I absolutely love Gary. He is into making the whole person fit. He speaks positivity and urges you to take care of your mind as well as your body. I have referred several people to him over the years and each one has had nothing to say but good things. I am not a current client but when you say you want to commit to a total transformation he is the guy I always refer you too. But experience is the best teacher so go sign up right now. Also the man has a lot of knowledge in regards to nutrition. On the mental side because of his belief in a strong mind and passing on information to those around. I have accomplish more life goals than I ever have in my life. I had to use a cane and after listening to him and believing in myself I don't use a cane anymore. I also have a food absorption issue. He gave me the knowledge I need to keep me healthy and pursue natural ways to get my body what it needs. So Sign up today. Remember you only spend you money on what you value most. Sign up read more

For the past year, my only form of exercise was walking my dog and I wanted to get back into exercising regularly and eating healthier. I decided to sign up with Gary at Plant Based Fitness and I'm grateful to have just completed a 6 week fitness challenge! Now I'm 10 pounds lighter, eating healthier, exercising regularly and feeling amazing! I'm vegan so it was a major plus to work with Gary who is also vegan and has lots of knowledge when it comes to plant based nutrition. I was provided with a vegan meal plan and all of the meals that I cooked were delicious and it didn't feel like I was missing anything. The fitness challenge also included 2 group training sessions a week. The sessions were tough but totally worth it. There were times were I felt like I couldn't do an exercise but Gary was very supportive and showed me that I really could do it! In addition, I also valued the ease of using an app to schedule or cancel training sessions. This included text message reminders for sessions. I really enjoyed my experience with Gary and I highly recommend Plant Based Fitness to achieve your fitness goals. read more

Update - My original review is true: I recommend PBF as a friendly gym and Gary as an excellent trainer. I would trust Gary as a trainer, but not as a businessman and I do not recommend signing up for one of his challenges. Since writing my first review, I have been told that Gary will not fulfill his part of our contract for the six-week challenge I completed. I fulfilled all my obligations in the contract, plus the other parts of the program that were required but not in the contract. Gary says I did not complete the challenge because I did not do the social media part to specifications that were not in the contract, I never saw or heard, and he never asked me to correct. I was pleased to highly recommend a local small business and am sad I can no longer do so. read more

I Absolutely Love this place and would recommend it to Anyone who's looking to live a cleaner healthier happier lifestyle. Plantbased Fitness gave me the motivation and tools I needed to embark on my journey of a healthier lifestyle . Coach Gary and Coach Bree give you the knowledge, confidence,and encouragement to achieve and accomplish your fitness and life goals. Walking into Plantbased Fitness isn't like walking into any other gym Walking in to Plantbased Fitness is like Walking into a Beautiful Journey of Self Appreciation and Self Love. Thanks again Coach Gary and Coach Bree you two are Amazing people keep changing lifes one Veggie at a time 1 Gail C read more

I trained with Gary for two months and it was challenging and great! I am already a plant eater but he is very knowledgeable and I literally learned something new at every session either about plant based eating, hydration, and or fitness and perseverence. I lost a bit of weight but my gains were more in increased strength, stamina and wellness! I felt it. he mixes it up every time so that you rarely do the same thing twice-- great for getting out of a workout rut which is where I was at the start. Gary is very kind but does really push you to improve. I love the studio and the all the people there. I continue to take group classes there because I could not bear to leave! I hope to return to train with Gary when my finances stabilize:) If you are thinking about this please just do it!! You will reap many rewards! read more

I wanted to revised my review since a lot has changed since I last wrote my initial review. While I did see a slight progress with the 6 weeks challenge, I personally think that you can achieve this on your own with the proper research and mindset. The workout was pretty simple that you can do at home since most of it doesn't require gym equipments. The 'access' to meal plans isn't really anything that he wrote but rather from people that is in the 6 weeks program sharing it in a FB group. While Gary does hold you accountable, I don't think he did a good job at actually telling you what you need to cut off (IE: I incorporated brown rice into my diet and he never once told me that I needed to substitute it with Quinoa - which I later found out on my on why I'm not losing as much weight as I wanted). Be aware that the amount he's asking for the 6 weeks program -- you don't actually get a 'refund' but rather he's going to apply it towards your fee if you should continue the program. I had switch jobs during the process and had communicated that I was under a lot of stress and pressure but he didn't seem to care. I assumed he thought I was making excuses but it was the honest truth. If you're not going to be understanding of one's situation then it just shows how you are as a person. I thought I could count on his a friend but his actions proved otherwise. If you're looking for a solution to shed some weight it might be for you if you're okay with going 100% vegan and doing basic work out that you can learn if you do research :) read more

