Robert Harper: Building better bodies, one at a time

By Ilene Davis

Business Today

"I've always loved working out because I always wanted to improve myself. It gave me a chance to better myself in sports as well so I wanted to learn every possible program or exercise that would benefit me." -- Robert harper, personal trainer at fitness plus

By the time Robert Harper started college he knew what he wanted to study. Having been active and involved in sports all his life, it seemed only natural that he would be interested in health and fitness. "I started taking martial arts when I was seven and I played football and ran track junior high through high school."

He says he still loves playing sports, as well as hunting, fishing, and "of course working out."

When Harper was a college freshman, some of his friends would ask his help in establishing a workout program or advice on how to lose weight. That is when he realized he wanted to be a personal trainer.

When the Portageville native graduated from Arkansas State University with a degree in exercise science, he wanted a job closer to home.

"I went to apply at Fitness Plus and fell in love with the place. Everyone was so helpful and nice, I knew this was the place I wanted to work," he says.

"I've always loved working out because I always wanted to improve myself," explains Harper. "It gave me a chance to better myself in sports as well so I wanted to learn every possible program or exercise that would benefit me."

Currently he has nine clients, but he generally has 13 or 14. Harper likes having more clients because it keeps him busy and it means he's helping more people. Sometimes his clients renew their contracts, and he's had about five clients for over a year and a half.

Some people just need a boost to get started and then can continue on their own. Others have to have someone there or they just won't do it, he says.

Business Today: What's the best way to choose a trainer?

Robert Harper: The best process to find a trainer at Fitness Plus is to talk to our boss. He knows our personalities and physical training styles. Everyone has a different style. He can recommend someone based on a clients needs after talking to them for awhile. Some people liked to be pushed really hard and some trainers are known for that.

BT: How important is the relationship between client and trainer?

Harper: It's very important. It's important to see your trainer as a friend and less of a task. It's also very important to talk with clients to find out what motivates them and excites them. Just talking about stuff with them, anything, helps. Sometimes it will take their mind off the cardio that they're doing.

BT: How important is diet?

Harper: Dieting is huge in the sense that you have to make it a lifestyle. With the fad diets you'll only get the yo-yo effect. The average person will burn 100 calories running a mile. Drinking a soda is about 170 calories, you know, which one would you rather do? Nutrition is huge and a big factor in getting fit.

BT: How can folks fit exercise into busy schedules?

Harper: You have to make the time. Put it in your schedule and be consistent. Make it a part of your daily routine, which makes it easier. It helps to workout at the same time each day instead of at different times.

BT: What can you tell people who sit at a desk for eight hours a day?

Harper: If you sit at a desk all day, try to do things throughout the day. Little things, like squats in the chair. Eight hours is a lot of sitting and it makes you tired. You're not going to want to go to the gym if you go home after work. The best thing is to work out before going to work. It's easy to get bored so you get up and get a soda or coffee. You end up with a lot of caffeine and that's really not good.

BT: How often should one workout?

Harper: Ideally, you should do some type of cardio, five days a week at 30 minute intervals, and two to three days of lifting with a day in between each day.

BT: How can I exercise but not get too bulky?

Harper: Weight lifting scares a lot of women because they think they are going to beef up and it's not true. You need a balanced workout including a good warm up, cardio, weight lifting, and stretching. Cardio helps you burn calories, but lifting weights has a long term effect. The more built up muscle you have, the more calories you'll burn throughout the day.

BT: How do training needs of women and men differ?

Harper: There isn't really a difference of work outs between men and women. If their goals are the same, like to lose weight, the work out will basically be the same. We structure them around the client's goals.

BT: What are you future plans?

Harper: I hope to continue personal training here at Fitness Plus and continue to learn as much as I can about fitness and how I can help others and myself.

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ROBERT HARPER

Age: 26

Position: Personal trainer at Fitness Plus

Education: Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science from Arkansas State University, certified through the American College of Sports Medicine

Personal: Not married

Hobbies: Sports, hunting, fishing and working out