"I ended up in the Boston area for the summer and was worried about finding a place to train the Olympic lifts. A friend recommended that I call John Sullivan at Excel Sport & Fitness, and he was extremely accommodating and friendly. He mentioned that Matt Delaney, a national caliber lifter, was going to be holding an Olympic weightlifting club 3 days a week, so I decided to give it a try.

Having lifted for over 2 years already, and leading a hectic schedule that only enabled sporadic training, I wasn't expecting anything miraculous, but I was sure surprised! Matt worked on revamping my technique from the ground up. We started with light weights and built up over a few weeks until I was hitting new personal bests left and right. I hit a new record in the snatch, and then matched it again at my next workout. I hit 3 new clean and jerk personal bests over a 2-week span. My technique is much sharper, and my consistency has improved a lot. I'm looking forward to improving just a little bit more so I can qualify for Nationals in the 62kg class.

Matt also kept in mind my chronic lower back condition, and chose exercises specifically to avoid placing undue strain on my problem area. Under his guidance, I have been able to increase my core strength while remaining injury-free."

Thanks Matt and John! As long as I'm in the Boston area I'll be making Excel Sport & Fitness my training home.
Old personal records:
Snatch: 77.5kg
Clean and Jerk: 95kg
Total 172.5kg

New personal records since joining Excel:
Snatch: 80kg
Clean and Jerk: 100kg
Jerk behind the neck: 100kg
Total: 180kg
~ James Mesbur
 

Dear Brad,
I want to extend to you my sincerest thanks for working with my son, Jonathan, the past two summers. The name you picked for your business couldn’t have been more appropriate, “Pinnacle Strength & Fitness.” Jon has attended numerous basketball camps over the years and was looking to become a member of his D-2 College team last year. We knew he needed to be stronger, quicker and in maximum shape to compete at that level. Well, do to your expertise and focusing on his core strength, Jon was in far better shape than most players and his Coaches were amazed at his size and strength. Jon was 4th in the two mile run and pushed the big men at the weights. Jon will be starting school soon and I’m sure this second summer working with you will show the Coaches and his teammates that he is well on his way to: “Pinnacle Strength and Fitness”
Best Regards,
~ Richard W. Holmes

"Rebecca Manda at Excel Sport and Fitness has helped me to realize my true fitness potential. With her expertise, guidance and encouragement I've achieved improved strength and muscle tone that I wouldn't have been able to do on my own. Her workouts are designed to be challenging but are also varied and keep you moving and interested, so you're never bored or feel like you're in a routine. Rebecca is a pleasure to work with, and I look forward to every session because I know I'm reaching my potential."
~ Elizabeth Gross

"My wife and I are in our early forties. We have been working out off and on trying to get in shape since we met 9 years ago. I’m sure you know the story. You get in a good routine and make some headway for a few months. Then life gets in the way, the holidays, the kids, work, weekends, and you fall off the healthy life style and it’s tough to get back into it.

We have a 4 year old daughter and a 1 year old son. We both realized we needed to get in shape not only for us, but for them. We didn’t want to be the parents at the beach that didn’t have the energy to play with the kids or were too embarrassed to put on a bathing suit. We wanted to be in shape, feel healthy and young.

At our age, we needed to make a serious commitment and do it right once and for all. I’d love to tell you we have the self discipline and knowledge to do it on our own, but looking at our history, it was not going to happen.

We looked at the money we waste going out to dinner and drinks and what we have spent in the past on workout programs – body for life, gym memberships, 8 minute abs, yoga class, on and on and on.

After meeting with many trainers, we sought out Brad Cordoza’s help. Upon meeting him, with his career in The Strongest Man competition, and his attitude we knew we had the right guy to take us to where we wanted to be.

We have been working with him for 8 months and here is a quick run down of where we both stand:
My wife:
After having 2 kids in her late thirties and early forties, she had gained weight from the pregnancies. Brad set her up on a specific weight training program, tailor made for her. Along with a cardio schedule and a clean diet, Beth has lost 35lbs of fat and has gained muscle and toned her shape.
Myself:
I am tall and lean. Traveling on the road for business had made me soft in the middle. It’s tough to put muscle on the body type I have. Brad, once again, set up a program specifically designed for my body type. Along with clean eating and cardio, after 8 months I have more muscle and strength than I have ever had in my life. Last week I shoulder pressed what I used to bench press prior to training with Brad.

