I wanted to get in shape for my wedding and I'd never done anything like personal training before, so when I set out to find someone I really wanted a woman. I couldn't find a female trainer with the right schedule, so I decided to give Brian a try and am SO glad I did! We were a group of four and had a lot of fun twice / week for training, and there was nothing intimidating about it, which I really credit to Brian. Highly recommend! read more

I went to Brian after I had my first baby. I'd been doing videos on YouTube on my own to stay fit, but I wanted to get into better shape. I thought that I was fit and had great form, because I did online videos, but nothing beats working out with a real life coach who knows what they're doing like Brian. I'm so thankful that I stepped up my game. He made so many adjustments to my form that I wouldn't have noticed on my own and neither would have my computer! He is extremely knowledgeable about fitness and incredibly supportive and motivating. He's the best trainer I've ever gone to! read more

I started working out with Brian as my life started getting hectic - my career was taking off and I was working more than ever, and I also had just had my second child. I had put on some weight and wasn't living as healthy as I would have liked. It's been about 4 years now - and the results have been phenomenal. I've dropped 50 pounds in total, and he's helped me adjust my lifestyle to be more healthful. Today, my life is still hectic, but I have the energy and focus to handle it. On a more practical level, I appreciate that Brian has a Masters degree in his field and can answer all my questions about they "why" behind it all. In addition, he's very easy to relate to and a fun guy to work out with. Even after 4 years, I still find myself surprised at the end of a workout that I'm doing things I never imagined that I would be able to do. read more

I've never had a trainer before - I thought they would be too expensive and shout at me too much. But, when I made "doing 1 million pushups" my goal, Strong Made Simple & Brian Tabor were recommended to me by a friend. I was nervous, because I've never had someone watch me workout before. I was worried that lifting and HIIT would give me giant softball player legs (a huge reason why I avoid crossfit. Those ladies never look like toned ballerinas). Also, I'm a huge baby and whine a lot when working out. And, I was pretty certain a trainer would make me run until I puked. You know, just your general personal training concerns. I cannot say enough great things about Brian. First, we talked about my goals and my worries (see above; especially the giant legs concern). I had also recently had my knee scoped when we started training; no problem - Brian worked with this situation. Second, Brian will make working out interesting - you will not get bored; he is inventive and will have you doing all sorts of rope-swinging, gymnastic, hand-standy things. You will feel pretty cool doing Russian get-ups in the gym. Trust me. Third: Brian got me to my goal and beyond. I was able to do 5 unaided pull-ups within a few months; I might have challenged people to pushup competitions at parties (38 in 30 seconds, personal best while drinking wine).... and I was show-boating my one-armed pushup abilities on a regular basis. Fourth: Brian is a great coach - when I feel I can't go on, he gently but confidently will encourage you onward. He knows what to say to motivate me and I never feel like I let him down. Whatever your fitness goals, I believe Brian can help you meet them - smart guy, great coach, super trainer. I also recommend his small group sessions, because I've worked out with some cool and inspiring folks - it is also a good deal. read more

Brian is awesome. No up selling, no bullshit. Anyone, who knows the generic trainers/sales people at whatever corporate gym can relate to this. Here are some great reasons you should work with him and his team... Great listeners... I'm stuck behind a computer all day and my posture sucks. Brian developed a program specifically to fix this issue. He even found some shirts to adjust my shoulders. Serious Guys... Brian went through A LOT of schooling. He knows his shit. He can talk for days about the body, sports medicine, and nutrition. Professionals... They will be there on time and ready to rock and roll. I'm confident that whoever works for Brian is on the same wave length. No flakie and or hungover douche bags here. Budget conscientious... He will find a program whether it's one on one, group sessions, or assembling a google doc that you can master on your own to work with you and your budget. Be ready! No pain, no gain. read more

My job in real estate is hectic and demanding. When I get busy I am in my car alot or sitting in front of a computer. I began to have nagging back pain for almost a year. Sometimes it would knock me down for days at a time. My friend suggested I start working out to strengthen my core (basically my stomach muscles!) I called my local Gym which is the ARC at SDSU. I explained my issues and they recommended Brian Tabor. After my very first training session with Brian my lower back pain was relieved by 90%. I could stand up straight again! Brian's knowledge, expertise & training conveyed a sense of confidence that I trusted. Within 2 more sessions my back pain was so much more improved that I forgot about it. Now we are into one full year of training 3x's/week and at 55 years my body is stronger than it has ever been! I highly recommend Brian for any type of strength or mobility training or just to ask questions. read more

