About Me
Who am I?
My name is Jeremiah Bell and I am your Digital Trainer.
What is my training philosophy?
My training philosophy is to train safe, smart, and hard. Combined with persistence, this philosophy makes all goals possible.
Do I even have a background in this personal training stuff? Or did I just pay 50 bucks, take an online quiz and instantly become a “personal trainer”?
Although I do not have all the answers, I do have a background in health and fitness. In 2006, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. I am a Registered Kinesiologist through the Ontario Kinesiology Association.
Education isn’t everything. Do I have any actual experience with people?
I have been working for the past 5 years as a Medical Technician with the Canadian Forces as a reservist and am currently employed as a Health Care Administrator with the military. Through these experiences I have treated many patients in the fields of emergency medicine, cardiac rehabilitation, and physical therapy.
What about now?
Outside of the military I am an online fitness consultant, personal trainer, and lecturer at a local college in Kitchener, Ontario. I am passionate about teaching and helping people who want a healthy lifestyle.
What do I know about getting into shape? Do I really know what it takes, or was I just one of those people who just had some great genes?
Man, I can’t stand those guys, eating all the time, never working out and always looking great. You think that’s me? Well let me tell you something…
In high school, I was a little guy. I was home schooled for a few years, played competitive chess, and made more websites than kissed girls by the time I was 16. Talk about a geek. But I had a passion for athletics and loved contact sports (football, rugby and wrestling). So, in my first year of high school I joined the football team. I was an ok player, but I really didn’t get much of a chance to play in a real game. My bench was warmer than the one in our gym sauna. Then at the last game of the season, I was given the opportunity to play…
Not only that, I was going to have a chance to touch the football! (I played defense so this was a real honor.) On the last play, of the last game, of my first year, I was going to catch the ball for a punt return. Well, at the punt I caught the ball and I took one step, then out of nowhere this monster of a man was right in front of me. I thought he was just going to hit me hard. That’s fine, I can take a hit. But he didn’t tackle me, instead he grabbed my shoulder pads lifted me up and started running backwards, while carrying me! I struggled in his grip but we went back 10 yards before I was finally able to worm my way to the ground. I wish he had just hit me.
When I got home that night, I realized that I would have to be in better shape in order to actual play the following year. So, I trained. I trained safe, and smart. I spent hours researching at the library, learning the best way to get into shape and I learned what to do. I combined that with hard work and it happened. I put on 50 lbs that summer. I actually got to play the next two years and did much better. I wasn’t going to get drafted anytime soon, but I did ok. Since then, I’ve stayed in shape and have now started training for a marathon on Novmber 9th, 2009. (I figure I need all the time I can get).
Ok, so I was a wiener and put on some weight. Anyone can do that. Big deal. Maybe you were like that until you got into a bad car accident and had to deal with pain everyday of your life. You don’t think you can get in shape again with all of your problems. Do I know what that’s like?
To some extent, yes. I have been a rollover accident and a rough motorcycle accident that has probably taken its toll over time. But the worst pain I’ve been through was caused by a wakeboarding accident in 2004. I was going 30 miles an hour on a dinky board and a wet suit. I tell you, at that speed, the water feels like asphalt, and trust me, I also know what it is like to hit the asphalt going 30 miles an hour! When I hit the water, I am pretty sure my feet touched the back of my head. As well, I sustained collateral ligament injuries to my knee from my high school football days. I have gone through traditional medicine, physiotherapy, chiropractors, and massage therapists. Some worked, some didn’t. Years later, my lower back and knee still give me pain. But it does not stop me from living how I want to live. If this is something you are going through now, and you want something better, you are in the right place. I can help you.
Am I pain-free now?
I wish I could say yes, but I would be lying to you. My back still aches every morning and my knee bothers me on long runs or when I am sleeping outside. However, it is still getting better, slowly. I take care of it, but I do not let that pain limit what I can do. Outside of work, I enjoy a very active lifestlye. I am an avid SCUBA diver, skydiver, rock climber (and rappeller), snowboarder, cross-country mountain biker, runner, swimmer, and a weight lifter. If you don’t believe me, check out the site and you can probably find pictures of me doing all these activities.
You might really hate the idea of an egg-white and brussel sprout, marathon-running lifestyle. Is that what is takes?
Myself, I can’t stand egg whites or brussel sprouts. I am not a marathon runner. (Although I am trying to get there…) I am a healthy guy, I love a good double cheeseburger at MacDonalds, and I always chuckle at those guys who wear all spandex and are at the gym more than me. (And I get paid to be there!) But that is me. For some, it is either all or nothing and I respect that. But if you want to get into better shape, that is not the recipe that I will give you. I want you to relax and have a beer on weekends and pizza at 2 am. But I also want to see you active, either in a gym or outside.
So what do I do to stay in shape?
I try to do something active everyday, either 20 minutes at the gym, Saturday afternoon outside climbing, a round of squash, or a run at 1am when I can’t seem to sleep. Just something. Anything. I combine that with healthy eating, a glass of wine or beer at night and some great junk food on the weekends. Nothing extreme, on either end of the spectrum.
How about supplements?
I’m not a big supplement kind of guy. I’ve tried everything, short of steroids. Chemicals and powders and pills, I’ve tried quite a bit. The one thing I’ve learned is that in the end, you don’t need all of this stuff in your diet to stay healthy. Just eat some fruits, some vegetables, and find a protein, some fat and a couple carbs, wash it all down with enough water and you are set.
So what are the next steps?
Start here, feel free to do some reading and participate in any discussion. I am working on putting the workout program online so you can use it, but it isn’t quite there yet. Then, do some research. Trust me, there are a bunch of people out there in better shape than me and with more experience, who are even better looking. Find these people and start looking for their best ways. If you find someone, let me know. I am also looking, just like you. I may just have a little more of a head-start.
Anything else?
Remember, to train safe, train smart, and train hard. Persevere and you will get what you are working for.
Your Digital Trainer,
Jeremiah
