Stuck in the gym? Get a plan built for you that finally works.
Online coaching to build muscle and strength: custom training, form feedback from Jake, and the clarity to know how to keep making progress for life.
Train at your own gym or home gym, on your schedule, from anywhere.
Going to the gym, but not sure what you’re doing?
Maybe you’ve been at it for a few months. Maybe for years, on and off. Either way, you show up and put in the work, and it isn’t adding up.
You pick exercises based on what’s open or what you saw online. You do sets of 10 until you’re tired, then do it again. You’ve started a few programs and dropped them. The advice online contradicts itself, so you’re never sure what’s right for you. And your back, knees, or shoulders ache, whether it’s from work, from lifting, or both.
It isn’t your genetics, and it isn’t a lack of effort. It’s how that effort is spent: the exercises you choose, how you do them, how hard you push, and how your training builds from week to week.
Sound familiar?
If a few of these hit a little too close, what you’re missing is a clear plan and a coach who can see what you can’t.
I loved the gym, but was stuck through high school and college
For years, I was the gym guy who didn’t look like one. Bodybuilding.com was my homepage. I knew more about training than my friends did, yet they were still bigger and stronger than me.
I stopped my sets with reps left in the tank because that’s what the articles said. I hurt my back every few months because my form wasn’t consistent. I went down the “functional training” rabbit hole and spent more time warming up than lifting. Eventually I decided I just didn’t have the genetics.
Things changed when I hired coaches. I learned to train hard, track every lift, and build the flexibility I was missing. In other words, I got very good at the basics. My only regret is not doing it sooner.
I used to be afraid to squat 185 or deadlift 225. Since then, I’ve deadlifted over 405 and pulled 495 on a trap bar, both without a belt, and pressed a pair of 120-pound dumbbells on the bench. I even power clean again, the same lift that wrecked my back in high school. Those weights don’t scare me anymore, and I have the confidence to keep going.
You’ve tried the usual fixes. Here’s why they haven’t worked.
Starting another program
A new program feels like progress for about two weeks. If you didn’t know why the last one stalled, the next one will stall the same way.
Saving more videos
You don’t need another saved exercise in your IG folder. You already know plenty. What’s missing is doing a few of them well, week after week.
Adding more sets
More volume feels productive, but without a clear way to progress, it’s just more fatigue. 3 sets of 15 at the same weight next month builds the same body you have now.
Piling on corrective drills
Band walks, foam rolling, and 20-minute warmups feel responsible. But they don’t build strength, and they eat the time and energy you need for the lifts that do.
Resting until the pain is gone
You take two weeks off, the ache fades, and it comes right back the first time you push. Meanwhile, the progress you’d made feels like it’s slipping away.
Chances are you’ve tried most of these.
Keep cycling through them, and a year from now you’ll be the same guy with the same numbers, wondering what you’re missing.
What works is simpler than any of them: the right exercises, done well, pushed hard, and progressed with intention, for months and years.
How Jake’s coaching works
Jake’s method rests on one idea: get stronger in good form, a little at a time, for as long as you train. Everything else exists to make that possible for your body. You’ll learn the reasoning behind every part of your plan up front, so in the gym you can just do the work.
Lift in positions that load your muscles, not your joints
Jake shows you how to position your skeleton at each stage of a lift, so the tension goes where it belongs.
When you lift with poor positioning, your joints end up taking the load your muscles should handle. Over time, that adds up as aches, tweaks, and stalled progress.
Think of it like a car with misaligned suspension: it still drives, but the wrong parts take the wear.
When the tension goes to your muscles instead of your joints, you can train hard without constant setbacks. Fewer setbacks means you stay consistent. And consistency, over months and years, is what builds lasting strength.
Build up to the big lifts
The right version of a lift lets you feel the muscle working and push it hard without your joints complaining. Squats and deadlifts have built strong people for generations, and they can work for you too, even if your back has made you wary of them. If a lift doesn’t feel right yet, we start with a version that does, like a heel-elevated goblet squat or a trap-bar deadlift. That version builds the strength and positions that get you back under the bar. You’ll still train the fundamentals: squats, hinges (like deadlifts), pushes, pulls, and core work, in the versions that suit you.