The staff is great and clear about expectations and goals . They care a lot. Give them a chance and they will change the whole person. Gary and Coach Bree provide a positive environment and help you to become a positive person. read more

It pains me to write this review as I did see amazing results and learned new eating habits. I signed up for the 6-week challenge with Gary. I fulfilled all my contractual obligations which should have resulted in a full refund. I was informed that I did post my check-ins to his specification (this was not in the contact), but I did do the check-in on Facebook faithfully. I just checked my activity log and they are all there. Quite honestly, I I really feel it is a cope out. But, you live and you learn. Buyer Beware as they say. I am now even more cautious of positive reviews as a result of my experience. To add insult to injury. I received a text asking for me to refer new clients. A very disappointing end to what started as an incredible experience. Original Review What can I say about my journey with Gary at Plant Based Fitness. Unbelievable! I lost 31lbs and 3% body fat in 6 weeks. I learned to eat healthier and survive without my daily chocolate fix. Thee workouts were definitely challenging, but I never felt like they were not doable. This is definitely a place to get you on the right track for a healthier lifestyle and stronger body. But, you definitely need to trust the process. read more

I absolutely recommend Plant Based Fitness. I started their 6 week challenge knowing that I needed to make a change for the better. Rewind 6 weeks ago, to when I was heavier than ever, had difficulty getting up stairs, felt lethargic throughout the day and felt depressed about my weight. Throughout this challenge, I felt supported by both Gary and my peers, slowly started to feel more awake and energized and fully believed that I could achieve my weight loss goal. What Gary and the challenge taught me was that I COULD ACCOMPLISH/FINISH/COMPLETE a task put in front of me and that I must be responsible and accountable for my health. I have absolutely noticed a change in myself - both mind and body. Fast forward 6+ weeks later, I've now lost 14.5lbs, more that 2% body fat and my clothes are feeling loose on me! If you're tired of making excuses, tired of feeling tired and/or tired of feeling stressed, anxious or depressed about your weight, please check out Plant Based Fitness! Gary and Bre will get you where you need to be! read more

Plant Based Fitness - Down 13.7lbs and still going! Continuing with PBF post 6 week challenge, I am 14.5lbs down! - Trainers Near Me - Oakland, California

After taking the month-long challenge in June, the next month money was withdrawn from my account from the org, apparently an accident as if on a reoccurring basis. This was hundreds of dollars. It was a shock because I woke up to a "low balance" text stating that I had $5 in my account. I contacted Gary to let him know. He texted me back with a picture showing he refunded the money. I had questions about if it wouldn't happen again, how did it happen, etc. because I had to call my bank to ask what my options were. I had to take a physical trip to the bank to transfer money, which took time away from work and completely upended my day. I texted him with the questions and he said it would take 2-3 business days and should be "all good." My concern at this point was that there was no apology or acknowledgement of a mistake made on the business' part. Kind of nonchalant like it was merely a technical issue and not an issue of inconvenience. No "Sorry about that, will fix it right away." or "Sorry for the inconvenience." or "My apologies. I'm on it." I waited until that evening when I hadn't heard anything and wrote an email of disappointment. Stating that as long as I had known him in the community, just merely acknowledging my day being upended due to his business' error would have been nice. I know he got the email because he immediately called back and I was unavailable to speak, but no message left. I wrote another email the next day about being disappointed with the lack of customer service that would at the very least acknowledge the mistake. I was writing emails to keep a trail of what happened as this was not a small amount of money. It seemed to me that my emails weren't answered and a message wasn't left so as not to get into any sort of recordable trouble. When I did speak weeks later he was defensive, stating that the money was returned (as if doing me a favor, almost like "you're welcome") that his "assistant" made the mistake (when I saw him enter my card info into the computer initially), that he didn't need the money (I explained I was not accusing him of fraud or bad intentions, only a lack of empathy over the inconvenience). He expressed that he wouldn't "lose any sleep" over the incident and that he was "not going to apologize" and that the customer is not always right. The apology was apparently being withheld because of my email expressing disappointment. I told him it's possible to apologize for his mistake and have an issue with the email at the same time and it sound like this: "I apologize for our part in mistakenly withdrawing money from your account. That was our bad. I would like for you to have expressed yourself differently..." Done. But he was going to withhold an apology because of my email, stating that he was "getting on a plane" when I texted originally and couldn't respond appropriately. "Sorry about that" is only three words. So, he may be selling, but no one is buying that list of excuses. He started off the conversation trying to imply that he told me he only works with customers on a three month basis... but I reminded him, that's when he told me of the one month challenge that they offer. So, no excuse there. He said I jumped the gun with the email and should have taken a deep breath, when I wrote the email later that evening after waiting all day (over 9 hours since texting in the morning). Unless he was flying to Africa, there was ample time to express regret as a business. Would not recommend. read more

