{"id":6036,"date":"2014-10-31T15:15:05","date_gmt":"2014-10-31T15:15:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fitproblog.mysites.io\/road-vegas\/"},"modified":"2014-10-31T15:15:05","modified_gmt":"2014-10-31T15:15:05","slug":"road-vegas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fitpro.com\/blog\/road-vegas\/","title":{"rendered":"The road to Vegas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Phil Snowden\u00a0<\/strong>made the decision to end his army career and fulfil his ambition to conquer his passion and work in the fitness industry.<\/p>\n

Little old me \u2013 the story so far<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cJoining the army at 16 effectively forced me into exercise,\u201d begins Snowden. \u201cHaving completed three operations tours in Iraq, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan, I left after six years to work in the fitness industry as a personal trainer. The most important things I learned from the army were discipline, time management and respect for others.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He continues, \u201cMy first job as a PT was at Fitness First in Chatham, where I stayed for five years until I was employed by the NHS and local council. My initial role was as project co-ordinator for MEND (a healthy lifestyle programme for overweight children). Then I became a physical exercise instructor in the GP referral scheme and a part-time PT working out of my converted garage gym. In those two years I learned a lot about myself and about what people wanted\/needed to help them with their struggling weight management \u2013 education, motivation and accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n

Changing lanes, Snowden was determined to make his mark on the fitness industry. Alongside his business partner Ross Cowan, Snowden opened the M.E.T.A Studio in Rochester, Kent.<\/strong> Diving into the unknown, the ambitious business partners were eager to learn and be educated.<\/p>\n

Snowden explains, \u201cWe didn\u2019t know anything about business, so it was a steep learning curve \u2013 and we\u2019re still learning \u2013 but, in the last four weeks, we\u2019ve been nominated for three business awards and won the Ultimate Achievement award from Kent business networking group ABC Network for our integration and implementation into a networking group, utilising opportunities, working with other people and building business relationships.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

M.E.T.A winning the Ultimate Achievement award (Snowden is third from left)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Taking the lead <\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cI never liked being told what to do, so leaving the army was probably a good idea and PT was a natural calling for me. However, building a clientele was slow because I knew nothing about the business. I just expected customers to come to me.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

His mission? To get fit. His ambition? To become a successful personal trainer. \u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Interestingly, Snowden at first believed that fitness was \u201call about running\u201d and, upon leaving the army to pursue his ambition of becoming a personal trainer, he suddenly realised he had been making a lot of mistakes before transitioning from the army barracks to the gym floor. Key elements the young trainer plucked out as distinguishable weaknesses were his training knowledge and also his nutritional awareness.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am devoted to increasing my knowledge of and expertise in exercise, movement, nutrition, psychology (using NLP) and hypnosis, in order to try and enhance as many aspects of performance as possible.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Snowden\u2019s devotion was targeted at enhancing performance within sports and leisure activities, which included rowing, mountain biking, mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He magnified the importance of nutrition and, as a result, has worked directly with local food producers to achieve results.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWorking with local food producers means we can direct our clients to good-quality foods and also help promote local business and farming.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

At M.E.T.A, Snowden and his business partner have teamed up with the local butcher to create a range of M.E.T.A meat packs, which include a meat treat at the end of each month. This means clients don\u2019t have to think in too much detail about meat choices because M.E.T.A can make selections for clients as part of their programmes if required.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just the building of nutritional relationships that has enabled M.E.T.A to develop the personal training business. Snowden has also been involved in GP referral schemes, which have enabled the personal trainer to build programmes based on the core elements of a client\u2019s personal story. As a result of doing just this, M.E.T.A is able to offer a complete tailor-made fitness programme for each client, working on everything from self-confidence to diet plans.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe main learning element of my time spent working with the NHS is that systems and processes work. As a result of learning about these systems, I developed the M.E.T.A system, progressively building up client confidence while changing some of their lifestyle habits. We make sure we keep the information simple.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The M.E.T.A theory<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Move,<\/p>\n

So, what does the M.E.T.A system involve?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe aim to educate our clients, rather than tell them what to do. Listening \u2013 and I mean listening \u2013 to understand is an important part of building a relationship and, in turn, seeing results.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

He adds, \u201cThere is no \u2018I\u2019 in M.E.T.A but there is \u2018team\u2019 and \u2018mate\u2019. Our coaches are involved in everything. It needs to be an environment they love coming to every day. It\u2019s important that they believe our values; finding the right people is probably the toughest thing.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The M.E.T.A system involves clients learning about different types of food, as well as how they affect individual body types, when and how much to eat, and key insight into food labelling, as Snowden explains, \u201cThe system informs and advises clients, so they can make confident choices of their own.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Snowden tells me he never uses static resistance equipment. In order to help build a rapport with his clients, he listens. He also uses rapport-building skills learned from NLP and various coaching methods to communicate with the client,<\/strong> which helps make the process faster and more effective.<\/p>\n

The future?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d love to replicate our model and expand, franchising to help other PTs\/coaches who want to make a difference in their community, and we\u2019re currently working with a film producer to take our services online,\u201d concludes Snowden.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Vegas mud requires strength <\/strong><\/h3>\n

If that wasn\u2019t enough to be getting on with, the personal trainer is embarking on a challenge. Designed to push the boundaries and urge mudders to the next level, Tough Mudder\u00ae just got a whole lot more serious. The M.E.T.A team is raising funds for a local charity and will be participating in the Las Vegas event.<\/p>\n

To get us all in the zone, Snowden has provided a snippet of his training programme pre Vegas Mudder. From decelerating drop split squats to multi-grip pull-ups, check it out here:<\/p>\n

1. Decelerating drop split squat<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Reps and sets: 10-15 reps x5 sets<\/strong><\/h6>\n
Rest:\u00a0<\/strong>60secs; then 45secs, then 30secs, then 15secs<\/h6>\n

(Reduce rest after each set)<\/p>\n

Weekly target: Aim to increase reps and height of drop\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. Climbing wall challenge<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Reps and sets:\u00a0As many lengths of the wall as possible before falling off x5 sets<\/h6>\n
Rest:\u00a060secs; then 45secs, then 30secs, then 15secs<\/h6>\n

(Reduce rest after each set)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. Monkey bar travel<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Reps and sets:\u00a0As many lengths of the wall as possible before falling off x5 sets<\/h6>\n
Rest:\u00a060secs; then 45secs, then 30secs, then 15secs<\/h6>\n

(Reduce rest after each set)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

4. Multi-grip pull-ups<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Reps and sets:\u00a0Max effort reps x5 sets<\/h6>\n
Rest:\u00a060secs; then 45secs, then 30secs, then 15secs<\/h6>\n

(Reduce rest after each set)<\/p>\n

Weekly target:<\/strong>\u00a0Change grip on each set (hand width and number of fingers)<\/p>\n

Watch Snowden training here:<\/strong><\/p>\n