TESTIMONIALS
Read some of Make It Happen Personal Training's success stories!
Leo is patient, knowledgeable and best of all he leads by example. I started working with Leo in February when I hit a plateau with my own workouts at home. My original goal with a personal trainer was to tone up. Three months later I am 16lbs lighter and a six pack happier! Leo helped me realize having three children is no reason to lose focus on my own health! I would recommend Leo to anyone looking to discover the healthiest version of themselves. I am so proud of the progress made so far and excited to see what more I can accomplish working with Leo!!! Two thumbs way up!
I first reached out to begin working out with Leo three years ago. At that time, I was very inactive, always felt sluggish, and always felt miserable because I wasn’t content with myself physically and was close to hitting 300 lbs. I was intimidated by the thought of going into a gym, I felt lost and clueless but decided to give it a shot. Fast forward to three years later and I am still going strong! Never in my life did I think I would stick to this, I was not one of those “workout” people. I went into it thinking I would go to the gym, lose weight, quit working out and my life would be perfect, but I was wrong. I will never quit, I have learned that this is a lifestyle change, I have learned that working out is about so much more than looking better physically. I can now outrun my teenage son, I have more energy than ever before, I have no health issues and am not on any medications. I have confidence in myself, my self-esteem has gone up, I’m learning to love myself once again and feel stronger than ever. I have not been perfect since I started this journey, but the important thing is to never give up - everybody fails at one point or another. You might go into it with one goal in mind but if you have enough self-discipline to include this into your new lifestyle, you will come out of this a brand-new person inside and out.
A year ago I was 400lbs and wearing a 6X shirt, today with the support of my girlfriend, my family, and my personal trainer Leo, I’m down to a 3X. I still have a long way to go, but I know I can eventually get to my goal. Thank you to everyone who has been there and continue to support myself and my girlfriend on our journey!
I have been struggling with my weight for the past few years after having 3 kids and happy to say that with Leo's help, I have been making it happen. The weight-loss that is. No pun intended. Well, maybe. Leo is tough as a trainer, but one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. He listens to what your goals are and is happy to help you achieve them. Highly recommend working with Leo if you are someone who is sick of not getting results and need a push in the right direction.
I have been training with leo about 10 months now. He is the reason I have been able to drop almost 40 lbs! I have also gained muscle mass working with him, something I have never been able to do.
All my life I have been overweight at 34 I was my heaviest at almost 320lbs. I've tried weight loss programs that have been successful however I never made lifestyle changes. With Leo's help I developed a lifestyle change and a desire to keep that change.
I am currently at 229lbs and have never felt better!
I no longer have back pains, my legs don't go numb just from walking, and the best part is I'm now teaching my kids to be healthier.
Leo has taught me so much, not only about exercising but about eating healthy and meal prepping. He has motivated me and my family to start living a healthier lifestyle.
Several years ago I hesitantly walked into a gym and was greeted by Leo. Prior to that day my exercise routine consisted solely of bike riding.
Weight lifting, dynamic body weight exercises and running were things I did not enjoy and avoided or had never tried out of fear, embarrassment and a lack of confidence. Leo helped change that. He had me doing wide range of exercises that were far beyond my old typical routines. My experience with workout and fitness and overall health are so different now. Some of the things I used to dread are now what I like most about my exercise routine. Leo has helped me realize the value of varied exercises and how to incorporate them into a complete, balanced and effective fitness routine.
Leo pushes me out of my comfort zone, challenges and supports me in many ways. He has helped me believe in myself and the strength of my mind and body. He encouraged me to sign up for the Shamrock Shuffle and ran along with me. He has since cheered me on as I have completed two Chicago Marathons.
Thirty pounds lost, strong muscles, confidence and healthy habits all gained from working with Leo. His passion for helping others strive toward and achieve there individual fitness and health goals is contagious and inspiring. His knowledge, skill and dedication to his clients has kept me in motion living a healthier life. I am so grateful that I made the decision to go into the gym that day and that Leo was there to greet me. I cannot thank him enough.
