Personal Trainer · Lancaster, PA
Tired… and tired of feeling you should be further along?
You can feel better in your body. And more confident in it.
Get the energy you want to give to your loved ones.
P.S. – Include yourself.
Get a real plan to lose weight, build strength, and feel more alive.
Real guidance
Real accountability
Real support
In private. No crowds. No judgment. Ever.
No pressure. No commitment. Just clarity.
★★★★★ 4.9 on Google · 35+ local reviews
Private 1-on-1 personal training in Lancaster, PA, since 2012
Private 1-on-1 studio
★★★★★
“I didn’t have the confidence to go to a crowded gym. This was the perfect solution.”
— Lisa, 57, Lancaster, PA
You didn’t fail.
You were failed.
You did what everyone says you should do. Gym. Diet.
You tried. Really tried.
You gave it real effort — more than once.
Along the way, something shifted.
It stopped feeling like the strategy wasn’t working.
It started feeling like proof that you were the problem.
It seems to work for other people, and the die-hards tell you:
“You just didn’t want it enough. You didn’t work hard enough. No pain, no gain.”
So you blame yourself.
But the truth is
You didn’t fail.
That approach failed you.
The gym
Gives you access to equipment.
No guidance on what to do with it. No one cares when you don’t show up.
Diets
Give you rules to follow.
Designed for people who can spend all day in the kitchen, or restructure their entire lives around “the rules.”
The hidden problem everyone ignores
Mindset
No one helps you put all the pieces together in a way that makes sense for you.
No one reminds you, when it gets hard or life gets in the way, why this matters to you. No one pushes you to keep going.
No one helps you counteract those negative voices in your head.
No one helps you break the cycle of “I’ll start again tomorrow. Ok… Monday. Well, next week definitely. Someday I’m gonna…”
You weren’t missing willpower.
You weren’t missing discipline.
You weren’t missing desire.
You were missing a complete solution, and someone in your corner to help you achieve your goals.
Imagine…
Not crashing on the couch after work, but actually having energy left over at the end of the day — for you.
Springing up a flight of stairs without the slightest hint of being winded.
Not dreading the family photo — actually wanting to be in it.
Saying yes to the invites you used to turn down — the hikes, the walks, the weekend plans — and having others keep up with you for a change.
Putting on your favorite outfit and — not just feeling comfortable in it — but actually good in it.
Being fully present in the moments that matter — not in your head about how you look or how tired you are.
Being around for the people you love — for longer.
Now imagine…
Having a real plan to get there. Knowing exactly what to do, step by step, with someone in your corner making sure you do get there.
★★★★★
“I walked into Cause and Effects Fitness frustrated and terrified. Frustrated that my body did not reflect the strong, confident person I knew I was. Terrified that I would fail to ever become that person. I’ve lost weight — but I’ve gained so much more: confidence, self-respect, and a new love for clothes shopping.”
Amy Troyer, 48
Professor · Lancaster, PA
No pressure. No commitment. Just clarity.
Coaching Lancaster since 2012
Hi, I’m Coach Chad
Personal Trainer · Lancaster, PA
I was in that hole.
I hid myself in baggy clothes. I felt embarrassed by my body and didn’t want other people to see me.
I avoided mirrors, even window reflections, because I felt ashamed of how I had let myself go.
I turned down invites from family and friends. I didn’t want to feel like a fool when I couldn’t keep up, or let them see the shape I was in and take photos of it.
I tried to climb out the hard way.
I did exactly what you probably did. I joined a gym. I tried a diet a friend swore by. At the gym, I copied what I saw other people doing and hurt myself several times. The diet just added stress to my already overwhelmed life.
Join a gym →
Try a diet →
Give up →
Blame myself
↻ Repeat. For far too long.
I was tired of starting over.
So I stopped copying and learned from experts what really works: exercise, nutrition, and mindset, and how the pieces fit together.
Then it finally worked
I caught my reflection in a store window, and — I actually smiled.
For the first time in my life, I felt comfortable in my own skin.
I wanted to help people make that same journey.
So I got certified as a personal trainer, nutrition coach, and behavior change specialist, and went to work at a big-box gym in Lancaster, PA.
