I wanted to start a new fitness journey and was looking for a personal trainer to help guide me. I am so glad I found Mark and MZJ Fitness! I was nervous about where I was starting from, and Mark immediately made me feel welcome, comfortable and capable. He's an enouraging and patient coach. I appreciate that he is always available for guidance and support between sessions. Mark's studio is comfortable and well-equipped, allowing him to design a variety of workouts that keep me both engaged and challenged. Not to mention he's an all around nice guy who is deeply invested in your success as a client. I feel so lucky to have Mark in my corner and highly recommend him as a trainer no matter where you are on your journey. read more

Training with Mark at MZJ Fitness has been SUCH an amazing experience! I am just wrapping up my first 12-week package and can't wait to book another round of 12 weeks with him. From day one, he met me where I was at and has helped me to stay consistent without feeling overwhelmed. He's attentive, encouraging, and extremely knowledgeable. He pushes me to do my best while still being understanding of where I'm at mentally and physically. You can tell he truly cares about his clients as people. I'm BEYOND grateful to be training with Mark and can't imagine working with anyone else! If you're in the market for a trainer, Mark is your guy! read more

I cannot say enough good things about Mark and my experience training with him. It exceeded all my expectations such that I renewed for another 12 weeks! I walk out of every session feeling that I accomplished something new and pushed myself to another level. Mark's approach is encouraging and supportive while also challenging and pushing you to excel. He follows up to see how you are doing post work out, gives tips and advice in between sessions, but it never comes across as overbearing but rather genuine. Mark is very knowledgeable and it shows through his attention to details. He works at your pace and at your fitness level, which makes his program approachable and achievable. I could go and on, but as he says "come as you are", you won't regret it! read more

Mark is a fantastic trainer and coach. I came to Mark too nervous to go to the gym and do anything besides using a treadmill because I didn't know what to do. Additionally, I was didn't want to have a focus on losing weight but rather challenging myself, feeling healthy, and getting strong. Mark not only respected my goals but helped me get excited about them! I spent about four months training with Mark, learning more about how muscles work and challenging myself to be strong. He always gave kind encouragement in moments that were tough and help me figure out a plan to be less scared of using other machines at the gym. I am so happy to say that my workouts have gone beyond the treadmill now, and I am confident at how I can get stronger and healthier with his guidance. Thank you, Mark! read more

I highly recommend Mark at MZJ Fitness for getting on a workout regiment and getting motivated to step up your fitness level. Mark is a fantastic guy, very knowledgeable and great at motivating people no matter the level they start at. I started with Mark on a monthly burpee challenge during the pandemic and then stepped it up to personal one-on-one training sessions. I have seen the results come in quickly as he taught me how to do my sets correctly and how to focus on the crucial muscle groups. Motivation & consistency has been high ever since. Highly recommend! read more

Mark is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about coaching. He is patient and creative pouring his energy into every client. He considers all your fitness goals and helps you create a plan for lifelong health and fitness. HIGHLY recommend!!! read more

Mark is an excellent trainer. He goes beyond simply training you. He takes the time to help you develop reasonable lifestyle changes to accomplish and maintain your health goals. Personal training with him doesn't end at the session. He sends at-home work outs for off days and includes you in his weekly bootcamp sessions. I'd highly recommend him to anyone looking for a qualified, dedicated fitness trainer and coach. read more

I've been training with Mark since 2008 and there's a reason. He's a personal trainer that cares about your overall well-being, not just physical. His style of training is not what you see on TV where trainers are "yelling" at their clients to get them to push themselves. Mark will push you, but to your ability and what will help you meet your goals. As a personal trainer, Mark is super flexible with schedules. He will work with you on what works best for both of your schedules. He's good at holding you accountable by checking in to see if you want to train each week. It's a good way not to slack off and make excuses to get out of your session. If one-on-one training isn't your style, bring a friend. He's great at personal training small groups. Better yet, I recommend his boot camps if you are looking to meet new people and want to be a part of a community. Finally, Mark isn't limited to a gym space. What I like about training with Mark is that he takes the space you are in, whether that be your driveway, basement or the local park, and he finds ways to give you a challenging yet fun workout using the environment you are in. read more

Mark designed a fitness program specifically to meet my unique goal - get me back in athletic shape near my earlier years of being a U.S. Marine and Triathlete. As a busy single-dad of two kids (7/10yo) who is moving through a career change (and Covid chaos) I knew I needed help meeting my fitness goal - and I couldn't be more grateful to have Mark guiding me through reclaiming my fitness. I get the care and coaching of a real human being, with incredible knowledge of fitness and physiology, as well as a variety of workouts to continue targeting the areas I need to work on most to achieve my goal fast... and safe. I know I'm getting the most of time, Mark designs my workouts to level me up when I'm at my best and nudge the line when I'm not. Plus I have Mark's keen eye, care and integrity as a genuine human being to guide me. Having that trust is a huge reason I chose Mark! For me, Mark's the real-deal and I cannot highly recommend you getting started with him enough, no matter where you're at on your journey. Thank you, Mark! read more

I've been taking boot camp with Mark for over eight years and it's a really fun way to get outside and challenge yourself at your own pace. Mark consistently changes up the workouts and provides different levels of difficulty for each exercise, depending on your fitness level. My husband and I also train with Mark outside of boot camp, and we really enjoy working with him! Mark is such a positive person and makes you want to keep improving. I've seen big improvements in my overall fitness levels, and I love that as I get stronger, Mark adjusts the workouts so that I am always being challenged. Since being quarantined, Mark has offered a variety of virtual workout classes that have been tons of fun, challenging, and a great way to get a workout in while the gyms is closed. I highly recommend Mark for both bootcamp and personal training, and now virtual classes too! read more

