Past and Present Clients

“When you joint I-FAST, you not only get a gym – you get amazing progress and results that I haven’t been able to achieve at any other gym or with any personal trainer. I always know that the I-FAST team has my best interests in mind above all else!”

-Amber M.

“Aside from the obvious perks of weight and size loss, my quality of life has improved tremendously.  After about a month and half, I was experiencing greater range of motion and a decrease in lower back pain. By the end of three months, I was having no lower back trouble a very little neck discomfort. These were problems I thought I would have to live with – but apparently not!”

- Jen R.

“I can’t thank Mike and Bill enough for everything they have done for me. I am not training to compete, but I am working on getting into the best shape I possibly can. After working out at IFAST for 3 months I am much stronger, I have better posture, and I have much more energy.

I have always been active and enjoy working out, but it wasn’t until I joined IFAST that I truly understood how I should be working out. Mike and Bill’s training knowledge is amazing! We are truly lucky to have such an amazing team right here in Indianapolis!!

My favorite thing about IFAST is that they don’t treat me like a girl. That may sound funny, but it is true. They push me just like they push the guys in the gym. They make sure I am challenging my body to perform the best it can.

Thanks guys! You are the best!!”

- Ally D.

“Prior to visiting Mike Robertson and Bill Hartman at their I-FAST facility, I’d been at the mercy of chronic pain for the last four years of my life. An injury shortened college football career had left me with an ailing back, creaky knees, and a pair of aching shoulders, all of which required professional medical attention. After three major, yet unsuccessful surgeries and multiple ineffective bouts with all measures of physical therapy, I searched desperately for an answer to solve the conundrum that was my painful, 22 year old body. It was during this time that I discovered some of the amazing work Mike and Bill were doing up in Indianapolis.”I’d been a huge fan of Mike’s before I ever met the man – mainly through his outstanding collection of articles at T-Nation.com and his comprehensive Bulletproof Knees manual. His approach to corrective exercise had piqued my interest, but I’ll be the first to admit my skepticism considering what I’d been through. It was only after a glowing recommendation from T-Nation contributing editor Nate Green that I realized a trip up to Indy was essential, especially given that I’d exhausted every other conceivable option for getting healthy.”Mike was extremely helpful in setting up a time for me to come in for my assessment, and with a few quick emails back and forth I was ready to depart and, more importantly, get fixed.

“What immediately struck me about Mike and Bill’s gym after first arriving was how different it felt from the large scale“fitness centers”I was accustomed to in my last few years of lifting, reminding me much more of when I was training at Georgia Tech to compete as an elite level college athlete. At I-FAST, its apparent that the only thing that matters to Mike and Bill is getting results, not posting HD televisions all across the gym floor.

“Though I’d done a fair share of reading and independent study concerning what ailments might have been  giving my body trouble, I learned more in my first five minutes of the assessment process with Mike than in months of perusing all levels of literature on the subject. ‘That’s why your knee hurts, right there,’ I remember Mike saying as he examined my faulty hip alignment. I can’t possibly quantify how much time I’d spent in doctor’s offices over the years, waiting patiently to hear an explanation for my ongoing knee pain. Not only had Mike diagnosed a major contributing factor to why my knee was giving me so muchtrouble, he caught something that no doctor or physical therapist that I’d visited had ever thought to check. Even more impressive, he could provide a solution to my problem.

“After an in-depth assessment, Mike sent me on my way and delivered my first program in only a day or two. Without boring anybody with specifics, I’ve followed Mike’s programming for the last four months and the results have been nothing short of staggering. Unquestionably, this is the best I’ve felt since I was competing in high school sports- nagging pains are long gone, I’m actually getting stronger after months of stagnation, and my movement patterns are better than ever.

“My favorite aspect, though, is the significant improvements to my physique all while abolishing chronic pain from my joints. I’ve always been under the impression that one can’t make serious body composition improvements while following corrective programs. Thankfully I was dead wrong here – Mike’s programming has made me bigger, stronger, leaner, and pain-free all simultaneously.

