What People Say About Us:

Stavros always has your best health interest in mind when he works with you, he is motivating, knowledgeable, and his system works!!  I have tried several diets in the past including Weight Watchers and I feel Stavros's method is nothing short of revolutionary.  It is an ingenious, sensible way to lose weight.
 
-Gina Probert  Danbury, CT

I LOVE working out with Stavros!!! I’ve lost almost 20pounds already working out with Stavros and so far the only thing I’ve had to sacrifice have been the pounds, which I’m glad to get rid of. Stavros’ method is new, unique and really easy to follow. I’ve always been hesitant to diet and monitor what I eat because I can’t follow all the calories, levels of various ingredients and other such things diets require, with Stavros none of this is required, all you have to do is follow his rules and you’re on your way to feeling and looking better. As great as I feel weighing less, I feel even better working out two days a week with Stavros. My mental and emotional health has never felt better, I feel as if I can do anything! and even look forward to working out with Stavros, because every session he makes you want to come back and believe me, you’ll want to. That’s another great thing, Stavros has actually made me want to work out on my own, not because he asks me to but because I WANT TO, which has only helped my results.

      Overall I can’t say enough good things about Stavros and his method. Working with him has made me feel and look great, which is everything you’ll gain if you join his team.

– Yaniv Havusha, Danbury C

Cracking my weight loss code with Stavros, started with my search for a personal trainer, but all of my roads led to a dead end.  These big burly guys wanted to talk to me about, losing weight, by lifting hundreds of pounds, and drinking nasty tasting protein shakes. That is a life that just isn’t for me. I met with Stavros for my free consultation, and scheduled weekly sessions immediately. Working active duty in the United States Marine Corps I needed to lose weight fast; as my career was dependent on it.  I gave Stavros a sixty day time frame to lose twenty pounds.  He met that goal and superseded it by helping me to lose thirty pounds; and decreased my run time, and increased my balance, flexibility overall and my athleticism on the obstacle course. I continue to recommend Stavros to all my friends, and family. 

-David Resto, USMC, Carmel NY

Neil Hutchins has lost 65lbs at Olympus Personal Training.

"What to say about the Stavros Mastrogiannis method except it's simple, fun, and beneficial. I throughly enjoyed working out with his program.  It took very little time to see results, and the schedule was easy to follow.  You visit the gym, two to three times per week, and follow the 8 eating rules.  The best part, is the one on one attention, in private which is one of the big reasons I choose Olympus in the first place; there is no fear of being judged or criticized. Every thing is at your own pace, and they take the time to insure your safety by showing you proper form, and lifting strategy. Because of Stavros, Olympus, and personal ambition I lost 65 lbs. in 8 months.  Thank you!"

-Neil J Hutchins, Carmel New York

“In my 39 years, I had never stuck with any weight loss/exercise program for more than six or seven weeks. Never. It’s a testament to Stavros’s “easy-does-it” approach that I’m still with his program after nearly 10 months. He doesn’t overwhelm you with all-at-once changes to your diet and exercise habits. Instead, he introduces each new habit or exercise one at a time so you never feel demoralized. Stavros’s methodology is never “in your face.” In fact, it’s amazingly simple. It’s the most effective (and only) weight loss program I’ve ever enjoyed…and stuck with! The result? I’ve lost 42 lbs. in 9-1/2 months. I’d recommend him to anyone who’s ever been intimidated by what they think is the Herculean task of weight loss. It turns out, with his help, it’s easier than you ever thought.” 

- Tom Libonate, Danbury, CT

"Deciding to work with Stavros was easy.  As someone who was already reasonably fit and very conscientious of my food and exercise habits, his method and ideologies seemed perfect for me.  Little did I know how much I could truly benefit from his program.  The additional questions Stavros encouraged me to think about really worked.  By making a few simple adjustments, I lost weight I didn’t think I needed to lose and I developed a leaner, stronger physique."