I've had issues with my back for several years. Brian helped me go from hardly active to fully back into exercise and strength within 2 months. He has an incredible knowledge of training and was fantastic with his patience and guidance the entire time. He truly cares about his clients, and goes above and beyond what you'd expect to get out of him. His passion is contagious. read more

Working with Brian was a great experience. I was stuck in a rut of running, running, and more running. I started in the gym with Brian with one goal: to get stronger. I think Brian was pretty excited about my goal given that most females desire to 'lose weight and get tone.' Brian and I began working together twice a week in the ARC at SDSU. He got me into the big scary weight room that often feels like it's for men only. If you've been to the ARC then you know the one I am referring to. When Brian and I trained together it seemed that not many women would lift in the that section of the gym - hopefully that's changed by now. But I digress, Brian was great at introducing me to dynamic warm up exercises, fundamental lifts, and helpful cool down activities that I'd never done. During the time Brian and I worked together, he did a great job of assessing, progressing, and modifying my training program to suit my goal of getting stronger, and let me tell you, I got stronger. In fact, I'll never forget the day that I realized my pants did not fit because my legs had hypertrophied to the point where I needed to buy new ones! I told Brian that as a poor graduate student I could not afford to buy all new pants, haha. He quickly and effectively modified my training program so that I could maintain my new-found strength yet still wear my pants - phew! For this modification, I was thankful. Looking back, I was so thankful for Brian's ability to really listen and understand me as his client. When it comes to clients, Brian genuinely cares for those he works with and wants to help clients not only achieve their gym-related goals (i.e. lose ten pounds, put on muscle, get tone, etc.) but he'll also inadvertently arm clients with a new level of confidence and humbleness during time spent working with him. For me personally, I remember feeling a significant increase in my confidence once I became familiar with that big scary men's only weight room. After working with Brian I had no qualms going in their because I knew what I was doing and how to safely and effectively train, all thanks to Brian. I also carried that increased confidence with me outside the gym. I was able to pick and move heavier things like on moving day. I was also better coordinated and speedier thanks to additional time spent working with Brian doing agility and speed work. All that said, I was also a better and stronger runner after my time spent with Brian. He helped me break through that awful rut by having me focus on strength training and gains. If you find yourself seeking a personal trainer who you really cares about you and your goals, then I'd highly recommend reaching out to Brian for high quality strength training. read more

Brian Tabor helped me to lose 30 pounds in just a few months. When I started working out with Brian, I had always been in ok shape. I was a lifeguard for about 8 years at the time. I was just tired of knowing I was capable of being in great shape while I was still in my mid 20's. So I made the choice to start working out with Brian because I wanted to be more than kind of in shape. I started working in a semi private training. I was working out twice a week with one other person and Brian training the both of us. It was a great environment. Working with Brian and another person created a great air of camaraderie. We worked a lot with kettlebells, free weights, and various body weight exercises. I knew almost none of what I did during workouts with Brian and my training partner when I started. I learned way more than I can sum up in this review. Much of it I still use today, even though I don't work with Brian anymore due to my moving away. The workouts, strength, and knowledge I gained from my time working with Brian helped me to be more confidant and just feel better on a day to day basis. I always recommend to anyone who asks me about fitness or nutrition related questions that they talk to him about it. He just know his stuff. read more

I have been working with Brian for a couple months now and I'm not being dramatic when I say it has been one of the best moves of my adult life. I used to hate working out and I decided it was time to get a trainer to keep me on track and give me a reason to show up at the gym every day. Well it's been all that and way more. I've even looked at wanting to do something fitness related as a career because of how much fun it has been. Brian is probably one of the most educated people I've ever talked to, I am always asking questions and he always has an answer. He's also extremely honest and you can 100% tell he works hard to tailor your program to whatever concerns or goals you have. I have friends who train themselves or have other trainers and have hurt themselves because of improper form and he can spot that and also make your exercise more effective while still being kind to your body. I haven't had another trainer but I have met people who are, and I know they don't even come close. He's worth every penny. AND he's super fun, most of the time we're all talking and laughing and he will probably make you laugh mid-set. Just a heads up. Lol. Anthony is awesome and hilarious as well, but I haven't had the pleasure of training with him much but I don't think you can go wrong. Love you guys! read more

