Olympic Athletes , Professional Football
and my fat mate Mark
I would like to begin by thanking my friend , first client and guinea pig , Mark who , to be tactful , was a little on the ‘ stocky ’ side ( overweight !). However , since he undertook an intense 4 week programme with me ( and continued to exercise since ) he is stronger , fitter , slimmer and has better muscle definition than when he was in his early 20 ’ s .
As a Strength & Conditioning Coach this is what I do for people . Through various “ functional ” exercises I turn people into more robust athletes no matter what level they are starting from or trying to attain .
I have been exceptionally fortunate in my career and I am very lucky to have worked with some of the best athletes within their chosen sport , from Premier League striker Marcus Bent and Cameroon World Cup superstar Pierre Njanka to my current work with Olympic Sprinter Ani Khachikyan from Armenia whom I am preparing for the 14 th World Athletics Championships in Russia this August .
My background is as a professional football coach for over 14 years and a regular user of weights since the skinny age of 16 . I found myself edging towards Strength & Conditioning approximately 8 years ago when one of the physiotherapists at Brighton & Hove Albion FC asked me to work 1:1 with an under 16 ’ s player who was recovering from a broken ankle .
The great thing about my job is the variety of work and the flexibility of clients , ranging from everyday people looking to improve fitness and selfconfidence through to top rate athletes . More recently I have found myself working for the Indonesian Super League team Mitra Kukar FC , planning and delivering their successful preseason training programme despite working with non-English speakers .
I am also the Technical Director for an amazing charity called Coaching For Hope that I ’ d help set up back in 2005 . Fat Boy Slim is its Ambassador and we use football to teach young people about the dangers of HIV and Aids in developing countries . This work is often in politically unstable environments but to date we have worked with over 700 coaches and young leaders who in turn
have worked with over 30,000 children .
Whether you are a top athlete or more like my fat mate Mark being fit is essential to remain healthy and my experience has shown me that with just a little bit of commitment anyone can make a positive difference to their wellbeing . You don ’ t even have to give up the things you love .
Top 5 tips on staying fit and healthy
1 Invest in your body by consulting a professional
They will provide you with the tools to be able to exercise regularly and safely on your own and on a regular basis .
2 Fuel your body
Know your portion sizes and eat smaller portions at mealtimes and healthy snacks in between .
3 Mix up your exercise
Variety is key to keeping your body guessing and to constantly make improvements .
4 Weekend Warrior
Become a Weekend Warrior and don ’ t waste the hard work you may have done at the gym or other training during the week by binging at the weekend ...
5 Cheat days
This can include going out for a few beers with friends , Just ensure it doesn ’ t become a cheat weekend ( see point 4 ).
By Darren Teague www . bodyfitltd . com
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