| About Xavier Beckford A personal trainer in Jamaica Queens, Xavier Beckford is not just your ordinary fitness trainer. His training incorporates both exercise and nutrition, rather than just focusing on fitness alone. Mr. Beckford has been featured in popular fitness magazines such as Muscle and Fitness (April 2008) and is regularly featured on www.bodybuilding.com and www.shapefit.com. The Beckford approach to exercise can be considered holistic; he includes fitness, nutrition, and emotional support as a regimen for body sculpting, losing weight, and maintaining weight. Unlike many personal trainers who simply fall into the exercise industry as a result of a job change or to supplement their income, Xavier Beckford has studied the field through higher education. His academic interest involved a major in exercise science and nutrition. But this desire to learn as much as he can about the foundations of exercise and nutrition was not always there. Instead it was fueled by a dramatic personal experience. Not to long ago Mr. Beckford was the on the other side of fitness success – a path which almost led to his destruction! |
| Struggling to lose weight
In 2005, Mr. Beckford weighed a whopping 284 lbs. He looked nothing like the chiseled, sculpted, person he is today. Mr. Beckford ate everything in front of him… cheeseburgers, French fries, fried chicken…. nothing was out his reach. If you ask him why he ate so much, he would simply shrug his shoulders and tell you that was his culture; everyone in his family ate that way. It was normal to him – a part of his routine. But slowly, Mr. Beckford felt his life getting out of control. First it started with a reduction of his physical strength. Things that were previously easy for him, was now a challenge. For example, Mr. Beckford struggled to catch his breath while walking up stairs; he was also threatened with disease: borderline diabetes. |
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| When his social life took a dive, Mr. Beckford was unable to cope with the painful reminders of how unattractive he had become. He missed out on fantastic relationships because of a struggle with self-esteem and depression. Even though many women would call for dates, Mr. Beckford was too embarrassed to go out on these dates. He thought, “How can these beautiful women like me like this…is there a catch?” | |
| An Encounter that was Life-Changing
Finally when he was at his wits end, a chance encounter took place in February 2005 that changed his life forever. One day, his physical education teacher pulled him aside and explained what was needed to lose weight. No one had ever done this for him before. Many times Mr. Beckford struggled to lose the weight himself, but was always unsuccessful. This teacher helped him create actual goals, outlined types of exercise, and spoke to him about the type of foods he had to avoid eating. This was the first time that Mr. Beckford understood how certain carbs stored fat in his body and how that fat was distributed. Most importantly, this instructor offered emotional support, a factor that remains as part of Beckford’s holistic approach to exercise. By incorporating a combination of exercise, nutrition, and emotional support into his weight loss goals, Mr. Beckford was able to lose 54 lbs in less than five months and has maintained a weight of 195 lbs since 2006.
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Different Body Types require Different Approaches
Certainly not everyone would be able to lose weight that quickly – nor is this recommended. But, Mr. Beckford was very determined. Today, his exercise model is customized for unique body types, men and women, and also for younger children who struggle with obesity. His educational training has given him the ability to understand certain body types and how they are different. For example, women usually store fat in the hips and thighs. This often makes it difficult for women to lose weight in these areas. Mr. Beckford’s “body sculpting” training targets these areas. His specialized techniques will make it easier to tone and sculpt the body, which is a goal for a woman of any age.
A man’s body also presents challenges that only a well-equipped trainer can address using this combined approach. Like women, men also store fat in the abdomen. This usually results in unsightly love handles, something you don’t want to display, especially as the season becomes more pleasant. The reason for this, which many trainers can’t explain to you, is the increased level of testosterone and stress that causes fat to be deposited in that certain area. For men, Mr. Beckford also uses abdominal routines and strength training to sculpt