Lifting weights from the age of 12 set the foundation for the career of Elite Bodies personal trainer and sports nutrition specialist Ji Cottrill.
“I originally planned to be a teacher,” he surprisingly reveals.
With 15 years of industry experience, Ji completed a physical training instructor (PTI) course while in the army then a degree in physical education and sports science.
“I specialise in correct training principles, understanding food and how we respond to that.”
Understanding that the fitness industry is “very much trend-driven”, Ji prefers to focus on basic-heavy compound movements.
“The old ways that science shows have the best effects,” he advises.
Ji’s specialities include making clients stronger, faster, and confident of making the right choices with food.
“Clients sometimes hear things like saturated fats are bad for you but saturated fats are important for hormone production, cell proliferation and energy,” he notes.
“It’s a matter of finding out what works specifically for you and not being afraid of eating.”
Elite Bodies uses Recomposer software to measure food intake and exercise output so Ji can track clients’ progress.
Ji focuses on quality rather than quantity of training.
“Stimulate, don’t annihilate,” he advises
“When the body is stressed out from too much work it goes into a “stress mode” (cortisol increases) and burns fat at a lower rate. Rest and nutrition tie into recovery so the body can continue to improve.”
