We had the good fortune of connecting with Noah Zimmerman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Noah, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
A lot of people tend to think personal trainers are just people that love to workout and become a trainer as a temporary career until they move on to the next thing. However, most people become personal trainers because they have a passion for helping people.

Communities across the country are facing a major health crisis, but a lot of it could be mitigated if people were committed to an active lifestyle and had a meaningful relationship with the foods that they put into their body. The majority of trainers I’ve met are people that want to help others by showing them a path to live a longer, healthier life; to feel confident and strong in any physical or emotional situation that comes their way, and to ideally live pain free.

People come to us for many different reasons, but it all really comes down to one thing: people want to feel good in their skin. As a personal trainer, I want to show that your health is worth investing in. That you are worth investing in yourself. So whether it’s poor physical or mental health, a desire to like what you see in the mirror or just feel better when you walk up the stairs, my personal approach to holistic training is to improve all aspects of your health and well being.

Helping a person become and feel better, and seeing how it aeffects their life is the most rewarding experience.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My whole childhood, I wanted to be a superhero and save the world. I remember someone had said to me, “What better way to save the world than saving lives.” But when I graduated college with a degree in business, I was feeling very lost about my future. I never planned to go into the corporate world; my plan since I was a kid was to join the military and fulfill that dream of saving lives.

However, life had other plans: I fractured my spine my freshman year of high school and spent an entire year rehabilitating my body. My senior year, I suffered from a subdural hematoma and was hospitalized for 3 weeks before I had a hole drilled into my skull. As a cherry on top, in college, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (UC), a form of inflammatory bowel disease and an autoimmune disease, which is a medical disqualification from all branches of the military.

Now after all that, you might think an injury-prone guy like myself should find a very safe job with no risk of broken bones… And I did for a while; I took a job in project management, spending most of my day sitting behind a desk and staring at a screen. My diet was poor, I felt very unhealthy, and I was not managing my UC well. I felt largely unhappy and unfulfilled with the work I was doing. I decided to work with a dietician to help manage my UC and improve my health. The dramatic change in my body (including having a six-pack for the first time in my life) and health solely from food changes awakened a drive within me to help people achieve the same results.

I was also very fortunate to work with amazing personal trainers and physical therapists to rehabilitate my previous injuries. It took a team of people to put me back together physically, mentally, and without pain, and a part of me knew I wanted to pass that gift on to others.

It took a year or two to pivot industries, moving from west to east coast and back again, working on an apple orchard, and training high school athletes. In 2019, I had the opportunity to move back to California and start working out of Vitru LA in Hollywood, which is where I train now.

Now, I go to work everyday to help people achieve their goals and become the best versions of themselves, in all facets. People think being healthy means a complete elimination of all things that are “unhealthy.” I think health begins with having a healthy relationship with food. I moonlight as a baker and have been really into making layer cakes recently. I will still have a drink every now and then. I’ll occasionally eat cheese. I eat bread all the time. Life is too short to not enjoy it. I want to show people that you can have your cake and eat it too… using moderation.

As a trainer, I also have had the fortune to meet and befriend people from all different walks of life. I get to show people how to live healthier lives and prepare them for any physical challenge life may put before them, whether that be a random push-up contest or carrying all your groceries in one trip from the car. I get to show people how to believe in themselves and achieve feats with their body they never believed they could.

At the end of the day, if I can show my clients kindness, patience, and encouragement, my hope is that they will pay it forward to others. Care for others starts with taking care of yourself. I want to be a living example that health is more than exercise and diets, but also creating a community of wellness that everyone is welcome to join.


Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a self-professed foodie, my perfect day starts with a pastry and coffee, followed by a workout or being active out in nature, and capped with a delicious meal. If you’re in town on Sunday, start by getting a coffee and almond croissant from Proof Bakery in Atwater Village. Walk a block up to the Atwater Farmers Market, buy someone you care about some flowers ($10 for a huge bouquet). Get yourself some organic fruit and veggies. Swing by Vitru in Hollywood for a locomotion and handstand workout then head next door to Ggiata to grab some Italian sandwiches (I recommend the “Masterpiece”) to have a picnic in Griffith Park. Bring a good book, people watch. For dinner, head to Highland Park for Villas Tacos. The best tacos in LA (trust me) and the nicest people. Walk over to Magpies for a slice of vegan softserve pie.

Coffee spots:
– Proof Bakery – the cappuccino and ham + gruyere croissant.
– Broom St. General Store – the latte and strawberry scone
– Lab Coffee & Roasters – the latte and matcha + white chocolate scone
– Standing Egg – the lavender latte and a vegan donut
– Erewhon – the latte with raw coconut milk and a breakfast burrito
– Sqirl – the horchoffee and rainbow ricotta toast

Activities:
– Take a mobility or HIIT class at Vitru LA
– Hike in Griffith Park or Pasadena
– Workout and people watch in Pan Pacific Park
– Surf in Malibu (Surfrider is a great break for beginners)
– Bike ride up the strand from Redondo Beach to Venice
– During the summer, catch a movie and picnic in Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Food:
– Villas Tacos – literally any taco from here. Make sure to get the crispy cheese crust and all toppings.
– Night + Market – the sweet potato massaman curry and crispy rice salad
– Damien – great night of drinks and upscale Mexican cuisine
– Silver Lake Ramen – for your ramen fix (shoyu fire)
– Sun Nong Dan – for the best KBBQ short rib and oxtail stew you will ever have. Bring friends, this is meant to share!
– Pizzeria Mozza – chopped salad and leek pizza

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank my friends, family, and girlfriend for always encouraging and supporting me. I use to work in the corporate world; I had a great salary, a 401k, great health insurance… but I was unhappy and unfulfilled. When I made the decision to leave my job to pursue a career in health and fitness, they were always there when I needed them for love and encouragement. They always push me to be better and reach higher.

My past and present coworkers in the industry also deserve a shoutout for the mentorship and knowledge they have shared with me. I have been so fortunate to be surrounded by brilliant personal trainers. The current gym I work out of, Vitru LA, is an amazing environment filled with intelligent personal trainers that want the best for their clients. Thank you all for inspiring me!

Instagram: @nszimmer

Facebook: @noahzimmermanfitness

Image Credits
– Nick Walker
– Corey Butler

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.