Traditionally, students have played team sports in their physical education classes, but Acquaviva believes in a new fitness curriculum that is more cognitively based and follows his theory for personal fitness. Success in personal fitness will be easier to achieve later in life if individuals rely on themselves, Acquaviva says. "Students need to be taught personal fitness, not just team sports," he says. "This way they'll have the tools to use on their own throughout their lives instead of relying on a team of players to stay in shape."

Acquaviva's model breaks the fitness process into five levels of readiness: (1) not thinking about getting into shape; (2) thinking about it but not doing it; (3) working out but not regularly; (4) working out regularly but not for longer than six months; and (5) working out regularly for more than six months. Under his model, everyone fits into a stage and has the ability to advance or digress at any time.

Acquaviva uses his theory to teach his own students at Roanoke College. He has also persuaded the Roanoke area schools to adopt new ways of teaching physical education and plans to propose his theory to the Fairfax County Public Schools.

"I enjoy teaching fitness and helping people with those aspects--how to lose weight, how to feel better, how to alleviate stress--but I also teach students how to help other people be more healthy." Acquaviva earned his Ph.D. in physical education from Florida State University after receiving his master's degree in physiology from Mason. "I wanted to learn the educational side of fitness because I'm best at teaching," says Acquaviva.

As a physical trainer, he gets a kick out of the common misconceptions students have about health and fitness. "It's funny what people will come in and ask me. First of all, there's no such thing as spot reduction," he says. "A student came in the other day and asked what she had to do to lose weight in her face. You can't do that. ...[I]t's about more overall fitness and working out. The body will shape itself the way it's supposed to."

Acquaviva finds working with his students the best part of his job. "College students are fun--they're full of energy, they have personality and a sense of humor. They are fun to be around, and they are fun to work with. What is most rewarding is pushing them to certain levels and having them reach those levels."

Meanwhile, Acquaviva is pushing his own career to new levels. With two articles about his model in the works, he hopes his program will gain the approval of fitness researchers. He also is gaining more attention from the public. Acquaviva has been interviewed by the New York Times, and his model for personal fitness was featured on television. He is also "the trainer" on the popular Ask the Fitness Trainer page on the healthAtoZ web site. Because of the site's voluminous traffic, he has had to cut back from answering all questions submitted to only those with the widest audience appeal.

All this publicity has helped to better educate students about fitness and to clear up those common misconceptions about getting into shape. With a little determination, Acquaviva's ideas might lead to a healthier America.