Clients felt so out of place that I’d take them into a racquetball court so no one was looking at them. That told me everything.
My boss there, on day one:
“Just make people sweat. They won’t know if they’re getting a good workout. But they’ll think they are if they’re sweating.”
So I built the opposite of a gym:
The Un-Gym.
A welcoming place where you get a coach to guide you through a real plan, hold you accountable, and support you along the way to your goals.
The solution I wish existed when I started.
Now I give you a hand up out of that hole.
Schedule a call with me and we’ll talk about how I can help you reach your goals.
– Coach Chad
No pressure. No commitment. Just clarity.
ACE Certified
Personal Trainer
PN1 Certified
Nutrition Coach
Behavior Change
Specialist
2012
Coaching Lancaster
for over a decade
What changes when you’re not doing this alone
01
Guidance
You get a plan built for your body, your schedule, and your life.
Not a template.
Not a guess.
A clear path forward — and someone walking it with you.
02
Accountability
You stop showing up? You get a call.
Life gets crazy? We adjust the plan.
You don’t start over.
You keep going.
Beating the “when things calm down” trap
“While doing some work around the house, my husband fell off of a ladder and broke his leg. On top of my already hectic schedule with work and kids, life got even more chaotic. Instead of using that as an excuse to quit and get back to it ‘when things calm down’ like I would in the past, Coach Chad adapted everything to fit into my life and allowed me to continue my weight loss journey while still taking care of my family.”
Christine, 52
Mountville, PA
−15.6 lbs
−2 in. waist
Still going
03
Support
When you’re having a rough day and just want to sit on the couch and eat ice cream rather than working out — that’s when having a personal trainer matters most.
When self-doubt creeps in, you have a coach in your corner to counteract the negative voices. Someone who believes in you. Someone to remind you:
You can do this. Remember why this is important to you — let’s push forward.
Avoiding the stress derail
“In the past, work stress or feeling overwhelmed would have derailed all of my efforts. Having the guidance and support of a coach, I saw them as things to work around rather than an excuse to give up.”
Casey, 43
Lititz, PA
−21.3 lbs
And counting
The Un-Gym experience vs. traditional gyms
| Traditional gym | The Un-Gym: Cause and Effects Fitness |
|---|---|
| Crowded, noisy, intimidating | A private, welcoming space. Coach Chad is expecting you. |
| Equipment, yes. Education on using it, no. | A plan guided by Coach Chad: the most effective and safest exercises for you. |
| No one calls if you don’t show up. | Held accountable for taking action, and supported through every hiccup. |
We welcome you here. You don’t have to “be in shape” or “be” anything before you walk through our door. We make sure you’re comfortable while you’re here. When you walk out, you’ll be confident on your path to your goals.
No pressure. No commitment. Just clarity.
Your path to achieving your goals
1
Book a call
Pick a time.
Say “Hello” when we call.
~15 minutes to greater clarity.
2
Get your custom roadmap
Together, we build a real plan that fits your life, fills in the missing pieces, and leads you to your goals.
3
Achieve your goals
With accountability and support. Coach Chad guides you through your custom plan, keeps you on track, and keeps you motivated, so you consistently move forward.
No pressure. No judgment. Just a conversation.
When you click “Book call,” here is exactly what will happen:
You’ll be taken to a page that shows my calendar.
You pick a date and time that works best for you.
I call you then.
All you do is answer and say “Hello.” Everything else flows from there.
No sales pitch. Just a conversation.
You tell me
Where you are, where you want to be, and what you’re hoping for.
I tell you honestly
Whether I think I can help, how, and what that would look like.
No commitment. Just clarity on your next steps, and whether we may be a good fit for you.
P.S. – Your spouse, partner, or person is welcome on the call, and through every step of your journey.
Don’t take my word for it.
These are real people — people who started exactly where you are. Here’s what became possible for them.
3
pushups on her
62nd birthday
Miriam, 61, wanted to lose some weight and have more strength and energy to keep up with her family, travel, and enjoy her retirement.
And she wanted to do something by her 62nd birthday that she had never been able to do before… a pushup.
On her 62nd birthday, she didn’t do 1. She did 3!
