by Brad Rasmus, November 2006.

Credo: (cree-dough) method or formula / Click on images for more information

I have been working in the fitness industry since 1996 and have experienced a lot of changes that have occurred over the years with regards to training, nutrition, science and personal training in general. I therefore thought it would be necessary to write a little about my current beliefs, methods, what I strive to teach my clients and how I live my own life.

Science is constantly changing the rules. There are many examples of food and exercises that were once bad, are now good and vice versa. eg: eggs, saturated fat, nuts were all bad and are now considered healthy; soy, nutrition bars and shakes are now getting a bad name; bodybuilding training is out, and 'functional', 'core' training and 'corrective exercise' are in. Even 9 out of 10 doctors used to smoke camel cigarettes! video link
So many diets, so many forms of training and so many articles and scientific journals that contradict each other! It's as frustrating for you as it is for me the trainer! A lot of this confusion has led me to change my ways over the years and develop my own methods.

I have spent a lot of my years training people using the principles of the Body For Life program. It has been an amazing way to motivate people and get people to change their body shape in a minimal amount of time. It is based on strength training using bodybuilding methods, doing high intensity interval cardio training and eating 5-6 times a day consuming an even amount of carbohydrate and protein as well as supplements. I have trained 3 people that have made the top 10 for their respective categories. I still train people using some of these principles, but now combine a lot more of the training and nutrition principles of the C.H.E.K. Institute, as Body For Life has not always worked for everybody.	Click here
In 2004 I was introduced to the teachings of Paul Chek of the C.H.E.K. Institute, an American who was promoting some radical new ideas with exercise and nutrition, while approaching body fat loss and general health from a holistic viewpoint. I was a little skeptical of it at first , especially considering how much it cost to do some of the courses. At first, I bought a couple of his books and tried incorporating metabolic typing and some of his exercises into my clients’ programs and was pleased with the results. Then, in 2006, after personally suffering from major neck tension, headaches and back pain, I decided it was time for a new approach. I needed to upgrade my level of knowledge as I couldn't seem to get myself back to normal, even after visiting other health professionals who said I was fine and it was all in my head. I have since completed 6 correspondence courses followed by 3, 5-day practical courses which have forever changed the way I live and the way I approach personal training. Chek is an absolute genius whose principles have taught me so much about my own body and how to be an even better trainer. My own health has seen a dramatic increase since training myself 'CHEK Style'.	Click here
As far as my current training methods are concerned, I train people using a combination of several different types of training. Cardio, kickboxing, swimming, functional strength training, bodybuilding strength training, stretching... If you want to train like a bodybuilder, then I will train you like a bodybuilder. The majority of people that I currently train do not have a bodybuilding focus, so I find myself programming a lot more with functional exercise that has a high carry-over to life and sport. I also write a lot more programs that focus on corrective exercise (eliminating pain and postural dysfunctions) as not many people have ideal posture and this can disrupt the speed at which you attain your goals. It doesn't really make sense to build a new addition onto an old house that isn't level, does it? I find it very challenging and incredibly rewarding to help someone eliminate pain that has plagued them for a long time. I am now a lot more thorough with my assessment of someone and spend a lot more time analysing a person's needs in order to provide a more personal program.	Click here
On the nutrition side, I have learned that the same diet is not appropriate for everyone. Not everyone I trained could improve simply through using supplements and eating 6 times a day. Instead of forcing people to eat in a way they won’t follow for the rest of their life, I now use metabolic typing to determine what style of diet works best for someone and get people to work out what foods naturally work best for them using food diaries. I also focus on teaching people how to reduce the total amount of negative stress in their life before they even think about exercising. CHEK has opened my eyes up to the importance of this.	Click here

As far as my life is concerned, I love to live a healthy life. I choose to live a healthy lifestyle, not in order to live a few extra years at the end of my life, but to be able to live the life I have now, in a healthy, happy body and to hopefully die of old age and not a debilitating, chronic disease.. Nutritious food, plenty of water, regular exercise…but also time out to party! I love having a beer or ten with my mates. I love to eat crappy, sugary food every now and then. The key is balance and moderation but you need to define what that is for YOU. Moderation is one word that too many people have a skewed meaning of. If your idea of moderation with regards to food, exercise and alcohol has left you with a spare tyre, thunder thighs, or chronic pains and ailments, then your idea of moderation isn't working for you. Re-define moderation and get your life back on track!

So that's where I currently stand with my approach to Personal Training and the way I coach my clients and trainers. If you like the way I work, then I look forward to welcoming you to Triple S Personal Training!

Brad Rasmus