On a whim, I signed up for a 6 week challenge with Gary knowing that I could do anything in 6 weeks. What I did not expect was the challenging workouts, the incredible, nice, and inspiring other participants, nor the fact that I learned so much about myself. 11lbs lighter, stronger than I have ever felt, more endurance, and making better/healthier decisions on a daily basis. The challenge consisted of 3 workouts per week with Gary, and a daily nutrition guide based on personal weight. The included recipes were extremely helpful to assist with shopping and meal prep. The experience was worth the time, effort, and the results. Highly recommended. read more

If you want to make a lifestyle change then you should workout with Gary at Plant Based Fitness. I have seen more results in these short 6 weeks (23lbs !) than I have seen over the past few years! Not only do you burn fat by doing his intense workouts, but also by eating the right type of foods. I actually started looking forward to eating healthy and keeping my heart rate up! read more

Gary is THE coach! He pushes you and knows when you're cheating! He is good at knowing your limits and knows how to work within them as well as helps you grow past them in a supportive way. He is also very community minded which is not common amongst the "get in shape" world. I've had him as a PT and have gone to his boot camp! Promo code: Saphichay for his boot camp is his way of giving back to the community :) read more

I just finished my first 3 months with Gary at Plant Based Fitness. I've lost 10lbs in 3 months . Those results alone our worth five stars!! The minimum commitment is 3 months, but I am extending my contract an extra month becuase I see the results. When you sign up with Gary he is also attentive to your financial needs, flexible with scheduling and genuinely cares about your wellbeing. I could go on but the bottom line is I highly recommend Plant Based Fitness specifically Gary who will push you toward your fitness goals and provide you with healthy habits because healthy eating and exercise go hand in hand. read more

At the beginning of January 2018, I was tired of being overweight and out of shape. Anxious for help I decided to take on Gary Whitaker 6 weeks Plant Based Fitness Challenge. This decision rejuvenated my life. Within the last few weeks I've tapped back into my youth! The challenge gave me motivation and Gary gave me guidance. Not only have I lost nearly 30 pounds but I feel amazing. I'm more vibrant and energetic and it has only been 6 weeks. Gary shares a wealth of information and insight throughout each training session. The workout sessions are challenging and yet encouraging. Beautiful people in a beautiful facility. Every training session I look forward to walking into that and being pushed. One love Gee, I appreciate you. read more

I am so thankful for meeting Gary at Plant Based Fitness. I haven't exercised in 10 years since having kids and this year decided to make a change and take control of my health and fitness. I have never worked with a personal trainer before although prior to having kids I worked out constantly and was very active so I never thought I needed a trainer. This year I hit a rut with low energy, taking care of kids, over working, sleeping poorly, etc., that I knew I needed a big change... and that was when I met Gary! Gary got me out of that rut by giving me guidelines on healthier eating and providing challenging and constantly evolving workout routines. He provides a holistic approach to health and fitness with daily motivational texts, food and snack advice, and even book suggestions on health related topics. A session with Gary is not just about exercise, its an education on many levels; although the workout is challenging, Gary makes its interesting and fun. In 3 months I was back to my pre-baby weight and shape and even lost inches in those areas that I thought were forever with me due to having kids. Gary educated me on different ways to exercise and how a focused 30 minute workout can be as effective as a 1-2 hour workout. I can truly say that working out with Gary has changed my life. I am healthier than I have ever been, I have more energy, I sleep better at night and my body is stronger then ever. I highly recommend taking charge of your life and trying Plant Based Fitness!! read more

