-Sara M.

I decided to get back into competitive natural bodybuilding after 10 years away from the stage. I soon realized that regardless of what I knew worked for me in the past and how focused I was to succeed, I could never come into a competition on point. “Ten more pounds” was the feedback I received from numerous judges after each show. “Ten more pounds” was never enough and I was beginning to think that maybe I just don’t have the physique for competition. Finally, at the ’08 Cape Cod Classic I approached Doug Miller, who I felt provided competitors with very honest and constructive feedback. I asked him I should just hang it up. Doug said absolutely not.

I started with Team Miller in November with the goal of getting on stage for the ’09 Spirit of America in April. Doug and Stephanie Miller created a diet, supplement, and work out program tailored specifically for me based on my body’s response during a reconditioning phase. They also took into consideration my work schedule. My progress was constantly monitored through daily e-mailed weight checks, weekly pictures, and feedback as to how I was feeling. Adjustments to my diet, supplements, and workout program were made as needed.

Regardless of the day or time, if I had a question or concern, Doug contacted me immediately. One day, a month before the competition, I was suddenly stricken with terrible flu symptoms. I e-mailed Doug and he called me immediately. Our new goal became getting me well again, we would think about the competition after that. His remedies began to work the very next day. Within the week, I was back on the program.

Peak week was awesome. I never expected my body to react the way it did. The transformation from one day to the next was amazing. Doug met me at the Cape the day before the show to go over posing one on one. Until now, he had been giving me tips through pictures and e-mail. It was great having this time to fine tune some of my poses. For the first time, I felt ready… I felt like I belonged on that stage.

After not placing at all during the previous seasons, I took 2nd place in the novice class and 4th in the open-men’s class at the ’09 SOA. The biggest honor was being recognized as the most improved bodybuilder.

Team Miller has a no-nonsense, individualized “Crush It” approach to the sport of competitive bodybuilding. Doug and Steph are dedicated, very honest, and knowledgeable. I trust that they have the ability to guide me towards reaching my fullest potential as a competitive bodybuilder. I have continued to work with Doug and Steph “because there is no off season!” I look forward to doing so throughout the 2010 season when I plan on hitting the stage once again.

-Phil K.

-Melissa H.

My objective over the last 10 years was to be as big and strong as possible. I was always knowledgeable about “weight lifting”, but nutrition wasn’t my strong-point. I ate anything and everything to fuel me for my workouts. I thought eating until I felt full, or couldn’t move in some cases, was ideal. The more calories I consume, results in the heavier weight I can move and the more size I put on, right? Who cares if I can’t see my abs, but if I could bench press a truck, none of that matters! Well, on the other hand, I always knew I was getting too large for my frame. I’m 5’ 7” (which is generous) and weighed 205 lbs the beginning of this year. It was time to see what was under all my fat!

While training at Ballston Gold’s Gym, I had the privilege of meeting Doug and Stephanie Miller. At the gym, I was drawn to their intensity and focus. Moreover, I was impressed by their strength and physique. After getting to know them, I learned that they train athletes for bodybuilding shows and are fellow competitors. From their personal and client’s accomplishments, I knew I could trust them for guidance.

On February 1, 2009, I reached out to Team Miller and was ready to start dieting for my first show. Prior to starting, they met me for a consultation and came up with a detailed game plan. They were patient and answered all my questions about bodybuilding. Team Miller informed me on which supplements I will be taking, my schedule for meals, as well as my work-out routine. One month later, we started and I quickly experienced fat loss, as well as improvements in gaining lean muscle mass. Today, I report my daily progress and adjustments are made accordingly. We have a goal and Team Miller understands what we have to do to accomplish it!

-Daniel C.

I have been training with Stephanie Miller for over a year. In that time period I have lost over 20 pounds, and have improved my strength and stamina. Stephanie did an excellent job at identifying and articulating my goals in the beginning and she has consistently rechecked and adjusted my workouts based upon my physical changes and new goals. All the while she has been a coach and an advisor, listening to my needs and desires, and making adjustments to keep workouts interesting and challenging. At no time have I ever felt bored or untested in my workouts.

