150-Pound Weight Loss Paves the Way for Fitness Trainer's Success
When people encounter Adam Tracey on the job, there doesn't seem to be anything particularly unusual about him.
In fact, at a supremely fit 190 pounds, Tracey looks like he's responded to a call from Central Casting. It makes perfect sense that he is a personal trainer at Five Seasons Family Sports Club in Northbrook.
But club members, at first, are privy only to the "after" version of someone who struggled with obesity most of his life. Five years ago, at the age of 26, Tracey's weight had soared to nearly 340 pounds on his 5-foot-11 frame.
Fittingly, that "before" image-a photograph from Tracey's younger, much heavier period-plays a critical role in the orientation that Tracey offers new clients at Five Seasons.
"The first thing I do is show them my picture from that time in my life," Tracey said. "I want them to know, no matter where they're at with their health and fitness, that I 'get it.' But just like me, if they would only get started on the path toward better fitness, they can achieve any goal they want."
He credits his own personal trainer, Marla Past, with playing a crucial role in his own transformation.
Tracey's parents, concerned about their son's health and acting on a rave recommendation from a family friend, had urged him to see Past. As a child, she was obese and had eating disorders, a struggle that she has turned into a strength in helping clients. Past described Tracey as being depressed and having a spirit of "pretty much giving up" when she met him.
"I made him a promise that if he listened to what I said, and did everything I told him to do, then he would see the changes in his body and life that he wanted," recalled Past. "Adam was phenomenal…he was devoted, and he just got his wings and flew."
Of that initial consultation, Tracey said, "She was very knowledgeable and right away I felt it would be different. I went home that day and emptied my apartment of all the junk food. The first thing we did was eliminate the word 'diet' from my life and put in 'lifestyle.' She really changed my life."
Overweight by 20 or 30 pounds throughout his childhood growing up about 20 minutes north of New York City, Tracey's weight ballooned after he graduated from college. He went through a variety of fad diets, but inevitably would put on even more weight after an initial, short-lived drop.
"It really got away from me in college and especially afterwards," he recalled. "My favorite thing to do was order Chinese food. Although it's relatively inexpensive, I would still manage to spend $40 on an order."
Of the approximately 150 pounds that Tracey shed, almost all of it came within a year. In addition to training five days a week, including twice weekly under Past's guidance, he credits his success in losing so much so quickly to no relapses or "cheat" days.
"Until then," he said, "my whole life was one big 'cheat.' When it came to eating, I did whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted."
Next, Tracey, who had received a degree in Corporate Communications from SUNY-Buffalo and was working in sports marketing sales, desired a career change.
"As I was losing all this weight, people would ask me what I was doing," he said. "After a while, I realized, "Wow, I could really help people.'"
Tracey gained his certification three years ago and developed a strong, loyal following in New York and New Jersey. After moving from the Big Apple to Northbrook in February, he joined the staff at Five Seasons.
Through speaking with Tracey's girlfriend a year ago, Five Seasons Fitness Director Peter Rallo had learned of Tracey's remarkable story. When Tracey moved to the area, he met with Rallo, who found him to be "the perfect fit" as a new trainer at the club.
"Adam's credibility is so high because he has walked the walk, and can relate so much to the people he's training," Rallo added. "He's a great addition."
Now, Tracey is in the process of developing a roster of clients from the Northbrook area, drawn not only by his personal journey but his knowledge and ability to provide creative approaches to fitness regimens.
"My bread-and-butter is definitely helping people who are trying to lose weight," said Tracey, "but I have learned that no matter what your goals are, the same principles apply."
Five Seasons Family Sports Club is the premier year-round high-energy, high-touch sports club focused on family leisure and entertainment, improving sports performance and maintaining overall health.
The club is at 1300 Techny Road and online at http://fiveseasonssportsclub.com/northbrook. Phone: 847-897-5030. Facebook: www.facebook.com/FiveSeasonsNorthbrook. Twitter: www.twitter.com/FiveSeasonsNB.