Between 2009 and 2019, Gary Kalman made several trips to Naples from his home state of New Jersey. The allure of sunshine, natural beauty and the opportunity to exercise outdoors all year-round easily convinced the certified personal trainer and owner of Why Wait Be Fit that he needed to become a permanent resident. The challenge was deciding exactly what part of town to put down roots. 

“After my last trip to Naples, I went home to North New Jersey, where I’d lived all my life, and put my condo up for sale. I lived in a fully populated, high-rise condominium building that was 10 minutes from the Lincoln Tunnel. The area was overcrowded, and escaping traffic congestion at any time of the day was impossible. Winter weather was too frequently stretching into spring and I’d grown weary of two months of nice weather followed by cold and rain. I knew it was time to leave. I’d made business contacts and friendships during my vacations here, and that made my decision to move and start another personal training business a no-brainer,” says Kalman, who is no stranger to change. In 2005, he left the financial services industry for a career in fitness.

From finance to fitness was a smooth move for Kalman. “When I was young, I was very athletic and played a lot of sports, which I enjoyed. I loved spending time at the gym, which was my escape. Working in the financial services industry is very stressful, and I worked out my stress at the gym. Additionally, the industry generally leads people in the wrong direction with happy hours, as well as lunches and dinners in restaurants. None of it contributes to a healthy lifestyle. I shifted my business to my partner and headed for training, certification and a business as a small gym owner. I got to be so successful that I didn’t need to do any marketing. After all, every broker in my office definitely needed my fitness training,” he recalls.

Rather than waiting to move south to enjoy retirement, Kalman advises, “I don’t want to retire as long as I can do what I love. With no reasons for waiting, I was left with why not now, while I have good health, vitality and the enthusiasm to start over again? Reflecting on my move a little more than a year ago, I am glad I took the leap. Even though the pandemic shifted things for me, I’ve adapted and am enjoying my work and the clients I work with.”

“Exercise helps you maintain optimism. There are so many physiological and mental benefits from exercise, particularly the release of endorphins that trigger a positive feeling in the body. During sheltering in, many people became depressed from the lack of inactivity and not being around people. My clients discovered that it was fun being with me two or three times a week. Working together to keep them fit also kept them optimistic,” says Kalman, who works with clients in Naples and Marco Island.

For more information on Why Weight Be Fit, call 201-923-5520 or visit WeightBeFit.com.