To say that Paul Roberts has embraced this fitness thing is like saying Sarah Palin loves guns and ice hockey. Over the past year, with the help of Arianne Missimer and Core Fitness in Wilmington, Roberts has transformed himself into a lean, mean fitness machine.

And now he may be taking the next step: certification as a personal trainer. “With my encouragement and support, Paul has decided to pursue a personal training certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM),” Missimer says. After attending two fitness conferences in September and studying the textbook, DVDs, and taking online practice quizzes, he has been busy preparing for his final examination to become a NASM Certified Personal Trainer.

“When Paul inquired about training, I recommended this certification because it requires comprehensive knowledge of human-movement science, functional anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology, as well as functional assessment and program design,” Missimer says. “This will help set him apart in the industry.”

While Roberts is enthusiastic about working toward his certification, he’s not about to quit his job at Barclays. “It wouldn’t be on a full-time basis,” he says. “But depending on how things go, I could start training on a part-time basis.”

Meanwhile, his weight loss has leveled off, so Missimer is making adjustments to his meal plan. “He was beginning to feel hungry during the day,” she says, “so we re-organized his meals so that he was eating more in the morning and mid-afternoon to prevent mid-afternoon hunger. We also changed his caloric intake to accommodate the increased expenditure due to his workouts.” To keep his blood sugars stabilized and stave off that afternoon hunger, Roberts often reaches for one of his favorite snacks—figs or almonds.

Missimer calls Roberts’ interest in becoming a personal trainer “a great compliment to the Core Fitness team.”

“It’s so gratifying to see someone who has been so inspired by fitness and wellness to take it to the next level and share that passion with others,” she says. “We’re all so proud of Paul and his progress and supportive of his future endeavors. He’s become a huge part of our Core family, and the clients and staff are encouraging him every step of the way on his journey.”