| Bio: |
I'm a firefighter, personal trainer, strength & conditioning coach, fitness writer & fitness model from Manchester, United Kingdom. Although i have only been in the fire service for just short of 8 years, I have been involved in the fitness industry for over 17 years as a fitness instructor, fitness manager & personal trainer. I have worked for many leading companies within the fitness industry, including Fitness First, LA Fitness & Nautilus, as well as independant gyms, before starting up my own personal training consultancy. My certifications include NSCA & ACSM, as well as GP Exercise referrals.
This experience has allowed me to work alongside, & with many people, from all areas of the spectrum, from clients via the NHS with potentially life threatening conditions, everyday 'Jills' & 'Joes' looking to achieve a healthy body, through to international athletes, national & Olympic level coaches and professional athletes, as well as British bodybuilding champions, World Championship finalists & Mr. Olympia competitors.
My approach to fitness is from a scientific perspective, as well a practical application viewpoint, or a combination of 'Sports Science & Gym Science'. I studied Sports Science at degree level after studying A'Levels of Physical Education, Sociology, Philosophy, Psychology & General Studies. I have always had a big interest in sport, with activities such as sprinting, cross-country, football, rugby, cricket amongst many others. I particularly excelled at running & football, with a registered 100m time of 10.98 seconds. I also ran competitively at county level in both cross-country & 400m.
During my time at college i was able to play semi-professional football to a very high standard, despite suffering with knee injuries during my youth, which is a reason i have a big interest in injury management & treatment.
Before joining the fire service, i had been involved with the NHS Exercise Referral Scheme, designing exercise programmes to aid rehabilitation for a wide range of injuries & conditions including cardiac rehabilitation, stress, depression through to cruciate ligament tears and post surgery patients.
Alongside personal training, i have partaken in modelling, from underwear & swimwear through to fashion, fitness & editorial. Although i am now only interested in fitness related work, i do also consider swimwear & underwear shoots. I also combine my other past-times of fire eating & flame breathing (Yes, a fire-breathing, fire-eating fire-fighter!) within my modelling.
As well as increasing my own personal exposure within the fitness industry, I am looking at achieving a Professional card with the WBFF or IBFF. Although i may have to wait until 2013/2014, with possible rotator cuff surgery on the horizon, i am no less motivated. I also plan on producing more fitness and health related articles for leading publications. I am also currently developing a new training system, 'EvO-XD', which I will be incorporating into my own training, as well as my clients, in some form. All of this alongside growth of my personal training business and fitness model competing, & rise of my 'Fit Chef' persona, will enable me to reach my goals.
I gain a lot of inspiration from what many would perceive to be 'normal, everyday' people, that have achieved success, as well as those that have faced a form of adversity & overcame them.
My mother is a huge inspiration to me, especially as she has taken on & beaten cancer.
I like to read the work of many leading names in the sports science & fitness industry, including Alan Aragon, Will Brink, Greg Plitt, Lyle McDonald, Layne Norton, Micah LaCerte, Obi Obadike amongst others. |
