CSM Game-Changer Issue with Cristiano Ronaldo 2019 GAME-CHANGER ISSUE - Heather Blackburn | Page 150

CSM: How do you keep yourself educated or updated
for latest trends and information in healthy living or
lifestyle?
JAMES: I make sure to follow leaders in the field of
sports science and nutrition like Martin Macdonald,
Layne Norton and Brad Schoenfeld as they often pro-
vide great resources to learn from! Also reading pub
med and getting a subscription to MASS has been in-
credibly helpful
CSM: How important is food and nutrition to you as a
model, athlete or as an individual?
JAMES: It’s the most important thing without a doubt,
the workout is the easy part, and nutrition is where the
real work is done! So I make it my main priority! But
its important to make it fun and get creative! So I be-
came a good cook to have fun with food and not get
bored ;)
CSM: Describe the essential skills to be effective in
maintaining your figure or shape.
JAMES: Willingness to learn! Knowledge is power, the
more you know the better your nutrition and workout
structure will be and when you apply that knowledge
the better your results will be
CSM: What are your ideas about non-organic food ver-
sus organic?
JAMES: For the most part, I think it’s overhyped. Is
organic better? Sure.. But the benefits aren’t massive
for what it costs.
CSM: What are your views on an all-meat diet versus
a vegan diet?
JAMES: Both are stupid! All meat only benefits a very
limited population of people and Vegan diet is restrict-
ing your body from essential proteins you need! I re-
spect Vegans for their ethics but I don’t agree with any
diet that restricts what you eat.
CSM: What groups of food do you usually eat?
JAMES: All of them! I don’t restrict my diet! I just
make sure I get enough protein around 40% of my diet
and I’m pretty flexible with carb and fat. I just try to
reduce my saturated fat as much as I can.
CSM: Do you think customized meal plans are really
necessary? Why is that?
JAMES: I don’t think a person needs a meal plan, I
think they just need a nutrition structure, this is what I
help my own clients with at Route 1 Health and Fitness.
Firstly, we establish how many calories they need for
their goal; from there we set a concrete protein target
and flexible carb and fat targets! This works best as it
gives clients flexibility in their diet, keeps it simple and
they don’t develop a bad relationship with food! Ulti-
mately the simpler something is, the easier it is for them
to maintain, and the more likely you are to get results!
Remember consistency is key.
CSM: Any fitness goals for yourself? What are you
aiming now?
JAMES: Well since I have had British finals twice with
the UKDFBA and became the UK northern Champ in
Men’s physique I decided to have a break from compet-
ing and look at new targets, so I’ve decided to have a
go at some amateur boxing, and also keeping myself in
great shape for modeling.
CSM: There are a lot of online coaches and lifestyle
advisers out in the market already, what are the factors
that people should take into consideration when hiring
a personal trainer or online coaches or maybe investing
some time and money to them?
JAMES: Ask questions! Find out exactly WHY they
have prescribed that programme /nutrition for you. Also
find out about that person, what is their background,
are the EVEN qualified! It’s scary how many coaches
online don’t have the legal requirements to even train
people!
CSM: As a fitness and health enthusiast, what are the
essential exercises you have to do? Why is that?
JAMES: The basics! Things like Squats, pull downs,
walking lunges, chest press, deadlifts (done properly –
don’t do if you don’t know the form) there is a reason
these simple exercises have always been around. They
work! You don’t need to overcomplicate a programme!
Remember Keep it simple! Make it something you can
remember and actually do!
CSM: Do you have any gym etiquette advice for other
people?
JAMES: Put your weights back where they belong!
CSM: Fact or myth? Does working out daily improve
one’s sexual stamina or prowess during sexual activity?
Why do you say so?
JAMES: Well, no woman has ever complained, since
I started training and especially from my power, since
started deadlifting heavy. It’s all in the hips.
CSM: Fact or myth? Does living a healthy lifestyle
keeps you happy and young? Why is that?
JAMES: I would say so! In my early 20’s I was fat and
depressed and now I’m the happiest I’ve been and look
younger than I did then! Heck the owner of Brandmod-
elsuk (Malvin Hobbs) thought I was early 20’s when I
had my first shoot with him. I think it’s because when
you feel your best, looking your best is the natural bo-
nus from it
CSM: If you are our health ambassador and a lifestyle
advocate, how would you help promote healthy living
in school or in corporate world?
JAMES: In schools I’d be a little controversial, kids
aren’t interested in what’s good for them, and they are
superficial and care about looking good and impressing
their peers. So I would appeal to their vanity! Teach
them that healthy lifestyle won’t just make them feel
good, but make them look good and impress their
friends! In the corporate world, it’s easy exercising
more is proven to improve productivity! So get them
healthy and their work life improves increasing the
odds of success, raise, promotion etc.
CSM: A lot of your followers are curious to know these,
if there’s any food and beverage that you cannot resist
what would that be and why?
JAMES: Pizza or Burgers – I just love them, also a
fiend for Pepsi max! They are just a guilty pleasure I
have every now and again.
CSM: Any advice to individuals who wants to gain
weight and lean muscle? Advise to people who want to
lose weight and be sexy?
JAMES: If you want to gain weight, accept that you
will gain fat, it’s part of the process, sort your nutri-
tion, aim for a cautious bulk to begin with, eat mostly
clean and get your training right and you can maximize
the muscle and minimize the fat! The same but inverse
if you want to lose fat and reveal the muscle! Calorie
deficit and making sure your training is appropriate to
that goal! I’ve actually written a book that helps work
out what’s best for you on my website! Go check it out!
www.route1healthandfitness.com