Build the flexibility each lift needs
If you can’t sit down into a full-depth squat, you can’t squat to full depth. Jake builds stretching and mobility work into your plan to restore the range of motion your lifts need, in the amount you need. More range of motion also means more muscle you can train.
Add weight or reps, workout after workout
This is what builds muscle. If you bench 135 pounds for 10 reps today and work your way up to 225 for 10, your chest will be bigger and stronger. Jake gives every exercise a progression, a simple rule for when to add weight and when to add reps, so you always know what to do next and keep progressing safely.
When something gets in the way
If a movement bothers you, tell Jake and send a video. He’ll adjust it: lighter weight, a different variation, or a swap. You keep training everything else instead of stopping altogether.
What online coaching with Jake looks like
You train at your own gym, on your own schedule.
Before your first workout
After you talk with Jake, he builds your first phase, a month-long training block, around your goals, your schedule, your equipment, and anything that’s been bothering you. It shows up in the app with a short guide to filming your lifts, and Jake explains the reasoning behind your plan, so you know why every exercise is there.
On training days
You open the app, and the day’s workout is waiting: every exercise, with a demo video, the weight, and the rep range. You train for 45 to 60 minutes and log your sets as you go. You film your lifts and send the videos to Jake.
The next day
Jake’s feedback is waiting within 24 hours: what looked good, and a cue or two for what to fix next time. When you hit the top of your rep range, the weight goes up next workout.
Between workouts
Questions come up between workouts, especially in the first few weeks. Maybe a cue in your program doesn’t make sense, your gym doesn’t have the machine you were given, or your deadlift felt off and you can’t tell why. Message Jake and hear back within 24 hours. If something starts to hurt, send a video, and he’ll adjust or swap the exercise so you keep training everything else. If it’s easier to talk something through, hop on a video call, up to once a week.
At the end of each month
You fill out a short check-in: your wins, what felt off, your sleep and food, and progress photos if you want. Jake uses it to build your next phase, and tells you what changed and why.
How filming works
Jake can’t coach what he can’t see, so your videos are how he checks your form and picks your cues. When you start, you’ll get a short guide to filming your lifts. In your first week, you film every exercise, so you and Jake are on the same page. After that, he’ll only ask for videos of the lifts you’re still working on. Once things click, send a video whenever you want a second look.
If you’re not willing to film your lifts, online coaching isn’t for you.
Results from Jake’s online clients
Jake built his own physique with the same method he’ll use with you.
Watch Dennis
“[Squatting] felt forbidden... Now I’m going to throw 275 on the bar next week. It feels insane in two months.”
Two months after starting with Jake, Dennis was squatting his college-era weights again and benching for the first time in years. Before that, he’d spent five years re-injuring his hip, back, and shoulder, piling on rehab drills, long warmups, and “hundreds of cues” until he was afraid of the bar. Jake stripped it back: fewer cues, exercises that suited him, and a simple progression.
“I’ve been the most pain-free [in] the past two months of [working with Jake], most pain-free I’ve been in years.”
Watch Joseph
“A year ago I literally could not do back squats.”
“A year ago I literally could not do back squats... there were three, four years I couldn’t do anything, and now I’m repping out 100 pounds for 20 reps, which is pretty crazy.”
Watch Chris
“Prior to coming to you, I was thinking about kind of quitting the gym.”
Chris’s shoulders went from his weakest point to his favorite, with visible definition and the strength to press overhead. He’d been making up his own workouts and was close to quitting. Over about four and a half months, training in gyms across Europe, he followed Jake’s plan of strength work plus stretching that filled his gaps.
“Honestly, that’s the proud muscle group for me... I can now lift weight over my head and I can see the definition.”
“As long as I was consistent and showing up and I did the workout, I was getting great results.”
Watch Dominique
“I’m stronger than I think.”
Training three short days a week with Jake’s plan, Dominique learned her way around the gym and started adding weight. Before that, random workouts online felt overwhelming, and she often stayed on the outskirts of the gym, not daring to touch the free weights.
