I have had the privilege of knowing Dan Höering for over 30 years and have found him to be in possession of the finest qualities a person can exhibit. Exemplary qualities such as intelligence, compassion, persistence and faith. Dan has the drive to exceed his limitations, and more importantly, help others exceed theirs. I know this from personal experience. I am thankful that our friendship has endured these many years regardless of distance. It is my belief that the strength of Dan's character has cemented our relationship and can help positively affect change in the mind, body, and spirit of others. Chris Alford

Chris Alford : Coach Dan's best friend of over 30 years.....

Chris and I have been friends since I was 12, he was 13. He's a great great guy and even his girlfriend Mary Kay thinks so too! They live in New Jersey with her two boys, Jesse and Luke. In January 2008, I visited Chris and stayed on Madison Avenue in New York City! It was absolutely amazing, I love NYC! The first evening I was there - Chris took me via subway to this place called, Lombardi's Pizza, New York's first Pizza restaurant :  http://www.firstpizza.com/ The pizza was freaking incredible! The thing was Chris couldn't quite find the pizza place so we walked what seemed like forever! The NYC street blocks are way bigger than a normal city block so I was extra hungry when we got there!

Having Chris in my life has given me a greater perspective of how culture is less important, and character and goodness, is. He's black and I'm white, yet I don't see pigment of skin. I just see a boyhood friend and my buddy for life. We've been through thick and thin. We've discussed every topic from A to Z amidst a few expletives and arguments along the way and way way more laughs! In the end, he's better than any blood brother or family member I could ask for in life. Someday when I get married again to the future woman of my dreams, he'll be my best man, cause he's the Best of the best I believe. I wish more people would have as good a friend as I do, black white, green, blue or purple, the color of skin doesn't matter in a man, character does. Dan Höering

In  spring 1994, I began working for Corporate Club Management - a fitness management company owned by Wayne Westwood. CCM is the best fitness company I've been privileged to work with. Wayne especially is a man that I've learned much from in fitness and management and have the utmost respect. I've operated several facilities for CCM. In 1994 I managed a club for the employees of TriMet, Portland's mass transit system. I ran all aspects of the four fitness only facilities - membership sales, personal training, events and employee training programs. I had a staff of three (especially Joe Wilkins!) that helped me run and manage the clubs. From 1995 to 2002 I managed a downtown Portland club for CCM under Westin Investments. The facility was unique in that the location was easily missed by street traffic so I had to be very creative to bring people in to the club. In 1998 I created Fitness In Training and continued evolving out of personal training and into fitness coaching, while managing the downtown Portland Club. In January 2001, while still managing the downtown facility I helped my great friend Joe Wilkins, original manager of The Club at Kruse Woods open CCM's newest club at the time, The Club at Kruse Woods, Lake Oswego, Oregon. Most of my Fitness In Training clients belong to The Club in Lake Oswego and I continue to have the privilege to get to coach and see them improve their fitness and their lifestyles, very rewarding indeed!

Dreams, I'm in mine and I love it, big time! Working out for a living and teaching others to do the same! And to top it all off, I get to wear shorts non-stop! The only thing I worry about is, when will someone finally tell me, "Dan, stop wearing shorts all the time and get a real job!" Click here to see my 'say no to real jobs' clock and other fun stuff I like.

I began my workouts in 1976 at that old YMCA in downtown Ft. Wayne, Indiana at age 12 and a half! I kept written records in Steno Notebooks of every rep, set and weight lifted allowed me to see patterns of proper training giving me insights on how to make changes, and keep the workouts intense enough for progress to continue. Records show dedication, proof of the work, and patience and passion to achieve.

The dungeon as we used to call it was a small sweatbox of a gym, located on the second floor of the YMCA building where I grew up in Ft. Wayne Indiana. The Y was already over 50 years old. It was cramped, hot and extremely basic and raw. But I loved that place! The wooden floors were cracked and chipped from years of use, the walls were hardened tiles and the windows were small and dirtied from years of use. The mirrors in the gym consisted of structures on casters that could be rolled around in position. Pipes poked out of the wall as barbell racks, dip bars and a T-bar, with old round solid dumbbell's strewn around the flooring. Sometimes it would take 20 minutes just to clean up the joint, so a workout could be done.