She told me she never believed it was possible — until she did it!
Amy, 48
−100 lbs
“Every stinking ride.”
Amy cried during our first meeting, describing a family activity she’d learned to dread. Months later, she walked in with a smile and a story about that very same activity.
Read the full story
Amy, 48, cried as she told me during our first meeting how embarrassed she felt because she couldn’t fit in the seats on certain rides at Hersheypark.
She lost 100 lbs.
Then one day she walked in for her session with a smile from ear to ear. She told me she went to Hersheypark with her family and “got on every stinking ride and never had to think twice about whether I would fit.”
After one of the roller coasters, she was looking for the photo of herself on the ride and couldn’t find it. Her daughter burst out laughing: “Mom, you’re right there!”
She didn’t even recognize herself.
Now it was my turn to cry. I fought back tears, but will admit a few escaped, as I told her:
“Amy, this is you now. You have to get used to it.”
Dave, 56
Stairs, no stopping
“I feel more human.”
When Dave first shook my hand, something in the way he held himself told me more than he said out loud. Three weeks into training, he pulled me aside and confessed something he’d been hiding the whole time — a secret routine before every single session.
Read the full story
When Dave, 56, walked into the studio for the first time, I noticed that when he shook my hand, he leaned his body back and twisted his neck to look me in the eye.
He told me that he wanted to lose some weight, but beyond that he wanted to move better and not get winded doing everyday things, like going up steps.
About 3 weeks into his training, Dave pulled me aside before we started his workout and said:
“I never told you this before, but I had a routine where I always made sure I got here early because I would go up the stairs and straight into the men’s room to huff and puff for 5 minutes or so until I caught my breath. Then I would come in to see you.”
Smiling, while nudging me with his elbow, he said: “Today I zipped right up the steps — even skipped a few — and walked right in here.”
3 months into his training, Dave noticed that he had been standing taller, and could easily look people in the eye while talking to them, without straining.
To emphasize his point, Dave grabbed my hand to shake it, looked me in the eye, and said:
“I can’t thank you enough for this. I feel more human.”
I honestly didn’t know what to say.
Susan, 59
10-mile hike
She led the way.
Susan had already lost 120 pounds, but she still turned down hikes with her adult children because she was afraid of holding them back. Then she walked into a session with a smile and a story that completely changed the way she saw herself.
Read the full story
When Susan, 59, first met with me, she had already lost 120 lbs. on her own.
She was at “normal” weight, but she still felt held back by her body. She wanted to hike with her adult kids, but she kept declining their invitations because she was afraid she would hold everyone back.
She walked into one of her sessions, smiled, and said, “I have something to share with you.”
She told me she had hiked 10 miles over the weekend with her daughter over rocky, hilly terrain, and traversed creeks without falling.
And she led the way over many of the inclines.
Her daughter asked, “Who are you, and what did you do with my mom?”
Susan thanked me and said, “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Thank yourself. You did all of the work. I just showed you the way.”
Marc Robin, 51
Artistic Director, Fulton Theatre
−4 in. waist · +11 lbs muscle
He hadn’t danced in 11 years. Then he ripped his shirt off.
Marc came to me worried about “the middle-age paunch.” What he mentioned almost as an afterthought was the real challenge — a stage performance in front of a packed theater, after over a decade away from dancing, that required him to lift another person clean overhead.
Read the full story
Marc, the Artistic Director of the Fulton Theatre, came to me at 51. He wanted to lose what he called “the middle-age paunch.” But that wasn’t the whole story.
“I’m doing a fundraising performance for the Fulton — a choreographed dance routine. I haven’t danced in 11 years,” he said.
He’d spent the last decade behind the stage. Now he was stepping back onto it. Front and center rather than behind the scenes.
And there was one more thing. “I’m working with a partner,” he said. “I need to be able to lift her overhead. Successfully. Otherwise, it would be very embarrassing.”
His partner was a professional dancer at the Fulton. And as Marc put it, “As tiny as she is, she weighs more than you would think — she works out a lot and is solid muscle.”