Stephanie is a conscientious hard worker. She is punctual and considerate, and always willing to make the extra effort to accommodate her clients. I recommend Stephanie to anyone who is serious about their training. If you are willing to make the commitment, she is committed to helping you make it.

-John B. T. PhD.

-Erica G.

I started training with Steph in November of 2006. I had seen her training other people and was really impressed with her training style. As a woman that works out fairly hard, I am always very interested in other women that workout hard. Working out has been a way of my life since high school, but I have never been sold on the results that I have gained in comparison to how hard I workout

When I first met Steph, I not only realized how hard and dedicated she was to her workouts and her diet from the way she looked, but I had the feeling she was going to push me to new levels in my training. I was right. You look around and see other people working out, some with trainers and some without, but either way Steph seems to be working me out way harder than anyone else. She is so dedicated to YOU during that time that you have no choice but to just “kick it!” There is something to be said about that.

Through the years, Steph has helped educate me and completely change my body physique, which in return has helped me with my body image. Her knowledge and desire to help me workout and train my muscles not only helps me to accomplish my goals, but her positive outlook on life and her faith in God helps train my mind and soul. It rubs off.

Since meeting Steph, she has changed my attitude by teaching me how to treat my body and if you work hard and think positive ANYONE can gain the results they want. Steph has taught me about competing and what it takes by her actions and her appearance, and in return has gotten me very interested in competing someday! She always says, “If I can do it, anyone can, if you really want it!”

-Alison J.

-Angela O.

My training with Stephanie has been one of the best investments I have ever made in my health and fitness. In every single workout, she pushes me hard -- much harder than I could ever push myself on my own. I have not had one single workout with her that has not left me sore and feeling the burn!! Since she and I started working out six months ago, I have lost over 11 pounds of fat, gone down 2 clothing sizes, and have made significant gains in my strength and muscle tone in my arms, legs, glutes, and abs. I not only feel much stronger, I look much better too. My suits for work nearly fall off of me these days and my boyfriend even gave me the ultimate compliment at the beach last week, "you look hot in your bikini." And Stephanie is a lot more than just a trainer, she is an inspiration. She is an accomplished body builder and fitness model (is this the right terminology?). Seeing her rock hard muscles and dedication is enough to inspire anyone to work harder, even if it is 7am on a Tuesday! And because fitness is her passion, she is also a wealth of knowledge about diet and nutrition and can also separate what is "fad versus fact" in fitness. She has also taken the time and interest to help me to develop a program outside of our workouts to meet my fitness goals so that I am always on track. To say it simply: Stephanie kicks butt!

-Beth K.

I worked out with Stephanie for 10 sessions. She has the unique background and perspective to design a plan based on my needs. Her body building background is a tremendous discriminator when compared with average trainers who learn from taking courses or reading materials. In addition, Stephanie's personality and positive attitude contributes to a harmonious working relationship. With her knowledge and physique, she can demonstrate the exercise and the correct muscle movements needed to maximize your workout. She is good at motivating you without applying to much pressure. I strongly recommend Stephanie as she has been the best personal trainer I ever had.

-Ramsey J.

I'm not sure you even remember me from last year. But I wanted to send this long overdue g-r-a-c-i-a-s. You and I went through 36 sessions; sounds like a lot but they were just enough to correct all the bad habits I learned from years hunched in front of a computer. Anyway, I just got back from a pro beach volleyball game out in Huntington Beach. It was a genuine thrill to hear my beach buddies notice a big difference in my posture, body shape. They even mentioned that my eyes look much more alert. Huh? This must be all those fresh veggies and turkey burgers! I had my Stanford grip bag at the tourney and some of the new players asked me if I was one of the coaches. Yeah, right. But I took the compliment and realized what real progress I had made in my life. I don ’t go to Tysons anymore. I work out 5 days a week at Merrifield and automatically think of it as basic part of my day. I hear your voice in my head like keep the elbows in" or "you should feel the stretch here" or "breathe out, count" etc. I am 48 years old and was so glad to learn that us middle aged baby boomers can still keep our bodies in decent shape. I breathe better, last longer (wink wink) and can wear cool tee shirts again. So thanks for helping me get my second wind!