“I knew I wanted to get back in the gym, but I didn’t know where to start... it gets overwhelming, honestly.”
“The little wins, like, okay, let me try to up this by five pounds... it builds your confidence, because you’re like, I’m stronger than I think.”
“You made a plan that fit me perfectly and specifically.”
“I’ve always wanted to work out... get a little bit stronger, more flexible, but I never knew exactly what I needed to do to maximize my performance.”
“You made a plan that fit me perfectly and specifically... I feel like a lot of trainers have maybe two or three plans and just ship them off to different people.”
“Simple. You’re not complicating things.”
Marco had worked with one of the top flexibility coaches in the industry, but the program was too intense and threw too much at him at once alongside his own training. Once Jake gave him a simpler routine built around more passive stretches, he stuck with it, and his flexibility finally started to improve.
“Simple. You’re not complicating things. You’re not throwing 300 things at once... If you need to make a change, change one thing.”
“...okay, this guy knows what he’s doing.”
“I never dealt with somebody online. I think that’s always scary... I was like, is this guy for real? ... That first talk [we had] brought a lot of peace. I was like, okay, this guy knows what he’s doing.”
Same method, in person
These clients train with Jake in Cambridge. The approach is the same one you’d follow online.
From skinny-fat to lean and muscular
Wen trained once a week with Jake and twice a week on his own with Jake’s programming, adding weight or reps every workout. Over three years, he went from average to ripped, with no extreme diet and no endless cardio.
From struggling with a 45-pound bar to a 315-pound deadlift in about four months
Tom had tried CrossFit, couch-to-5Ks, and online and app programs before he started training with Jake twice a week. In his first session, he struggled to deadlift a 45-pound bar. About four months later, he deadlifted 315.
“His approach is simple yet effective.”
“Jake is the best there is!! I’ve been training with him for close to a year now and I have never felt better. He really tailors his workout plans to each client and their fitness goals. His approach is simple yet effective. Could not recommend him more if you are looking for a personal trainer!”
What you get
A new custom phase every month. Exercises chosen to fit how you move and the equipment you have, with a progression for each one, so you always know what to do next. Each new phase is shaped by your monthly check-in.
Workouts built around your schedule. Usually 2 to 4 days a week. Jake adjusts your plan when you travel, change gyms, or have a short week.
Form feedback on video. Jake reviews your lifts and replies within 24 hours with simple cues that change how a lift feels.
Strength and flexibility in one plan. The flexibility work your lifts need, built into your workouts instead of tacked on.
Everything in one app. Your program, a demo video for every exercise, your workout log and lift history, and messages with Jake.
Support between workouts. Message Jake anytime, including about nutrition, and hear back within 24 hours. Video calls when you need them, up to once a week.
You’ll need a commercial gym or a well-equipped home gym, and a phone to film your sets.
I know what it’s like to feel held back by your body.
Today, I lift pain-free, I’m stronger than ever, and can do heavy barbell lifts without fear.
Now I coach people to do the same, with a clear plan from day one instead of years of trial and error.
I have a B.S. in kinesiology from UMass Amherst, and I’m an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and NASM Stretching & Flexibility Coach. I’ve also spent thousands of dollars on books, courses, coaching, and seminars to learn the best ways to build strength, muscle, and flexibility. I’m still learning today, and I put the best things I learn and stress-test myself straight into my clients’ training.
How to get started
Fill out a short questionnaire.
Share your goals, training history, any injuries, and what equipment your gym has.
Hear from Jake.
He’ll review your answers and reach out within 24 hours, however you prefer, to talk through your goals and whether you’re a good fit for each other. Talking with Jake is free, and you only pay once you’ve both decided to work together.
Start your first three months.
You’ll get the app, your first phase, and a guide to filming your lifts. Your first workout starts the 14-day guarantee.
Choose how to keep going.
After three months, continue month to month or stop. No notice needed.
Why three months?
One month is a quick program. Training is a commitment, and it takes at least three months to see significant results. In your first phase, you get your form dialed in and learn how hard to push. By your third, you’ve added weight and reps across every exercise, your lifts feel solid, and you understand how your training builds from one phase to the next. That’s when you know how to make the gym work for you, and you’ll have the clarity to keep going.
