by Glenn Proctor



HUNTERSVILLE – Staying fit is a year-round activity.

Which means it’s also a year-round business for those involved in helping others stay fit and healthy. And because convenience is an issue in most people’s daily lives, it’s an extra benefit when a fitness trainer comes to your home, office or neighborhood.

That business model is the premise behind Lake Norman Mobile Fitness, a year-old business owned by David Crawford, 45, a certified trainer for a dozen years.

“A gym is not necessary to get an effective workout,” said Crawford, a Huntersville resident who got the fitness bug while serving four years in the Navy.

“I can consistently produce an effective workout with equipment and methods that I can bring to your home and only need a small space. A gym can be an intimidating environment for seniors or those physically limited.”

Crawford’s training is based on what he learned about his own body as he got older.

“After bodybuilding and using supplements and being diagnosed with high cholesterol, I realized that my body was in decline at too young an age. While in the Navy, negative behavior and aggression influenced my decision to become physically fit. The natural evolution of aging dictates the level of physical stress and the fitness style that our bodies go through.”

Crawford recommends resistance bands and balance and core movements for people older than 40.

“Your body cannot sustain a 20-year-old’s workout regimen. Free weights are obsolete for those over 40 because gravity and weight will damage your body.

“We must all adapt to the environment and our age.”

Which is one reason part of his business is focused on seniors, a population that Crawford believes is sometimes neglected when it comes to fitness.

Crawford, a North Mecklenburg High School graduate who attended Guilford Tech for radiology certification, said he developed an exercise chair called The Stabilizer. That system, he says, helps people maintain everyday life functions and mobility, such as getting out of bed, getting out of a car or getting up from a chair or sofa.

“The Stabilizer chair provides a system that creates a kinetic balance. I have seen over-medicated and misinformed seniors. My goal is to help them take control of their lives.”

Crawford, who has been a personal trainer for the Johnston YMCA for 12 years and is now a community fitness trainer for the Cabarrus Health Alliance, is also certified under the Silver Sneakers program for seniors.

Like many individuals, Crawford has his weak moments with food. For him, it’s fried fish, strawberry shortcake and peach cobbler.

So far, Lake Norman Mobile Fitness is just Crawford and a business manager.

“It’s not about the size of the business,” he said. “It’s about helping people understand how to lead a balanced and healthy lifestyle.”

Tips for staying active

1. Walk at least 30 minutes a day.

2. Prepare home-cooked meals (shop for groceries, prep and cook) instead of eating packaged and microwaveable food with little nutritional value.

3. Use 10 minutes at the beginning of each day to control your time, energy and stress level.

4. Use proper clothing and shoes for each level of activity. Use proper shoes for work to preserve joints. Keep athletic shoes with you at all times.

5. Have a spiritual connection with your body. Understand the workload and stress level that your body endures each day.