Since working with Gary at PlantBased Fitness I am stronger and healthier than I have ever been. The workouts, nutritional guidance, and support are unmatched. Best investment I have ever made has been to train at PlantBased Fitness. I am looking forward to how much more my body can transform. Thanks Gary for being a motivating force for wellness in my life! read more

I took advantage of my health, never considered its value, never considered its wealth. I embodied and embraced my increased weight gain mentally as "that is just the way things are." I was comfortable eating anything and living as thick chick who loved her curves. I love my curves even more because Gary Whitaker not only help strengthen my body, he has taught me to trust and value my body, and in the process I have gained confidence and aim to eat heathy and exercise intentionally as a way of life. I am grateful to have a trainer and mentor who has made me aware of my potential and help me recognize my own power physically and mentally. From a size 12 to a size 8 in 6 months, I am proud to say my body is getting healthier, leaner and sexier! THANK YOU GARY! read more

I started working with Gary at the beginning of February this year. I hadn't worked out in years. He doesn't push you beyond your limits, however he wants you to give it your all. He is encouraging and keeps up with you daily. He is a Vegan but doesn't push that lifestyle on to you, he provides healthy alternatives. I signed up for a year! The gym is nice and not intimidating. Sooooo.....If you are ready to make that change you have been procrastinating about....try Plant Based Fitness. read more

Reading the negative reviews on here confirms the negative communication I had with Plant Based Fitness. I asked with the "deposit" was going to be on a private message on facebook as I did not want to give them my phone number and personal e-mail if this was going to be a waste of my time. They responded telling me I had to fill out the form and have a consultation and they were not going to discuss money otherwise. I responded with the fact that I was not going to share personal info without having a base amount of information, so I guess I will never know if this program would be right for me. And their response: "We aren't interested either Tia. Have a great day." And considering the other negative reviews were complaints about not posting enough on social media even though that was not in the contract, tells me that they I was right in being concerned about Plant Based Fitness having my personal information. Social marketing gone wrong here. Too bad, as it sounds like it could be an excellent program. read more

They was not completely honest about the program or services. I went to one workout session(which by the way in the middle of the session a little girl which look to be about two or three years old gave the instructor some urine soaked pants and underpants), VERY UNPROFESSIONAL!!! Do to unforeseen circumstances. I asked to cancel my contact that's when I found out that I was stuck in a year contract and if I wanted to cancel I was told that I needed to pay $3600+ for the whole year. After speaking with Gary Whitaker he tried to force me to lie and say I wanted the 28 day program which was the Facebook marketing they use in order to get me in there, and then tried to make me pay $499 for it. I explained to him that I do not want to do business with them, they just don't get it! Clingy!!! While I am and still committed to making a change to loose a little weight and change my lifestyle. They have this, you sign the contract, I'm gonna get you Sucka attitude! Do not do business with these people find you a gym that has more to offer!!! MONEY HUNGRY read more

My wife and I really enjoyed working out with Gary while we were living in Oakland! He pushed us both and made it fun. We definitely improved but the workouts never got easier - he obviously paid attention to our progress! read more

I completed the 6 week challenge and had great results. The meal plan is simple and easy to follow. I didn't ever feel hungry and was very satisfied with the food. I am a vegetarian so going vegan wasn't that much of a stretch for me, but I learned to balance the carbs and fat to lose the extra weight. The workouts are challenging but doable and I am building strength. I liked the 6 week challenge so much I am now enrolled in the 8 week warrior program to keep up the momentum. There's lots of support from coach Gary and coach Bree and I always feel welcome and encouraged to keep up the work and focus on my goals. read more

Gary is great! He's super knowledgeable and helpful. I found him through a Living Social deal and highly recommend trying him!

