Grand Rapids Personal Trainer

INTRODUCING: BELTLINE CONSTRUCTION

October 2011 – Grand Rapids Personal Trainer “Mighty” Joe was invited by Media Production students at Calvin College to host a fitness-themed program for their class project.  The students’ original concept was that of a series of ‘modular’ mini-workouts – not all that different from the (popular informercial product) P90X approach – which viewers could follow along with in their homes, dorm rooms or anywhere else they might have access to a little bit of space and some basic equipment.

The challenge with such ‘random’ workouts is that the results an individual might experience could only be equally random at best.  Besides, there’s already enough (read: TOO many) infomercial-quality workouts/DVDs/classes available.  Another “workout show” would only add to the confusion.

Long story short, Joe agreed to help the students with their assignment, but only if the show would be allowed to convey the necessary principles (ex: specificity, progression, etc) that would give viewers the ability to recognize and understand the kinds of exercises & training plans that would be most appropriate for them without the need to pay a trainer hundreds/thousands of dollars to follow them around a gym counting to 10.

Think of BELTLINE CONSTRUCTION as your own personal fitness coach educating, informing, demonstrating and providing resources to help each viewer achieve their own idea of what ‘fitness’ should be.

On this page, you’ll find links to each episode followed by any additional information, links, resources that we may not have had time to cover in depth during the actual program.

To give students real-world experience in producing a “live” TV show, these episodes are shot live, in-studio without editing or any of the “luxuries” one might have when creating a pre-recorded program.  Each episode’s content is rough-drafted in advance – and while a teleprompter is available if I felt the need for one, my own preference is to present this material organically and unscripted.  We’ll shoot the same episode straight-thru twice and the better of the two will be the one to “go live.”

Be sure to check back often, as we’ll be shooting two programs – approximately 10 minutes each – per week (Monday and Friday) for a total of 17(ish) episodes – the number of students in the class; this way each one has an opportunity to gain experience doing all the different tasks that make such a production come to life – over the next couple of months.

SIDE NOTE: Grand Rapidians will no doubt be familiar with the double-meaning of BELTLINE CONSTRUCTION, but for the benefit of out-of-towners, Calvin College is located on a stretch of road known as the East Beltline – a road which seems to always be under construction.

Finally, if you have any specific questions you’d like to see addressed, just send me a message via the REPLY form at the bottom of this page and I’ll do my best to incorporate it into the program. Random comments, critiques and even insults are always welcomed, too!

Feel free to share with your friends, family, co-workers and fellow students. Enjoy.

-Mighty Joe-