Testimonials...

   It has been almost 20 years that John Boos and his staff of highly trained professionals have been helping clients reach their ultimate fitness goals. Each of their individual ambitions requires unique training and special attention. Over time, fitness equipment and technique have changed but client’s success stories have certainly not.

   St. John’s University Division 1 men’s soccer player, Matthew Groenwald, started seeing John in 2003 after enduring three surgeries and various forms of unsuccessful rehabilitation for a sport’s hernia injury he suffered on the field.
“I was very nervous I would never play soccer again if I didn’t do something soon,” talks Groenwald.

   Boos understood that rehabilitating Groenwald’s injury could not be the only solution in his healing process. So together, they focused on strengthening all of the forward’s muscles. Groenwald, who plans to attend medical school after graduation, has looked to Boos’ knowledge in the field as an inspiration.

   “The human body can accomplish amazing things if trained right, and John has the key to these successes,” tells the athlete. “I know in my heart that anyone who seeks his advice and is extremely serious about following his instructions will succeed and reach their goals.”

   Groenwald is healthy again and playing at the top of his game as one of the college soccer league’s premier players.

   Boos trains many top athletes, such as Babylon New York’s very own, Chris Wingert, a pivotal member of the U-23 National Team that recently competed for a spot in Athens and 2003 recipient of the most notable college soccer award in the country, the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Award. He now plays major league ball for the Columbus Crew.

   The staff at Strength and Fitness see athletes but also cancer survivors, diabetics and those rehabilitating from surgeries. They are doctors, adolescents, mothers and grandpas ranging in age from 15 to 80 years old.

   Several years ago, Kovalsky, 63, discovered she had very low bone density results that placed her in the osteoporosis range. Doctors wanted to give her hormone replacement pills, but she did not feel comfortable with that and asked if she could try exercise, specifically weight training, as an alternative.

   “I had never worked out before and knew that if I was going to lift weights, I would have to do it the right way, or I could hurt myself,” tells Kovalsky.

    Kovalsky has been working with Boos and his staff twice a week for several years now. She has become stronger and is happier. It took some time, but Kovalsky’s bone density has returned to its normal range, and she has since agreed to try medicine in an effort to get her numbers up even higher.

    Boos explains, “Resistance training exercises combined with proper nutrition can be extremely beneficial in combating the effects of osteoporosis.”
Weight training can combat many other health problems as well. Reduced blood pressure, body fat and relief of back and arthritic pain can all be achieved by proper strength training.

    “I’m working full time and lifting weights gives me a lot of energy and improves other things as I’m getting older, such as balance,” tells Kovalsky.
Weight training is not strictly limited to fixing health problems but also plays a role in preventing them.
   Jennifer Calvano and Susan Varriale of Seaford, NY, are best friends and recent college graduates who started working out at Strength & Fitness about 6 months ago. They are young, healthy girls who both face the reality of a history of cancer in their families. Weight training cannot erase the dangers of cancer but the girls know that getting into Boos’ basement three times a week is certainly a way to lessen them.

    “I believe we should be able to fix ourselves,” Kovalsky explains. “I think it’s within our power to take control of our lives and do things that help us to be better.”
Read on for additional success stories.

Name: Al Oerter

Hometown: Ft. Meyers, FL

Birthdate: Sept. 19, 1936

Bio: Four-Time Olympic Gold Medalist

Al Oerter is a four time Olympic Gold Medalist in the discus (1956, 60, 64, 68). Al worked with John at John's training center during his master competitive years achieving numerous championships.

It is my pleasure to recommend John Boos for his talents, energy, insight and knowledge regarding strength and conditioning programs for both the advanced participant as well as the novice.

John's range of talents involve both a working and academic understanding of personal evaluation, program design, implementation of proven and innovative methods, plus necessary re-evaluation.

I have known John for over thirty-five years and I credit him with no small part of what I have been able to achieve on a world and Olympic basis. John is a natural motivator and is continually attempting to improve on accepted conditioning and strength regimens. It is this working insight that allows both the athlete and those interested in general conditioning to benefit from his programs.”

For more information on Al and his interests, please see www.aloerter.com

Hometown: Babylon, New York

Birthdate: June 16, 1982

Bio: Currently playing professional soccer in MLS with Real Salt Lake.

Received the M.A.C Hermann Trophy award for his outstanding
collegiate career at St. John’s University, where he was named BIG East Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-America.

Competed in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament as a member of
the U-23 National Team.

Chris: “John Boos has been an incredible influence in my life and has an incredible mind in the areas of strength, fitness and nutrition.

I started working with him in high school, and he has done a great job helping me to stay fit and keep my body healthy, which is very important for an athlete.

At first, I was weightlifting at Strength & Fitness and mainly focusing on strength and speed. But I’m not around as much and can’t work with him on that level anymore, so I now see him mainly for massage therapy, which I think is huge. It really helps me if I have any problems or injuries with my muscles.”

“John has been a major part of Chris’ development since he first went to him as a freshman in high school. John was instrumental in making Chris into a stronger and more flexible athlete, as well as teaching Chris how to take care of his body to prevent nagging injuries that would slow his development. John also gave Chris an in depth and sophisticated understanding of the importance of proper nutrition. Without John Boos, it is hard to believe Chris would have been as successful as he has been at this point in his soccer career.”