If you are reading this, you are probably thinking about hiring a trainer. Is it worth the $? Is he the right fit? Will he judge you? Will he get you on track to where you want to be? This picture says it all. Saturday morning at 7 AM on vacation with my family and I woke up to set up a TRX on a swing set because I didn't want to miss my 7AM training with @MZJ. 8 weeks in and I am stronger, more confident, and determined. It doesn't matter your age, weight, or fitness level. Take that first step. read more

I started working out with Mark right after I found out that I was pregnant. I'm currently in my third trimester and convinced that the only reason I feel this good are thanks to my workouts! He ensures the workouts are safe during pregnancy and adjusts the workouts as necessary. Mark is extremely knowledgeable and I cannot recommend him enough. I feel stronger and healthier. I look forward to continuing my fitness journey post-partum with Mark! read more

Mark Zanders has encouraged me greatly toward becoming more fit. This is a guy who is relentlessly encouraging; when he knows you want to get more in shape, he works hard to help you get there. He set up a series of fitness challenges for our church, and the response he got from the congregation was uplifting to see--not to mention how much it did for my own health and motivation. I highly recommend Mark and MZJ Fitness for anyone who wants to lead a healthier lifestyle. read more

Mark is awesome. From day one I felt like he knew what I needed while also challenging me to go just a bit further. Having worked with a ton of other personal trainers, Mark is hands down the best I've worked with. He's knowledgeable, caring, and an all around fun guy to spend an hour with. Hire him immediately! read more

My senior mother (in her 80s) has worked with Mark for several months. I've seen a big improvement in her core strength and ability to lift things. She can now lift her rollator to put it in the car trunk, which makes her much more independent. I also have appreciated Mark's patience and care. He did a wonderful job helping her feel comfortable, and he was vigilant about spotting her, as she has severe balance issues. As a result of their work together her risk of falling is definitely reduced. I highly, highly recommend Mark, particularly for work with seniors who need a little TLC to get started. read more

My general goal for physical fitness is to lose a few pounds, shrink some excess inches, but mostly just to feel better. Working out with Mark of MZJ Fitness, has been a really great experience! He is knowledgeable in physical fitness. He cares about each individual goals and works with each person's capabilities but also pushes and encourages to be better! I enjoy my workouts with Mark through our personal training sessions and through his Bootcamp classes. He motivates me to be better and work harder. I am seeing and feeling results since joining MZJ Fitness! I highly recommend Mark - MZJ Fitness to anyone who wants to feel better, look better, and just to have an overall physical well-being! read more

Mark is a great trainer. He is very knowledgeable, patient, and encouraging. And I never thought I would say this, but workouts with Mark are actually fun! With a variety of exercises tailored to my abilities, no two sessions with Mark are the same. I am sometimes surprised how fast the time goes by when we train together. Thanks to Mark, I feel and look healthier than ever before. And when I was scheduled to get a hip replacement, Mark worked with me before the surgery to keep me strong without stressing or further hurting my hip, then helped me afterwards to quickly recover and regain my strength. I wholeheartedly credit him with minimizing my discomfort and post-surgery rehab. I would recommend Mark to anyone. read more

As a new mom with a c-section delivery, on top of the COVID restrictions, finding a way to start exercising again and stay motivated was really challenging to do on my own. I found Mark through the NextDoor app, and I am so grateful for his care and investment in my health and fitness! He quickly understood my goals and was able to get me in gear right away. He really understands how to work with your individual and unique fitness capability and capacity. He challenges and pushes you without causing injury. He intently observes you to ensure you're learning and executing exercises with proper form. The best part... he's just a cool dude that distracts you with good conversation! On top of all this, he also has his own private gym space with all the equipment and machines you would find at a regular gym without having to pay for an additional membership and unsafely encounter others during a pandemic. He has also met me for sessions at a park when it's nice outside or even at my home gym in my garage. If you're looking to get fit, feel healthier, or just simply get more energy, reach out to Mark. He'll take care of you! read more

My husband and I live in the Portage Park/Jefferson Park area and ran into Mark one summer morning at a local park. Intrigued by the outdoor setup - weights, a huge tire for flipping, a bosu stability board set among the trees in the park - we stopped by to chat. Mark is a personal trainer and leads a local fitness group for folks in the area. Throughout the conversation he talked about his approach - making sure that each individual is challenged based on their own ability level, but in a safe and supportive way. Since that initial meeting, both my husband and I have attended several sessions of Mark's boot camp, and we love it! Not only is it fun, but you get to meet new people, help and encourage each other, and get a great workout at the same time! And because of Chicago's ever-changing weather, Mark rents various indoor spaces when outdoor sessions aren't possible. I appreciate that we utilize the environment we're in - whether it be a huge city park or a grade school gymnasium - for each workout. For example, if we're indoors, we'll warm up by doing some exercises on the gym stairs, or outdoors we'd jog around the park or use trees, fences, or light posts for resistance band exercises. The other, perhaps most important aspect of working with Mark, is that he is giving back, in a real and meaningful way, to people in his community, which I think says a lot about his character and motivation to help others. He's a highly-skilled and knowledgeable trainer, very approachable and willing to accommodate a client's needs, and all-around great person - highly recommended! read more

I am lucky to call myself one of Mark's first clients starting in 2007. I've trained on and off with him over the last 13 years and I'm always in the best shape when we are "on". He prepped me for my first triathlon and I would never have made it through without his help. He is great at knowing just how hard to push you and when to mix up his workouts to get the best results. I could not recommend Mark more as a trainer - whether you are getting ready for a race or just wanting to get in better shape. Thanks for all the years of support, Mark - you're the best! read more