FunctionWorks Fitness

About the trainer: Charles is a personable, educated, chill yet effective trainer. He has a Master’s degree and also teaches a Human Anatomy and Physiology class at KCC, so yes he knows his sh*t. I learned about him through a friend who has trained with Charles for over 2 years, who invited me to trial a couple of classes. I enjoyed the group workouts, usually there are about 4 – 5 of us. He also trains high school students and middle school students. For about $ 130/​month I got a personal training plan, and 1+ hours training every Saturday and also sometimes on a random weekday as well. He is flexible with scheduling and can probably fit you in a number of group sessions that he runs during the week.
Effective?: After training with Charles for 2 months, I can now do 2 pullups (couldn’t do 1 before) and shaved my Kokohead climb time from 45 minutes to 26 minutes. i learned how to deadlift with proper form, do a complex, do ladder drills, squat with proper form, headstand. LOTS of metabolic workouts… sometimes this requires heading outside and running around the block. He will push you only to your personal limit. Once something starts to hurt or tighten he will adjust your workout or teach you a stretch to strengthen or stretch the particular muscle.
Location: he is located in the self storage in kapahulu. did i find this weird initially? yes, but there are actually a ton of other business that run inside this self storage unit. who knew?
Recommendation: If you resolve to get fit within a group setting, go see Charles and he’ll make sure you have a fun and educational time working out. Better yet, bring a friend or two and it will be more fun as you can talk openly during the training session as well as support each other.

«Charles Trinh, MS, PES, CSCS, ACSM-​cPT is the founder of FunctionWorks Fitness and is the former State Director for the National Strength and Conditioning Association for Hawaii. He has over 10 years of formal education and practical experience in the health and fitness field. Charles has earned his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science and Sports Medicine and his Masters of Science degree in Exercise Science and Performance Enhancement. Currently Charles is on the Exercise Sport Science Advisory Board for Kapiolani Community College and lectures for the American College of Sports Medicine. He is also certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).»
Here’s my background story: I’m the classic case of the «fat kid». Since as far back as I can remember, I was always the overweight bookworm in the back corner, never interested in sports or any type of physical activity. As most people do, I’d make New Year’s Resolutions, vowing to lose weight, only to fail miserably when lack of willpower met whatever awful crash diet I’d convinced myself to take on. It was an ugly cycle: gain, lose, gain, lose, crash, fail.
When I became a working nurse, I realized that I had to finally take responsibility for my actions, and be a better example for the patients I was taking care of. I changed my eating habits, joined a well-​known gym, and began seeing a personal trainer there. The sessions with this particular trainer helped me to get into a routine, but it was only once a week, and he expected me to go and work out on my own three to four times a week. It was frustrating and tedious, because I always felt out of place and I didn’t know if I was doing the exercises correctly or not. I felt discouraged, and eventually stopped going to the gym, except for the weekly sessions with the trainer. The sessions left me feeling sore and tired, with repetitive exercises that didn’t keep my interest for long. This combined with the ridiculous cost of sessions led to another rut.
I’ve known Charles for years, and knew about his extensive education and training. I knew that he was at the top of his game because of all his background and knowledge. Once we began talking about my goals and my desired results, I felt excited about starting up workouts with him. Previously, I was conservative about my goals. I just wanted to lose a few pounds, but didn’t think I could achieve much more than that. I signed up for a month of sessions with Charles, with two workouts a week. The first session was explosive and so much fun. He kept my attention the whole time, mixed it up with different activities and then brought it all down with stretches at the end. I loved how he was working with three clients during the group session, but took the time to customize the routine for each and every one of us. He also explained the benefits of each exercise, and even described the anatomy of it all. Being a nurse, I enjoyed that aspect very much. Charles really does his homework, and uses his knowledge to plan and execute workouts that are not only effective, but also stimulating. After a month of working with Charles, I was blown away by the results! I’d gained muscle, lost weight, and more importantly, I’d lost fat! I was stronger, trimmer, and my body was morphing! My legs were stronger, my thighs became more muscular and defined, and my arms and back trimmed down. The proportions of my body were changing in incredible ways! My pants fit differently, the baggy backside filled out nicely with a pert bottom that never existed before. The waist was nice and loose with breathing room. Here’s a confession: I actually had an emotional moment when putting on my swimsuit. For the first time in my life, I felt good in my own skin. I was pleased with what I saw in the mirror. And that’s a gift that no money can buy. The best part of it all was that I was enjoying every minute of my workouts! I truly looked forward to each and every session, and couldn’t get enough! And unlike past trainers and weight loss plans, I was able to eat what I wanted without any guilt! And I still got amazing results! This motivated me to want to change my whole lifestyle. My fitness goals became more ambitious, but at the same time, they were achievable and within my grasp. It was mindblowing and so exciting!
I speak from the heart. Charles is a wonderful trainer who has honestly changed my view on fitness, and in turn, has changed my whole LIFE for the better! Motivation and faith are key, and Charles is always full of both! He truly believes in me, and encourages me to push myself to higher levels of performance. I’ve made a commitment to being healthy and fit for the rest of my life, and Charles has been an integral part of that. He always tells me that I’m on my way to being a certified badass, and I believe it!!! FWF FTW!