MATT DONNELLY’S

I'm Matt Donnelly, a personal trainer specializing in the ​old tried and true method of barbells and dumbbells.

I have been lifting weights for 40 years and training others for 25. As an

ISSA-Certified Trainer, I can help you set realistic goals to transform your health ​and life for the better.

Make no mistake, Iron Garage is an actual garage that takes a no frills old school ​approach to weight training in a no frills old school environment. All the fancy bells ​and whistles of a sleek new gym cannot replace the time proven effectiveness of ​gaining muscle and strength using free weights and plate loaded machines. ​There's a reason these methods have stood the test of time--they work.

MY STYLE

you will work hard

nothing worth having comes easily

you will be sore after your training

this is a sign of growing strength!

I’ll make you laugh throughout

improving strength should not be drudgery

you will listen to your choice of music

even if I hate it, you have the AUX!

I promise

you’ll feel it after

Look forward

to it before!

but

WHY USE A ​PERSONAL TRAINER?

As you might imagine, I have spent A LOT of ​time in gyms where I have witnessed people ​giving their all to workout routines that ​research has shown are not effective. In ​addition, I see people who might be doing the ​right exercise, but their form at best makes ​the effort ineffective, and at worst, risks ​serious injury. And yet, most gyms offer only ​high-priced trainers on top of gym fees, or ​they offer no guidance at all.

With Matt’s Iron Garage, you get one-on-one ​personalized guidance and consistent ​feedback on your progress. I modify workouts ​with each visit, and even between sets, to help ​you achieve your goals safely and effectively.

WHY STRENGTH ​TRAINING?

Gyms are intimidating. Whether it’s lifting 5lb dumbbells ​next to the gym head grunting like an animal with each ​rep or stepping up to machines that look like they were ​delivered from Torture-Chambers-R-Us, many people ​reach the wrong conclusion that weight training is not ​their thing. Study after study shows that not only is ​weight training everyone’s thing, but that it MUST be ​everyone’s thing, particularly the older we get.

A meta-analysis from Harvard’s School of Public Health, ​found that health benefits are gained with “just 30 to 60 ​minutes a week of strength training.” A professor of ​epidemiology from Harvard noted that muscle- ​strengthening exercises “lead to better physical ​functioning” which ultimately helps to “lower risks of ​cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes...”

TESTIMONIALS

I’ve been lucky enough to train with Matt over the course of twenty five years during three very different stages of my ​life. First, as a young fat twenty-something. Second, as a newly divorced thirty-something taking up running. And now, ​in my mid-forties with chronic pain/fibromyalgia, prone to injury, and recovering from a lot of muscle loss after a ​protracted battle with long Covid.

Matt’s a great teacher, a really kind quality human, and has the gift of gab: he can chat up anyone about anything ​(movies, politics and sports dominate) and put them at ease. There’s zero pretense, gate-keeping, performativity, ​vanity, or ego. I’m a psychotherapist with expertise in disordered eating & exercise, and Matt spouts none of the ​misinformation fat-phobic pseudo-health diet-culture crap proliferated on social media. He doesn’t necessarily use ​these terms, but his approach is very much one of body-acceptance and “Health at Every Size.”

Matt threads a very fine needle of being both safe/cautious of injury and doggedly encouraging me to push through ​the next obstacle. Thankfully he finds my profanity hilarious - for me there is no lifting without cursing! Without fail, it’s ​an entertaining 30 minutes, with some great perks!

Jenna, 46 yrs old

Matt is incredibly knowledgeable and ​motivational. When you really believe you ​can’t do one more rep, you’re suddenly ​completing three more! Love working with ​him. It’s lots of fun with great results!

Susan, 55 yrs old

I have been strength training with Matt for ​about 10 years. I can honestly say I'm ​stronger than I've EVER been! I just had ​some testing done and my biological age ​is 5 years less than my chronological age ​and I know that's in large part due to Matt's ​old school techniques. I can't say I'm ​always excited to workout, but I'm SUPER ​excited about the results!

Lisa, 57 yrs old

I have been working out with Matt for over a year ​now. I am over 50 and my body needs and abilities ​have changed. Matt is attuned to my capabilities ​and limitations and knows when to encourage me ​and when to step back. I started with Matt once a ​week, and am now training with him twice weekly. ​The equipment he has is health club/high quality ​and I feel very safe using it while he spots me. He ​tailors the workouts for my needs and makes subtle ​changes in the exercises regularly-these help tax my ​muscles in different ways and achieves great results.

Matt’s demeanor is a great fit for me – he is calm, ​has a great sense of humor, and when necessary, he ​can be serious. His gift of gab is the perfect trick to ​distract when you feel you can’t do another rep. I ​cannot recommend him highly enough.

Tom

THE NIGHTMARE OF INFLUENCERS

My social media feed is loaded with ​influencers promising you’ll become “body ​beautiful” if you’ll just buy their magic ​workout. But the exercises they show you ​are not going to get you the body they ​parade in video clip after video clip. And ​again, some of what they demonstrate is ​actually unsafe. There is no magic workout. ​There is no perfect body. Influencers are all ​about self promotion, and they exploit ​people’s insecurities by selling an illusion. ​The only one who benefits is the influencer.

Matt ​Donnelly

Certified Personal Trainer

& Owner of Iron Garage

(708) 975-0976

mattdonnelly65@icloud.com

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