May 16, 2017

Meet Maxine Chaikouang of Fitmax Personal Training

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maxine Chaikouang.

Maxine, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started working at the front desk of Fitness Formula Club- Union Station. I was going to school at UIC studying Kinesiology at the time, so the personal training manager at the time approached me and asked me if I wanted to be a trainer. I immediately accepted the new position as it was definitely the next stepping stone of many on my path to where I am today. I know have my undergraduate as well as master’s degree in kinesiology. I have been personal training for almost 10 years now. Currently, I am an independent personal trainer where I rent out space at HiFi personal fitness (a personal training only gym, no general memberships) additionally I also service clients out of their homes if they have a home gym. Another aspect of my health and fitness services that I am looking to expand in is clinical massage therapy. I am currently enrolled at the SOMA institute which is a clinical massage therapy school.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. There have been a few bumps in transitioning. From when I started at FFC as my first gym, I went onwards to David Barton Gym for 10 months. It was a struggle to build a client base. While at David Barton Gym, I realized that I really just wanted to venture out on my own and start my own business so that is where I happened upon HiFi fitness. A trainer there actually befriended me and introduced me to HiFi fitness. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Even though I may have started independently with 1 or 2 clients, throughout the year I really hustled and introduced myself to as many people as possible and reaching out to friends/family for referrals. Now today, I have been training most of my clients for years. So I am pretty comfortable.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Fitmax Personal Training – what should we know?
I am a personal trainer that provides the general population with an individually customized exercise regimen. Most of my clients work in an office and have high stress positions where our training sessions are a way for them to decompress, de stress, burn some calories, and eventually feel physically and mentally improved by the time they leave. I have also helped clients lose weight or tone up for weddings. As a company, I am most proud that I am an independent and strong woman who can command the respect of not just my female clients, but male clients as well. What sets me apart from others is that my clients become my close friends and family. It is inevitable when I see them more frequently than I do my parents and for so many years of me being their trainer. Also, because each client has a customized routine that I track and manage, many see positive results and successfully reach their goals.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
The trainer who initiated me into HiFi fitness should get a commendation, he wasn’t pushy or trying to manipulate me into joining the HiFi family. He simply broadened my perspective and gave me reassurance and courage to become an independent personal trainer/business owner. Also, since becoming a part of HiFi fitness, the owners Gregg and Drew Shipp have supported me and helped my business grow over the years. They would do the same for anyone else. My boyfriend is my number 1 cheerleader, supporter, and partner. Whenever I doubt myself, or whenever I accomplish something he has always been there for me. But lastly, all of my clients deserve credit. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have a business to begin with! Many of them have watched me grow over the years. When I started training, I was 19 years old. My longest standing client as known me since then, and knows more about my life than my parents.

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