Most Hated Trainer

I’ve had a few trainers in lifetime but Mike is the guy that pushes you based on our skill level in a way that will maximize your potential. I’m stronger than I have been in years, and I look forward to every session… I Highly recommend Mike, he’s the best there is!

I love this guy! Working out is mad fun with him and the best part about it is he gives a damn if you’re doing things right!!! I mean I know that’s what a trainer is supposed to do but take a stroll through an LA fitness one day and look at those «trainers». I’ve never seen so much bad technique and trainers who just watch them do it wrong. Pisses me off! If you’re one of those people thinking that a gym trainer is the best route cool. But if you’d like to get down with someone who cares and kicks your butt so that every time you leave them gym you feel accomplished, then head on over to steel barbells and Mike. I’ll be there workin with you! Peace

Don’t let the name fool you… You’ll actually love to hate Michael! I’ve seen Michael explain body mechanics to beginners and experienced gym goers and everyone walks away the wiser. It’s not just a «Do it cause I said» trainer mantra but a «Here’s why you do it» tone which is key to any progression in working out/​life.
…and YES… You’ll see amazing results! The guy is a pro!

I hate Michael. He makes my life hell for roughly 45 minutes 3 – 4 days a week and then, just when I’m feeling like not going, there comes the text message to check up on me. I hate him so much.
I moved to Sherman Oaks 3 months ago and knew that I needed to try something new for a ‘gym solution.’ I wanted to try CrossFit, but as a complete newbie was terrified. Michael took the time to teach me how to move before adding on the weight. He made it «fun» and got me hooked. Now, 3 months later, I hate him. I hate him for getting me hooked and painting the illusion of «fun»… it’s not «fun,» it’s hell. But here I am and I keep going back and now I’m convincing my husband to come and try it as well.
Thanks for everything Michael! See you this afternoon. ugh.

Its been close to 5yrs, since I walked into Cross fit with no competitive goals… I loved fitness but was tired of spending hours running or on the elliptical machine with no results. I was looking to lose weight and get fit. One day I found Steelbarbells and met Mike Lopez the most hated trainer, who took me into an evolution and although he was a bit of a jerk, I loved his intensity and agreed to sign up. I had no idea where this journey would take me, how my outlook on fitness would drastically change, the life styles changes I would make, the new friendships I would gain, how far I would push my athletic potential, how much effort that would go into pushing a dream, the number of fans i would acquire along the way as we push and support each other in ensuring we kill every workout Mike sets up for us. The journey is what its all about and I wouldn’t change a thing… thank you Most Hated trainer for doing what you do best and to all the other amazing trainers at Steelbarbells!

The Most Hated Trainer… that is something that I have to question because a lot of people love this guy. Whether your experienced or just beginning, he is willing to help you out. I think this is particularly useful for newbies. I brought my friend, who was completely new to CrossFit and Mike actually took the time to make sure that he was doing all the movements correctly. Definitely knew what he was doing and he is a motivator. Which is huge in physical fitness of any kind. Highly recommend this guy because he genuinely cares about the fitness community.

He is called «The Most Hated Trainer» but this could not be farther from reality. I get the gimmick in the title and cleaver it is. Michael Lopez is a great big ball of enthusiastic motivation. He really personalizes his time making you feel more confident in the work you are doing. I thought I knew a lot about CrossFit when I started training with him because I had been training for more than a year elsewhere. I was surprised to learn how much I didn’t know. Michael has really helped me learn the motions correctly and does not make you feel unsmart if it takes 500 times to learn a particular motion. He is more patient than a rock. He has pushed me to work on things I really hated and felt that I could not do (pull ups, jump rope double unders) but helped me push past my own biases to learn how to do them well enough to not feel embarrassed in front of more experienced and fit CrossFitters.

I hate Michael Freaking Lopez.
I hate that he texts me all the time like some pyscho ex about where have I been.
I hate that he texts me to ask how I am doing after a hard workout. What the hell.
I hate that he always yells my name when I enter the gym. «JOSUEEEEE»
I hate that he makes me do death by _​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​ (enter hard exercise here).
I hate that he’s always smiling and having a good time when we are all working hard.
Now replace all the «hate» I wrote with «love».
Mike is such a great trainer. He is so genuinely concerned about your health goals! The guy is relentless in keeping you motivated and encouraged. The other day he told me that my health goals are his health goals and he isn’t joking around! The guy is knowledgeable, helpful and the absolute BEST!!!

Michael is a super great coach, and both his private or group session are really great for anyone looking to work their butt off while having fun. Everyone in this gym make you feel part of the group. It’s welcoming, hard, fun but intense. I guess it’s exactly the right ratio of everything to get you working out while enjoying doing it.

