By Felix Hoover

For Your News Columbus

Posted 02-27-10

 

 

At 59, Tim Swanson considers himself the picture of health.

 

His muscular physique, developed through natural training, used to be a photographic example for competitors at the Arnold Sports Festival.

 

About 10 years ago, he used to work with Jim Lorimer, co-founder of the classic with Arnold Schwarzenegger

 

“Back in the day, during the bodybuilding contests they used to show different body parts in photographs; my abs were in one of the shots,” Swanson said.

 

He has won many medals and still competes against other athletes who are naturally trained, but not in the Arnold. Still you can expect to see him at the various Downtown venues during the festival, which presents a variety of bodybuilding, sports and fitness activities from March 4 to 7.

 

“They have a lot of stuff in fitness apparel and new ideas from vendors from all over the world,” said Swanson, owner and chief executive officer of Swanson Fitness.

 

When he’s not working on his own physical development, he’s whipping other people into shape

 

Not everybody comes to the gym with a history of physical activity that matches Swanson’s. He played safety and wide receiver football and guard on the basketball at East High School, from which he graduated in 1969. He didn’t play basketball his senior year, when the team led by Ed Ratleff, Nick Conner and Dwight Lamar won its second straight state championship, but went on to play a year at Capital University, where he earned a bachelor‘s in education and social work.

 

After stints as an investigator for the state and supervisor at the Juvenile Detention Center and the old Franklin Village at Franklin County Children Services, Swanson became a professional trainer. He has been a full-time trainer the past 25 years, dealing with people of all ages. He is certified as a personal trainer, fitness trainer, aerobics trainer and as an instructor in yoga and cycling. He’s also an expert in weight management.

 

“I love working with youths and obesity,” said Swanson, who’s working on a plan that should mesh with the effort by First Lady Michelle Obama to combat childhood obesity.

 

He wants other folks to get the fitness bug as well.

 

The first step for someone interested in training with him is to get clearance from a physician. From there, Swanson will look at someone’s exercise history and family history to get an idea what kind of training program to set up.

 

From there, oldies music awaits those who accept the challenge to follow his tutelage in his space at Wyandotte Athletic Club.

 

“All they have to do is show up,” he said. “I’ll motivate them.”

Contact Tim

(614) 886-9331

foreverfitswan@yahoo.com