“While every physical improvement I’ve made over the past four months has made me a firm believer in what !-FAST is all about, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Mike’s greatest asset as a coach – his desire to improve peoples lives. I’ve trained under Olympic athletes and alongside top 10 NFL Draft picks, but those experiences pale in comparison to my experience with Mike Robertson at I-FAST. I honestly believe that Mike wants success from my training more than even I do, and this is reflected every time we speak. He is the consummate coach – whether standing along side me or regularly keeping in touch from over 600 miles away.

“Mike, I can’t express in words how thankful I am for all the guidance you’ve provided. You’ve settled the worries of myself, along with those of my family, when concerning my health and I look forward to working with you through I-FAST for a long time to come. Best of luck with the gym.”

“The reason I contacted Mike was because I had been having increasing hip and low back pains for the last 2 years. It started as what I thought was IT Band tightness or soreness, and gradually over time worked its way up into my low back. The warm-ups were worse and longer than my actual workouts. I was also having a lot of upper back tightness and neck pains, where it felt like I just couldn’t get it popped into place.

“I went to 3 different chiropractors over that span, and spent over $2,500 dollars in adjustments and massages and it just kept getting worse. I was convinced I needed to be stretching more (and I had been), but it just didn’t seem to be helping much. I had been going through a stretching routine for about 4-5 months which did help some, but nothing for the time I was putting into it. It was hit or miss; some days I would be fairly flexible (for me anyways) and some I couldn’t even get into position to get a stretch because it felt like my back and hips were out of place. I got to the point where I could not even sit for more than 15 minutes without extreme low back, glute and neck pain. I had to do something.

“While I was looking for ways to alleviate some of the pain, I came across a few articles by Mike over on T-Mag but I was still at a loss on where to start; what stretches to do for my problem, how hard to push the stretches, how often, etc.  It was a lot of info to learn and I didn’t have time – I needed relief RIGHT THEN, so I emailed Mike for his help. He told me what he thought the problem was and gave me some rather simple stretches to do to fix the problem. Some I was trying to do already, but I was doing them wrong. A few simple adjustments and within a week I noticed some relief. By week two I was seeing some more progress and by week four, ALL hip and back pain was GONE! What’s more, my upper back and neck pain cleared up too! I thought for sure I needed to be stretching my upper back, but the pain was just working up from the hips.

“After 4 weeks, my previously exhaustive warm-up routine for my hips was dramatically reduced to a few stretches and I was ready to go in under 10 minutes (this is down from about 30-40 minutes – No joke!).  There was no hip pain when squatting, or after, and it was much easier to achieve depth. The increased ROM has also helped me get into a better position to DL and get a better arch my bench which was non-existent before.

“All that is great, but I cannot begin to tell you about the relief from the constant hip and low back pain from squatting and pulling heavy week after week. I was seriously considering hanging up the chucks because it was getting so bad. I felt way too old and decrepit to be as young as I am. Mike I can’t thank you enough for your help man!”

- Sam Byrd, Competitive Powerlifter
All Time 198 Squat Record of 1,050 pounds
All Time 220 Squat Record of 1,063 pounds
** 1063 squat , 611 bench, and 733 deadlift for 2408 Total

“Mike Robertson’s honest and dedicated approach to coaching made him the ideal choice for someone like me; an athlete working toward a future in her sport while battling the ghosts of injuries past.

Although I was mildly skeptical about distance coaching, my concern was immediately remedied by the thorough and personalized attention I received. I was impressed and amazed by how quickly Mike delivered a program, and how quickly that program delivered results. Within one month of working with Mike, I was seeing incredible improvements in my mobility, speed, strength and body composition. I posted personal and team bests at each stage of fitness and skill testing in my collegiate pre-season, and with help from Mike, went on to play my strongest field hockey season ever. This was only the beginning.