What can I say about Mr. Michael Freakin Lopez other than no wonder he is LA’s MOSTHatedTrainer! We aaaalll love to hate him and his constant encouragingly fun attitude. Who really wants to walk into a gym and instantly feel like they are part of an amazing beastly family?! Uh… Everyone of course! And don’t even get me started on the fun we have getting stronger (the right way) and achieving goals we never thought were possible. He’s always tough on you and is always concerned about how you are doing. He is constantly blowing up my phone after his extremely challenging but totally empowering WOD with «How are you doing?» or «How are you feeling?» Seriously, who does that?! Michael Freakin Lopez does folks!
So if you want a trainer who is going to make you work while actually caring about your goals, your achievements, your body, and well, you in general, then look no further cause MostHatedTrainer is your answer. But do keep these precautions in mind…
1) If you are late you WILL do armless burpees
2) If you cheat you WILL get called out because he knows you’re better than that
3) If you complain he WILL not let you give up
4) If you are sore he WILL send you the Mr. Chow meme
5) If you have concerns or limitations he WILL care and make sure you do what’s good for you
6) If you succeed he WILL give you a shout in the gym and on FB
7) He WILL always give you helpful reminders like «Make sure you roll out.» «Get your heart up before stretching.» or my personal favorite «Be sure to help each other get your strap on.»
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY
8) Watch his hips! Cause lord knows those hips don’t lie!!! But just in case you forget he WILL ALWAYS AAAALLLWAYS remind you to do so
Soooo I shall finish by saying THANK YOU MICHAEL LOPEZ!!! My body has never looked better and I have never felt as strong as I do now! I look forward to every new challenge and achievement you have in store for me BUT mostly I look forward to hating you a little more each and everyday!
Sincerely your #MostLovableTrainee
SKITTLES

Ummm let’s see… where should I begin with Mike? I definitely can’t stand him because he makes me do burpees for coming in late (whenever I do come in late). I can’t stand how he stands there with his smirk on his face after explaining the WOD. I hate how he makes me do workouts I don’t want to do. And I hate that he holds me accountable when I don’t go in.
I don’t tell him this (because his ego is already big enough lol) but I’ll say it here… I actually love him as my trainer! Before him I didn’t have motivation to go to the gym, and I hadn’t found a good trainer/​coach to motivate me or to make me enjoy the gym… and then I found Mike! He seemed nice at first but as time went on that went away and got tougher on me all due to good reasons. Now I enjoy the gym, I am motivated, and I am feeling better physically. He’s the best there is and you can tell he really loves what he does! He genuinely cares and that’s tough to find in trainers. Mike, I hate you for making me get up so early in the AM and for actually being so great that I can’t give up on going to the gym.
–The girl who you love to identify as «chola party girl» and love to scare people telling them that. Lol!

I hate michael because he constantly pushes me and cuts me no slack when he knows I can do more.
I love Michael because I’ve seen my body transform.
I hate Michael because he constantly correcting my form.
I love Michael because he makes me do it right and I see results.
I hate Michael because he holds me to my goals.
I love Michael because he’s sweet and encouraging but still tough.
I hate Michael because he makes me stretch, warm up and roll out before and after every workout.
I love Michael because my body doesn’t hurt anymore because I warm up, stretch and roll out.
i love Michael because he’s nice, caring, fun and funny and human.
Maybe he should be called most loved trainer?!

If you are looking to commit to yourself to getting in shape, Mike (aka The Most Hated Trainer) is the person to go to.
If you are like me and have been struggling to get in shape but have NO IDEA what you are doing at the gym or with your diet… Mike will ease those nerves and educate you. The biggest step for me was just picking up the phone to call Mike. I was so nervous, simply because I’ve been in horrible shape for so long. The second I meet Mike, he completely put me at ease (he is a bit of a charmer). In a couple of weeks he taught me the basics with a heavy emphasis on form and I started participating in group workouts once I was more comfortable. Every time I see Mike is a proverbial ass kicking, so despite his shining personality, you will be cursing him through those last burpees. But that awesome feeling post workout will reassure you that Mike is pushing you to get better and you will DEFINITELY see yourself improving.
Mike, unlike most trainers I have encountered, actually cares to know how you are doing after a workout and about your diet. It’s really refreshing, especially as a person who has participated in every fad diet and trendy workout. I am finding that I don’t dread going to the gym anymore and that I look forward to the challenge and awesome post workout feeling.

I hate him, I hate his gym, I can’t wait till the next day! I have learned a lot of new things. Never going back to my old ways!

