overPUMPED.com Featured Trainer
Paul Carrera is one of Trinidad & Tobago's most experienced Fitness Instructors with a wide range of expertise. He has been selected as overPUMPED.com's Featured Trainer for his many achievements and continued contribution to the field of physical health and fitness.
We met briefly with Paul at the Xtreme Fitness gym in Arima where he currently works.
INTERVIEW:
[Q]
What is your core
background?
My
core background is a mix of Muay Thai, Roman Greco Wrestling, Jiu Jitsu,
Taekwando
[Q]
How long have you been
involved in fitness?
Since I was 8 years old
[Q]
Has it always been in the
area of resistance training?
I’ve been resistance training since the
age of 12 with my buddies using light weight. We didn’t progress to heavy
weight until around age 17
[Q]
What got you interested
in personal training?
I got interested due to past wrestling injuries
from high school which resulted in me having to undergo rehabilitative sessions.
It’s the physiotherapy aspect of it that really peaked my interest, seeing
people who really needed training and not just for physical appearance
[Q]
Are you currently
certified as personal trainer?
Yes, I was certified in California
[Q]
Do you think all personal
trainers should be certified?
Yes, I do believe that all PTs should be
certified because you deal with a wide spectrum of clients and you don’t want
to put them at risk. I do however believe that experience overall in the end
supersedes certification
[Q]
What do you see as the
benefits of being certified?
It provides the essential core knowledge
and most people feel more comfortable working with a certified personal trainer
[Q]
Why do you think people
need personal training?
People need it in order to be taken to the
next level by learning to use muscles that may otherwise have been neglected
and avoiding costly mistakes. So it’s important for passing on the knowledge. I
don’t just train clients I also teach them so they can leave a lot more
knowledgeable
[Q]
What are some common
mistakes people make when working out?
The main mistakes are improper breathing
and improper form both of which are critical
[Q]
How do you motivate
clients?
I remind them how badly they want it and
remind them that it’s all in their minds because 90% of this is mental. You
gotta have good dose of bad mind!
[Q]
Are you also a nutritionist?
Yes. I’m also chef and I love to cook
[Q]
Do you provide clients
with diet guidelines etc.?
Yes I do I provide them with changes to
their diets based on their goals. I firstly identify their bad habits and try
to eliminate those. I do however allow a cheat day every now and then
[Q]
Do you tailor the
training program based on the needs of the particular client or is there a one
size fits all program?
Of course I tailor the programs as it’s
vastly different for the individuals trying to lose weight from bodybuilders
and athletes
[Q]
Does all training take
place in the gym?
No, sometimes dependent on the
availability, I take some clients outdoors. It’s not practical for all clients though
[Q]
What would you say is
most sought after by clients (building muscle, weight loss, etc.)
Overall body sculpting is most sought
after and in many cases it tends to involve weight loss.
[Q]
Getting results is solely
dependent on the client. So do you ever guarantee results?
It’s all on the client but I do guarantee
results if the client guarantees the effort. I remind them of that old cliché
saying, “You can bring horse to water...”. I constantly speak to them and push
them to get results and to date I have not failed with client
[Q]
Have you ever worked with
any extremely challenging clients?
Yes I have. If however, the challenge is
in the client not doing what’s necessary to get the job done I have no issue
refunding and turning away a client. At the end of the day if I train someone,
they represent me when they walk out on the street
[Q]
Do you have most memorable
client past or present?
Well I’ve worked with so many people from
diabetics to people on wheelchairs. I have some clients that surprised even me
as they went way beyond. There is one client that currently stands out, I met
her at 216lbs and to date she’s lost almost 20% body weight and she’s still
going at it. She stands out because she really has heart
[Q]
You mentioned working
with athletes? How different is their program from the regular joe?
The programs are drastically different but
it varies dependent on the athlete. I’ve worked with Bodybuilders of which I’ve
trained five champions, CrossFit, MMA and Wrestlers
[Q]
I’m sure you’re familiar
with HIIT as it seems to be a hot topic these days. What are your thoughts?
Yes I am. It’s not suitable for everyone. A
full physical evaluation should be completed prior to taking on this form of
training
[Q]
How about Cross Fit?
Like HIIT, it’s not for everyone so again
I recommend full physical evaluation
[Q]
When do you make time for
your own workouts?
I cheat, whenever I get time. Most times I
just hammer out one body part per day. I usually train to failure because this
is the only place where failure equals success
[Q]
What are the rewards of
being a personal trainer?
Seeing my clients come in with their heads
down lacking confidence and when I’m finished with them, they walk out taller
than a redwood tree with their heads held high