“Mike matches the work ethic he inspires in his clients and with under his guidance and encouragement this season, I was honored to be named team captain, as well as the 2008 Carleton University Women’s Field Hockey MVP. What sets Mike apart from other coaches is his ability to generate independence and empower the athletes he works with. As an elite athlete himself, he understands not only the physiological, but the underscoring mental processes that produce results, and affect athletes in their daily lives. His good humor, professionalism and focus make him a pleasure to work with and a driving force behind my ever-improving performance in sport, and lifelong pursuit for flourishing health.”

- Jaya Dixit

“I first met Mike at a lifting forum towards the end of 2003. At that time I was taking a break from bodybuilding training to give strength training a try. But I was suffering from a myriad of upper and lower body injuries that were hampering my progress. One of my injuries was a shoulder injury caused by less than stellar posture. Overhead pressing movements, chin-ups and pull-ups caused me a lot of pain and were practically impossible for me to do.

“Mike made several programs for me to help address these issues. The first program was geared towards helping to improve my posture. The two others were strength training programs which incorporated powerlifting elements.

“I made some nice strength gains while working with Mike despite my injuries and decided to stick with strength training after finishing Mike’s programs. Eventually I decided to go headlong into powerlifting and am currently preparing for my first meet. I credit my work with Mike for helping to get me back on the road to lifting health.

“Over the course of the four to five months I worked with Mike he patiently answered all of my questions. He never told me he was too busy for me despite his hectic schedule. He is an officer and a gentlemen and I have nothing but the highest respect and regard for him.”

- Maureen Shafer

“Mike wrote my workout before the Omaha Collegiate nationals where I placed 6th overall, and had the 2nd best bench (325 pounds) in the nation in the 148lb weight class. You’ve been a great training partner, coach, and friend in my powerlifting career.”

- Brett Clark
Ball State University Powerlifter

“From the year that I was with him Mike was a WONDERFUL strength coach. I came in as a scared little freshman and he not only took me under his wing and watched out for me, but he also made sure I got what I needed in the weight room to make me a better competitor on the floor. Mike was known for his individual guidance to my teammates and myself. If it was our allotted time to train he would work with each one of us individually, making sure we were doing the exercises correctly so we could get the most out of each rep. This is something that rarely happened after he left.

“Mike also took us up into the (Biomechanics) lab a few days a week to help us maximize our vertical. He was always looking for ways to make us better and improve our abilities. Not only was Mike great at what he did for us, he made it personal. He used to make it out to almost all of our home games and would read the internet or the newspaper to check and see how we did when we played on the road.

“Furthermore, he got to know each one of us individually and still, four years later, we keep in touch and he checks up on us to see how we’re doing. He is a great motivator, friend, coach and mentor. I am convinced he will touch even more people and have even more success in the future! Thanks Mike!!!”

- Melissa Oliver
Ball State University Volleyball Player

“I gained 8lbs of lean muscle mass after one year of working with Mike on his weight training program designed specifically for my body structure! All 100% drug-free! Eight pounds is a tremendous gain for anyone-especially me since I am tall and thin. His plans are well thought out and easy to follow. If I did have a question or needed anything else, he was easily accessible and quick to respond. I competed in Figure competitions for 3 years before I was introduced to Mike and always finished in the bottom 2/3rds. After working with Mike I took home the 2nd place trophy in the Midwestern States Figure competition! Mike was there to cheer me on. If it wasn’t for him I still would be following the “workout of the month” and getting no where. Thanks Mike!”

- Kimberly Pais

Fellow Professionals

“Mike Robertson could very well be the Clark Kent of the fitness industry. Quiet. Unassuming. Almost goes unnoticed. But underneath that quiet demeanor is a world class coach armed with almost superhuman skills and knowledge on almost every aspect of fitness training.

Definitely a name that’s on my radar. And on my personal advisory team. Mike not only has the knowledge, but he can actually apply it in the real world.”

