My name is Matt Sillanpaa, and I'm a chubby personal trainer. I've worked in the strength and conditioning, and mainstream fitness industry for over ten years. All while sporting a beer belly and man boobs.For years I struggled with my personal image, as people hired me to help them build the perfect body. After multiple failed attempts at meeting the industry expectations, I finally found what was important to me, and then my career flourished.Now, I run a gym with my amazing wife, I volunteer on strength and conditioning boards, coach for one of the most successful high school rugby teams in the country, and do it all with a "less than impressive" physique.My goal is for this podcast to reach the ears of people struggling with identity issues, self-acceptance, and the never-ending pursuit of being a more valuable human being to the people around you.Season one we cover my history of a fat kid growing up in the fitness industry so you can get a sense of who I am. In the following seasons we will dig into the gut of the industry, people I've grown to admire over the years, and concepts that help people get off the roller-coaster of health.Sex With A Donut is raw (pun intended), comical and real. Enjoy!
When things aren't done correctly, and we ignore the signs, relapse steps into our lives. Relapse is sometimes inevitable, but it doesn't mean we should be ignorant to it.
It takes YEARS of action to rewire your brain to maintenance stage. But once you're there, you become this fiction-like badass character who defies all marketing and social media bullshit.
Parents in general, but more specifically moms, often neglect time at the gym because they perceive it as selfish. I think the opposite.
The stage everyone knows and many of us fail at multiple times. Action stage is where Julie and I live with most of our clients and gym members.
Invaluable tool I’ve used over the years is turning my “fuck me” attitude into a “fuck you” attitude. People want to help people who are helping themselves.
Planning is BORING. But if we never want to be back in this shitty situation, planning is key. Preparation is often overlooked because we are impulsive. If you skip it, you'll repeat it.
What happens when we get that reality check we've needed for so long? Many people are too scared to face the contemplation stage.
What does it feel like and look like in the first stage of change, when you or someone you know is living in a shitty habit which threatens their life?
The most important thing no one knows or talks about in the health and fitness industry. It helps me quit quitting, and helps me direct my focus with clients and business.
Almost all of the problems or solutions I see in my live are the result of what I do and do not tolerate. Final episode of this season!
We get distracted from or work, sometimes by accident and sometimes on purpose. Do your job first is a reminder to keep your nose in your own business and be a productive person.
You hear a lot about people's voyage towards mental toughness. But no one talks about how we choose mental weakness.
Year after year my message gets stronger. Some people agree, and some do not.
You're always coaching the competition, and its best to consider them PEERS rather than OPPONENTS.
Season two is full of stories pertaining to some of the most impactful quotes I've heard over the years. Some funny, some serious, each episode will hit on valuable things in the training industry.
The last episode of the season we cover managing motivation in the new gym, my biggest fall yet, and picking my ass back up.
Julie and I get a job offer out of no where, and although its a dream come true, it punishes my workout motivation.
In this episode we discuss my random encounter with a strength and conditioning coach. I was chewed up and spit out from the mainstream fitness world, and this guy led me into the secret world of strength and performance.
In this episode we dig into my second big weight loss, and how getting into the best shape of my life also came with a mental low that devastated my self-confidence.
I grew up a fat kid, and I embraced it throughout high school. Eventually I found a reason to get my shit together, but it came at a cost. In this episode I share my story, and a few stories from past clients, to explain what happens when we rely on outside influence and operate bad plan.
Hello, I'm Matt, and I'm an addict.My entire life I've struggled with my weight, and somehow I landed in the position of a personal trainer. In this quick clip you will get a feel for who I am, and we'll cover how this podcast came to be.
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