2012 FMI Fall Conference Interview: Derek Trudeau

Stats

Height: 5’11
Weight: 190 lbs.
Location: Orange Country, CA

The Interview

1. Hi Derek! Can you tell us something about yourself and what you do?

I’m so passionate for health and fitness, not just for myself, but sharing it with others. There’s nothing I love more than seeing someone transform their body and see how it improves their overall lifestyle. I saw such a need for correct information and support in this industry that I’ve started a website called www.trudeaufitness.com where anyone now can work directly with myself to achieve whatever their looking to do, lose weight. build muscle, etc. I live in Orange County and have a six year old Son that’s my everything.

2.Are you a full time fitness professional? Do you have another profession aside from being a fitness professional?

I have another business that I run that’s non fitness related and have positioned myself so that can run on it’s own and I can focus my true passion on fitness and people. I also have a six year old Son that comes before anything. With so much going on it really does take a lot of focus and putting my priorities in place. With that said I’m living such a healthy positive lifestyle and it’s great!! And the best part about it is my Son see’s this and it helps mold him into the man that he’s going to be, my most important job is raising my Son and I’ll be damned if I’m not the best roll model I can be.

3.How did you start training and what was your turning point?

I grew up a sports guy so I’ve been in the weightroom since the age of 14. But there was a distinct moment that I decided to make fitness my profession. Dec. 2011 I was over sea’s and sitting on my bed in my hotel room thinking about what I wanted in life. I was sick of putting in work for things that really didn’t get me excited. At that point I made the decision to follow what I was most passionate about and that was fitness. I knew no one at that time, knew nothing about the industry, but put my head down and went all in less than one year my whole life has changed and is definitely the most exciting time in my professional career. I do what I love, all day ever day, no more “work”

4. What motivates you to do fitness?

What motivates me is being productive. There’s really no right or wrong answer in life on how we choose to live but I always find myself feeling the most fulfilled when I’m making waves. I always do my best to stay in this place for myself and my loved ones around me.

5. Do you compete for fitness? or do you have plans of competing in the future?

Before 2012 I never even heard of Men’s physique. I really didn’t even know what a fitness competition was. Well now I do, ha!! I have a friend from one of the gyms I workout at that was doing a show, so, I joined and the rest is history. I’ve done 4 shows this year and have some trophies which are awesome, but I’d have to say my highlight so far has been competing at the USA’s after being in the sport for 2 months and doing well, great experience  Competing really brought out my weak points which was the amazing. It’s given me a chance to really work on them in the last 6 months and my physique has completely changed for the best and I’ll continue to work to be the best I can be and always improve. My next show’s a real symbolic one for me, the excaliber Dec 1. I really want to end my first year in fitness with a bang and getting that sword would be one great piece of that.

6. Do you have brands or business related to fitness? or do you see yourself having projects related to fitness?

I’ve created a website called www.trudeaufitness.com. My goal for this is to help each individual achieve their own fitness goals. Success in business to me is to help as many people as I can and have a very high success rate for our clients. I’ve studied, I’ve implemented, and found out what I believe works best for each individuals need and this is what I’m going to share and implement with our clients. I get so excited to see people do what they didn’t think was possible, so awesome.

7. What training routines do you do to be able to maintain your physique?

My training routine will depend on what my goals are at the time. Right now I’m training for the excaliber which is 17 days away. So right now I’m doing volume training which essentially is lighter weight, higher reps. I do my lifts real slow and really squeeze the muscle at the end of the lift. I do this to get as “cut” as possible.

8. What supplements do you take?

Supplements are great but I really want to stress if you’re a beginner all you need is a solid diet and workout program. At the beginning of this year I didn’t take any supps and got a real good physique. When I achieved that I knew adding supplements would then help me get more gains. I don’t believe in the big “hype” supplements but more of the Multivitamin, BCAA’s, Glutamine, L-Carnitine, Fish oil, MCT oil, and of course protein powder.

9. What is your typical diet?

My diet changes all the time but I generally always keep it clean. I always have a high protein diet no matter what. And to keep it real simple if I’m cutting down I’ll lower my carbs accordingly, and if I’m putting on mass I’ll add them. In every meal I either have protein/carbs OR protein/fat.

10.What does your training regimen look like?

The way I life is generally Free weights with compound movements being at the core. As far as frequency I’m to the point where I listen to my body. I might hit the same muscle group twice in a week, sometimes once. If I’ve really been hitting it hard I might take some days off and give my body the chance to grow.

11. How does your discipline as a fitness professional influence your life as a whole?

I’ve never been involved in something that’s so detailed. If you want to have a great physique you really have to consciously be thinking about it 24/7. I love the discipline that it teaches me and it really translates to other aspects of life.

12. What made you attend the FMI Conference? What are your top 3 take aways?

I attended FMI because I saw it as an opportunity to learn. Life goes by so fast that if I have an opportunity I have to take advantage. FMI has people in the organization that are pillars in the fitness community and knew that’s who I wanted to learn from. Three takeaways I learned from FMI are..

1. Different business strategies for the fitness business
2. Real insite from people who I respect and have proven success
3. And most of all this, since I started the fitness industry I see about 95% of the guys begging for sponsorship and magazine cover or whatever. I’ve never really understood this as you get next to nothing for either of those and you’re now promoting something that’s not you.

I think I’m fortunate enough to have a business background to understand that this is not the best plan of action. For me, I want to be in control of my own future and my own business. I believe this industry gives me a great opportunity to make a lot of money and have a great lifestyle. I’ll also provide real great results for my clients. Everybody wins.

13.How would you like to be known in the fitness industry?

I would like to be know in the fitness industry as one of the best ever. What does that mean? I want people to recognize me not only as have one of the best physiques but more importantly the best overall package. The ability to look great, but also the ability to help teach inspire. I really want to be the vehicle to change lives from an individual basis to a worldwide basis. Maybe like Richard Simmons…haha.

14. Where can we find you on the internet?

Find me on the internet at www.trudeaufitness.com. I’ve made this accessable to everyone. Come on and lets work together to get you the health and body you always wanted, we can do it!