Pricing
Your first 3 months
Three custom phases, video feedback on your form, monthly check-ins, and unlimited messaging with Jake, paid once up front.
The first three months are the most hands-on part of coaching. Jake builds your first plan from scratch, reviews every exercise from your first week, and works through any early troubleshooting as your training takes shape.
After that
Your first three months don’t renew automatically. If you want to keep your momentum going, you move to month to month, with a new phase built for you every month and Jake still in your corner. From there, cancel anytime before your next billing date.
The 14-day guarantee
Try Jake’s coaching for two weeks. If it’s not right for you, for any reason, ask for a refund within 14 days of your first workout and get every dollar back.
FAQs
Is it really personalized?
Yes. Your plan is built from your questionnaire, your conversation with Jake, and how you move on video. Each new phase is shaped by your check-in and your logged workouts, so no two clients get the same program.
How is this different from an app or a program?
An app can’t watch your reps. Jake reviews your videos, gives you cues for what he sees, and changes the plan when something isn’t working.
What if I’m self-conscious about filming at the gym?
To be honest, no one is watching you like you think. You’ll only film every exercise in your first week. After that, you’ll only film the lifts Jake wants to help you improve. Prop your phone on a bench or the floor, record your set, and send it. It takes seconds.
Is this right for me if I already work out?
Yes. Coaching helps if you’re training but stuck, unsure of your technique on certain lifts, or not sure what to change. If you’re an experienced lifter who’s stalled, Jake helps you break through by trying different exercise variations, cues, and progression models until you find what works best for you. Jake himself, for example, makes his best progress on weighted pull-ups by keeping his sets at five reps or fewer.
What if I’m a beginner, or not flexible at all?
That’s a fine place to start. Your first phase uses versions of each movement that suit you today, with a demo video for every exercise, and flexibility is built into your plan. Strength and flexibility are skills you build.
How much time do I need?
Most clients train 2 to 4 days a week, for 45 to 60 minutes. Only have 30 minutes? Jake can make that work too. Share your schedule in the questionnaire, and your workouts are built around the time you have.
What equipment do I need?
Access to a gym. A commercial gym or a well-equipped home gym both work. List your equipment in the questionnaire, and Jake builds your plan around it.
Can I keep training while I travel?
Yes. Chris trained with Jake’s plan in gyms across Europe. Tell Jake where you’ll be, and he’ll adjust your workouts to the equipment you’ll have.
What if something hurts?
Tell Jake and send a video. He’ll adapt the exercise or swap it so you can keep training around it. This isn’t a promise to diagnose or treat an injury. If you need medical care, speak with a qualified healthcare professional.
My back hurts when I squat or deadlift. Can I still do them?
Most likely, yes. Jake starts you with versions of each lift that feel good, then builds you back up to the barbell as your strength and positions improve. Dennis went from years of avoiding heavy squats to squatting his college numbers again in two months. As with everything here, this isn’t medical treatment; if you need care for an injury, see a qualified professional.
Is nutrition included?
Yes, as guidance. Message Jake about food as often as you like, and he’ll give you his advice. He doesn’t write meal plans.
What happens after three months?
You decide. Keep going at $200/month with a new phase each month, or stop. No notice needed.
How long will it take to notice progress?
It varies from person to person, but progress usually comes in stages. First, you’ll build confidence in your technique and learn to feel tension in the right muscles. Within the first few months, your body will start to look and feel better. Over the following months, you’ll notice bigger gains in strength and muscle.
Can I train with Jake in person?
Yes, if you’re near Cambridge, MA. See personal training
Where this can take you
A few months from now, you walk into your gym knowing exactly what you’re working on and why. Your lifts feel solid instead of uncertain, and the weight on the bar keeps going up. Your clothes fit differently. Carrying groceries, hiking, or a pickup game feels easy.
You’ve become someone who trains consistently, with a system you understand, and that’s what keeps the progress coming.
Tell Jake what you want to achieve, and start your first three months with a 14-day money-back guarantee behind you.