- Alwyn Cosgrove
www.AlwynCosgrove.com

“Mike Robertson has established himself as one of the top strength coaches and corrective exercise specialists in the world. His knowledge of the musculo-skeletal system is staggering. Yet even more impressive is his ability to improve the movement and function of the human body. From improving knee pain and shoulder weakness – to lifting bigger weights, Mike always has a fresh and new way of looking at the body.”

- Dr. John Berardi, CSCS
Adjunct Professor: University of Texas
Author: Precision Nutrition, Gourmet Nutrition, Scrawny to Brawny
President: Science Link, Inc., Translating Research Into Results

www.JohnBerardi.com, www.PrecisionNutrition.com, www.ScrawnytoBrawny.com

“I have to admit; I’m somewhat of a snob for recommending other fitness professionals. Very simply, I’m not impressed very easily. The simple fact that I’ve made two information products, co-authored ten articles, attended several conferences, and chat almost daily WITH MIKE ROBERTSON speaks volumes about his abilities as a coach. Mike has a tremendous ability to make the complex seem simple; if you aren’t reading his stuff, you’re missing out.”

- Eric Cressey, Performance Enhancement Specialist – Boston, MA
www.EricCressey.com
www.CresseyPerformance.com

“I had the pleasure of meeting Mike at Dr. John Berardi’s G-Flux Seminar in Chicago. I had read a few of Mike’s articles on the internet and was impressed by his knowledge as well as his ability to articulate it. But, it wasn’t until I had the chance to sit down and talk shop with him that I was able to really appreciate his passion for educating himself as well as others. I feel that Mike will continue to be a leader in the Fitness Industry for a very long time.”

- Joe Dowdell
Owner, Peak Performance NYC
www.PeakPerformanceNYC.com

“I’ve been in this business for a long time and it’s not every day that some one comes along and makes me sit up and take notice. When I first started reading Mike Robertsons stuff a few years back I was seriously impressed. Mike has an incredible knowledge of the human body and ton of practical experience to go along with it. I honestly wouldn’t hesitate for a second to recommend anything with Mike’s name on it to those looking to improve their strength and conditioning knowledge. On top of that, and more importantly to me, Mike is a first class, stand up human being.”

- Jason Ferruggia, Performance Enhancement Specialist
www.J1Strength.com
www.CombatConditioningSecrets.com

“After all our communication via e-mail, and Mike’s selfless coaching for myself and my athletes, I must say he’s one of the most genuine Coaches in our field.

“Any time I have a question or need your assistance, Mike is always available and giving. Best of all, he’s ego free! For someone who knows as much as he does he sure keeps it quiet! Bottom line is I want to thank Mike for all his guidance since we’ve first spoken and I can say with absolute confidence that any athlete or Coach who can receive training from him should jump on the opportunity ASAP!”

- Zach Even – Esh, Strength Coach
www.ZachEven-Esh.com

“One of the things that sets Mike apart is his ability to ‘see the training process through several different lenses.’ I think this is due to several factors: his extensive formal education, his power-lifting background, his work experience in the rehab setting and his training of athletes. Additionally, Mike has developed a network of some of the best people in the fitness/rehab/athletic training industry that he is able to utilize as a valuable resource whenever needed. All of this allows Mike to take a holistic view of training, rather than focusing on only one style or variable and being blinded to the others. Personally, I feel that this holistic view will result in long-term success through the implementation of a training program designed to maximize benefit while minimizing risk. Not every person or athlete has the same training needs, and being able to view training through multiple lenses makes it easier to see what is needed for each individual.”

- Ryan Smith, D.C., A.R.T.
Chiropractic Physician and Sports Injury/Rehab Specialist
www.chirocolumbus.com
www.EliteFTS.com

“Mike Robertson has one of the sharpest minds in the industry and has a unique ability to make difficult concepts sound simple. The industry is flooded with poor products and information, but you can always count on Mike to constantly put out quality, useful and innovative articles and DVD’s. He is one of the first guys I turn to when I need assistance to better help my athletes.”

- Brijesh Patel
Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning, College of the Holy Cross
Co-founder and Partner of S B Coaches College, LLC
www.sbcoachescollege.com