- Kimberly Marcus, Danbury CT

Stavros,

 I've been meaning to drop you a note for sometime but haven't gotten around to it. Your reminder and nice article in today’s paper reminded me to thank you.

Although it's almost a year since I've trained with you I have not stopped.

I have continued to do resistance training at least 3 days a week. And over the course of the summer I traded the treadmill for road running.

 I now look forward to my 3 days a week 3-5 mile runs at lunchtime. I have also run in 3 organized 5K events and have been pleasantly surprised by my results. (Average time of 8:12 per mile).

 So I want you to enjoy your holiday and know that the foundation you gave me last fall in training continues to serve me well. When I started with Olympus I weighed 219 lbs. I now hold steady at 177 lbs and feel better that I have in years.

 Again thanks for the life changing advice and I wish you continued success.

 Take Care.

 -Patrick Sniffin  Danbury, CT

"What impresses me most about Stavros' approach to fitness and weight management is that it has been surprising easy to incorporate into my life.  Like many Americans these days, I lead a hectic life with seemingly little time for exercise and food preparation.  Stavros definitely takes this modern-day American lifestyle into consideration. 

I think his approach can best be summarized as gradual yet consistent.  For people that are not very fit to begin with (like myself), the initial workouts are light, with non-aggressive weight-lifting and aerobic/cardio exercise.  With each workout, the intensity increases in such a way that you do feel a push each time, but not so much so that you don't want to continue.  In fact, you find yourself wanting more.

In terms of the weight and diet management, Stavros has taken a very practical approach by dividing healthy eating habits into individual rules.  You start off working on one rule at a time until you feel you have "mastered" it.  For me, this has made a huge difference in how I eat.  My first rule was "Eat slowly and mindfully."  By eating more slowly and chewing my food until it almost disintegrates in my mouth, I find myself eating much less than before, which has made a huge difference.  Not only am I eating less, but I also feel more satisfied.

I guess the summary is that by following the "baby steps" that Stavros' system dictates, you will gradually get in shape and shed the pounds.  It is gradual - you will not drop 20 lbs in a month like some diet programs claim.  I have found myself losing about 1 lb per week, which is just fine because I know the weight loss is permanent.  What is the point of losing the weight fast, if you are going to gain it all back again? 

I have followed other diet programs including Atkins, Weight-Watchers, and my endocrinologist-prescribed low-calorie diabetic diet.  I have had success with each of these approaches - some more than others - but I have found it hard to stick to each of them because they felt so regimented and felt like they required "work".   With Stavros' system, it just seems easier to make fitness and diet management a natural part of my life."

Julie Filho  Danbury, CT

"The idea of walking into a gym with endless weight machines and treadmills was completely overwhelming. What made Stavros' program appealing was the way in which he simplified things down to 2 elements. A half hour of weight training, a half hour of cardio and you're done. For me, this was so much easier to wrap my brain around. Now after a year of training, I'm down 50 lbs and have made Stavros' program a consistent part of my life."

- Darren Morgenthaler  Brewster, NY

I like the fact that I don't have to spend hours lifting weights every day to get in good shape. I just need two 30-minute sessions each week. The strength training exercise program is tailored for my strengths and weaknesses.

The nutritional program is not one of those hard-to-stick-to "no carb" or "no fat" diets. It's just based on common-sense, practical advice that is easy to follow and remember. And it even allows for occasional "treats" so I don't feel like I'm depriving myself all the time.

I have gone through many years of "crash" diets and weight gains and losses. I think I have finally found a program that I can realistically follow for the rest of my life.

Overall, I lost over 40 pounds in 7 months, reduced my body fat by 17%, and dropped 6 jean sizes. I have maintained my weight goal for 3 months and counting!

