scorpion fitness

I have been working with John for almost a year and I am really happy with the results. I had a baby in September of last year and gave him the job of helping me lose the remainder of the weight I had gained during pregnancy and getting my body back into «fighting“shape. He has done just that through weekly short, but very intense training sessions and a personalized nutrition plan. I am proud to say I have lost all the weight (plus some) and I am stronger and leaner than I was before.
As a working mom, it is often hard to find the time to dedicate to working out, but John is flexible and patient and he always makes time to accommodate my often unpredictable schedule– which I greatly appreciate. During sessions, he focuses on technique and is there every step of the way to ensure I am doing things safely and properly.
Overall, I am extremely happy with John and Scorpion Fitness and I plan to continue working with him to maintain the active and healthy lifestyle I am now so accustomed to.

At the age on 43, I needed to get fit for health reasons. Working in Finance, I work long hours and decided to get the help of a personal trainer. I found and worked with a trainer for over a year and a half. Although I got the health results that I wanted, I wanted to take my training to the next level to get more body definition. I researched many places in NYC and after meeting with John Shams, owner of Scorpion Fitness, I knew he was the right fit for what I was looking for. With John, I do an intense 40 min/​2x week weight training program which is great for my work schedule. Within the first 2 months, I have gained 10 pounds of muscle and have more strength while still maintaining a lean build. John has given me a nutritional program that is easy to follow. John is always available for any question I may have regarding diet and training. He is very knowledgable regarding proper technique to get the most out of your training. Overall, I am extremely happy that I made the change to John at Scorpion Fitness, and look forward to working with him going forward.

You may think you’ve been working out, but a couple sessions with John Shams, founder of Scorpion Fitness, and you’ll realize you were sadly mistaken.
I met John in September of 2007 when I found him through a Google search after attending a wedding in Spain and realizing once I got there that I didn’t fit into my outfit for the big day. That was the last straw in a series of such frustrating situations when I finally had enough of myself getting larger and larger, so when I returned to the US I contacted my trainer from years ago who had gotten me into great shape. Unfortunately he had moved to L.A., so I searched online for NYC trainers and found John and four others. After consultations with each I started a 3 month package with John, and it changed my life.
In those three months I worked out harder than I think I’ve ever worked out in my life. At first I thought I’d be self-​conscious at the gym (being a bit of a porker at the time), but he makes you feel like you’re the only person there, giving you so much focus and absolutely getting every last effort out of you that you don’t even see all the other people around you. He pushed me to new limits in weight training, which really (for me) sheds the pounds. That in combination with a good diet program and I was able to lose nearly 40 pounds in those first three months and gain solid muscle. Not only did I lose weight and drop a few dress sizes, but my body composition changed and my clothes fit amazingly well. I had some serious tailoring bills, but not complaining! The before-​and-​after shots were something else… I couldn’t believe it was me.
John’s in-​depth knowledge about the musculoskeletal system and what works and doesn’t work was terrific, as was his keen ability to know exactly when you’ve really executed the last rep in the set and couldn’t possibly do another. He’s always learning new techniques and reading up on the latest research to incorporate in his sessions, and shares the information freely. He also changes up the types of workouts, so your body never gets used to one thing and is constantly challenged. The way he pushes you to new limits in the workout goes beyond the training session and into your daily life. You develop a new confidence, not only because your body looks so much better and is so strong, but you’ve achieved such amazing results in one area of your life that you start creating positive results in other aspects of your life.
What I love also is that I can go into the gym after a long day at work having made multiple decisions and then just let him take control of the workout, telling me what to do and just going through the motions of executing the sets. It is so great to not have another decision to make, and just put yourself in someone’s capable hands and come out of the gym de-​stressed and feeling physically tired but mentally rejuvenated.
I’ve continued with John even when not working, as I decided I’d budget to remove other expenses but not this one. He’s worth every penny.
Over the years he’s become a great friend, someone I have shared many laughs with inside and outside the gym. I can’t imagine working out with anyone else ever. I absolutely love New York City but if he ever said he was moving to Asia I’d have to say I’d be packing my bags tomorrow.
I would say try a session with him, but really to do it right give yourself over to John for at least three months 3 times a week. Then trust me, you’ll be on here writing your own rave review.

There are trainers, then there is John Shams at Scorpion Fitness.
Meeting John has to be one of the best things that has happened to me in my quest to become better fit. He is not your typical trainer who got a certificate from some random gym. John knew everything regarding reshaping my body including all the do’s and dont’s.
He is not the type of guy who spends his time talking to you when working out. He focuses you in the workout… And if you are talking too much… He will tell you that you are not being pushed hard enough to get your money’s worth. He does not spend time with you on any exercises that really do not need his help — such as Cardio.
He really tailored all the workouts to meet my individual goals. None of this cookie cutter deal that many trainers implement (and believe me — I had my share). He writes down the plan for you and explains it to you step-​by-​step so that you are excited and part of the process.
One of the great things about John is his knowledge of food and diet. This is probably the most important aspect that complemented my workout. I was able to gain muscle and decrease the fat very fast. His diet got me to lose 12 lbs in one month! That is what I call results and getting my money’s worth.
In a short time, I was able to build my body in ways I had never thought I could do. He is the reason why I get to take my shirt off and be more confident about my body.
On top of being a great and knowledgeable trainer, he is a really nice guy that really cares about getting you to your goals!
So, if you are looking for a trainer, give John a try, you will understand exactly what I am talking about.