I am a French-Canadian who has always been into sports ever since I was a kid. I played soccer and hockey for a few years. I even tried baseball. I started lifting weights at the age of fourteen, but I did not take it seriously back then. I did Judo for a couple of years but switched to boxing at the age of sixteen. It was only at the age of seventeen that I took weight-lifting more seriously. Why you might ask? I met my first coach at Gym Max. His name is André Maillé, World Championships 1986- NABBA, Tall, 1st, Overall Winner (Pro Card). I wanted to learn more about training and take myself to the next level. So, I decided to compete for the first time. Around that age I was not hanging with the right crowd, I got into many fights and got into trouble a few times. Prepping to compete helped me keep quiet and focus, away from the wrong crowd. I could not allow myself to go out since I wanted to succeed in my competition. I hit the stage for the first time at eighteen in the André Maillé Classic competition in the junior culturist category weighing 163 lbs. I came in first. It became a passion, my drive. To this day, I have competed in approximately 10-12 culturist competitions and 6 classic physique competitions.
In my early twenties, I worked at a grocery store. But I decided to take a night job at the gym. Throughout the next four years, I learned as much as I could. People came to me for advice and many told me I should become a personal trainer. At that time, I did not have the guts. I can admit that I was worried because self-employment was risky, nothing was guaranteed. I also was not sure how working one-on-one with clients would be. One day, I simply went for it and I do not regret it. I went and got my certification through Coach Export. But I must admit most of my knowledge comes from my years of training alone, coaches and competitions. I am incredibly grateful for my coaches in the past for they have all taught me something. I trained for years alone and even competed without a coach. This has allowed me to become very aware of what my body needs and what it can achieve. All of this has made me the athlete and personal trainer I am today.
Today, I assist others when they are competing. I help others in their prepping especially in posing (I have been known to be good in posing and routine). Unfortunately, with everything going on due to Covid-19, I have been questioning myself a little bit. What can I do to stay motivated in times like these? Booking a photoshoot seemed like a good idea. It allowed me to stay focus, remain on a diet, and train as if I were going to compete. It gave me an objective to achieve. To do my absolute best; to look my absolute best. I like the idea that I was competing with myself and not others. There is no victor or any stress related to competing against other athletes. Booking that photoshoot was the best decision I could take during these times and I will be doing another one this summer guarantee. I will prep, in the same way, I would for competition. If I can work on my fitness, work on the best version of myself and maybe in the process inspire others to do the same, that is enough of me to be content in my life.
Age:
28
City:
Cantley, Gatineau
Occupation details:
Personal trainer.
Relationship status:
Single.
Fitness goals:
Bring my physique to its best while remaining aesthetic and balanced, although my legs will never be big enough.
Training plan:
I am a firm believer in sticking to the basics. We do not have to reinvent the wheel. Press, pull and legs are my way to train. I add an extra arms session in my week because that is my weak point. My training consists of six to twelve reps with a lot of tempo. The only time I do cardio is about two months before a competition for 30 minutes low intensity in the morning. I’ll do a full-body stretch as well for another half hour. I will also do abs every other day.
My training does not change on or off-season. It remains the same. I’ll change my diet depending on where my body is at and the body physique that I want to achieve (for example if I wish to build more volume). My training did not change either for the photoshoot. It remained the same. With the experience I’ve obtained throughout the years, I can train for ten days consecutively before taking a rest day. Personally, I choose my rest day when my sleep starts to diminish. It shows that something in my life might be tiring me down and that it is time to relax. In short, the number of times I will train in a week truly depends on my sleep hygiene. Knowing oneself and being able to listen to your own body are key attributes to be able to keep my energy constant.
Thoughts on: HIIT, Power-lifting, TRX, Yoga, bodybuilding, others?
Here are my thoughts briefly on each:
HIIT: It is highly effective in activating the metabolism. In short, it is good for weight loss.
POWER-LIFTING: I will add powerlifting to my workouts when I want to increase my muscle density.
TRX: As for TRX, with the quarantines and Covid-19 restrictions I had to learn how to use it. I include it in back workouts specifically.
YOGA: Yoga is a great way to work on mobility. It is like stretching and helping improve fluidity, mobility, and range of motion. It is useful for posing when competing or helping with gym efficiency. For example, some people lack mobility in their shoulders and that restrains them on executing the movement as it should be. To feel it properly in the right regions.
BODYBUILDING: All I have to say is this: usually people tend to say that bodybuilding is hard physically but truly it is hard psychologically. You must dedicate a lot of personal time to it.
Nutritionnal& supplements:
I start my day with green tea, a quarter lemon (if I do not have any, I may replace it with apple cider vinegar), and freshly chopped ginger. I believe this natural detox starts my day off pretty well.
I eat approximately 150g of lean meat each meal. I will eat mostly chicken breast, horse meat, and occasionally beef. My diet is also high carb since it helps my muscle appear bulkier. My first and last meal will contain more fat but not throughout the day because it tends to make me feel bloated. Having a high carb diet allows me to perform better during my training. The carbs I consume tend to be basmati rice, quinoa, oats, and occasionally sweet potatoes.
