SWEETIESAL

Unique Physique Personal Training @ Elite Performance Fitness

I thought as a part of my documenting the #MyFirstBikini process I should introduce you all to my Personal Trainer, Chris!

Chris trains his personal training clients at Elite Performance Gym in Stockport, Cheshire. He has been helping me with my weightloss goals, listening to me whinge when he makes me lift heavier weights, given me invaluable diet advice and I would recommend him to anyone who is looking to make a change to their weight/fitness etc.

I had always said I would never have a personal trainer or go to a boot camp as I HATE the thought of being shouted at and being made to feel like I am a laughing stock.

Whilst we obviously laugh at the fact that I am seriously clumsy and have two left feet more often than not, I don't get made to feel silly (and if I do, it's normally when it's my own fault) and I genuinely now have faith in myself that nothing is unachievable!

In my role as 'journalist', I asked Chris a series of questions and here are his responses;

Vital Stats?
Age: 31
Qualifications: Level 2 Gym Instructor, Gym Boxing, Spin, Exercise to Music, Sports Nutrition, General Nutrition, and Level 3 Personal Trainer.

I’m coming up on 3 years as a Personal Trainer and  I studied for this with The Training Room. I also have a Diploma in Sports Science.

What made you decide on a career in personal training?
I’ve always enjoyed helping people; my two career choices for many years had been Fire Fighter or Personal Trainer; something where I could make a positive impact to people lives and make a difference – as cliche as that might sound.

What has been your best career achievement to date?
This would definitely be with John Cunliffe.  Before coming to me in January 2011 he has suffered with extreme stress and depression for which he’d been hospitalised for a large portion of the 10 years prior to starting Personal Training. There’s actually a really nice testimonial from him on my website.

By working together so closely we were able to have his many medications reduced, along with guiding him towards his weight loss goals. There was something he said to me that I’ll never forget and that was on his 50th birthday he told me that I’d helped change his life in such a massive way, that this particular birthday was the first one he’d spent out of hospital in 8 years. Making such an impact to someone makes what I do more worth while than I think I can express.

What are the top 3 diet tips you can think of that are a quick win?

1. Reduce & remove any processed, high sugar foods.
2. Eat Protein with each meal.
3. Never starve yourself. (reduced calories = reduced metabolism = reduced fat loss)

This is a tough one as I’m a big lover of inspirational quotes, but this one always stands out
“What lies behind us and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

What are your dieting pet peeves?
Calorie counting is a big one. While this does result in some ‘weight’ loss, it’s likely that this will be from water and muscle tissue as opposed to fat. I’m all about healthy eating, full stop.

What are the most common misconceptions about training?
That cardio is the best form of exercise for losing fat is a big one, which is not the case at all. 

Another one I’ve come across many times is that women won’t do any resistance (weight) training, as they feel they will get big and bulky. Something else that is untrue. Increasing lean muscle tissue is one of the best and most effective ways of raising your metabolism and fat burning potential.

Why do you think you are a good personal trainer?
I believe 100% in educating all of my clients to be able to make the right choices, be that in exercise or nutrition, and even to setting goals for themselves. I see no use giving loads of information to people for them to blindly follow. I believe it’s my job to be a teacher as well as a trainer.

Getting great results with all my clients, whatever their goals are, is something I pride myself in, and also demand from myself and my clients.

What makes a good personal training client?
Someone who is passionate about making positive changes to their lives; along also the willingness to work hard to get what they want, in both the short term and long term.

Who is your biggest inspiration?
I don’t think I can say any single person has been an inspiration to me, but anyone who has struggled through an aspect of their lives, and come out the other side stronger, is inspiring. My clients all do inspire me as well, in their own ways.

If you could have taken part in London 2012, what activity would you have done and why?
I used to swim in competitions when I was younger, so I’d have to say that for sure.

What is your favourite exercise to do?
My favourite exercise is Deadlifting, I have my own goals for the end of this year for that, which is increasing my ‘1 rep maximum’ lift up to 200kg.

What do you find the hardest about what you do?
I think the sometimes short periods of time I get to spend with my clients can be difficult, in an education sense as I find this such a massive aspect of what I do.

Using no names, (PT/Client Confidentiality!!) What has been the funniest personal training session you have had?
I’ve trained a couple of comedians, so they certainly had their entertaining moments, just joke after joke….I’ve got a silly sense of humour so that probably made them much funnier.

I read on your website that you are qualified at NLP - tell us what it is and how you use it?
Easiest way to explain this is that I use it when I’m doing my goal setting sessions with my clients.

It’s given me an understanding of how to ask the right questions in the right way to get to the root of why people want to make changes to their lives. This has also helped me in my own goal setting.
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I have my next measurements session on Friday (how has that come around so quick?!) where I will be able to further back up the fact that what Chris is doing really does work!

I go for training twice per week and actually quite enjoy it - perhaps not so much during the measurements but it's a necessary evil... haha.

If you want to have a chat with Chris about what he can do for you, then he can be contacted in the following ways;

Tel: 07738 832271
E-mail: info@uniquephysiquept.co.uk

You can also find Chris on Twitter, his name is @coach_mainer - just don't expect anything really funny though.... (sorry Chris!!!) :o)