−4 in.
from his waist
+4½ in.
chest and upper body
−9 / +11
lbs fat lost / muscle gained
He invited me to the show. I sat up in the balcony. After a few acts, Marc took the stage with his partner. The music started and they kicked into their performance.
Then — without warning — Marc ripped his shirt off.
The crowd went nuts. Catcalls. Cheering. The whole place erupted. I had no idea he was going to do that. I stood up in the balcony and yelled, “Go ahead, Marc!”
And then came the lift. He got under her, pressed her overhead, and held her there. No wobble. No stumble. No embarrassment.
Just a 51-year-old man, back on the stage, doing something he was sure he wouldn’t have been able to do 6 months earlier — and making it look easy.
People who hadn’t seen him in a while kept telling him how fantastic his body looked. I blushed when he told me his stock response was:
“Body by Chad.”
“Thank you for helping me to see that working out and eating healthy is not punishment but a way to honor myself.”
“The confidence and attitude change you have given me are things that never expire. They are things that, if I slip up, I can return to again and again over my lifetime.”
Laura Hample, 47
Teacher · East Hempfield, PA
What did they all have in common?
There was a moment — one decision — when everything changed.
They stopped going it alone.
Your story starts here.
Your story will be your own — built around your goals, your life, and what matters most to you. But it starts the same way: with a decision to stop doing this alone.
You’re probably full of doubts right now. That’s normal. Every single client I’ve ever worked with felt the same way before they started.
That voice telling you that you can’t do this? It doesn’t last.
Sometimes you just need someone in your corner to believe in you until you believe in yourself.
Let’s find out what you’re capable of — together.
No pressure. No commitment. Just clarity.
One of your biggest questions
The investment. How much is this going to cost?
Most people want to know this before anything else, and that makes complete sense. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, and there shouldn’t be. Your program is custom-built around your goals, needs, and budget.
Programs start at
$269
per month
All-inclusive. Everything you need to achieve your goals is included.
✓ No hidden fees
✓ No upsells
✓ No long-term contracts
Every program is built around your goals, your schedule, and your budget: online or in-person, and how often we train together.
On your free call, I’ll walk you through the options, and we’ll find the one that fits.
When considering the investment, one client, Eric H., did some mental calculations, then said:
“I spend more than that on pizza per month — so it’s a no-brainer. Sign me up.”
He realized he had the money to invest in his health. It was just pointed toward spending on bad habits rather than building healthy ones.
Same money.
Different direction.
−3.5″
waist
40→36
pants size
XXL→L
shirts
★★★★★
“I had no experience with personal training and I always felt out of place and unsure what to do in a gym. The only way I ever lost weight in the past was to starve myself and do tons of boring cardio, which was never sustainable.
Coach Chad helped me with a plan built around my life, with workouts that were never boring and always left me feeling like I accomplished something, with foods that I actually enjoyed that were consistent with my goals.
In just two short months I was able to take 3.5″ off of my waist. My pants size has dropped from 40″ to 36″ and I’ve dropped from XXL size shirts to L.
Those results are impressive, but what is even more important is that I know I have built healthy habits that are sustainable and will last for a lifetime.”
Eric H., 48, East Hempfield, PA
Ready to find out what’s possible for you?
Schedule a call with Coach Chad. We’ll talk about how you can achieve your goals and, if you’re interested in working with us, how we can help you fit it into your budget.
No pressure. No commitment. Just clarity.
Other common questions about personal training
Here are the questions we hear most, and honest answers.
Don’t see your question here?
Coach Chad will personally answer it within 24 hours.
I’ve tried gyms before and failed. How is this different?
You didn’t fail. The gym failed you.
Gyms are built to collect membership fees, not to get you results. They hand you a keycard and wish you luck.
This is different. You’re not on your own, unsure what to do, in a place you don’t feel comfortable in.
You get a coach who builds a plan around your goals and your life, in a place you feel at ease. Who checks in when you don’t show up. Who makes sure you actually get where you want to go.
That’s not a gym membership. That’s a partnership.
What if I’m really out of shape?
You are exactly who we want to help the most — the “misfit” majority the standard approach to fitness fails.
We meet you exactly where you are, whatever limitations you may have, and help you build from there to where you want to be.