I began training with Leo because I had hit a plateau with my weight loss and felt it was time I take my training to the next level. I knew Leo would be the perfect person to do that as we've been friends for many years and I had seen first hand what he was able to accomplish for himself. Not many people are able to say they have lost 200lbs+ on their own solely through diet and exercise. I had also seen the results his other clients were getting so I was excited to begin working with him. After our first work out, I knew right away he was the real deal. Since I had already lost about 25lbs prior, I thought I was tough and could handle any workout given to me. Leo proved to me that no matter how fit you think you may be, there's always room for improvement. Leo pushes me to an entire different level of fitness that I would've never thought I could reach. When I'm finished training with him, I feel like I'm on top of the world! Like I can achieve anything and that's really what a good trainer is, someone who can make you feel like any goal that you set is feasible. Nothing is impossible and Leo reassures me of that constantly. I look forward to not only achieving the goals I set with him but constantly making new ones and breaking though barriers I never thought I would.
I have been training with Leo for more than 7yrs. He has helped me drop the weight from all 3 of my pregnancies. Leo has pushed me to reach goals I never thought my body could reach and feel at my utmost best. His sessions encompass cross training and heavy lifting. Something never in my life that I would imagine even doing. He designates personal plans for each of his clients and has helped me meet realistic goals so that I can continue seeing results way past his sessions. He helps you stay accountable and to push through and stay on track. In these pictures I was 165 a year after my 3rd pregnancy. The middle picture I dropped down to 143 in a time span of 11 months. And in the last picture I took today after the holiday bonanza of meals I have been able to continue to see more result and am 138lbs as of now. Steady consistent progress. No secret potions, crash diets or wraps that have claimed to burn my fat away. Just clean eating and consistent hard work put in. Leo is an amazing person and trainer he loves what does and it shows in the dedication he invests into his clients. Because when you invest into your passions you never lose you only gain more. I am a life client I have invested in him what he has invested in me.
10 months of training with Leo and I feel healthier and happier than I ever have. Even after just 3 months of working with him I had made substantial changes to my lifestyle and health. I have lost almost 30lbs and kept it off. I am excited to have gotten this far but I still feel like I have so much more I want to learn from Leo. Always room to improve different things. I highly recommend working with him - I wouldn't have progressed this far without his expertise. The workout program(s) he had me do through my journey so far were just right and custom tailored for me - he pushed me to go further and work harder than I would have on my own. The nutrition advice and guidance that he provided turned into a lifestyle for me. All of the encouragement & motivation I drew from his attitude and from his work (& work out) ethic pushed me to keep going even when I sometimes wanted to give up. I can definitely say I have learned and grown so much by being given the right resources and training. Can't wait to see what I'll learn in the months to come!
I'm getting closer and closer to that 100lb mark!
A year ago, I thought I would lose my battle sooner than later. I was terrified. And then, surprisingly, i just became ready! Can you guess all the ways my quality of life have improved? All the little things? All the big things? Barely being able to walk a few feet to doing laps speeding around at the gym. Not being able to sleep at night from the weight against my chest. Being in the severe danger zone of having my blood pressure at 200/110 to now 130/70’s? Getting sick often from having a week immune system. Wheezing, trouble breathing, knee pain, leg pain, chest pain. Not wanting to go out in public or join in on family events or parties, to now being the life of the party! All those aches and pains and other things have subsided and I feel better than ever! The way i can move around now is incredible!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Leo, my personal trainer, for helping me achieve this new life!
I started working with Leo in September of 2017, when I realized fad diets were not working. I was not happy in my own skin and it was time to do something about it.
Since the very first time I stepped into the gym I felt like I made the right decision choosing Leo as my trainer. Leo shared his knowledge of proper nutrition, tracking calories, and the importance of proper form. Of all the things that he preached about regarding living a healthy lifestyle; consistency is what stood out most. That is what my issue was, being consistent. I wanted quick results and did not want to do the work. Training with Leo does not feel like a chore. It’s a feeling of accomplishment once the workout is complete, especially with Leo standing behind you pushing you out of your comfort zone.
Leo is truly amazing at what he does, I cannot imagine going through this journey without him! I am currently down 40 pounds and I have never felt better! I am happy, healthy and confident in my own skin! Leo pours his whole heart into helping, educating, and guiding people in the right direction. “Make it Happen” is exactly what he does!
