When and how did your interest in fitness begin?
As a child and teenager, I was always a bit chubby. This led to me being bullied a lot in elementary and high school. I also never dared to take off my shirt in public and I was extremely ashamed of my body type. I remember always seeing those fit men on TV or in magazines and wanting to be like them so badly. They were like a type of superman. Super strong, super handsome, and super cool. I just wanted to be a strong person too, someone who has the mental strength to achieve that. But I never acted on it.
However, it did happen during my university years. I was on a date and mentioned that I could sometimes be insecure about my body. He then casually said: “Maybe you shouldn’t serve yourself so much.” I was so angry and furious that someone dared to say that, but later I realized that someone was pointing out my own responsibility.
That was probably the decisive moment to realize that I had control over my life and thus had to do something about my transformation myself.
Do you also have another sporting background?
Absolutely, the irony is that I was very athletic and also very strong. I have done various sports: competitive swimming, athletics, water polo, basketball, ballroom dancing, and also modern and jazz dance.
Why does fitness play an important role in your life?
For me as an athlete, fitness is incredibly important. Fitness gives me energy and for me, it’s one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced. Every time I stand in the gym, it’s a moment for me as an athlete to challenge myself and grow. As an athlete, I also have huge ambitions. I have competed in a bodybuilding contest before and the next one is already planned. A bodybuilding contest is really thrilling. I also want to do photoshoots in the future and work on fun projects where my effort as an athlete is important.
When and why did you start coaching and how have you developed yourself for it?
While I was studying Medicine, I realized that I really enjoyed telling other people about what is and isn’t good for them. But at some point, I saw myself not doing that as a doctor. I wanted to help people more with improving their health and fitness, instead of curing diseases. I was also very much into losing weight and friends came to me for tips. At one point, a colleague of mine said: “A friend of mine did a personal training course, isn’t that something for you?” and that was it. From that moment on, my interest in coaching was unstoppable.
I started to develop more by taking a lot of courses in the field of fitness and nutrition. I also studied nutrition & dietetics for a year and followed and spoke to a number of gurus online and in real life. I have always had different coaches myself and I really learned a lot from them.
What are your specialties and why did you choose them?
I find physical and mental transformations the most beautiful thing there is. The way you can play with your muscle mass and fat mass is always so exciting to see. Driving someone to the limit of their capabilities and igniting a fire in someone, so that they themselves start to show even more passion and energy, is the most beautiful thing to me. Hypertrophy and cutting are indispensable parts of this. I have guided a whole lot of people in this and it remains a challenge every time.
I also find bodybuilding incredibly beautiful. It’s a form of elite sport that I practice myself and I want to guide more people in this.
Lastly, I also enjoy working with plant-based food. The future is definitely about eating more plant-based food. I myself am vegan and I am absolutely bigger and more muscular than the average man. With that, I want to break the stereotype and show that you can build just as good a physique with less or no meat. I always advise people to eat as plant-based as possible, but I let everyone keep to their own norms and values.
What do you consider the most important qualities of good coaching?
I think it’s difficult to describe the perfect coach. A good coach is actually someone who, on one hand, meets the client’s needs, but on the other hand, does more than just that. It’s about encouraging self-reflection. Someone should start to see where they can improve without everything being spoon-fed to them. A good coach must be able to listen, must be interested, maintain an overview, and is essentially someone you can lay everything down with. You must trust a coach with everything, because if you don’t trust a coach and don’t give your all, then you will also not get everything out of your coaching.
Of course, you must also be well-educated and inspiring as a coach. You are an example for others. And that’s exactly what I want to be!
When are you as a coach satisfied with the work you have done for a client?
I am first satisfied when a client sees that they can do more than they think. As a coach, I actually create a safe environment where the client can develop and blossom by really focusing on themselves. I am then happy when I see that my client has grown to the point where they are ready to go out into the world as the strongest person they can be.
