Chris MacPherson Personal Trainer
Chris is a keen powerlifter and hopes to some day complete an Ironman. He talks to Sundried about life as a personal trainer.
Please tell us about sporting events you have taken part in or have coming up.
I would like to compete in powerlifting in the near future. I also have a long-term goal to complete an Iron Man Triathlon.
Tell us about your journey to fitness? Where did it all start?
I have always had a passion for fitness. Living an active and healthy lifestyle is important to me and I plan to continue doing so for the rest of my life. I started lifting weights on and off when I was a teenager and in 2012 I officially became obsessed with fitness! I started focussing mostly on bodybuilding and this has evolved into other areas. I still have a passion for bodybuilding but tend to take a more wholistic approach now, including lots of flexibility work and functional movement. I've also taken a keen interest in powerlifting recently and include this in my training.
What are your training goals now?
- Deadlift 200kg.
- Squat 150kg.
- Bench 100kg.
- Achieve full and side splits.
- Do a backflip.
Tell us one unusual fact we wouldn’t know about you:
I have frequent ice baths and meditate daily.
What would future you, tell yourself when you were starting out?
Keep on doing what you're doing and love life!
Do you follow a specific nutrition plan? If so, what/when do you eat?
I eat pretty much the same food every day then enjoy a few treats at the weekend. Typically I start my day with a detoxifying beverage and a spoon of Manuka honey. This is followed by a high protein smoothie made with whey protein, oats, nuts and almond milk. I then eat around another five meals which typically consist of eggs, fish, chicken, beef, rice, sweet potatoes and tons of veggies. I usually have a green juice or smoothie every day alongside one of my meals. This diet gives me optimal energy and helps me to recover from my intense workouts. At the weekend I'll have a few treats; maybe a nice steak with a few glasses of red wine and some ice cream.
What do you do to keep your clients motivated? Do you have any top tips to keep motivated?
I take pride in my own physique, which gives my clients something to aspire to. I'm always available for my clients online, so if they need any advice, they know I'm there for them.
Talk us through your training regime.
I typically train every day but with varying intensity. A typical week for me would be something like this:
Mon - Deadlifts and splits training
Tues - Upper body push workout
Wed - Plyometrics and yoga
Thurs - Legs
Fri - Back and biceps
Sat - Low-Intensity cardio, mobility, injury prevention and deep tissue work
Sun - Sport/Mountain Biking/Jumping Out Of Planes
How do you keep your fitness knowledge up to date?
I love learning! I don't think it's ever possible to know everything so I'm always striving to learn new information. I read daily, watch educational videos, and attend courses regularly to ensure I stay up to date.
What are your top 3 trainer tips?
- Consistency and patience are the two most fundamentally important aspects of fitness.
- Always use good form; injury is the last thing you want.
- Listen to your body and don't just follow the crowd.
If you could only do one workout for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A full body workout which includes all the major lifts.
Why work with Sundried?
Sundried is a great company with high values and their products are of excellent quality. They use 100% recycled materials and are a very forward thinking company. They support various charities and have great ethics. I am thrilled to be an ambassador for Sundried.
Favorite fitness quote:
'You're Never Too Busy!'
