Media & Testimonials
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Washington Times, January 22, 2008 |
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Doug was featured in the Fall 2006 edition of Style.
"Squat Your Way to a Better Butt"
DC Style 2006 |
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Doug was featured in the July 2003 edition of Men's Fitness.
"Fire Up Your Workout"
Men's Fitness July 2003 |
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Doug appearing on Chicago's Fox News in the Morning, Summer 2001
For years, I have struggled every day to remain active in my career and socially, despite having to contend with an atypical form of arthritis that attacked my shoulder joints, wrists, hands, and occasionally knees. About a year ago, I began working with Doug to strengthen my weakened and painful joints and to increase my stamina. Before I began to work with him, fear of further injury had prevented my exercising. Doug has guided me in a highly sensitive, patient, intelligent, flexible, and careful way to produce benefits that far exceeded my expectations. In fact, the last time I saw my rheumatologist, he was both surprised and impressed with the striking improvements in my joints, particularly my shoulders. I highly recommend Doug to anyone who has suffered from conditions similar to my own, and who has been afraid to initiate or restart an exercise program.
Theresa V., Washington, DC
When I first met Doug eight weeks ago, I was out of shape and my energy level was at an all time low. Basically, I thought I would learn the basics about a good workout routine, as well as gather some facts about my nutritional habits. Well, I got that and more. After an intense eight week session, Doug helped me gain 1” in size on both arms and legs while correcting the muscle imbalances on both sides of my body (left and right arms and legs became equal in measurement.) I gained 5lbs of muscle and reduced my body fat from 13.7% to 11.7%, while improving my strength level and decreasing my blood pressure and resting heart rate. I continue to use all of his techniques during my own workouts. If you are seeking a good personal trainer to help you transform your body, then Doug is your man.
Marco H., Washington, DC
I have been working with Doug for a little over a year and I have been very pleased with my results. Because I have permanent nerve and strength deficits from a long-ago car accident, I needed to find a trainer who knew how to work with someone with special physical needs. Doug has been wonderful- he constantly pushes me to improve, but not outside my capabilities. Since Doug has been training me, I am in the best shape of my adult life. I lost weight and have dropped sizes. The best part is that when I went shopping last weekend, I felt good about how the clothes fit. Ultimately I felt good about myself!
LF, Washington, DC
In the past, I’ve worked with personal trainers and have not always had a great experience with all of them. Since the only reference for Doug I had beforehand was his website, it was a crapshoot when I signed him on as my personal trainer just over a year ago. I can’t tell you how “hot” the table has been for me since. First, I am a long distance runner. I suffered from piriformis syndrome (aka sciatica) that left an irritating pain deep in my right buttock when I ran hard or sat on it for too long. Doug immediately focused on my core work – not just the abdominals, but the lower back as well. He likes to call it “balance.” Within a couple months, the pain completely dissipated and has not returned since – even in subsequent marathons. Also, my running pace has improved significantly. With the consistently tough leg workouts that Doug has me doing, I’ve PR’d (achieved a personal record in runner speak) in many of my last races.
I would also be remiss if I failed to mention that Doug’s constant need to push me hard also saved my life. On a recent trip to St. Lucia, I decided to join a friend and climb the unsanctioned, very steep Petit Piton. It was a straight up climb that took nearly an hour and a half. About half way up, we began using ropes to help us climb. With no safety harnesses on and no 
vines to hang onto, the ropes were our only means of pulling ourselves up. On one rope climb, the rope slid to the side of the round rock I was climbing, leaving me dangling 300+ meters above the nearest treetop. Fortunately, in the year that I have been training with Doug, he has gotten my petite frame and slender biceps curling 21 lbs. I was able to use my upper body strength to hold on to the rope without fear that I’d fall and break every bone in my body until my friend and hiking guide were able to rescue me.
Furthermore, Doug is not only a very experienced and knowledgeable trainer, he is also very patient and makes the training fun. I have to admit that I like to whine – particularly when he increases the weights. But somehow he turns it around, and I end up laughing or smiling when I’m going for “fifteen or fatigue.” I must be neurotic, but for some reason, I enjoy going to the “torture chamber.” Perhaps it’s because I have an awesome personal trainer, or perhaps it’s because I relish in the fact that all my exes now do a double take of my smokin' body. You decide.
Alice J., Washington, DC
I live with a chronic severe pain problem that affects all parts of my body (fibromyalgia). My joints are usually in pain as well as major muscle groups. Doug has enabled me to rebuild my body. Doug knows an immense amount of exercises that can help certain parts of the body strengthen without placing undue stress on areas where pain or weakness may reside. I started with only stretching since my muscles were so tight. I have moved on from using resistance bands to using free weights, in an aggressive workout plan that has added two inches of muscle to my chest and made my shoulders broader and more noticeable. Doug presented me with a complete health plan of muscular development, aerobic exercise, and diet. He pointed out what proved to be empty calories in my diet, and I have substantially changed what I consumed compared to the past. The way Doug communicates makes a difference. He is not talking down to me but explaining choices. I am taking weight off, and have evidence of a six pack emerging. The results are getting me charged to do more. I needed a plan and Doug provided me that. I strongly suggest you take the time to talk to this guy with a rather dry wit that makes working out entertaining.