I started training with Leo last year in August. At the time I was very frustrated with the weight I had gained during my third pregnancy. After I had my child, I was at 168 and in three months I had lost 18 pounds on my own. However, I got stuck at 150 and the scale was not moving. This was my third child and instead of getting frustrated I decided that it was time to get professional help.
Nine months later I had lost 30 pounds and my body was fitter than ever! During the time of training I got desperate and frustrated but Leo was able to push me and he surpassed my expectations. He always checking on what I was eating and helped me correct any over indulgences that I was having at the time. After the workouts I always felt rejuvenated, had more energy and had a positive attitude towards reaching my weight goal.
I cannot be happier that I found a trainer that helped me not only look better but taught me that with perseverance and a healthy diet you can reach your weight goals and be a happier person because of it.
I highly recommend Leo for anyone that is feeling frustrated and is ready to take the challenge to lose the extra pounds! Thanks Leo!
over 100lbs lost!
I've been working with Leo for close to 5 months now. Prior to training with him, I worked out and had a gym routine. I would see minimal results and was basing my workouts on the little knowledge I had plus watching others in the gym workout. Over time, I hit a plateau and felt frustrated with the lack of results I was seeing. I contacted Leo for a workout and got educated on various things. The three things that stuck out the most to me was my lack of clean eating, improper form on the majority of my workouts, and misconception of a proper workout routine. Since our start, I've improved in all areas with Leo's guidance. He has kept me accountable for my actions, planned workouts on our off days, provided different forms of clean eating, and advised me on all aspects. I feel confident in my appearance and overall health. Leo maintains a friendly and fun atmosphere and continues to challenge me and strives to see gains in my workouts.
I have been training with Leo for over 3 years now and he has really helped me to stay limber and strong into my fifties. Leo varies our work out so I don’t get bored, but is also aware of my limits due to some health issues and develops my workouts with all of that in mind. I think you have to like the person you see early in the morning – getting up to work out early is hard enough. I hope to be training with Leo for a long time.
Almost four years ago I bought 10 personal training sessions with Leo, thinking Iʼd use what he taught me to work out on my own. I never left. Leo transformed my body and my life
Leo was the first trainer I ever had so I didn't know what to expect. I knew that I was dreading the pain of it all (being so out of shape) but kept my eye on the prize. To my satisfaction, the workouts were new, exciting, fun, hilarious and, as his title claims, personal. He interviewed me on my goals, strengths and weaknesses and customized my workouts to achieve the ultimate results. I hate planks but he made me do them, kindly reminding me that he's the pro here and that it would work...and it did. =) My quads are a weakness of mine so Leo made sure squats and lunges were always included. They hurt like hell but he was right on track because I built up that muscle. He also shared his own weight loss story with me, which inspired me so much more! It also made me a little more comfortable knowing he knew exactly what I was going through. He's been there, he's done it and he was going to help steer me in the right direction. We got work done but we joked and laughed and shared awesome times together. We even have nicknames and special handshakes! I went from dreading my workouts to looking forward to every day I had a session with Leo. He's one kick ass trainer and an awesome friend. Thanks Leo for a wonderful experience and for helping me be a better me!
I started training with Leo two years ago. I was referred to him by a friend who had a very positive experience with him, so I went into it hoping for great results and was not disappointed! I met my weight lost goal of 65 pounds in a little over a year. I now still continue to train with him because I can't see myself working out without him. He's a great trainer who genuinely cares about his clients getting results.
I'm a 48 year old single mother of two. I trained with Leo for over two years, lost 35lbs during this time and was able to say I was in the best shape of my life at 47. More importantly, I learned to live a healthy lifestyle, be confident, and to love and accept my body. Not only do I consider him a very knowledgeable trainer but also a great friend and part of my family.
Leo was the best trainers I've ever worked with. He is knowledgable, patient and kind while also being strict. He varies routines and helps with daily nutrition. It was great to work with someone who 'gets it' since he's been there. If I hadn't moved away, we'd still be working together. He is a great motivator!
I trained with Leo for two years and only stopped because I moved away. He is a great motivator and puts a lot of effort into creating personalized and challenging workouts. I had previously tried working out on my own and struggled to see results, but working with Leo I was able to lose weight and also build my strength and endurance. He really cares about his clients and helping them reach their goals; he even made time to help me workout when I was in Chicago at Christmas. I highly recommend working with him.