Thomas is a Scarborough-based personal trainer who believes strongly in self-discipline and owning your own achievements. He talks to Sundried about his goals of doing a muscle-up and how he keeps his Clients Motivated.
Tell us about your journey to fitness? Where did it all start?
I used to live a very unhealthy lifestyle. I ate takeaways all the time and drank too much alcohol. I remember one day looking in the mirror and saying “What have you done to yourself?!?” From then I started exercising every day. Only a little a first. Just press ups and sit ups. I used to do it in private and was mortified if anyone found me. I didn’t really know what I was doing. I wish I had the new Tom to help me back then!
What are your training goals now?
I am currently working on being able to do a muscle up and a handstand. It’s taking a lot of practice and I’m some way off still. My long term goal is to be strong and able for the rest of my life. I want to be deadlifting with my grandchildren when I’m 90!
Tell us one unusual fact we wouldn’t know about you
On a sailing trip in Malaysia, I was asked to play the part of a western man who’d run off with the main character's girlfriend. I had to walk down the pontoon pretending to chat with her whilst the boyfriend scowled at me!
What would future you, tell yourself when you were starting out?
Work harder!
Do you follow a specific nutrition plan? If so, what/when do you eat?
Nothing too specific. My diet is mainly centred around good protein sources and lots of vegetables. I try to eat organic if I can. I use nuts for healthy fats and to keep hunger pangs at bay.
What do you do to keep your clients motivated? Do you have any top tips to keep motivated?
I make sure they realise how far they’ve come since they started. I also keep them accountable for their successes. I make sure they never forget they are responsible for the improvements they’ve seen in their health and Fitness levels.
Talk us through your training regime.
I currently do two training sessions a week aimed at eventually mastering the muscle-up. Wednesday is always HIIT day. Although I always finish any session with some sort of HIIT workout to give me a post-workout buzz! I practice my handstands whenever I have a minute or two spare.
How do you keep your fitness knowledge up to date?
The internet and social media is a great place to find things out. Just make sure you pick who you listen to carefully. There’s a lot of bad advice out there. I also try to attend at least one course per year. Last year I did a hardstyle kettlebell certification and this year it’ll be a sports massage course.
What are your top 3 trainer tips?
- Try to move more during the day. If you work at a desk, see if you can get a standing desk in the office. You don’t have to stand all day, just a few minutes every hour adds up. Always take the stairs! Park a little further away from work so you can stretch your legs a little before and after work.
- Drink more water. Even the most disciplined person probably isn’t hydrated enough.
- Never give up. Whatever your goal is, it takes time. Keep an eye on the end game. In 6 months, a year or even 10 years, you’ll look back and feel proud on the improvements you’ve made to your health, life and fitness.
If you could only do one workout for the rest of your life, what would it be?
How about kettlebell swings, pull ups, press ups and sprints? Yeah, that sounds good.
What are your training goals?
The muscle up. I think it’s one of the best examples of a strong, powerful and capable body. Isn’t that what we all want?
Why work with Sundried?
Great looking, ethically created clothes. When you’re working out you need good quality clothes that move when you move.
Favourite fitness quote:
“Success is usually the culmination of controlling failure”