As for pre-workout, I have a cup of coffee. I rarely take pre-workout in powder. After my training is complete, I always have some oatmeal mixed with protein powder. I believe it is especially important to mix it with food because it is more consistent. Protein powder cannot replace a meal. But better to have that than to starve until your next meal. I will have this meal usually a second time when I do not have the time to eat between sessions with my clients or before bed. I will not have this meal more than twice a day. I will add BCAA or EAA when I lower my calory intake.
As for supplements goes, vitamin D, vitamin C, magnesium and omega-3 are essential. The basics of what you should always have in your cupboard. Especially because these are often harder to find in your nutrition. Vitamin C must be taken immediately after training. Even if you are not training, taking supplements is important because many individuals have deficiencies in their diets. For example, taking supplements of vitamin D during wintertime is important and it is known to help with seasonal depression
Special skills:
I am very attentive to the biomechanics of movement. I notice angles and postures that need correction as much on myself or with my clients.
What do your parents mean to you? What did they teach you?
Evidently, my parents mean a lot to me. They meet at a military base. I sincerely believe that I retain my sports discipline from my parents. I was always encouraged into sports and that was where my interest in training started. When I was a kid, I observed my father with admiration when he worked out with his bow flex or when he took his shake afterward. He would have a fitness magazine laying around. So, I was brought up in the world of fitness of a sort. It has always been around me and I naturally went towards training as well gradually.
What separates Status from other fitness magazines?
It offers interesting articles on fitness, bodybuilding, and MMA.
What would it mean to you to become the next Status Fitness Cover-model?
I would most certainly have an accomplishment feeling. It would feel like I have succeeded in a sort. I must be doing something right if I made it here. I think it is a step forward for me.
If you meet Status Editor-In-Chief, Rodney Jang, what question would you ask him?
I’d ask him how he got the idea to start Status Fitness. How did he end up where he is today and how it all started basically.
What was it like working with your photographer?
It was a great experience. One that I want to do again. She made me 100% comfortable and she is renowned to be able to that. Her photos are a mix of artistic and athletic, which is another thing I appreciated from this photoshoot rather than usual fitness photography. She has a great eye for detail. I really do appreciate that from her since she shares the same ability that I have in fitness and I find it to be important. This was my best experience so far. She will ask about your music preferences to put you in the mood, what body type you like or dislike, your preferences, etc. She was the key factor in the overall experience.
6 things people would not know about you?
- Usually, people would describe me as nonchalant but, I am quite open to the people that grow closer to me, friends, or clients. I care for them. Once you get to know me, I am a real jokester and adore sarcasm.
- I am more thoughtful than I appear.
- I analyze pretty much everything in general.
- I am creative during my training session with my clients. If something does not work for them or I realize they are not reaching the maximum potential in the movement, I get creative and try to find new ways that might work for them.
- I like things that are out of the ordinary.
- I am honestly a “crazy cat lady”. I love cats.
Who inspires you?
People that are not afraid of what others think. People who do not stop themselves and go after what they want.
Who do you wish to inspire?
I wish to largely inspire people who are not afraid of others. I want to encourage people, not to concerns themselves with the opinion of others. I wish on everyone to have an opinion of their own. I believe certain individuals lose their potential because they are restraining themselves on other’s opinions. They are afraid of judgment. I believe that this does not just apply to the world of fitness but in every aspect of life. I just wish to inspire people to be their true authentic selves. Know that you will never be able to please everybody in life. So just do what you love.
What is your life goal?
It is a bit cliché, but I simply want to be happy and to be able to make a living on what I love. As for now, that is being a personal trainer.
5 lessons you have learned:
- Do not give out your trust easily. Have people prove themselves to you before.
- Motivation does not last; it takes perseverance to keep going on.
- If you want to improve in life, you must get out of your comfort zone to do so.
- To have long terms goals as well as short terms goals.
- To take care of oneself. To pay attention to your health if you wish to maintain your body. You do not have to always push it to failure.
Music and artist you listen to while training?
I listen to a lot of different types of metal. For example Architects, Shinedown, Lamb of God. They just get you in a mood you know!
Favorite actors/movies?
I admire Denzel Washington. He is a great actor. I personally enjoyed watching him in Training day. He really has the capacity to draw you in the character. Russell Crowe is another actor I admire, especially in the movie Gladiator. For the same reasons.
5 most important attributes you see in a person?
- I find it to be important for a person to be open-minded.
- Somebody that has poise. To me that means somebody relax, has a head on their shoulders, and takes care of themselves.
- I like when somebody can make me comfortable. I find that to be an important attribute.
- I also find it important that the person is into fitness. The person does not have to be a high athlete. Simply someone that finds it important to stay active and healthy.
- I enjoy someone with a dark sense of humor just like me or can have one from time to time.
Favorite quotes?
« Keep your squats low and your standards high. »
Photo By: Koko King
