Nick April is Matt’s younger brother, he has been a coach at Bent On Better for almost three years
now. After falling in love with Kettlebells, he became a StrongFirst SFG1 certified instructor since he realized how much he’d benefit from the workouts, as well as how much it would benefit his clients.
Struggles with Weight
Nick has struggled for years trying to gain weight. When he was in fifth grade, he began to worry about his weight because he was so small for his age and height. He began buying big canisters of whey protein and feeding his body with calories in order to acquire weight. It persisted throughout his adulthood, and Nick finally learned why it was so difficult for him to keep weight on. Being preoccupied with schoolwork and whatever fieldwork he was involved in resulted in him not paying attention to his diet when he was in school.
Working for Bent On Better
When he started working at Bent On Better, Nick was able to learn so much about how Matt and Alysha approached their fitness journeys. He realized that while the community might be supportive, they can’t always be there for you; you have to learn more about yourself. And the more self-aware you are, the better decisions you make in your life.
Nick also saw how Matt and Alysha helped people realize that the focus should not be on the exercise itself, but rather on the functional movement they were practicing and that the easier it is to do this in a very controlled setting with trainers or professionals – people who can watch them and ensure that they are doing it safely and assist them – the better they will be prepared when they encounter these movements in real life.
Transitioning to a Plant-Based Diet
Transitioning to a plant-based diet is not easy and there is no magic formula for everyone, but it is possible. Nick began eating a plant-based diet a few years ago. A lot of trial and error went into the transition, but he began out by limiting himself to fish or chicken, and then gradually moved on to not eating any animal products at all until it became a lifestyle for him.
It’s important to remember that your health is the most important aspect. For Nick, having a plant-based is a lifestyle choice that he makes every day. The bottom line is that there’s no easy way to get started. And it goes without saying that the best advice is to take it slow. Every journey is unique, as are the obstacles that each individual faces. So, if you make a change to your lifestyle for the sake of improving your health and well-being, you should stick with it.
Functional Movement
Have you ever wondered why we train the way we do at the gym? It’s not just because it looks cool (but it does). It’s also because it makes us better at life outside the gym. We don’t just squat in the gym just so we can squat in the gym. We squat in the gym so that we can someday sit down and stand up or crouch down and stand back up again without having to worry about falling over because we have the right footing. These functional exercises, such as push-ups, lunges, farmer’s walk, or squats, are what we practice at the gym so that it transfers to the real world. These exercises improve fitness while also increasing power, balance, and flexibility through functional movements.
Training for a Purpose
People who go to the gym should think of their workout as more than just a grueling workout. Make sure you’re thinking about your goal every time you walk into the gym or step foot on the treadmill goal is to enhance your health to live longer so that you can have a better quality of life. You exercise to make sure that you are strong enough to pick your kids up over your head and put them back down without worrying about hurting your shoulder or lifting the couch without harming your back.
Training for a purpose is a great way to ensure that you get more out of your workouts. It is about creating a body that is more durable, more resilient, and will enjoy more options and opportunities as you go through life. When you’re training for a purpose, it can make a huge difference in staying motivated and focused throughout the process.
Follow Nick
To check what he’s been up to you can follow him on his Instagram account or check out Bent on Better’s latest updates on their Facebook page.
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