Testimonials

After 10 years of chasing calories with cardio and yoga, Charles helped me find the missing puzzle piece. Learning to properly lift weights along with finding my metabolic rate has taken my training to the next level. I now spend less time working out and have the tools to maintain or increase my fitness level whenever I desire. I am confident that Charles has educated me on how to maintain my progress until my August wedding and for the rest of my life!

-Cheryl Revell – Portland, OR

My trainer saved my life.  Good lead in, right?  Here’s why…

Last year I realized something important and scary; I was getting fat.  My regularly stocky and somewhat muscled frame was going away, replaced by doughy cushion-ness.  That was not OK, but I had little to no desire to spend my precious non-work hrs at the gym.  So, for the first time in my life, I began talking to personal trainers.  I interviewed numerous trainers, and got sick and tired of the same answers, repeated over and over…  ”I’ll have you balance on a ball while juggling a small cat, it will really work your pecs.”  I don’t have a degree in exercise science, but it was easy to tell most people were just as clueless as me.

Then I spoke with Charles Bean.  Over the phone, he demonstrated a very high level of knowledge and competence, much more so than the other 8 trainers I spoke with.  I told him about my challenges and goals, and he suggested some immediate fixes that were not only exciting, but passed all medical muster from my doctors and the Oracle Wikipedia.  I mentioned that I’d like to get to the point where I’m physically prepared for anything, secretly thinking that I’d like to be strong and agile enough to fend off any potential ninja attacks.  It’s almost like he knew what I was thinking, as he said “so, if a saber tooth tiger suddenly attacks, you want to be able to jump over tall fences and get to safety without a problem?”  I was sold.

He took a very holistic approach to my health, focusing first on food intake, then my core, and then reawakening my strength and agility.  Charles focused on what I was and what I wasn’t effective at doing.  He found that I hated keeping track of my diet, so he pushed me to focus more on my core.  If I ran into challenges, he’d talk them out with me and help me to work through them.  My consultations and sessions with him were always adapted to what best fit my needs and helped me achieve the results I needed.  And one of the main things he pushed me to do was work on my core.

4-Core is what he called it, because it involved 4 exercises that I did daily.  He even told me that if I did my core regularly, I’d be pretty much invulnerable to little things like falling down the stairs.  This was more important than I had really thought, as after working with Charles for a little over a month I was struck by a car.  While walking back from a fantastic session, a car ran a red light and hit me.  I went through the windshield, was thrown 15+ feet, and spun through the air like a drunken Superman.  I should have been dead.  I should have been crippled.  But instead, nothing was broken, and nothing was paralyzed.  I’ve still got plenty of injuries, but I’m expected to fully recover.  So, just to recap, after doing the core workout, I was struck by a speeding car and after smashing the windshield and being tossed throw the air…I was able to limp away.  The doctors said I was one of the luckiest people they had ever met.  I fully attribute it to Charles’ bodywork with me.

He’s not your average trainer.  He won’t have you do some asinine exercise that involves the same little motion over and over, but instead focuses on working the full body.  He had me doing dead lifts, bench presses, tire rolls, and tons more.   I’ve never been bored by one of his workouts, and he’s always been able to explain the body mechanics behind everything he’s asked me to do.

If you’re thinking about trying to get in shape, lose weight, or just become more able to do the things you want to do; call Charles.

-Ian McHarg – Portland, OR

For the last six months I have been training with Charles Bean and he has given me a new life, an awareness of my body I never knew existed.  Before I met Charles I was living a very destructive lifestyle.  I was drinking, smoking and obese.  Then I decided to sign up for a Sprint Triathlon and knew I needed help.  He guided me through a nutrition regime.  He introduced me to a combination of strength training and cardio workouts, which slowly increased over time to help me attain my goals.  To have the ability to fire certain muscle groups on command is amazing.  He is a miracle worker and helped me realize you don’t need to put an age limit on your dreams.  I am much more self-confident and relish being strong and fit.  He has taught me to believe in myself.  For that alone I will be eternally grateful.  You can do a lot worse than having Charles as your trainer, but you can do no better.   Of this, I have no doubt.

-Michelle D. van Hees – Portland, OR October 2008

Training with Charles has given me back physical abilities that I thought were gone for good.  In 2003 I was in a head-on collision resulting in injuries that greatly limited what I could do in my construction business.

The doctors recommended a rotator cuff surgery, knee surgery, and multiple cortisone injections.  Instead I opted to work with Charles to see what we could do.  In less than 6 months I have regained most of my function that I had lost.  I can now see that I have the potential of being in much better condition at the age of 48 than I had ever thought possible—and that’s with no surgeries.

-Randy Cranston – Hillsboro, OR

I didn’t intend to work out with a trainer, but when I went with my husband to meet with Charles I was very impressed with his knowledge and the value he placed on good form.  It occurred to me that he might be able to help me with some of my health and fitness concerns.

I have been training with Charles for 8 months now and am extremely pleased with the results.  I have been living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for over 24 years.  Most of those 24 years have been spent on the sidelines in spite of a lot of determination.  I had tried things that would work for awhile, but then I would hit a wall and there would be another relapse.  I attribute my improvement to his knowledge of proper form and his optimistic and encouraging approach to training.

In the past I could not have exerted myself to the level that I do now without paying a serious price for it—often lasting months at a time, and sometimes even a visit to the ER.  Now I lift weights three days a week, and do pretty intense intervals three days a week—and feel great!  Charles really knows what he’s doing!

-Corrina Cranston – Hillsoboro, OR

Charles Bean was instrumental in taking me to the ultimate fitness level while I was on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser: Special Edition – Engaged Couples”. Charles was responsible for training me for the four months prior to the finale. He took in to account my goals, as well as working with what Bob Harper had planned for me while I was training at home in Portland. Charles took me from 240 pounds and 21% body fat down to 177 pounds, and 3 % body fat! Charles is a very focused and goal oriented trainer, and he took the time to concentrate on my needs. Charles is a LEAN MUSCLE MAKING MACHINE!!!

-Edwin Chapman – Portland, OR – NBC’s “The Biggest Loser: Special Edition – Engaged Couples”

While I was trained by Melissa Rasmussen while training for the finale of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser: Special Edition – Engaged Couples”, I also became very close to Charles Bean while he was training my (then) fiance (now husband), Edwin Chapman. I felt very nurtured, and inspired by Charles during, and after our time on the show. I saw Charles take Edwin to another level, and in turn, Charles helped to take me there as well. Charles is an amazing, inspiring, and very patient trainer. Charles will get you to your goal, and he will be your friend along the way!

-Rasha Spindel-Chapman- Portland, Oregon NBC’s “The Biggest Loser: Special Edition – Engaged Couples”

I have been training with Charles for the last two and a half years. He has been a fundamental part of helping me to, not only learn how to eat right and develop a fitness plan that works for me, but he has also aided in my motivation. He is professional and personable. I have seen results with Charles that I have not seen when I have attempted to reduce my body fat on my own. You will learn how to not only obtain the results you want, but also how to maintain them long term. I would recommend Charles to anyone. You will love it!

-Jeana Hooker – Portland, OR