Steve S, Washington, DC
When I started training with Doug, I was physically quite weak, had no endurance to speak of, and—in my mid-40s–was rapidly becoming a butterball. In addition to losing 20 pounds and 3-3/4 inches from my waist and 4 inches from my hips, I have even lost 4% body-fat! My bad cholesterol has gone down, too. The weight loss has been great, and people are telling me I’m looking slim. The best thing for me, personally, is that I’m getting very strong! At first, I couldn’t even do one bent-knee pushup. Now I can do 20 regular push-ups in a row. And I’m getting good at wide-grip pull-ups, too. For the first time in my life, I can hoist those heavy carry-on bags over my head and into the airplane storage bins with no trouble. I even help some men with their bags. In addition, Doug’s strength training regimen really helped when doing alpine hiking last summer. Hiking is much more fun when I can call on all parts of my body to help---and don’t have to stop every five minutes to catch my breath. What an ego booster!
Linda R, Washington, DC
With the limited amount of equipment my office gym has I was concerned that I would not be able to get a complete and well rounded workout. With Doug's creative use of equipment I have been able to effectively target each muscle group with multiple exercises. In addition, over the last year Doug has continually provided new and unique workouts. I have been very impressed with Doug as my personal trainer and would recommend him to anyone who is looking for a trainer that can adapt limited equipment into unlimited possibilities.
Briant S., Washington, DC
"At the age of 24, I moved to Washington D.C. from California. Until that point in my life I had a normal diet and never exercised- I was 30 pounds overweight. On the first day that I met with Doug, I set my weight and training goals. My goal weight was 175 pounds by Christmas, a total loss of almost 20 pounds in four months. After meeting with Doug two or three times a week, I have reached my goals. When I saw my friends and family for Christmas, they could not believe how good I looked. Doug and I work hard trying to make my body strong and healthy, and can I see and feel that it is paying off. My body fat has dropped four percent and I shaved three inches off of my waist. Doug has motivated me to achieve my goals, eat properly, and enjoy working out."
John H., Washington, DC
Trainer's note: John continued to lose weight after the holidays, and took off a total of 31lbs for an ending weight of 160lbs in March. The final tally was 5" off the waist, with a reduction in body fat from 25.7% to 16.2%. Great job, John
I received an email from John recently:
Hi Doug,
How are you? I hope that things are going well. I just had a major accomplishment that I wanted to show you, because it was your training that helped me. About 2 years ago I picked up a sport called Breath Hold Spearfishing. I have advanced quickly by putting in a lot of time in the ocean, I have averaged over 15hours per week for over the last year. This specific fish that I have been hunting for the past four months is called a White Sea Bass and it is one of the most prized catches in Southern California. Here are some pictures of the 30lbs beast that I caught.
"After 2 kids and years of not exercising I didn't think I could ever get back in shape. I've tried gyms and diets....nothing really worked. After 4 months of working out with Doug I've not only lost 20 lbs, but got muscle definition to show off. I now weigh and look like I did when I was 18 !!! I am a believer !!!
I have very limited time to allocate to working out, so Doug helped me set up a home gym with a minimum up-front investment. I now have everything that I need for working out at home for less than $500. Doug is very professional and knows his stuff. When I started with him initially I was only interested in getting my lower body in shape. In a non-pushy way he made me work out every muscle in my body rather than just certain spots, and now I am very grateful for it. I look forward to my workouts because I know they bring results !!"
T. Rosenbaum, Potomac, MD
I am someone who never worked out on a regular basis my entire life and I don't particularly like exercise. I am the person who paid for the gym membership and never used it; and felt guilty about it! With a demanding job and two young children, there never seemed to be time to work out and I wasn't that motivated to make the time. I finally realized that if I was going to exercise, I needed someone there to see me through it, and to think for me. Last thing I want to do is have to focus on remembering all the exercises in the correct order and the correct amount of weight. I think too much on my job. So working out with Doug has been great. He does the thinking for me. I do what he says and the results have been incredible. I actually have abs! Burgeoning muscles in my arms. I feel strong and I know I am really taking care of myself (at least this is one small thing I am doing for me). I even work out at 7:30 am and I am NOT a morning person. Doug has a great personality and a good sense of humor. He's not one of those excessive cheer leaders; just supportive, a great temperament and constantly adapting the workout to produce results. Thanks Doug. You have made a difference and everyone is noticing it!
Emily G, Rockville, MD
A former client recently sent me this email:
Friday, August 31, 2007
Hello Doug, I was looking over my appointment book from last year and noticed that this is just about the time I started seeing you for some training sessions. What a difference a year has made! Thanks to your joint-strengthening and back routines (which I do religiously), I have not suffered any back problems, and my elbows and shoulders are also doing much better. Since I am doing more landscaping than ever, having a strong, pain-free body has really been a blessing. So I am definitely one of your success stories, and I really appreciate the advice and guidance you offered.
