Scott Laidler Personal Trainer

Tell us about your journey to fitness? Where did it all start?

I was always an active child with football, swimming and karate but I made the distinction toward fitness in my early teens where I would work out with a light pair of dumbbells. I then joined a gym in my local area, which I ended up working at as my first ever fitness job, that's where it all began.

What are your training goals now?

I feel like for a long time I was trying to get my body to a level of size and conditioning that I would be happy with, which I achieved around the age of 30, now at the age of 34 my main goals are to stay within 80% of the range of my peak in all areas simultaneously, so staying all-around athletic whilst investing in my long term health by keeping stress and inflammation low and spending plenty of time on mobility and movement.

Tell us one unusual fact we wouldn’t know about you:

My background is in Psychology, before fitness this was my academic pursuit which has really been useful in fitness, actually many of my fitness clients have gone on to request more of a holistic life coaching relationship which I've always welcomed.

What advice do you wish you'd been given when you first started out?

I wish I had been told about inflammatory foods earlier on in my life, I spend a lot of time having a war on body fat that was unnecessary, given that with the diet I have now I could have been in the condition I wanted to be in with about half of the sacrifice.

Do you follow a specific nutrition plan? If so, what/when do you eat?

I'm not overly concerned with caloric intake at the moment, I understand the value of it but I'm quite in tune with my body and consisted with what I eat so I stay pretty balanced in my approach. I keep a 16/8 intermittent fasting protocol running, avoid grains, breads, alcohol, dairy and other inflammatory foods when i make my own food and allow these guidelines to be a little more lax socially unless i am training for something in particular. The intermittent fasting was born out of being very busy as a trainer and not having much time to eat, my schedule is more within my own control now, but eating two meals per day really helps me stay productive and virtually ensures I stay lean year round so it's been a good system.

What do you do to keep your clients motivated? Do you have any top tips to keep motivated?

I always say that the motivation was there before we met, that's the reason someone reaches out to a coach in the first place. So the way I see my role is to provide the road map and the accountability along the way. I do this by helping my clients prime their environments and daily routines to help facilitate behaviour change one new healthy habit at a time.

1. Find a powerful why, in moments of challenge if your will to achieve is not stronger than your temptations you won't follow through.

2. Prime your environment and routines ahead of time to facilitate the successful adherence of your goals .

3. Dream big and set lofty goals for yourself, but reverse engineer their completion to smaller bite-size tasks and plans. 

4. Celebrate your wins. 

Talk us through your training regime.

I spend the majority of the year switching between cycles of HST (hypertrophy-specific training), GVT (German Volume Training), Strong Lifts and hybrid training cycles.

I typically train in a gym three times per week, go to the track once for sprints and stay active on other days with cycling and hiking. I also aim to spend at least 30 minutes each day in a deliberate movement or mobility practice, which could include Pilates or yoga. 

How do you keep your fitness knowledge up to date?

I like to read a lot, my new membership platform also has literature reviews as a feature so my colleagues and I are always catching up with the latest research. Alongside that I have a podcast where I get to interview some of the biggest names in the sports and fitness world so whenever I have a question on my mind, I'm fortunate enough to be able to pick brains on a world level.

What are your top 3 trainer tips?

1. Remember that everyone has their own narrative, listen to what someone is telling you but also understand what they aren't saying too, sometimes that's where the true motivations are and if you can tap into those you'll ignite a fire that will help your clients see their goals through to culmination.

2. Stay up to date, go to festivals, network with your peers and geek out on the latest research, a small distinction or insight can make the world of difference to your clients

3. Make sure you rest. It's exciting to fill your boots when you first see success, but don't become a martyr; you need to practise the balance you preach and stay sharp mentally, you aren't just a trainer you are a coach and you ought to embody that.

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Probably oatmeal cookies.

What do you like about Sundried and what's your favourite bit of our kit?

I like the ethics behind the brand, I think we are moving to a stage post-consumerism so brands that actually have a net positive impact on the world are the only ones I want to align with.

I like the Matterhorn quilted hoodie as my favourite piece of kit. 

Favourite fitness quote:

"Just Start" - Professor Greg Whyte OBE, from my 'Healthy Ambition' podcast.