows your name” even if they are not your personal client. We are very encouraging & supportive here. It’s an awesome environment to learn & grow – yell, scream, grunt & sweat too!!!

With that said, I personally am developing a curriculum for trainers FOB (fresh off the boat) from getting their certification, to teach them the ins& outs of the business. For descriptive purposes it would be like a finishing school for trainers. All the certifications out there teach muscles, exercises, insurance requirements, injuries… but no one teach how to apply all that new information to a client. This is Phase II of Phit Pro. I am also developing a food program to help educated & assist clients with improving their eat habits – teach &/or providing service.

Let’s dig a little deeper into your story. What was the hardest time you’ve had?

This is a difficult one for me because I make it a practice to focus on the positive and not get lost in any negative. There’s not a lot I can do regarding the mistakes I have made in my past except make a change so that they are not repeated in the present or future. Same theory applies to negative experiences I have had that were brought to me. I learn, grow & do my best to move on.

There have been many times things have been difficult & possibly I am naive but I believe that if I stand true to who I am and keep my focus on the positive then things will eventually either turn around our another opportunity will arise. I can go into more details but kind of feel this is a negative approach to find a positive response. As I said – I’m having difficulty with this question.

Do you ever just stop and think WOW – I’ve made it?

As for my Ahh-Haa moment, there wasn’t one big one but many, many sizable ones that boosted me up and encouraged me to continue forward throughout my career:

Ran a 1/2 marathon with q client on her 50th birthday – 6 months training prep for this one.

A client was in a difficult job which she ended up losing – we focused on her building muscle and getting her backing into running shape – an activity she enjoyed as a much younger person. 8 months into our training she was head hunted for a new job that was AWESOME, went from a size 10 to a size 4, has completed four 1/2 marathons and many 5k & 10K runs with here 20 year old daughter (finishing many before her fit daughter).

Working with a 13-14 year old girl whose self-esteem was so low that she was exhibiting unsafe behavior both at school and with her friends. Boosted up her confidence, she graduated with honors, went to & graduated college and now is a well-adjusted, happy/secure, up & coming photographer with a rapidly building & profitable portfolio.

Being invited to the weddings, anniversary parties, having clients that have been with me for 10+ years…

On a completely different note – about 4 months after opening someone came in and asked to speak with the owner – that was the first time I realized I HAD started my own business – it was a very proud moment for me.

Pricing:

Phit Pro offers a wide range of private training pricing ranging from a $75
Introductory session to a package of 23 sessions for $2500- (20 sessions at $125- plus 3 free).
All the trainers are independent so fees vary per trainer.

Contact Info: