Coach Rishi

3 fitness beliefs of mine that have changed over time 🧠

Scientific research is constantly evolving & fitness is not an exact science. It’s important to have the humility to acknowledge there's a lot you don't know.

1. Cardio – Once upon a time I was anti-cardio because at the time, my only goal was to look good aesthetically. You can do that purely from weight training & dieting. The first time I achieved visible abs I didn’t do any direct cardio. However, over time I saw the flaw in this approach. Including cardio into your routine is important for heart health & also enables you to eat a bit more.

2.Calorie/Macro counting – I’ve been tracking my macros for many years now but initially I used to mock my brother for doing so. I just thought it was odd to quantify the foods you ate & I just thought of foods as either ‘clean’ or ‘cheat’ foods. At this point I had been in reasonable shape but never had visible abs. Eventually I got over my stubbornness & decided to track my macros in order to get leaner . By doing this I finally got a six pack. I delved deeper into the science behind tracking your food & realised how logical it was. Especially for a person like me that likes things to be precise (OCD tendancies). I understand it’s not for everyone but it is the most efficient way of eating towards your goal.

3. Not undertaking more post-grad formal education – I know the importance of adding to your knowledge base & this can be done without formal education. Being a naturally skeptical person, I was always hesitant to do certain courses, partly because I like to study solo, & also because I didn’t fully trust the methodology of the course. I got great at applying the knowledge I obtained. I already have a Sports Science degree, a PT qualification as well as 14 years of experience on the gym floor. But this is the year I want to add to my formal education. I’m surrounded by high level bodybuilders, physios, & athletes at the gym I work at. I trust the information & content they showcase. People generally raise their game when their close network is of a high level.

Stay humble, be open minded 😁

Career Choices - Passion Vs Maximum Wealth

There's no wrong answer when asked if you chose your career due primarily to maximise wealth, or to follow your passion. Clearly there's a grey area between the 2 distinctions also.

I chose a career I'm passionate about. The money I make is important but to spend the majority of your day enjoying your job makes you a whole lot happier.

In school there were no signs my life would lead to a fitness career. Quite the contrary. I sucked in P.E and was usually picked nearly last during lunchtime football matches. However, I was academically quite smart but just didn't apply myself fully. Super introverted, not very social, and awkward. As a personal trainer you spend most of your time socialising, can't afford to be shy, and networking is essential.

I went onto university to study Law and successfully completed half the degree (sorry if you've heard me talk about this before). It was only at this point in my life I realised I had zero passion for this career path. Too boring! So I quit.

I had gradually built up a passion for fitness since the end of high school. Therefore I switched career paths, completed a PT course and followed it with a Sports Science degree.

Fast forward to now and that decision was essential to my current happiness. I may not be making as much money as my eldest brother, who's a highly successful construction lawyer in London, but I'm providing my family a happy life. You can improve the weak points in your character to do something you love.

My advice to any youngins reading this, is to pick a career that will enhance your quality of life and that you're passionate about. What's the point of being a millionaire if you're miserable and unhealthy?

Find a way to generate wealth doing something you enjoy. This is just my opinion anyway and thought I'd share my view. Feel free to disagree!

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