Sam N, Glenn Dale, MD
"After
working out for 5 months and losing 35 pounds, I
had reached a plateau. Immediately after starting
to work with Doug, I began seeing results again.
In just 7 short weeks of training and with Doug’s
expert advice, I was able to drop 25 pounds and
4 dress sizes. I am now fitting into a size 4, something
I only thought possible in my dreams. Not only have
I lost bodyfat, pounds and dress sizes but under
Doug’s motivation and expert guidance, I have also
gained strength, muscle definition, self confidence,
and learned a great deal about fitness. Doug works
with you and provides a comfortable training environment,
allowing for an exchange of training ideas and techniques.
He is dedicated, responsible, and detailed; maintaining
proper charts and records keeping clients informed
of their progress."
"Doug teaches you fitness practices that you
can use for life. He provides the foundation and
guidance which allows one to reach their maximum
potential. Working with Doug has not only changed
the appearance of my body, but also has changed
my attitude toward working out and fitness. Thanks
Doug, you are GREAT!"
Christel W, Miami
Dear Doug:
I would like to express my gratitude to you for having completely changed my attitude toward working out. It has been a pleasure to be trained by you for a year, and I am sorry you are leaving Miami as it will be very difficult to replace you.
When I first contacted Doug I was skeptical about working out. I had been swimming for the last 3 years on an almost daily basis, and I never felt at ease around machines and weights. Gyms were not my favorite places and I had a hard time with the attitude of most personal trainers. Doug was able to change my mind about that, as he developed a specific workout for me. I did not want to lose flexibility for my swimming, but still was interested in adding some muscle. I met Doug twice a week and sessions were always different and effective, using not only machines and free weights, but many types of equipment.
He succeeded in making my swimming more competitive, as I would have more energy and endurance. At the same time my body changed, adding more muscle volume. For those skeptical guys out there like me, I suggest trying Doug's style of training- he will make the difference for you.
Thanks again,
Fabio P., Miami
"Hire Doug Murphy. I am a professional dancer so I feel like I know
something about being in shape and training. I went to Doug to get new
information, to get out of my workout rut and with some specific goals in
mind. Doug succeeded on every count. I can't recommend him too highly. He is
thorough, knowledgeable, dependable, motivational and demanding - not to
mention in excellent condition himself which serves as a testament to his
expertise and makes him a great role model. I have worked over the years with
several professional trainers and Doug is the best."
L. Alexander, Chicago, Illinois
"Three months under the guidance of personal trainer Doug Murphy has produced some pleasant results. I haven't looked this good since- well, never. And to think, Doug worked this miracle in three short months, taking up only three hours a week. I have pecs now, along with bulging biceps and a trim little waist- with just a hint of a washboard stomach."
John Smith, Chicago Free Press
April 19, 2000
"Hiring a personal trainer is right for anyone at any fitness level," says Doug Murphy (www.dougmurphy.com), a certified personal trainer and fitness consultant. Murphy stresses customized programs noting that what works for your co-worker or friend may not be the best program for you.
"Personal trainers have access to the latest techniques and health information, which saves you time and allows for a safe workout. What you did in high school or college now may be deemed unsafe or counterproductive," says Murphy, who also is a contributing writer for several health and fitness magazines and will begin offering online advice, photos and demonstrations via his Web site.
Like most trainers, Murphy performs a fitness evaluation and gathers a health history for new clients so that a customized program can be developed based on the client's goals and physical limitations. "Hiring a personal trainer makes your time at the gym much more efficient. You won't waste time on machines that don't help you meet your goals or find yourself not knowing where to start," says Murphy."
The Baltimore Sun, January 7, 2004
Comments From Other Fitness Professionals
"In today's world of health & fitness we have a growing number of fitness trainers. Many deem themselves specialists in weight loss, nutrition, strength & conditioning. Unfortunately, many lack the skills, knowledge or experience to do so. I have had the pleasure of collaborating with and getting to know Doug Murphy. I know that developing a safe and effective program for his clients is his #1 priority. He is very thorough in his fitness assessment and medical history screening, and goes out of his way to contact the client's physician and other medical professionals (dietitian, occupational & physical therapist, etc.). Doug has a genuine love for his work and enjoys helping his clients improve their quality of life."
Joseph Castillo, Licensed Physical Therapist & Certified Fitness Trainer, Miami
Read about Joe’s work with the blind:
http://www.miamilighthouse.com/Articles.asp#A%20Visionary%20Workout
"Doug's knowledge and expertise in fitness instruction and nutrition, along with his ability to impart that knowledge to his clients, is extraordinary. The clientele feedback whenever Doug trains is overwhelmingly positive. He will be hard to replace and sorely missed."
C. Russo and B. Halda, Owners, Mpower Project Gym, Miami http://www.mpowerproject.com/