-Edgar V.

Since I started exercising with Steph, I have told many others how great she is. Now I want to put it in writing. Let me tell you why is Stephanie so wonderful:

Steph constantly challenges you to be your best--I think this is the best thing about exercising with Steph. Whether it is in your workout or in your personal diet, Steph makes you believe in yourself, and pushes you far outside your comfort zone. You are capable of much more than you think, and Steph proves it to you.

She is encouraging and cheerful--Steph is always quick with an enthusiastic smile and a reassuring word. “C ’mon!...One more!...You can do it!" Steph's spirit and high energy are contagious. That makes a big difference when you feel you're out of steam!

She is thorough and professional--Steph keeps careful records of your progress, and makes sure you are not neglecting anything. Before Steph, my workouts were monotonous and produced very little results. Steph definitely knows how to get you out of your rut.

She knows her stuff--Steph is totally confident and leaves you with no doubts. She is truly a fitness and nutrition expert, from what you should be eating to how to best work each muscle. There may be something Steph does not know, but I haven't found it yet!

I hope you will discover for yourself--Steph is the best!

-James H.

I train with Stephanie twice a week, in the AM, for an hour. One day is upper body. The other day is lower body. For weeks that I cannot make both days, Stephanie combines the two. For me, in general, training at gold's first became about "surviving the session" and "getting some fat off" then when I finally established enough base strength to resist more weight, it became about "what can I do next" and "how can I really start toning to get shape?" Stephanie helps with all of this and designs programs which are challenging, but always steps it up a notch from the last time, and she knows this, because she is very organized and keeps track of everything I do. Specifically, Stephanie is always on time and introduces tremendous variety into the weekly program. Since I've been with Stephanie, I think I have done every machine in Gold's at least 4-5 different ways. I never knew there was such variety for a calf exercise - straight-toed, inside toe-pointed, outside toe-pointed, with a barbell, on a machine, on the stairs, etc. And it goes on. So, the training - even though the target body part is "the calf" - has tremendous variety, and thus, does not get boring. The same is true of every other target area: hamstring, quads, back, lower back, middle back, arms, abs, inner, outer thigh - all of it.

What I also have changed gradually, once I modified my goals, is my diet. Overall, I do eat healthy, but you can always step-it up a notch. Stephanie provided me with reading material & encouraged me to keep track of what I eat, and divide meals up - little ones throughout the day. She offered to evaluate what I listed, and gave me feedback. She gives very practical suggestions about how to do it. For instance: "buy a big salad for lunch and only eat half. Save the rest for later ". Well, why didn't I think of that? There is no law saying I have to eat ALL the salad at once. She gives advice and points you to websites that talk about how many calories, sugar, protein, etc certain foods may have - in order to make a wise decision on snacks and overall diet. She also talks about cardio exercise, its frequency and when to do certain cardio exercise. So, eventually, the training - isn't just about "strength," it becomes much more. Again, it is all in-line with the goals, which currently is getting to 135 lb. Introduction to alternative sources of protein and foods such as whey protein, shakes, etc is also introduced and feedback is encouraged.

What I also want to emphasize is Stephanie's attitude/behavior, which is critical. She is the utmost professional and is always positive, happy, motivated and "ready to go" - not in an "uppity" way but in a very "nice, professional, and serious" way. As a client, you can tell that Stephanie really enjoys what she does. I chalk up her niceness to the "Southern thing". There are definitely mornings when I don't feel like doing anything, and Stephanie's attitude/behavior always gets me through the session. She is "nice in the Southern way," so when I don't feel like doing the last 5 reps, when my calves are "screaming for peace" - she is always there being nice & professional. How can you NOT complete the last set? Stephanie is also very encouraging, consistently spots you for overall safety on every single move, and is completely concentrated on the training session when it is occurring. There are no interruptions.

-Grace A.