It is an empowering thing to finally be in shape. Well worth the time and money invested. With Brad we are constantly picking his brain about diet and exercise. Our training program is constantly changing and adapting to our results. He not only gives us the knowledge and motivation we need to succeed, but at this point we consider him a friend to the family. He keeps us consistent and motivated, and has shown us results we would have never gotten on our own. If you are finally serious about getting in shape, Brad is the guy to get you there."
~ Alex & Beth Marsden

"My personal training goal was to lose some body fat and look more “toned.” When I first met John, he promised I could achieve this and more – and I did! He developed upper body and lower body strength-training programs that targeted the specific muscle areas that needed attention. There were times in the middle of an exercise that I thought I had reached my limit. According to John, the phrase “I can’t do it,” does not exist – it was the motivation I needed. When I got bored with one training program, John quickly created a new one for me. What was an invaluable part of my personal training with John is that he never failed to explain the benefits of each exercise, as well as the importance of doing them using proper form. Since I’ve never been one to live at the gym, I wanted a training program that did not require more than 4 days a week for more than one hour at a time. John worked within these boundaries to meet my personal needs. Hands down, John’s the best!"
~ Ashley Fantasia

"My experience with Rebecca has been the best I've ever had with a personal trainer. Rebecca has a way of both being a gentle person while being truly committed to challenging her clients to continue their training at an appropriate level for continued physical (and emotional) growth. Rather than being a task master, she manages to use her humor and warmth to keep one going. Rebecca is highly knowledgeable about nutrition, the mechanics of the body and general health. I generally looked forward to my workouts, which is perhaps the highest compliment!"
~ Liesl Rockart
 

"A competitive athlete my entire life, it was a running injury that got me started in weight training five5 years ago. Although I trained hard from the beginning, I didn't actually have a goal until four months before my 45th birthday. I met John at the end of December 2005 and began working with him to prepare for the April 2006 OCB figure competition. John's nutritional knowledge and muscle development techniques helped me achieve a personal best. He never hesitated to answer my questions and I assure you, I asked A LOT of questions! If you're new to this sport and are looking for guidance or if you've been around awhile like me and need help achieving your personal best, look to Excel Sport & Fitness for all your fitness, nutritional and contest prep needs."
~ Mary Beth Schlichte
 

"I hired Brad as my personal trainer two years ago with the goal of losing weight. In the last two years I have realized my goal by losing 70 pounds of fat and gaining several pounds of muscle. I am now stronger and more motivated than ever. I have reassessed my goals and would like to lose more weight and I'd like to compete. I am sure under Brad's tutelage I will be able to realize my newest goals.

Brad has made me realize my potential, pushing me to my maximum even when I felt like wimping out. On top of everything else, I have made a good friend."
~ Deborah Batista
 

"I have had the pleasure of working with John and Brad, as well as being a client. John designed a speed and power program specific to my needs as a martial artist, and I use the techniques he shared with me to this day.

John and Brad bring tremendous practical experience to their training methods, and strive to get the best possible results for their clientele. As a full time fitness professional, I would send my own clients to them without reservation."
~ Ray Desmarais

 

"I have been a competitive baseball player since I was 15 years old. Playing through minor aches and pains in my arm over the years I was never hurt as much as I was in the summer of 2005 when I was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff. Physical therapy did not do the trick, so a personal friend recommended I call John and set up an evaluation. John broke me down then rebuilt me from the ground up, helping me retrain my shoulder to work correctly. Not only is my shoulder 100%, but the rest of my body is as strong as it ever has been at 27 years old. I am back throwing the way I used to, if not better. John truly put me back on the right track to no pain and better overall strength."
~ Adam Stiles

"I've always worked out; high-school, college, and thereafter. But I would do so in fits and starts. I would be good for a while but then get frustrated because I couldn’t reach my goals. I have used advice from work out partners, from magazines, and some from just seeing what other people were doing. I have even had trainers before John. None of them were effective and I believe I was actually more qualified than a few of them. I always blamed myself for not having the discipline I needed. As it turns out, it wasn’t that I didn’t work hard enough it was because there was much more to it. John showed me that. He customized several work outs for me and showed me how to reach my goals. He was able to immediately isolate my weak points and developed a strategy to strengthen them. He showed me how to break exercises down into pieces so that I could actually, for the first time, do them properly.

John has helped me help myself. His positive and motivational outlook and encyclopedic knowledge of anatomy & physiology affords him the ability to help you reach and exceed your goals. As my grandfather used to say, working hard is a requirement, but it’s working smart that makes the difference."
~ Bill Dale

"Brad's advice and support have helped improve my strength; as well as reach other personal goals I had set for myself. His knowledge and professionalism makes him an asset and pleasure to train with."
~ Joe C

Since starting my training with Dave last spring my physical fitness and knowledge have increased tenfold.  The most important factors of my training are the relationship and I have with Dave.  This ensures that I work at my best through each workout session and program, as well as allowing Dave to know when changes need to be made to fit my body’s strengths and weaknesses.  For example, my upper body was much weaker than my lower body so Dave had to constantly adjust my workouts to allow me to work the major muscle groups without stress on my arms and shoulders from holding onto heavy weights.  The same adjustment was made when I needed to develop stability in my shoulders to avoid injury and incorporating stretching routines into my workouts to maximize my ability on certain movements.

