TGt Meets... Dan Day

In this TGt Meets interview, we spoke to Dan Day, Personal Trainer at David Lloyd Swindon, about his career and how he stays motivated!

How did you turn your passion for fitness into a career?

I started out just loving training. I was in a 9-5 job and fitting my training in and around work, I saw how much being in the gym had helped me progress in all aspects of my life, the discipline it gave me and the sense of self achievement is unrivalled I think. It made me want to go and help others achieve their goals too, thankfully I had the right support around me and i’m able to make a living doing what I love day in, day out.

How do you stay fit and healthy?

I love to have events to work towards, when I have a specific date in mind it makes it so much easier to stay motivated. I generally like to put together full body high intensity programmes that cover all the bases to keep me strong all over. Teaching spin four times a week certainly helps too! Making sure i’m consistent across the board is key, I like variation as it keeps me interested and motivated to keep developing all over.

Do you have a motto or favourite motivational quote?

‘What a difference a day makes’ - small things done everyday are the key to success

What’s your favourite sport or exercise?

I absolutely love football but unfortunately I had my fair share of injuries and it forced me to retire really. I love boxing now which pushes me to my limits, you have to be at the peak physical condition to step in that ring and I never take it lightly. Im always looking to strive for something I haven’t done or achieved before, thats what keeps me pushing forward.

What are your tips for people looking to get into shape?

Consistency. Find something you enjoy and do it consistently. Initially thats all that matters, that you get moving and you do it on a regular basis. If you don’t enjoy it, or you do too much to soon then the likely hood is that you wont stick to it. Find out what you want to achieve, and remember your why every time you walk into the gym. Take the same approach with your diet and you’ll see the results.

What are some mistakes people make when training/working towards a weight or fitness goal?

Doing too much too soon is something I see a lot. If it's not sustainable, you wont stick too it. Working towards your goal will take time, but its all part of the process. Diet is key, you will have heard before ‘you cant out train a bad diet’ and its true. Try to find some balance in your diet and then focus on exercise. Also, make sure you stay true to what you want to achieve, don’t let others talk you into what they are doing. Everyone is different, get qualified professional help to point you in the right direction and go from there. 

Are there any exercises you advise against?

I think all exercises have a purpose, you just need to make sure its specific to your goal. Running 10 miles when your training for a 100 metre sprint wouldn’t do you any favours, and its the same across the board. Make sure you know why your doing what your doing, that your executing exercises with good form with the right rep and set ranges and you’ll be flying!

What music do you listen to when you work out?

I love all sorts to be honest, I have quite a varied taste when it comes to music. When i’m choosing my spin tracks I love the high energy fast tempo songs, for my own training I like get my head down and work through slower rap album. I’ll often go from listening to drake to having Oasis blasting in the blink of an eye, depends on how much of a push I need that day!

What foods are always in your fridge?

I generally only really use the fridge, I like my food to be fresh. Salmon is always a winner, its great for recovery and you can get some amazing meals whipped up in no time! I try to avoid the Chicken and broccoli stereotype, of course it has its place but I think people think it has to be boring to be healthy. I get big colourful vegetable flavours in and that keeps my diet healthy and exciting too!

What's the most rewarding part of your job?

The results my clients get. Hands down the best part of my job, you get up in the morning to go and help people achieve their goals. When they do that, it makes all the handwork worth while!