So whilst I was at the Body Power show this year I caught up with Dan Thiry from Bodybuilding.com and he kindly arranged some time for us to interview Kris Gethin who is an amazing athlete and inspiration to so many people around the World, a transformation specialist and a business man who has set up his own supplement brand, KAGED MUSCLE. Also I would like to add that list goes on and on, he is was seriously successful guy. Kris was in serious demand at the Bodybuilding.com stand and we didn’t want to keep him away from his fans for too long as many of them had been waiting hours and hours to meet him but we got chance to ask him some questions.
Lets get into it.
Pam : Hey Kris, so we have 5 questions for you, nothing too complicated.
Kris : Good, because I’m not complicated.
Pam : So, I know your partner trains as well. Do you train together?
Kris : Yeah, we do at the moment because we’re both preparing for an Iron Man. So, I’m a little bit better in regards to the cycling, so I push her. She’s better at running, so she’s my marker.
Pam : Nice
Kris : Yeah, its me pushing her more than anything because she’s never done anything physically intense before. Neither of us have competed in an Iron Man, so this is new. But I do have the mental application to be motivated but I have to motivate her a little more but she’s naturally fitter and more conditioned to endurance so that pushes me a bit more.
Pam : That’s good, its nice to see you pushing each other. Well there’s a popular saying, Couples that train together stay together. I meet a lot of people in the gym who don’t agree with this and say its strange for couples to train together, what are your thoughts?
Kris : We met each other a year and half ago away from the gym. She’s never been apart of this, NEVER. She came along to Olympia last year and that was the first time she’d been around anything. She started working out, I didn’t persuade her, just by observation, she got a gym membership and started working out. It does work because of your schedules and if both of you have to eat a certain way, she’s a vegetarian and I’m pescatarian, It makes the schedule of life so much easier. Because we’re both from different backgrounds we always have something new and different to communicate and talk about.
Pam : It’s good that you didn’t push her and it was her own drive that got her into fitness and because of your different backgrounds you always have something new to bring to the table.
Kris: Yeah exactly
Pam : So, what has been your biggest challenge or obstacle during your fitness journey?
Kris : At the moment I’d say it’s what I’m experiencing right now, preparing for an Iron Man, whilst training like a body builder, as well. The mental intensity that we apply as body builders is switched on for like 45 minutes, now I’m having to rewire my brain because when I’m out there on my fourth hour still in agonising pain I have to think, I have three more hours of this. So now I have a completely found respect for the mental agility and tenacity of the endurance athletes, so this is the struggle for me you know. I ran up Snowdon two days ago, the highest peak in Wales and my legs are killing me you know.
Pam : haha, I bet they are. You’re thinking when will this pain go away.
Kris : I’m in pain all the time.
Pam : Next question, any advice you’d give to your younger self?
Kris : Have patience, take your time. I think I tried to do too much too soon. When I started weight training I wanted to compete straight away, I competed a little bit early. I wanted to put on so much size as soon as possible, I ate so much food and got overweight and um I encountered some injuries along the way. I wanted too much too soon. Instead of looking at longevity and the health aspect I was looking at more short-term goals and vanity. So now I changed that I really focus more on health and the vanity aspect comes so much easier. So I really wish I thought of reversing that pecking order first.
Pam : I suppose when you’re young you don’t always have the right guidance. We learn from our mistakes and we can teach others the right way and its great to see you doing that.
Kris : Thank you
Pam : So onto motivation, its something a lot of people struggle with, me included. What is your motivation? Do you set yourself goals? I find it can be easy to fall out of a routine particularly if you are having to juggle home life, socialising and work. What keeps you going?
Kris : I’m probably the worst person to ask about this, to me its therapy, it’s a necessity. I’m not a good person to be around if I don’t train. It’s very therapeutic to me, so someone asks how do you stay motivated, I don’t think twice about it, I NEED IT, like I need breath, its like food.
Pam : So it’s a lifestyle for you.
Kris : yeah yeah yeah for sure, yesterday was meant to be a day off, I didn’t take it off. It probably works against me from my physical progression but I prefer to give up that for the mental release and the therapeutic side I get from it.
Pam : Very inspiring, I need to take a leaf out of your book.
so last question, What’s is your favourite cheat meal? You can have anything you want!!
Kris : Granola
Pam : REALLY? (eyes pop out in shock), What?!! so you wouldn’t have a burger, pizza…
Kris : No, I don’t like that. When I have that it lowers my energy, it takes me ages to digest and I feel when I’m trying to break down the heavy food it takes the energy away from my brain and feel hazy and foggy. I run several businesses, I’m very productive, if there were 36 hours in a day, I’d take it. So something that takes that away from me, a pizza, a burger a heavy meal,it doesn’t work for me. I feel like I need to go out in the sun to try to bask it and digest it.
Pam : (Laughs) wow that’s impressive and some serious passion.
Kris : Yeah, it doesn’t work for me, I want to eat to enjoy something without feeling tired, lethargic, shit and hung over, you know.
Pam : What are your top three things to eat then? Granola obviously being one of them.
Kris : Granola, Sushi
Pam : Ow I love sushi
Kris : yeah I absolutely love sushi and Chicken Tikka.
Pam : No way!!
Kris : Yeah but when I order it I have no butter, no oil and no sauce and I like a rumali roti.
Pam : that leads me nicely to my next question. What is your favourite restaurant?
Kris : Uh here in the UK…it’ll be Nando’s.
Pam : Good choice. That is one of my favs.
So, that’s it, that was the last question. Thank you for taking time out to answer my questions.
Kris : Ok great, I appreciate that.
The conversation did continue, I spotted that Kris wore a Sikh bangle called a Kara and as I’m Sikh it sparked a whole other conversation about it, the Golden Temple, India and the new gyms that he’s planning on opening in Jalandhar, India.
Big thank you to Dan Thiry for arranging some time with Kris and Kris for taking the time to talk to me, such a nice down to earth guy and so damn inspiring. If you want to know more about Kris Gethin, tips, workouts and generally to be inspired there’s plenty of material over at Bodybuilding.com so click here to take you to his profile and scroll down to view all the material he has published.
Also would like to add that it was lovely meeting your partner and catching up with her whilst you were pleasing the crowd.
Hope you enjoyed that interview.