Dave shares his knowledge of the physiology of the exercises I am doing which helps me to make the connections not just visually from observing demonstrations, but also in my head and then in the muscles I need to engage to maximize the exercises using correct form.  This information allows me to pick up new movements quickly and effectively, often to my surprise!  He knows how I learn and tailors the coaching accordingly.

Dave motivates me to succeed during every single session and I look forward to my workouts even when I don’t feel in top form.  Dave’s encouragement and belief in me has kept me on track and he has helped me to make the necessary changes in my life to lose about 30 lbs thus far.  What’s more, training with Dave is always fun, always hard work and always leaves me looking forward to the next session no matter how tired I am.
~ Morag Bamforth

I have been training with Dave Coffin since June of this year (six months). I started training to prepare myself for a four month ski trip that I plan to take this winter. My decision to go the Personal Trainer route was the best decision that I could have made. I have always worked to stay in shape, but I had never worked with a personal trainer before. Dave had me adjust my eating habits to improve my nutrition, increase my energy level, and increase the fat burning ability of my body.  In addition, the workouts have been well planned and designed to increase my all-around fitness, strength, power and flexibility.

Dave has designed my workouts to focus on areas that he knows are important for skiing (just not the après-ski cocktails and hot tub part), to give me the strength and stamina to perform at the highest level possible. The workouts are always challenging and demanding, without asking more than I am capable of. There is no question in my mind that without Dave’s help and prodding, I never would have achieved so much in six months, or maintained the self discipline to work as hard as Dave has had me work. I feel that I have done as much as possible in six months and I am now ready for my trip.

Having stayed with the program for six months, I can see and feel the difference. I have managed to lose a few pounds and I can feel the improved muscle tone all over my body. I wish that I could add that I have gotten better and younger looking, and that I had re-grown more hair, but I am too modest to say something like that. I’ll just let others say that about me!
~ Paul Maloney

When I began working with Dave, I had minimal experience lifting weights or doing any type of conditioning at all.  Knowing that I wanted to gain weight and increase my strength and muscle mass for an upcoming lacrosse season, Dave assessed my goals, strengths and weaknesses, and created a comprehensive program specifically suited to meet those goals.  In 6 months of working with Dave, I have gained 10lbs.  Also, when I began training with Dave a set of 3 pull ups was a challenge.  I can now complete 12 pull ups with relative ease.  More than this though, I can clearly see and feel the difference each weekend in my lacrosse games.
~ Walker Harris

To Whom It May Concern:

I have been a competitive TaeKwonDo athlete since I was 7 years old. Two years ago I injured my knee, which mentally and physically affected my performance in competitions. One of my coaches, Michael Tang, 2006 Heavy Weight National Champion, referred me to John and Rebecca at Excel Sport and Fitness. Last March I began my training with John.

I’m writing this letter to vocalize my appreciation for John. I have realized that you don’t find many people who truly care about your well-being, but John is an exception. He’s devotion and passion for health and fitness is energizing. His actions exceed the general construct of a trainer.

On my first visit to Excel John evaluated me, told me exactly what my weaknesses were, and he was exactly right. He impressed me that first day and explained why I had developed unevenly in regards to my particular sport. He impressed me with his wealth of knowledge and understanding of the body.

After only a few months working with John, I saw my body changing. For the first time since me knee injury I felt good again. I felt strong and healthy. John not only guided me through physical exercise he also spent time developing a nutrition plan for me. It wasn’t one of those impossible diets, but a reasonable and fulfilling approach to eating. As I continued to gain muscle, my body was loosing fat. I had a new sense of confidence that I had never had before.

My TaeKwonDo training benefited from the transformations John made. I was faster, stronger and more agile. Overall I was in better condition than I have ever been in. Recently I had knee surgery; however I still train with John. We are currently preparing for my TaeKwonDo competition season this spring; working to regain the muscle in my injured leg.

Overall, John sets the bar high for trainers everywhere. His dedication, generosity, knowledge, compassion, and pure passion for training is notable. I am very thankful John came into my life. I appreciate all of the extra time and guidance he has given me.
~ Sincerely,
Amy Maillet

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