When I first started training with Steph I had very little knowledge about the right way to exercise and eat. Now almost a year later I have gained so much from the most inspiring and knowledgeable woman in the business. Steph not only answers every question that I have but she goes out of her way to research and email me with aspects of my training and diet. Steph has motivated me to put forth the necessary efforts I so often ignored in training certain areas. Every encounter with her has been invaluable. She is always available for support and to answer any question I may have. I have never had a trainer as involved and dedicated as Steph. She is always upbeat and ready to push me when I need it most. Her passion for her clients and work is apparent. Her passion for training and health is apparent and contagious. Training with Steph has undoubtedly changed my life.

-Kristin L.

I have been a fairly active person all of my life and am generally one of the fittest people at the office and in my social circles. I have also been a freak about my diet over the past few years. My dedication to diet and exercise is constantly joked about around the office water cooler. In the Fall of 2005 I had cancer surgery, and by early 2006 I was back in the gym and trying to get in shape to resume my athletic lifestyle. I was definitely at a plateau - I was not in bad shape, but was just not where I wanted to be. I had considered working with a personal trainer, but often felt that the personal trainers I saw would not really have much to offer me. That changed when I started seeing Stephanie in the gym. I noticed her personal and professional work ethic and the variety of exercises both she and her clients were doing and decided to talk with her.

Over the course of three months she radically altered the way I trained in the gym and modified my diet to match my fitness goals. I realized that I had just been going through the motions in the gym, but Stephanie taught me to make the most out of each exercise. It sounds crazy, but though I had been lifting for over 15 years, the changes she made really made a difference in the way I approach each workout and my diet (I thought my diet was perfect, but was I wrong...).

Stephanie's upbeat personality is a joy to be around. She is always smiling and never seems tired, even when it is clear she has been training clients or herself all day. She pushes her clients, but I think that her clients want to do well for her because of the energy she puts into her work and the personal interest she takes in each of us and our individual pursuits. I had a number of personal goals and she not only tailored my workouts and diet around them, but kept in constant e-mail touch with me, forwarded great training articles to me, and recommended some good books backing up her advice.

With Stephanie, you not only get to train with an elite athlete, but she can teach you to win like one as well. I had a few major goals that I met this Summer. I won a national open water kayak race, I ran the NY ½ marathon in under two hours, and one year to the date of finding my cancer I submitted the highest mountain in Europe. I can safely say that I would not have been able to accomplish all of this without Stephanie's help.

-Michael Magee T.

With middle-age lurking and metabolism slowing down it is great to have a personal trainer of Stephanie's ilk. Besides being a bundle of energy she has a refreshing grasp of her profession. Compared to other personal trainers I've had, she takes a strategic approach to the body. Each training session she focuses on specific muscle groups increasing the weights as the session progresses. At the end of the session you feel that your body has been pushed hard. Now, after a couple of months her work is starting to show results. Stephanie also has a keen sense of nutrition which is quite beneficial. I travel a great deal, so she makes a special effort to prepare work-out sessions I can do while over-seas.

-Peter M.

I am writing this letter as a token of my appreciation for Stephanie Brumfield who has trained me for almost 4 months. I am amazed at how knowledgeable she is about her profession. I have never felt so physically and mentally in shape as I do now. She has pushed me and made me do things in my training sessions that I never thought in a million years I could achieve. I feel stronger and I know I look so much better. All my friends and family cannot believe the transformation in such a short time. I have had many personal trainers over the years, but never did I see and achieve the results that I have seen with Stephanie. Now I know what the term "train" actually is, you see results when done correctly. She has changed my life in such a big way and I just can not thank her enough. I feel younger, stronger and overall healthier than I ever have in my life. Stephanie, thank you so much and please don't ever change.

-Yusef K.

That's when I met Stephanie Brumfield. She was a true motivator, cheerleader and supporter of my cause. When I would have stopped, discouraged, on my own, Stephanie was right there pushing me through that one extra sit up, one more curl, one more crunch, and all the while encouraging me to keep on going and not be so hard on myself. She gave me nutritional information, motivational articles, personally kept in touch with me on our "off" days, all to keep me on track to my goal.

-Heather L. S.