Avi Adlerstein
When I started lifting weights in September 2015, I weighed a mere 140 lbs at a height of 5’10”, with minimal muscle mass and excess body fat that left me feeling soft and undefined. I initially believed I could make progress on my own but quickly realized I needed proper guidance. Fortunately, I was introduced to experienced coaches who guided me through Starting Strength, a no nonsense, old school training method focused on building strength through foundational barbell lifts. This approach transformed my training and laid the foundation for progress, ultimately enabling me to become a certified personal trainer and compete in powerlifting and natural bodybuilding.
By 2016, I was documenting my journey on Instagram @aviatraining. In 2017, I apprenticed under Dr. Nick D’Agostino, a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy and Starting Strength Coach. In 2018, I became a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, officially beginning my coaching career. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of training clients at New York Sports Clubs in Forest Hills, Woodmere, and Oceanside, as well as at Equinox Park Avenue and Movement Lab Hewlett. My clients have successfully built muscle, lost fat, and significantly increased their strength while gaining confidence and resilience.
While I still believe that in-person coaching is terrific, it does present certain scheduling and pricing limitations. To make my services more accessible, I created Induced Fitness to offer online coaching, helping you get optimal results in a timely and cost-effective manner. My mission is to help you grow both physically and mentally by eliminating the guesswork and focusing on effective, lasting results. I’m genuinely excited to support you on your journey to becoming your best self!
Powerlifting
During my sophomore year of high school, I tore my ACL and lateral meniscus while playing basketball. This was especially challenging because I was in the early stages of making significant progress with Starting Strength, and I knew it would be a major setback. In January 2016, I underwent surgery. During traditional physical therapy, the staff informed me that it typically takes two years to regain the ability to squat 200 lbs, which was my pre-injury strength. Determined to recover faster and stronger, I committed fully to my rehabilitation. On October 30, 2016, just nine months after surgery, I competed in the 2016 Starting Strength Fall Classic, squatting 300 lbs at 164 lbs bodyweight as the youngest competitor at 16 years old.
Since this competition, I have mostly stuck with heavy barbell exercises as the foundation for my own training. Some recent personal records of mine include a 500x1 trap bar deadlift, a 175x1 overhead press, and weighted chin-ups +50 lbs for 8 reps, all at a bodyweight around 180. I have documented my progress on Instagram @aviatraining since 2016, where you can see over 200 training sessions of mine and other PR’s I have hit.
As a coach, I view my own progress as evidence that getting strong on key exercises will help you reach your fitness goals. I have not only seen this process work for myself, but it has been life changing for countless clients of mine.
Bodybuilding
On February 26th, 2022, I competed in the OCB Double Down Natural, a natural (drug free) bodybuilding show. After years of intensively heavy barbell training, I finally did an aggressive cut to accentuate my physique as much as possible, competing at 150 lbs.
My journey to get on the bodybuilding stage taught me about a different approach to fitness. This included meticulous cardio and dieting, as well as training with more volume, often incorporating machines. Since competing in this event, my goal has been to continue making progress while avoiding the competition extremes. This has allowed me to enjoy training for it to compliment my lifestyle.
Whether your goal is to build strength, enhance your physique, or find the perfect balance between the two, I’m here to guide you on a personalized journey. Together, we’ll focus on efficiency and results, ensuring you experience the best of both worlds and achieve your goals.