Paige Waehner knows exercise and health. Not only is she a certified personal trainer, but Paige is also a writer for About.com. Learn about her diverse career and how she connects with people. – Sarah

What attracted you to the field of fitness and exercise? I’ve always been very active but, when my sister became a personal trainer, she introduced me to weight training when I was in my early 20s.  I’d never lifted more than 3-lb ‘pink dumbbells’ before and was amazed at how much weight training changed my body.  It was the first time I realized that you really can change how you look and feel with exercise and I wanted to learn more about that and share that with others.

Your Job Title? Personal Trainer, Freelance Fitness Writer

Company you are with now? NutriFit, Inc. in Glen Ellyn, IL and About.com

Website: http://exercise.about.com

Other Social Media links you would like to include: Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages... Twitter:  https://twitter.com/aboutexerc... Google+:  https://plus.google.com/117811... LinkedIn:  http://www.linkedin.com/pub/pa...

Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you: I train clients two days a week and work in the office on the other days for my website, exercise.about.com.  On a client day, I usually get up early and workout at the gym, maybe a mixture of strength training and cardio.  I spend my morning catching up on email and preparing for clients.  This might involve just tweaking their workouts for the day or creating new workouts.  It also might involve preparing homework for them to do and just checking in with each client to see what they might need for that day.  I usually have anywhere from 3-5 clients, some I train at the NutriFit Studio and some I train in their homes, so it’s a lot of back and forth – to the studio, then to someone’s home, back to the studio, etc.  My typical training day ends around 6:00, after which I come home, eat, relax and get ready for the next day.  My writing days aren’t as physical but are much more mentally taxing, so I find both writing and training compliment each other and give me a break.

How did you get your current job in fitness and exercise? I got my job at NutriFit (www.eatwellgetstrong.com) by calling up the owner, Cathy Leman, when I first moved to Chicagoland.  She wasn’t hiring any trainers at the time, but we became friends and when she opened her studio a few years ago, she brought me in as a trainer.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way? My inherent skills are probably being a people person and relating well to all kinds of people.  I can usually sense how people are feeling and can change my workouts as needed to give them what they need that day.  What I’ve learned is how to pay attention to each client individually.  I used to train everyone like they were all the same – like they all wanted to work hard and sweat until they dropped.  Over the years, I’ve learned that every person has different limits and it takes practice and some sensitivity to find what those limits are without pushing the person too hard.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you? If you really have a passion for helping people and for fitness, don’t give up.  It’s easy to doubt yourself, just don’t let the doubts stop you.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be? Massages, pedicures and facials, of course!

Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist specializing in Weight Management and Sports Nutrition for youth and adults. She writes articles for multiple publications, provides customized nutrition coaching, and is a brand spokesperson. She is founder of Family. Food. Fiesta.Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.