-Noreen Wingert

Name: Matthew Groenwald

Hometown: Mount Prospect, Illinois

Birthdate: April 30, 1983

Bio: Presently a starter for the St. John’s University men’s soccer team
that has been ranked in the top-ten nationally since he began there as a freshmen in fall of 2001.

Has competed for the Chicago Magic Soccer Club, the Region II
Olympic Development Team and Adidas’ Elite Soccer Program.

Diagnosis: Began to feel pain in his upper groin and lower abdomen midway
through freshmen year causing him to red-shirt the 2002 season.
Diagnosed with a severe case of Sport’s Hernia, he underwent
three significant surgeries and various forms of unsuccessful rehabilitation.

Matt: “I was very nervous I would never play soccer again if I didn’t do something soon, so I started training with John two days a week. Results were instant. My body fat decreased. I was gaining lean muscle mass, and I was becoming faster.

John always gives me so much confidence when I am mentally down or worried. He motivates me to improve every session but knows to back off when my adductors and lower abdomen are under stress. He allows my body time to recover and show improvement.

I wouldn’t be on the field right now exploding past people if not for the staff at Strength & Fitness and for John’s extreme knowledge of the human body and how athlete’s bodies work. I can’t say enough about the wealth of knowledge that John Boos has to offer his clients.”

Current: Selected to the CollegeSoccerNews.com and SoccerAmerica.com National Team of the Week, 2003 season.

Named to the M.A.C Hermann Trophy Watch List as one of only 15 outstanding collegiate players to enter the 2004 college season.

Earned first-team All-Big East Honors, 2003-2004 season.

Bio: Personal Trainer

Birthdate: April 20th, 1957

Diagnosis: Shelley had severe bulging disks in her back. She tried chiropractic work,
electric stimulation, physical therapy and bed rest, but nothing worked.

Shelley: “He helped me with my core strength. I always thought I had strong legs,
because I’m a racquetball player, but it wasn’t until I started working with
John that I realized how weak they were.

Strengthening all of my muscles led to overall improvement throughout my entire body. In about a month’s time, he made me feel so much better.

Every step of the way, John always taught me why. No one ever taught me why I was doing what I was doing to fix myself.”

Current: Shelley’s back pain has dramatically decreased. She is currently playing in a Men’s B+ Racquetball League and feeling great.

Name: Amanda Peguillan

Hometown: Commack, New York

Age: 18

Bio: Played Varsity Girls Lacrosse at St. Anthony’s High School, Huntington, New York. 2008 Awards: Defender of the Year, Academic All-American and All-League. 2009 Awards: MVP of Spring Sports in St. Anthony’s High School, team MVP, All-Long Island for Newsday, Catholic High School Player of the Year and All-League.

In the time I have been training with Shelley at John Boos Strength Fitness, I have seen a huge difference in my performance on the lacrosse field. I have become much stronger, and, therefore, much quicker, whether it be running down the field in transition or playing solid defense. I have gained the speed and a high level of confidence necessary to accomplish my goals.

I absolutely love the staff, as I am always encouraged and motivated to work hard. I arrive at my workouts pumped to work hard, and I leave feeling relaxed, successful, and great! John and Shelley have definitely made a difference in helping me achieve a higher level of play.

I am currently training at John Boos Strength Fitness during the summer in preparation for D-1 Lacrosse at Siena College, New York, where I will be attending in the fall of 2009 as a pre-med major.

Name: Steve Bartolomeo

High School: St. Anthony’s High School

Bio: Dear Mr. Boos:

Over the past two years, you have completely changed my eating and exercise habits, increased my performance on the football field, and boosted my confidence in life. I came to you as a sophomore in high school wanting to start on the offensive line for St. Anthony’s High School. Not only did we accomplish that goal, but we also changed the way my body looked, from fat to lean muscle. On the football field, you prepared me for a grueling season, one that was long and tedious. But because of the way we trained in your gym, using unique machines that nobody else has, I avoided injury due to the fact that my joints and muscles were so strong. Working out in a non-gym atmosphere was a new experience that I liked a lot. We took small steps towards accomplishing a big goal, and I want to personally thank you for that. As I move on to play football next year at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, I will use the proper weight-lifting forms that you taught me.

Thanks you again, Mr. Boos. I sincerely do not know what direction my football career might have taken had I not called upon you during my sophomore year.

Truly yours,

Steve “Bart” Bartolomeo

Name: Mariel Stepniewski

High School: Wantagh High School '07

Bio: Varsity Volleyball- Middle Hitter, All-County, All-Conference, named to Newsday's "All Long Island" Team

Varsity Lacrosse- Attack Player, Played for Long Island Yellow Jackets from '01-'06, All-County, All-Conference, Recruited to play at Fairfield University (Division 1)

Training with John Boos has helped maximize my performance in both Volleyball and Lacrosse. I first came to John after suffering several ankle injuries that were constantly reoccuring. He helped properly rehabilitate my ankle while strengthening the surrounding muscles of my ankle and since then I have not had another injury. I continued to train with John and my strength has increased significantly to five me the ability to compete at a varsity level while being a step ahead of my competition. My leg workouts have given me an incredible speed and quickness. The velocity of my shots on goal and my hits on the court were noticably harder and I had great confidence, flexibility and endurance. Training with John has taught me how to properly work out in the gym and has also given me insight on unique techniques to train the muscle. John's knowledge of the human body is truely amazing. I look forward to every successful session with him.