MetroPost: What sparked your interest in what you now do professionally?
Archie Nellas: I started working out in the year 2000 because I wanted to improve myself physically. My build is that of an ectomorph which means I am typically considered “skinny” and lean.
MP: How do you train/get certified to become what you are now?
AN: I always keep myself abreast with the latest workshops and certification programs in functional training. I try to take part in trainings that are relevant, especially those conducted by reputable international institutions. So far, I have participated in the Asian Fitness Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. I am also certified by the Functional Training Institute of Australia and Singapore. I am also a certified bootcamp instructor, having undergone resilience training with Sgt. Ken Weichert of a US-based health and fitness association.
MP: What kind of a lifestyle change did you have to make to achieve your goals?
AN: As a skinny boy playing with other kids, I was always the active type so it was probably normal for me to be thin. It was only when I graduated from high school when my Grandpa pushed me to go into strength training. Thus in June 2000, I started my journey towards fitness training. I never thought it would lead me to coaching. What started as a personal strength and conditioning goal has already evolved when I developed a fascination for and joy in human movement. This has now become my way of life since I joined the fitness industry 17 years ago.
MP: What bad habits did you have to give up since becoming a coach/trainer?
AN: In order to practice what I preach, I have had to avoid vices such as smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages. I also try to eat healthy as often as I can.
MP: What foods do you now choose to eat?
AN: I am a natural athlete so I choose high-quality proteins which are food sources with high biological value yet are easily absorbed by the body. The more nutrients the body absorbs, the faster the gains (muscle hypertropy).
There are also specific activities in training where we need slow-release protein sources.
Some good sources of protein include whey, egg, milk, tuna, chicken, beef, nuts and beans.
I also limit my intake of sugar, especially as it is my weakness.
MP: What is a typical day for a coach/trainer like you?
AN: I start my day by dawn as I have a personal training client at 6 am. Then i go to Fit & Play gym by 7 am where I have personal training and rehabilitation training clients throughout the day.
By 5pm, I report at Foundation University where I am the strength and conditioning coach for the varsity teams in high school and college. I round up my day back at Fit a& Play until closing at 8:30 pm.
There are days when I need to travel to conduct functional training workshops, or to participate in certification programs.
I also volunteer my services as Functional Strength & Conditioning coach to the provincial government’s sports development program. I share my expertise with coaches in conducting assessment, educating them with training principles and training variables, and introducing them to current trends in fitness training. I am always happy to share with coaches several techniques and information on functional training. I love seeing how first-timers learn about it, and realizing how helpful it is for athletes of different sports.
I belong to a core group currently in the process of completing the Long-Term Athlete Development program under NOSDEP, headed by Paultom Paras, our provincial sports coordinator.
MP: What does it mean to be “functionally fit”?
AN: Being functionally fit is when an individual is prepared to do any physical activity that we would normally do each day. It may be recreational, sports/fitness, and work. It means the person is able to move with ease and finesse, especially with movements that demand higher neurological control. Most importantly, being functionally fit is when the person maintains a balance of all the seven fitness dimensions: physical, nutrition, emotional, social, family, financial, and spiritual. Being functional is holistic; targetting all aspects of life.
But I am also real enough to admit that there are days when I miss training because of my very hectic schedule — just like any normal individual. I do, however, always make up for lost time. I make sure that I move even if it’s not my standard training routine. I’m always on the go as I don’t allow myself to sit for too long.
Archie’s most recent achievement is completing the 100-kilometer Negros Oriental Ultramarathon from Dumaguete-Siaton-Dumaguete. It was his major endurance run.
When he’s not into physical training, he is relaxing by reading sports materials and books relating to life in general. He is reminded by John Maxwell’s book Intentional Living: Choosing a Life That Matters;: When you intentionally use your everyday life to bring about positive change in the lives of others, you begin to live a life that matters.”