³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

Raise Your Game: How did you become a personal trainer to the stars?

David Kirsch: It's been quite a journey. When I was younger I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. I went to law school and passed the bar exam. I was sworn in, and suddenly I was an attorney. It was only then that I really asked myself 'Do I really want to do this?'

Becoming a lawyer was momentous for me. It was a huge accomplishment. It taught me that you can accomplish anything that you set your mind to.

Once I had become a lawyer I asked myself 'What is it that I like? What do I want to conquer?' It was a fear of my physical self. My own wellness wasn't there, so I decided right after law school that I was going to compete as a bodybuilder.

In 10 months time I changed my body and I competed in my first natural bodybuilding show. I set myself a goal and I did everything I could to accomplish it. It was very exciting, strutting out on stage in front of 1000 people in a little bikini.

I was very proud of my accomplishments. I suddenly became a complete fitness zealot, concerned with fitness, wellness, eating and everything to do with my physical self.

RYG: How do you motivate other people to get in shape?

DK: I spend my life helping men and women, boys and girls. There's no greater gift. Getting fit has changed my life immeasurably. I think people are inspired when they read my story and see how I live my life and deal with adversity. We all face adversity, whether we're 10, 12 or 15-years-old. People are a font of ability without the direction. They're blank slates and I try to mould them.

RYG: Are there skills that you've brought from being a lawyer to being a personal trainer?

DK: I think that every life experience is filed somewhere in the back of our brains. Before law school I was a pre-med, so I did a lot of anatomy and all of it is filed away.

Lawyers are pragmatic, logical and tenacious. As a litigator you learn to anticipate what someone is going to say. That definitely comes in handy when you're dealing with clients making excuses such as 'I had too many Martinis last night.' As a result I've designed a post-Martini workout routine.

RYG: What would you say to someone who is convinced they'll never be able to set and achieve goals?

DK: 'No' is not an acceptable answer. 'I can't do it,' is not acceptable. You can do anything you want to. If you can't do it, why do you think you can't do it?

You need to approach everything you do with energy and positivity. I don't accept 'I can't.' I am passionate about the power of the mind. You just need a willingness, a desire and a refusal to accept 'No.' That's what makes an athlete successful. 'No' is never in their mind - it can't be.

RYG: How difficult is it to train celebrities with perfect bodies?

DK: They come to me for a reason. Whether you're a celebrity or not we all have things we don't like about our bodies. Cameras can be very cruel. I've worked with some of the most beautiful and famous women in the world and they all come to me because they want to boost their confidence. I do that and it's very gratifying.

RYG: If you feel good about yourself, do you perform better?

DK: Absolutely. You need to feel self love, self acceptance and self empowerment. They're essential if you want to be at the top of your game and able to put 100% energy into something.

RYG: Does food make a difference to the way that we operate in everyday life?

DK: Food and nutrition are an integral part of our overall wellness, there's no question about it. 50% of Americans are obese, and a third of them are morbidly obese, it's crazy.

Childhood obesity is through the roof and people are drinking things like juice because they think it's a healthy option, but they're actually cups of sugar and empty calories.

If you're working out hard, you can't get by eating things like burgers and fries and smoking. You won't be able to sustain the workouts. Food can be our life support or it can bring us right down.

You need to look at your body as a temple. If your body's a temple you need to feed it nutritious, powerful food that energises you, rather than robbing you of your energy.

RYG: Which foods should people eat more of?

DK: Clean proteins like eggs, chicken and fish like sardines, salmon and mackerel. Try to take on plenty of dark green vegetables like spinach, asparagus, broccoli and kale.

Try to eat every three hours if you can. Power foods like almonds, blueberries, strawberries, healthy proteins and greens are full of nutrients and anti-oxidants. If you do want something like chocolate, just eat a couple of squares.

RYG: What foods should they avoid?

DK: You need to limit the amount of alcohol, bread and processed carbohydrates you consume. If you eat a bowl of pasta, you'll feel bloated and de-energised. Don't eat too much dairy, artificial sweetener, or excessive amounts of fruit. They can be very bad for you and an unnecessary source of added fat.

RYG: What's the secret to a healthy lifestyle?

DK: If you want to have a long, productive life, you need to exercise regularly. You can try track, tennis, football, power walks, swimming - try anything that engages your body.

You need to sleep well and you also need a good, balanced diet. That means thinking about the things you eat and how you'll feel when you eat them. Don't mindlessly eat a bag of chips or drink a bottle of pop. Make sure you lead a nice, balanced lifestyle.

You have to embrace your body and not take anything for granted. Make sure that the quality of your remaining life (QRL) is as good as it can be and make the most of every moment.

RYG: How do you help a client that feels they've got an insurmountable challenge ahead of them?

DK: I find out why they feel that it's insurmountable. You have to embrace the idea that anything is doable. Break the challenge down into doable steps.

If you have 100 lbs to lose, you're not going to get on a treadmill and box with me. You're not going to run outside. We're going to break it down to things you can do such as stretching. Get comfortable in your own body and your confidence will build.

RYG: What makes a good trainer?

DK: A good trainer is somebody who has a good pair of eyes, a good soul, a lot of patience, dedication and focus.