I started working with Brian about a year after I graduated college. I finally decided to make a real commitment to getting in shape, as I had been overweight since the 5th grade, and knew that I would need some help to reach my goals. Even though I loved playing sports, I had almost zero knowledge of what to do in the gym and was really hoping that he would be able to show me how to be a self leader in the gym. When I first started with Brian I was in his "private training" program. We met once a week and I weighed 270lbs. After about 6 months I had made serious progress and started meeting with him twice a week in a "semi-private" training program with another client of his. I really enjoyed the semi-private training because it was fun to compete with the other person and share stories about our fitness goals. After about a year I was down to around 195lbs. Honestly, there's no way I could have achieved my goals without Brian. His knowledge, support, and workout programs were exactly what I needed to get going. The great thing about Brian's style is that he's completely open with changing programs around to fit your needs. I remember asking him about speed training and the next session we had Brian incorporated some exercises to help my speed and agility. Brian also worked with me on my eating habits and gave me a better understanding on how my diet plays an important role in my fitness level. I had such a great experience with Brian that I even referred my roommate to him and they worked together for several months. read more

I started training with Brian from Strong Made Simple about a year ago when I needed to jump start my stale workout routine. In a rut and feeling like I was just going through the motions at the gym and not seeing any results, I decided to give Brian a try. Brian took the time in our first meeting to understand my fitness goals: to tone up and get in better shape. He understands my limited range of motion with my nagging rotator cuff injury, and always asks about it before starting the workout as well as during the workout. As a certified kettlebell instructor, Brian introduced kettlebells and TRX - two things I was interested in but didn't know how to properly use - into my workouts. He was patient as I learned how to use the equipment and always provides feedback on my form. Brian keeps the workouts fresh by changing up what we're doing and always keeps it challenging. He provides workouts for me to do on my own, and takes the time to answer any questions I might have. His nutritional knowledge is also a plus! Brian is very professional, enthusiastic, and extremely motivational. He has a strong ability to push me to my limit, helping me accomplish things I never thought possible. The feeling of accomplishment after every workout is personally rewarding. Either one-on-one or in small groups, if you are looking for a superb trainer who can make you a better you, Brian is the guy! Give him a call. What are you waiting for? read more

I wanted to change how my body looked like. I wanted to look good. I was a 23 year old soccer player(for fun 4-5 times a week) 5 ft 7 and 159 lbs. I had just graduated from college and my adrenaline was running so I wanted to change my physique. I started googling gyms, trainers in san diego etc. Then I emailed personal trainers in sdsu. Brian was the quickest to respond with the best prices. Others replied to me one or two weeks later or their prices were ridiculous. I began working with him 3 x a week and man has it been the best decision of my life. Within two months I lost 17 lbs. Im at 142 lbs right now and I feel the best I have in my life mentally and physically. In addition, Im unstoppable on the soccer pitch and much stronger. Players try to tackle me and take me down but I wont go down. Its amazing how far Ive come and its all thanks to Brian and his help not only fitness wise but also his nutritional guidance is extremely helpful. He tells me what to eat and what not to eat and I do his workouts and thats all. Its not rocket science. Im leaving San Diego for good and Im taking Brian with me as we will begin online training! read more

The best measurement of a coach is often the people that turn to him when they need help. I've been a college strength and conditioning coach my entire career and I look to Brian to write my personal workouts. I wouldn't trust my health, well being, fitness, and body to just anyone. As an expert, I only trust other experts and Brian Tabor at Strong Made Simple is one the area's best! Just as the name implies, Brian has a unique way of making what seemed complicated very simple. He's very skilled at helping you to see the path that you will be taking to achieve your goals, even if you are unable to see it yourself. He's perfect at keeping you upbeat and helping you understand why you are doing what you are doing. In a way he personifies the name Strong Made Simple. If you are looking for someone who can put you on the road to success, whatever that may be to you, without over complicating your already busy life, Brian Tabor is the San Diego area trainer for you! read more