Michelle Fusco  Newtown, CT

I first joined Olympus as a client when some of my relatives asked me to join, since they needed a fourth for their group sessions. I thought, “Why not? I’ll try it for a while, and I might have fun!” I have to say that I was never extremely overweight, but in the last 6 years or so, I had gained 20 pounds and was not happy with that. I also felt as if I had very little energy, and all I wanted to do was sit on the couch! So when the opportunity arose, I figured it couldn’t hurt. So, I went. I started out with the group in June 2008. I started to notice small changes, like the fact that I wasn’t so tired all the time, and I also felt motivated to eat healthy and exercise on my own more often. I also stopped eating out so much, which I think had been a huge factor in my weight gain. I now walk twice a week in addition to my strength training twice a week, and sometimes I hike on the weekends. I am also more aware of my eating habits, since Stavros has really helped with nutritional information and advice. Since starting my training, I am now more energetic, my clothes fit better, and I feel better! Did I mention I’ve lost 10 pounds? In this economy, a lot of people ask me if I really should be “indulging in a luxury” like a personal trainer. To them I say, “ I don’t feel like I am wasting my money. I’m getting results.” I really feel strongly that it’s worth it!

 -Annabelle Santos  Danbury, CT

“Although following rules is not on everyone’s list of favorite things, two rules from Stavros’ healthy eating plan have really helped me.  Rule #1: Eat only when hungry.  This may sound easy but if you truly listen to your body, you will discover that your urge to eat is sometimes not hunger.  It may be from thirst, emotional response, or even boredom.  By waiting another 10 minutes, the urge to eat often goes away – especially if you replace it with a glass of water and even a change of scenery!  Rule #2: Eat slowly.  I’ve always been a slow eater – so this one was no problem.  Rule #3: Eat until you are satisfied – then stop.  Basically, about portion-control, this was another eye-opener for me. I found that although I had changed to a very healthy diet, I was often eating too much.  Once I mastered these two important rules, I have continued to lose weight and feel much healthier.”

-Sheri Testa, Danbury, CT

“I love the Stavros Method!  I was a little discouraged in the beginning because I was losing weight very slowly but then something just clicked and now I am down 20 pounds.  The eating rules are easy to follow and you don't have to sacrifice the foods you love.  Stavros always says" this is not a diet" and he is right!  It is so easy that I am able to get my whole family to follow the rules and they look great as well!”

-Dawn A., Ridgefield, CT

December 13^th 2006

Stavros,

I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed working with you as my trainer. Not only are you a trainer, you are a motivator, a mentor and a friend. Before I came to you I was determined to lose the weight and be healthier but I needed that extra push. I will continue to recommend you to anyone who wants to live a healthier lifestyle and lose weight.

Thank you again for all you have done.

Sincerely, 

Beth Mora

 

I have always considered myself a “fit” person - one who exercised and ate healthy.

Being active and eating healthy were always important to me. However, being a working mom of twin girls and maintaining a household for my family, left little time for me to “act” healthy. I found myself constantly tired and run-down; always looking for a quick snack to pick-me up and give me a boost. Well, these little snacks and sporadic exercise added up! Before I knew it, I had put on 10 pounds and my twins were only 6! That's what brought me to Olympus Personal Training and Stavros Mastrogiannis. It was July of 2006 and I was ready to do something for me! Stavros listened carefully to my goals and designed a program that would work for me and keep me motivated. I knew that daily work-outs were, just not in the cards for me, and he readily accepted that.  He made a work-out and nutritional plan that I could ease into; one that became an integral part of my weekly schedule, without completely re-arranging my schedule. By the Time October had rolled around, I had lost 8 pounds and got back on track with healthy eating habits.

Through working with Stavros and reading his book, Cracking The Weight Loss Code, I learned to exercise correctly, disregard unnecessary weight loss beliefs (not eating carbs!) and To prioritize my eating. What I found most helpful was defining my meals and snacks. By understanding the difference between nourishing meals and entertainment meals, I was able To make small changes in my diet that added up To big changes in my body and weight! The new habits that I learned from Stavros, his program and book, are life-long positive habits.
The program & book worked (and continues To work) for me and my new “fit” lifestyle is one that I hope to pass on to my daughters.  

Kristin Geller

Danbury, Connecticut
Age 39