Time: August 2019

    Hi! My name is Scott and I am a cardio kickboxing instructor from NY. I have worn many hats over the years, but as a cardio instructor I've really been able to round out my fitness regimen. Not only that, I've been able to show many others how to do the same! It's a fantastic feeling to be able to improve the quality of life of others through fitness and showing them that they CAN reach their goals with one step at a time. My fitness journey didn't begin with cardio kickboxing though.

     I was always an active kid, playing soccer and different sports, but I didn't start lifting until I was 14 or 15 years old. I began lifting because I was being bullied in school and decided that I wasn't going to allow anybody the ability to take anything from me anymore. After noticeable changes, both in strength and aesthetics, I was final able to stand my ground and life got much better for me. It boosted my confidence and I began to live a better overall life.

    For the next two years I was on and off to the gym, began gaining a bit of weight but I maintained an active lifestyle. When I was 18, I had tried going to college, but with little guidance and really no idea what I was doing I dropped out and began working at UPS overnights. When I realized the highest paid worker their swept floors, I realized I couldn't aspire to that. I remember one day receiving a call on my house phone and the ID said "US Government". That phone call eventually led me to join the United States Marine Corps. It was through the rigorous training there that I really grew in multiple facets. I started bootcamp off weighing 145 pounds, and by the end of 3 months I was 165 pounds and in some of the best shape of my life. I would spend the next 4 years as a Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defense Specialist; training thousands of Marines how to protect themselves in hazardous environments and learning to recognize, detect, mitigate, and decontaminate various hazardous materials issues and chemical warfare employments. I was also deployed on ship to the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea to perform peace-keeping missions. While I was on ship I began lifting more seriously, my weight shot up to 195 pounds and I was the strongest I had ever been, but I did sacrifice my endurance for immediate explosive power. I competed in some power lifting competitions on base when I got back and I completed my 4-year tour shortly thereafter.

    When I returned to the civilian world it was a bit of a culture shock, fitness fell a little by the wayside as I got more involved with my then girlfriend and we moved in together. Over the next 5 years I had several jobs and got my associates in science. In 2015 I was married and in early 2016 that was no longer the case. I fell into a depression, had issues with work and just finding the motivation to even get out of bed. I looked in the mirror one day and was not happy with what I saw. I remembered when I was a teenager and built myself up to reach my goals and stand on my own. I decided it was time to do that again.

    I began a regular gym routine again, I researched and tried different diet methods that worked with my body. I began to see my results and was excited to be getting back to myself. It was May of 2018 when I decided I was in decent enough shape to apply to be a fitness instructor. Within 2 months I dropped 23 pounds to my current weight and have been all about it! I research on a regular basis and try to always be able to answer questions my members have to help further their fitness goals. Since starting I've also begun training to fight. It is on my bucket list to have one boxing match in the ring as well. I don't intend to compete in fitness competitions, but I love where I am now and that I'm granted the opportunity to help others feel the same way about themselves. My general rule of thumb is to do something active everyday no matter what. Whether you go for a walk, a run, lift at the gym, or whatever it may be, DO SOMETHING! I emphasize listening to your body and being self-aware enough to notice what foods or activities you respond to best. I still like to lift heavy, it's a way I love to challenge myself physically. I also hold the strong belief that your mental health is tied to your physical health. With that in mind, I try to keep engaged through the use of meditation, reading, and always taking the initiative to learn and try new things whenever I can. You are never done learning, there is always something out there that can enlighten you and different points of view that you can pull some sort of educational value out of. Don't let foolhardy pride hold you back from making it to that next level.

     John had reached out to me on social media about 2 years ago, but I didn’t feel like I was where I wanted to be physically for modeling. After some time, he made another attempt and this time I was ready. It was an awesome experience all in all! He was very instructive and broke posing down and how to create that mind to muscle link to really get the most out of me. Very professional and personable, I’m thankful that he was able to help me step out of my comfort zone and learn a whole other side of fitness I never knew. I can say, with confidence, that as my first shoot I am very happy with the way everything turned out and the knowledge he had to share.