Summer fit

Jeremy Daum, a 36-year-old personal trainer and pretty much all-around fitness guru, realized years back he was a physically dominant leader and wanted to apply that gift to others.

His motto -- and business name -- Forever Fit is what he preaches.

“I love working, pushing people and knowing when they can do it on their own,” he says. “You can see it on their faces when they obtain results. It’s not always about losing weight. I try not to even say the word ‘diet’; it’s not about that, it’s about health.”

So we sat (or rather did a couple squats) with Daum recently to find out just how we can work-it out just in time to get--and keep--that bod ready for the summer season.

How do you go about teaching people?
I start with a kinetic chain analysis to see the weak areas, looking at their walk and core strength, then a body fat reading. From there, I can say how I can help.

What’s the best and easiest way to stay fit?
Try to find something you like that’s a cardio activity. It makes it much more easier and you won’t feel like it’s work. Don’t depend on a friend, but if there’s one around, use them in exercising. Make exercising a lifestyle; if you want to be O.C.D. about anything, why not make it exercise. Also, train in a comfortable atmosphere, warm-up, stretch and stretch after your workout, too.

What if you don’t exactly like working out?
Think about how you want to be around for your children and your grandchildren and other things that will motivate you. If you like watching sports, then think about playing those sports.

What’s your favorite piece of equipment?
The functional trainer. You can do about 50 different exercises on it.                                              

How do you get creative with your exercising?
Circuit training, the talk test to see if they can during a workout, the heart rate test, garage sprints and the full body total blast workout. Chair squats are the best form of squats because you can make them harder or easier. Also, small dumbbells for functional movements. You can do a bunch of exercises with a chair, dumbbells and a mat.

So what’s some good summer body tips anyways?
To get beach bod ready, find cardio activities and change your eating habits to stay aware because sometimes 70% is eating and 30% is exercise, but they always go hand in hand.

What’s on the menu for food then?
First, don’t wait two or three hours in the morning to eat. Eat within an hour of waking up. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, like fiberous, all-natural carbs, such as wheat bread and all bran cereal. Also, watch your portions and use measuring cups. Low fat milk, almond milk and mixing a lot with water lightens things up.

Smaller meals throughout the day are best so your body doesn’t go into starvation mode. So do breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch, an early evening snack and dinner. A big battle people face is eating.              

What’s the difference between a healthy and maybe a not-so-healthy person?
An un-healthy person is more mad, has more of an attitude and is not as patient. They don’t operate as well, which effects work and causes sickness because the lack of circulation to and from the heart. A healthy person is more vibrant and people can sense it. Energy is something you feel; it’s magnetic and people want to be around that.

And with all this nice weather, but possibly not so much time on our hands to stay in shape, what are some good suggestions?
Find something to do at home or find a gym close to home so it’s not an inconvenience. No matter what, something is better than nothing. Even being out in the sun increases you mood level to make it a great healthy day. Walk your dog, walk with a friend; anything that helps to motivate. Surround yourself with the kinds of people you want to be.

Forever Fit Trainer, Jeremy Daum, 215 E. Main Street, Northville, 48167, www.foreverfittrainer.com, 248-747-3037.