From illness to inspiration

There’s much to be said about finding balance. As health issues continue to impact people worldwide, Shane Phillips believes that a strong mind and body are the keys to a better life. After sickness knocked at his door, he healed by learning how to eat better and joining a gym in order to regain the weight he had lost. But, what he ended up acquiring, went far beyond his own fitness goals. Finding a new purpose, he helps others achieve their desired results and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

In March 2015, Phillips was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. Prior to that, he weighed 160 pounds, but his weight fell to 130 pounds due to the illness. “After joining the gym that I currently work at to put on the pounds lost in 2015, I gained knowledge and practice of lifting weights and began doing better with diet and nutrition,” he told Lifestyle.

Training himself keeps him grounded and centred, and it’s his happy place. The hustle and bustle of work and family life are easier to deal with once his workout regime is in order.

“The wear and tear of the body during workouts, paired with proper refuelling, that entire process is what helps you to be a better person, parent, employee, partner and friend to people. Once you embrace the lifestyle, it will be good to you. The gym is therapeutic,” he highlighted.

Based on his personal experience of successfully improving his quality of life, he thought to himself, “Why can’t I inspire others to do the same?”

Leading by example, the gym enthusiast, who later became a personal trainer at Ultimate Fitness Gym in Kingston, works out for six days per week, sometimes saving his seventh day strictly for cardiovascular exercises. “Having a strong cardio routine promotes great heart health and improves your breathing. Taking the staircase and walking around becomes easier,” he revealed.

While on his journey, the gym’s owner, Kareen Duffus, noticed that Phillips would show up to work out every day. Giving him extra access to the space, she made that decision based on his talent, desire to help others and potential to become a fitness coach.

By 2016, Duffus began assisting him with training a few clients. Recognising his natural talent for the work, she encouraged him to pursue certification in the field, which he completed in 2017.

Seven years later, as a health coach, exercise and recovery specialist, bodybuilding specialist, and certified nutritionist, he remains grateful for the encouragement that set him on the right path.

With cardio workouts, like running, he explains you will live a longer life. Lifting weight extends your quality of life, according to the expert trainer. So, imagine incorporating the two into an active lifestyle.

Mastering the art of wellness, he takes great pride in his work, appreciating the time, effort and dedication his clients put in whether daily or weekly.

“My aim is to ensure that my clients not only look good, but feel good as well. So their journey includes learning and understanding the nutritional component, just as much as the exercise element. Not everybody is the same, which is why I offer a personalised experience, customised to their dreams and goals,” he shared.

He continues by noting, “I can’t train someone who wants to lose 50 pounds the same way as someone who wants to gain 50 pounds. I can’t train someone with certain conditions and limitations the same way I would someone without limitations. I’ve enjoyed giving clients who have struggled for years satisfying results, with the right guidance, knowledge and support, in the shortest possible time.”

One of his clients spoke to him about her personal struggles with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). For months, she would work out and not lose a single pound. He was honoured to rectify this issue.

“Three weeks in, she lost 14 pounds. And this is coming from someone who hasn’t lost any pounds in six months,” he said, adding, “Once you find a trainer who is also a nutritionist and will consult with doctors, you find that the journey gets better and the goal post is even closer.”

For those who currently wish to take their health more seriously, but don’t know where to start, Phillips strongly recommends working on your nutrition first. “Everything boils down to proper nutrition; nutrition to lose weight and perform to the fittest. Calories in versus calories out. Are you eating more than your body burns? Never starve yourself. Instead, you need to feed your body with what it needs to lose weight,” he advises.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com