Learning about power lifting and bodybuilding from the regulars in the gym, 20 to 40 years my senior, gave me direction, motivation and drive to workout for life! One Italian guy named Bob I knew there, worked out with Steve Reeves in the 50's back in California! Steve Reeves went on to become the first successful Body Builder starring in film, as Hercules! One day Bob asked me if I wanted all of his vintage Body Building magazines from the 40's, 50's and 60's. Those old classic bodybuilding magazines have valuable information; I still use much of those old, yet valuable philosophies today while coaching! I owe much of my desire to achieve and never give up attitude workout ethic of fitness and Body Building from the guys in the gym, like Bob. The training partners that I worked out with in those early years; Dave, Steve Roberts, [my favorite training partner of all time - I'm happy to say, still works out hard, is in great shape and shows them how its done]. Jay Said, Jeff, Rick and all the other guys, gave me the drive to push it past my own belief of what I thought I do, and then some...and never give up when working out, until the goal is met, and then push it a little bit more! I took those experiences and translate them into striving to be the best possible coach I can be for my clients!

When I met Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1980 at the Mr. Universe contest he was hosting, I got his autograph, wow! When I asked him questions about his life and success he told me to do what you love! I heard in his voice how enthused, and excited he was doing what he loved to do! He was just finishing filming his first big blockbuster movie, Conan The Barbarian! Look at him now! Not bad for a guy who loves to lift weights, from another country no less! Arnold's original Body Building training partner was Franco  Columbu. Franco was also there at the Mr. Universe contest in 1980, as a guest poser. Franco gave me the most incentive to strive to reach for my dreams in Body Building. I purchased Franco's second book, Winning Body Building. I combed through that old paperback instantly, learning all of his secret fitness knowledge enabling me to understand what it took to workout hard enough to feel the muscles grow and strengthen. Franco's book gave me the idea to record my workouts and nutritional intake. Franco now has a PhD in nutrition and is Arnold's closest friend. If you want inspiration, see the Movie Pumping Iron, it is now in release on DVD!

I achieved success at an early age and found out what it takes to plan, implement and follow through, with a solid workout plan. Competing a couple years into my workouts, as an amateur bodybuilder gave me the drive and determination needed to understand what it takes to go for a goal and achieve it! Being a student of strength training, and observing my dedicated approach, Charles, the director of the Y asked me to give facility orientations to new members and small classes to describe safe weight training techniques; payment was a 'trade membership'. I had begun my fitness career. For more than 30 years of dedication and love of fitness - I have never been more excited about helping people get and stay fit! From the earliest days people where drawn to my intense style of workouts, asking me questions, desiring advice and showing up at the gym as a regular knowing I'd be there to give them a spot.

Coaching people daily with fitness is extremely exciting confirming my dreams that my mission is being fulfilled. My close friends and family give me the support I need to continue to be encouraged and have heart that what I'm doing in life, is good and has ongoing value for the people that I get to coach.

Thank you Vicky, the super-star sister that brings me all the focus from an awesome business point of view, only for my gain, love ya Vic! Jeff, my brother who can fix anything...your influence in getting, maintaining my MGB is something you'll never know how...much joy it brings. My Mom and Dad, God rest their souls, brought me love, caring and a simple life that I carry forward and always have with me. Dad, the best salesman ever to life, you taught me well. Mom, my biggest supporter ever, always had dinner for me when I got home from the bus ride from the Y, heaven loves you. All my friends at the Club at Kruse Woods - my neighbors who have hired me over the years, thank you!

The Lord has taught me what being a good man takes as I strive to be like Him in my words and actions. Through this process, I have found that hope cannot be seen, so I diligently wait and persevere for hope that I cannot see, reassuring me I will endure and prosper...inspired by the book of Romans!

See you at the gym,  Coach Dan

34th year experienced fitness expert | helping people get fit since 1976

Entrepreneur and Business owner | Founder of Fitness In Training

Mt. Hood To Oregon Coast Runner | Seattle To Portland Cyclist

OHSU Continuing Education | Spirituality & Food Conference 2004 Participant

Kaiser Permanente Health Education | Nutrition & Cultivating Health Program 2002

International Weight Lifting Association Certified Strength Training Specialist 2010

International Weight Lifting Association Certified Weight Trainer 2010

IDEA Member Since 1999  to current | NACA, Fit Life attendee since 1995 to current

Fitness & Wellness Insured 2010

Member of the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce since 2008, 2009, 2010

Member of the Lake Grove Business Association

First Aid and AED Certified 2010