For Jess Maney, a focus on fitness provided the perfect outlet for his determination and drive to be the best. Today, he’s translated those traits into a successful career as a personal trainer, while still finding the time to compete as a natural bodybuilder, to serve in the U.S. National Guard, and to be a devoted husband and father.
Jess Maney’s fitness journey began with a dream of playing football, but as the small, skinny kid in school he seldom made the team. Not one to give up easily, Jess started working out in junior high; lifting weights in his basement with nothing more than a cement-filled plastic weight set and a rolled up mattress he used as a punching bag. His hard work paid off, and he not only increased in size and strength, but also in speed and endurance.
To satisfy his desire for competition, Jess began boxing in Golden Glove fights while still in junior high, but his sights were still set on playing football. By high school, he had put on enough size to make the team, and by his sophomore year he was one of a few underclassmen to play varsity. Jess’ determination eventually gave him the chance to play football at the college level. Here, he realized the importance of fitness relating to rehabilitation, when, after a so-called “career ending” knee injury he came back to have a record breaking year. In struggling to find answers to his own rehabilitation questions, Jess realized there were many theories in direct conflict, which prompted him to pursue a degree in exercise science. Through his coursework and practical experience, Jess began to realize there was no limit to where a career in the fitness industry could take him.
Jess first began working as a personal trainer in 2001 and in 2003 was promoted to general manager of the club where he worked. Although he welcomed the opportunities that came with the new role, Jess eventually realized that his true passion was in personal training. “I was ready for a new challenge, and wanted to take my career to the next level,” he says. To achieve this, he opened his own personal training business, Y-Fit Fitness Training in Menomonie, Wisconsin in January of 2008.
At Y-Fit, his philosophy is centered on helping individuals reach their goals. “To get the best results, a person’s nutrition, resistance training and cardiovascular program needs to be built around their needs, not a one size fits all, cookie cutter program,” he says. Jess is inspired by the physical and emotional transformation of his clients, and takes pride in seeing how their fitness level directly affects the confidence and strength they feel on the inside. Knowing he’s played a part in that growth motivates Jess to lead by example and use his passion for fitness as a tool his clients can use to become strong in every aspect of life. “I am just as engaged in their goals as they are, and I am honored to be the person my clients depend on to help them change their lives physically and emotionally,” he says.
Jess values the variety that each day brings. With every client, he sees a chance for a new journey. “I love the relationships between trainer and client, and how that evolves into a team effort striving for a common goal,” he says, adding, “Through the struggles of achieving that goal comes a bond of friendship.”
Over the years, Jess has also served in the U.S. National Guard. In 2003 he was deployed on a 14 month tour in IRAQ, where he helped secure the countryside. While there, he gathered equipment from abandoned bases to build a gym at his own base, which served over 2000 troops. He also worked to develop programs to help soldiers stay fit. These actions allowed Jess to feel closer to home and his civilian life, and have since given him the opportunity to develop countless fitness programs to prepare fellow soldiers for a 12 month deployment in Afghanistan this November.
In his free time, Jess loves to compete as a natural bodybuilder in the North American Natural Bodybuilding Federation. He has participated in competitions across the U.S. and is grateful to be part of a sport that honors the dedication and commitment of natural athletes. He also is happily married with two teenage daughters, and as a family they make fitness a priority. His wife competes in figure competitions, and their family time includes everything from shooting hoops to riding bikes to running charity 5k events. “Our commitment to a healthy lifestyle has had an impact on our girls to believe in the importance of activity and wellness, which promotes a balance between mind, body and spirit,” he says, adding, “We do not just live life, we go out and get it and enjoy every minute.” NUTRITION: “Nutrition is #1 in any program, regardless of the goal. My nutrition regimen demands clean eating 90% of the time, and one cheat day per week if my workouts and nutrition were on target. I eat every 2-3 hours, 6-8 meals per day depending on my competition calendar and the phase of training I am in.”
FITNESS: “My workouts are driven by my current goal. After every competition season, I review my pictures and the judges’ critiques to determine my weak areas, and that becomes my focus for the next training phase. I use a combination of core, functional and free weight training. Having a wide range of techniques helps me focus on my target areas, and I change my program every 6-8 weeks to avoid plateaus. I do cardiovascular training three to five days per week; I like to mix it up to include machines at the gym, outside hill intervals and track conditioning training. Changing the levels of frequency, intensity and volume of workouts will keep your body guessing, which is key to getting the most out of your program.”
MOTIVATION: “My motto: There is no finish line in fitness. It is a lifestyle; it is about being committed to yourself and your goals, no matter what they may be. It is about moderation, overcoming the daily struggles and striving to achieve a balance between a healthy body, mind and spirit.”
PHILOSOPHY: “I live by the DEFINE, LEARN, DO principle: define your dream, learn what you need to do to get there and do whatever it takes to reach your goals.”
HEROES: “My heroes include all the fitness professionals who give back to the industry by sharing their knowledge and expertise. People like Bill Phillips, who has inspired millions of transformations through his Body for Life Challenges, and Fred Rowlett, President of the NANBF (North American Natural Bodybuilding Federation) along with Steve Downs, Chairman of the WNBF (World Natural Bodybuilding Federation) for all they do to promote the sport and athletes of Natural Bodybuilding. And of course, Arnold, because of all that he has done to promote youth fitness programs.”
