Fit With Z: About Us

Ziemowit Mazur B. S., Ed. M. (Resume)

Owner

10 Years Experience
Fitness Editor; National Magazine
National Strength and Conditioning Association Personal Trainer
National Academy of Sports Medicine Corrective Exercise Specialist
Lifestyle Management Nutrition Specialist
Emergency Medical Technician
First Aid, CPR, AED
Fully Insured

In 1990, at a tender age of 10, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that caused painful stomach cramps, loss of body fluids and nutrients, fatigue, bleeding, weight loss, and made my life as a kid and teenager difficult to say the least. My symptoms were so severe, that after battling the disease in every imaginable way for 10 years, I required and underwent an 11 hour colectomy surgery, that completely removed my large intestine(colon). I had to go through an extensive recovery process in the hospital and at home that required a lot of determination and patience. Needless to say, my battle with the disease has taught me how precious our lives are, how you can never give up, and how important it is to be mindful of our health and nutrition.

From an early age I found sports to be an outlet from my studies and any problems that I faced along the way. I enjoyed most any sport available, and felt competitive in all of them. In junior high I played basketball, in high school I was a four year captain and a state qualifier in tennis and had success wrestling. I did not begin resistance training until my freshman year in college, as I was turned off to the whole concept of lifting weights by my high school PE teacher's orientation to weights and quite frankly found it to be extremely boring. But as I slowly grew more competent and interested in fitness, my hobby eventually turned into a profession.

In 2003 I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management with specialization in Business Administration from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 2005, I obtained my Master of Education degree from University of Illinois. All throughout college I was involved in most all intramural sports offered by Campus Recreation, as well as representing University of Illinois in play against other Big Ten Universities as the director of Club Tennis. In 2004 I placed second in the WABDL World Bench Press and Dead Lift Championships in Reno, Nevada with the lift of 249lbs in the 148lbs weight class. I competed as the only representative of my home country of Poland with the Illini Powerlifting Club.

During my studies in the Champaign-Urbana area I was employed as a trainer and a coach at the Fitness Center, Mettler Center, Gold's Gym, Division of Campus Recreation, and Champaign Park District. My experience allowed me to train and interact with clients of all ages and abilities, and made me realize that I derive great satisfaction from helping individuals achieve better health through all modes of exercise.

I posses 10 years of professional work experience in the fitness industry, and hope to get a chance to pass my knowledge and enthusiasm about fitness to my clients.

I have been a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer(NSCA-CPT) for over three years, the first personal training credential to be nationally accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) in 1996 and an organization that is considered the gold standard of fitness training.

I am certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation(CPR) and First Aid. I am certified through National Academy of Sports Medicine as the Corrective Exercise Specialist, conducting movement assessments to improve body's functioning.

I am certified by National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians as an EMT-B. The certification required over 120 classroom hours, clinical experience, and passing of rigorous national exam.

I am also a Division of Campus Recreation certified personal trainer, completing a 20-hour personal trainer class in conjunction with the kinesiology department at the University of Illinois, that consisted of anatomy, physiology, basic exercise science, special populations, training modes, designing programs, basic nutrition, and much more.

Recognizing that no fitness program can be effective without following proper nutrition, I became a Certified Nutrition Specialist, so that I could provide nutrition education while adhering to all state licensure laws and the American Dietetic Association guidelines.