I first met Mike at the Spartan Sprint last year. I was concerned about what to wear. Meanwhile, Mike was dressed as Superman.
Who does that?
Mike does.
The man tackled those obstacles like he was skipping through the meadow. I saw him throw a javelin perfectly at his target without even trying (I took two tries and STILL didn’t even get close). The only reason I was even able to keep up with him was because he was staying behind to encourage his clients and to take action videos with a GoPro. Needless to say, the man IS Superman.
Since then I’ve gotten to know him at various events and most recently at his gym Steel Barbells, where I’ve been taking classes.
I’ve always been horrible with flexibility and Mike has been great at helping me work on that. He pays a lot of attention to form, and doesn’t let me get away with doing the exercises wrong. In addition to a lack of muscle flexibility, I’ve also had a hard time with schedule flexibility. Mike has been great with that too, offering alternate times, and being completely understanding when things come up.
Sometimes, because of my schedule, I have to get to his gym early. Like 5:30 in the morning. Even then, Mike is upbeat, happy, excited, and ready to work. I can’t imagine doing a workout that early without his positive energy. He makes going to the gym feel like something actually worth doing.
Like I said… he’s Superman.

Going to Michael’s training program is one of the best things I’ve decided this year!
he does personal sessions, where he thoroughly teaches you how to do certain exercises and then group classes, where you join other students and complete AMRAPs and repetitions… months go past and you see you are now independent to train by yourself but now doing exercises in the right way!
His attitude is always positive, and very motivating, has definitely been a great 3 months of training with him. not only am i stronger but also healthier. its amazing feeling. he is absolute great
Could not be more thankful of once Googling Trainers and finding «The most hated trainer» mike!!! awesome place to work out and be surrounded by motivated and dedicated people. thank you michael for yelling at me to push harder when i felt i couldn’t anymore. you always said «your mind gives up before your body does» and that will always stay with me.

This guy Mike aka The most hated trainer has CHANGED my life.
I came looking for help during my struggle with losing weight and now, I got a new FAMILY.
I know I’m far away from my goal but without his help it would be impossible.
He showed me how to have fun working out and see the results!
If you are looking for a life change, a better life, you should give this place a visit.
Mike has also a pretty good team working with him.
Come see how its done! Thank you Mike for all the good times and many more to come!

Michael Lopez definitely deserves a 5 STAR REVIEW for sure. I have been coming to Crossfit Steel Barbells for the past 3 weeks and training with him, and I absolutely LOVE everything about Michael approach, determination, PASSION and ENERGY he puts daily for each of his clients. The atmosphere at Steel Barbells is phenomenal.
Michael is such a nice, energetic and ALIVE person that really knows his stuff– and really knows how to push each individual to there highest potential to reaching their goals, while making working out FUN! Oh, the music is always fun and upbeat during his training sessions too.
The individual and group workouts are intense & and extremely fun. You not only get to get a full intense workout for yourself, but you also get to compete in smaller groups with each other.
This is by far my new workout spot! I am so happy that I was able to come across Michael as my new AWESOME trainer!

Michael Lopez aka Most Hated Trainer deserves every one of these 5 star reviews.
He always has a positive attitude and a smile on his face, is extremely knowledgeable and great with clients, but above all else he is a genuinely nice guy.
The best way I can illustrate this: my wife and I recently joined his gym, Steel Barbells, and while I previously had some experience with weight training, she didn’t know the difference between a squat and a kumquat (actually, that’s not true… she probably knew what kumquats were :) It might have been challenging at first, but Michael worked with her on this and many other exercises, and before long she was squatting and doing pull ups like a champ – and she’s ready to come back for more! I can only attribute this to Michael’s fantastic manner with her and everyone else that walks into his gym.
Michael is also great at communicating with clients (usually via text, which is fine with me). We get messages after workouts to see how we are feeling, on our scheduled days to make sure we are coming in, etc… Michael must send about 10,000 text messages per month! He even texted while he was away on vacation to see how we felt after taking a class with a new coach at the gym. It really shows how dedicated he is and how much he truly cares about his clients.

10 reasons why I hate Micheal Lopez
1. When am dying and all I want to do is walk out of the gym — micheal makes me do another set !!!
2 He never let’s me quit and trust me sometimes thats all I want to do .
3 He keep texting asking me if I ate right — how does my body feel — leave me alone !
4. He is always in such a great mood — and always have lots of energy !
5. Makes me do man makers (which I hate)
6. My office is right across his gym so I can never Ditch a workout
7. He is in perfect shape that am Jealous.
8 There are too many amazing beautiful skinny bitches at the gym (gosh I wish I looked like them)
9. He makes me sweat !!
10 I have to buy all new clothes !
I hate micheal cause he actually makes you work and never let’s you give up on your goal !
Love ya
Your best client
Raina