Special to viewLocal personal trainer Jenna Cook is seen in a May 2004 photograph prior to one of the bodybuilding competitions she has participated in.
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Jenna Cook has competed in regional bodybuilding and figure contests, but she has brains, too.
She holds a bachelor's degree, with dual majors in sports medicine and physical education. She also spent a year training under a nutritionist to gain knowledge on that particular aspect of health.
Cook, 30, now works as a personal trainer. She helps clients who have had injuries.
Rochelle Graves has been training with Cook for the past six years. The school psychologist suffered a knee injury and has a bad back. Cook formulated a program to address both issues.
"She has me do specific exercises, instead of full out training," said Graves. "And she's always changing things up to keep it interesting."
Cook trains clients at the Bodysport Fitness Center, inside the Las Vegas Sports Center, at 1400 N. Rampart Blvd., Suite 103.
Mel Fabros, general manager, said Cook's educational background convinced him that she knew what she was doing.
"To go to that length, to get a degree, that tells you it's (fitness is) a big part of her life," he said.
One of the things Cook will start clients on is working out with weights. She said by helping them gain muscle, she's expediting their weight loss. Muscle burns calories at a rate of 40 to 50 calories an hour. Fat burns only four, said Cook.
"So, even if you're sitting there on the couch, your muscles are burning calories for you," said Cook, whose husband, Richard, is a professional bodybuilder.
Since 2004, Cook has been taking on clients who have undergone lap band or gastric bypass surgery.
"The first one came through a referral, someone who called the gym," she said. "Since then, it's been one referral after another after another."
Cook now has five clients on her roster who have had surgery to lose weight. She has worked with people who are extreme cases, she said.
"I'm talking about people who are 400 or 500 pounds, people who can't walk up and down stairs," Cook said. "You have to be real careful and take things slow."
Cook is gearing up for a fitness competition in Las Vegas, set for November. For that, she'll spend even more time in the gym, working on her own muscles.
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