Steve Zim, an ardent fitness devotee, has helped many people transform their bodies for over 20 years. His inspiration came about after watching people exercise next to him in the gym day after day and year after year. Steve began to notice that these dedicated people looked no different than they did when he first met them. In an attempt to find out why, he began to study traditional exercises.

Steve was also lucky enough to observe some scientific experimentation with advanced infrared imaging. What did he find out? With this technology he could see how the blood flowed into the muscles. He observed that with traditional exercises (shoulder press) only 20 to 30 percent of the working muscle was actually being utilized during an exercise.

Therefore, he began modifying traditional exercises and experimenting with the creation of new exercises to maximize muscular output. He realized that these new or modified exercises were providing a method to work the entire muscle (which showed 100 percent of muscular output) and rebuild the musculature from its deepest point, giving exercises a method to completely transform their appearance. When used in combination with proper nutritional guidelines and cardiovascular activity, the new exercises could result in a complete physical transformation in the shortest possible time.

Steve says “a Hollywood body is not a perfect body.” Trying to achieve a perfect body is the biggest and most common trap you can fall into; there is no such thing. Although a person’s body can be beautifully sculpted and toned, no one has a perfect body. The perfect body is impossible to achieve; it’s simply unattainable. However, you can take the body you have and improve your appearance by becoming fit and more physically active.

He also offers the following tips to help make your workout more successful:

(1) Remember to stretch between sets to remain flexible and help prevent injuries;

(2) make sure you breathe during weight training -- exhale as you drive the weight and inhale during the negative motion; and

(3) focus your mind on the exercise you are doing so that you do it properly.

Steve is the owner of A Tighter U Fitness Studio, listed by Los Angeles Magazine (January 2000) as one of the city's hottest health clubs. He is a celebrity trainer whose clients include Ashley Judd, Jessica Biel and boxer Leila Ali. He has a bachelor degree in Languages and Sciences from Boston University.