TGt Meets... James Dodds, David Lloyd

In this TGt Meets interview we've been speaking to James Dodds, Lead Coach from David Lloyd Swindon, all about fitness and his career.

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

At a young age I was always brought up around the rugby life and fitness industry due to my Dad serving in the RAF. I then went on to join the Royal Marines and became obsessed with training and fitness. After leaving the military due to medical reasons I turned my passion into teaching and coaching others toward their goals and future lifestyle in fitness.

How do you stay fit and healthy?

I train on average 5 days a week with enough rest to allow my body to grow and recover. This will be broken down to different body parts everyday and also a full body workout once a week to get the most out of myself and notice and change in my physique.

Do you have a motto or favourite motivational quote?

Dream as you’ll live forever...

Live as you’ll die today...

- James Dean

What’s your favourite sport or exercise?

I love Downhill Mountain biking outside the gym, but within the gym I love to train chest and back. I find these 2 muscle groups build a thick and solid upper body and are a great stepping stone to start on any fitness journey.

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

Train at least 3 times a week, ranging from weighted exercises, body weight and also cardio based exercises. This will target the whole body and also gives you enough time for the body to relax and grow on the rest days. All this with a perfect diet with balanced carbohydrates, protein and fats will aid in the support of you getting into that dress you always wished you could get into, or just feeling better about yourself.

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

Overtraining! Diet!

These two mistakes can cause all sorts of trouble if not managed correctly. Overtraining will tire the body and reduce the muscle growth, and diet is key with everything within fitness. This will allow weight loss, muscle growth and all round development towards your goals.

Are there any exercises you advise against?

If you are new to the gym and workout I would advise against any big compound movements. The reason for this is it takes take and skill to perfect one movement. Without the correct technique and form this can result in injury and delay your progress of hard work in the gym.

What music do you listen to when you work out?

I love heavy metal! The beat from the drums and riff from guitars make my workout powerful and productive and help me get that extra rep and push in every workout.

What foods are always in your fridge?

It’s always a mixture in my fridge. However, my freezer is a different story. I’m a sucker for ice cream, any size tub, any flavour, it's got my name on it. As a personal trainer I shouldn’t admit that but everyone needs a cheat day here and there.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Seeing my clients happy with their progress and hard work is by far the best bit of my job. My job is to train and coach members and clients to get the most out of the work they give me in the gym and out of it with their own diet behaviours. If my clients are happy and feel good about themselves after all the hard work they put in, I’m happy.

James runs the new Blaze training sessions at David Lloyd Swindon. Find out more here!