Coach Chad has worked with clients dealing with knee pain, hip issues, back problems, arthritis, and everything in between. Your program is built around what your body needs right now, not what some generic program assumes you can do.
And you’ll be amazed at how quickly things start to change:
More energy
More endurance
Less winded on stairs
Greater strength
Most clients feel a noticeable difference within just a few weeks.
Am I too old for this? Am I starting too late?
It is never too late.
Doris-Jean started working with Coach Chad at 89. She had multiple physical limitations, so Coach Chad adapted her training around her needs.
Through his guidance and her consistent effort, Doris-Jean saw real improvements: better mobility, more strength. She even noticed her short-term memory improve.
“If she can come in, work out, make progress, and benefit from an improved life — you can too.”
If you have the desire to improve, we have the tools and the accountability to help you make real, lasting progress. No matter where you’re starting from. No matter when.
I’m already overwhelmed. How do I fit this into my schedule?
We hear this a lot. And we want you to know: your time is the thing we respect the most.
168
hours in your week
2–3
hours our clients use to see real results
<2%
of your week
But here’s what our clients keep telling us: personal training didn’t take time away from their lives. It gave them more.
More energy
Better sleep
More focus at work
More present time with family
Those 2 to 3 hours don’t cost you time. They multiply it.
Coach Chad builds your program around your schedule, designed for maximum results in minimum time. No wasted minutes. You always know what to do and when.
Is this online or in-person?
Either one. It’s up to you.
In-studio
Private, one-on-one training at our studio in Lancaster, PA, inside Liberty Place: a secure, professional building with free parking near the Lancaster Stormers’ Penn Medicine Park and F&M College.
Just you and Coach Chad. No crowds. No distractions.
Online
Coaching you can do from home, on your own schedule.
Same guidance. Same accountability. Same results. Just from wherever you are.
You don’t have to choose now. We’ll figure out together what fits your goals and life on your free call.
How much does personal training cost?
Programs start at $269 a month.
Your exact investment depends on your goals, your schedule, and the plan we build together: online or in-person, and how often we train. There’s no one-size-fits-all price because there’s no one-size-fits-all program.
On your free call, I’ll walk you through the options, and we’ll find the one that fits your goals and your budget. If you’re interested in moving forward, I’ll invite you to a complimentary consultation to go into more detail.
This isn’t a gym membership you forget about. It’s a partnership, with a plan, a coach, and real guidance and accountability.
Can my spouse or partner join the call?
Absolutely. I encourage it.
Support enhances your progress, so it helps to have “your person” as part of the conversation. They may have questions of their own, and I’m happy to answer them.
They are welcome through every step of your journey.
Will I be pressured to sign up on the call?
No. Never.
Here’s exactly what happens:
- I ask about your goals.
- I ask about what’s been holding you back.
- I help you build a roadmap to your goals and explain how we help you follow it.
- If it sounds like a fit, for both of us, we talk about next steps.
If it’s not the right fit, I’ll tell you. If you need time to think, take it.
Never any pressure. Just an honest conversation between two people figuring out what makes sense.
Doris-Jean, 89, Manheim Township, showing it’s never too late to start and see progress!
You’re still here.
That tells me something.
If you’ve scrolled this far and still haven’t picked a time for a call, I think I know why. The thing I hear more than anything else is this:
“On my list of priorities, I’m not even on the list.”
My priorities
✓ Work✓ The kids✓ Mom’s appointment✓ Everyone else
☐ Me
I get it.
You’re the person who’s always there for everyone else. When it comes to doing something for yourself, you wonder: won’t it be selfish?
But here’s what nobody tells you:
Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish. It’s the opposite.
You show up better for the people you love when you’re not running on empty.
More present.
More patient.
More you.
And you’re showing the people watching you that it’s okay to put yourself on your own list.
That’s not selfish. That’s leading by example.
The people who love you? They want this for you. They want you to be happy. Healthy. Present. And around for as long as possible.
Putting yourself back on your list starts with one simple step: saying “Hello.”
We’ll figure everything else out together from there.
No pressure. No commitment. Just clarity.
Not ready to hop on a call?
No problem. Text Coach Chad and ask anything.