I have been working out with Gary for 5 months now and I am just always checking myself out in the mirror. He has a holistic approach to fitness that is lacking in many institutions and is constantly educating himself about new foods, exercises, science, general wellness, everything! Highly recommended. read more

I just completed Gary's 6 Week Plant Based fitness challenge and I LOVED it! I lost weight, decreased body fat and increased muscle mass as well as strength and confidence. The program is tailored for success and easy to follow. The workouts are challenging but totally doable. The program is tailored to a person's individual fitness ability. Gary is knowledgeable, supportive, friendly, approachable. I would definitely recommend this program for anyone that wants to see good progress in a fairly short amount of time. read more

I needed a change going into the new year, a big reset button to push and knew it wasn't just changing eating habits or just exercise, it was both. Gary offered that, he gave me my reset button and didn't let me quit. I lost 17 pounds and 3.3% body fat in 6 weeks. I am moving better, standing up straighter and have more energy to continue my journey. It was so hard to get started again but with Gary's knowledge and motivation I can now move forward and am excited to see what I can do in the next 6 weeks. Thank you Gary for your time, never giving up on me and setting me up for a great healthy future. read more

Gary has been a crucial part of my exercise regime! I had totally fallen off the wagon, until I started his 6am bootcamps at Lake Merritt about a month ago. That I'm still going is saying a lot since I'm not a morning person AT ALL. But, Gary makes his classes super fun and has a good balance of routine and variance so that you don't get lost, but classes go by quick! He also works you just enough so that you see results, but you don't feel overwhelmed- especially if you've fallen a bit out of shape like myself. Thanks Gary- you're the man!!! read more

Plant Based Fitness gave me the tools I needed to be successful in my weight loss journey. I was already ok with my diet, although I did have to do some tweaking. In my first 6 weeks I lost 5 lbs, but lost 4.1 in body fat. You could really see the difference. I didn't follow the contractual obligations to the tee so I knew I wasn't getting my money back, but it's whatever. I had to stop going due to personal reasons, but I highly recommend this gym. Coach Bree is amazing, they really help build you up. I felt stronger and was shaping up nicely. My energy was booming. The only con I had was if you can't make it you lose it and you get no make up days. It's a small reason why I left. I had family stuff going on and constantly had to cancel, so for me I was wasting money. However I was able to workout at home with the tools I was taught by coach Bree and Coach Gary. If you need a jumpstart and don't think the traditional gym is worth it I do recommend Plant Based Fitness. read more

Gary is a fantastic trainer! He is knowledgeable and really aims to equip people with the ability to listen and take care of their bodies through thoughtful routines and stretches. I like that the exercises are focused on using a lot of our own weight and not fussing around too much with machinery -- it is always a holistic workout that focuses on improving your entire body. I personally had not worked out in a while, so I wanted to really have some guidance as I eased myself back into a fitness regimen. Gary provides you with videos, links, resources through his text program so you're never really at a loss. He's personable, flexible with scheduling, genuine, and pays attention to everyone's progress. There was a week where I had actually sprained my ankle and Gary dedicated a session to recovery which seriously was probably what allowed the ankle to heal. I appreciated that a lot! I have only been at PBF for a little under two months, but I already feel my body changing. read more

After years of not working out, signing up with a trainer for small group sessions was a little scary. But Gary is very friendly, knowledgeable, and easy to talk to. He's also very accommodating of physical limitations. He pushes me but only to do my best. The gym is clean, friendly and non competitive or judgmental. The longer I go, the more it feels like Cheers... I'm recognizing people, getting to know them, etc. It's a very comfortable environment, even for those of us who aren't in shape... Yet. Parking in the evening is easier than I expected, also. So basically all my excuses are removed! I'm even experimenting with Gary's recommendations for a plant based diet and using supplements and, don't tell him, I think I feel better and am losing weight! I'm definitely feeling stronger and more confident, and my evenings are being used constructively. I'm very happy with my decision to join and feel it's worth the expense. I would highly recommend Gary to anyone, regardless of their goals, current shape, age, etc. read more

I basically hadn't worked out regularly since running a half marathon back in 2012, and Gary really helped me get back on track with my fitness goals. I didn't lose a ton of weight over the 4-5 months training with Gary, most likely because I gained a lot of muscle working out 2 or 3 times a week with Gary. He was attentive to my financial needs, and made it easy to switch from 1:1 training to a small class size of only 3 or 4 people max. Gary was great at explaining all of the different movements and workouts we would be doing, and always with his great laugh and smile. Training with Gary is always challenging and always fun! read more