I remember the day when it was time for me to go to work. I felt paralyzed, I couldn't move, not literally but no part of me wanted to go. You see, I worked in a call center and I grew to despise the place over the years. Just the thought of me strapping on that headset had my stomach in knots. As the clock ticked and time progressed I found my mind coming up with excuse after excuse for me to "call in" but the truth was I didn't want to go at all, I never ever wanted to go back.
Fear gripped me at the thought! I was afraid to quit my job. I had bills and kids to support. I had responsibilities. Long story short, I quit my job as a customer service representative! CSR was the title I was given. I was quite petrified because the only income I had at the time was a part-time job at the Soho Hotel Health Club owned by Champion Body Builder Dalton Brown. My dream was to make it in the health and fitness industry and improve my quality of life.
Well, allow me to backtrack a little so you could understand my passion. In my younger days, I studied martial arts which kept me out of trouble and introduced me to fitness. I needed something to keep my mind off of my father who passed away from a stroke in 1990. That's also when I discovered the benefits of strength training, which not only helped me physically but also mentally.
Luckily I had my mom to comfort me; I was too young to completely understand the situation. Why couldn't I have a father like all the other kids? After coming to terms with the situation of not having a father, again my life was stricken with another calamity.
This time it was my mother who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and shortly after colon cancer. She kind of hid all this from me until it was so noticeable that she had to confess, besides I was beginning to ask questions when I saw that my mother's health was failing. My mom lived a few years with these diseases but unfortunately could hold on no longer, she shared the same fate as my father. I was devastated by the loss.
Why did they have to die? I was frustrated and almost ignorant of the diseases that took my parents away however this frustration and lack of ignorance fueled my studies for health and fitness. Perhaps it was my turning point.
Note: This picture was taken at a birthday party. My Mom who passed away from cancer is the one holding the colourful balloons, standing beside my two sisters and little niece.
Note: This is a picture of Dalton standing beside the sign and entrance to the luxurious gym at the Soho Hotel.
Now back to my part-time job at the Soho Hotel. This was actually my first job in the health and fitness industry which was pretty exciting, even more so because I frequently saw celebrities who passed through for a workout. I saw such music artists as Toni Braxton and Jewel but soon seeing celebrities became the norm. No big deal! Anyhow, I started out as front desk help and maintenance and then worked my way to becoming an assistant trainer.
I then pursued a certification as a personal trainer and began training clients on my own. This then led to fitness consultations, assessments, and coaching at the Soho Health Club but I was still struggling to make ends meet. I was always late with the rent and frequently threatened to be kicked out.
Thankfully, I was offered a position as a personal trainer with one of the leading fitness franchises, Premier Fitness. I worked there for a number of years gaining valuable experience and dealing with a large clientele having a variety of problems from weight loss to scleroderma.
My passion began to soar because I was an avid reader; I read anything I could get my hands on that dealt with health and physiology. In particular, I developed a love for weight loss and after intense study, I found a weight loss solution that worked for my clients.
I put this solution to the test and was thrilled when my female client lost over 30 lbs. This was my first major success, a walking testimonial and people were beginning to take notice.
It felt great but it wasn't enough for me, I wanted to reach more fitness hopefuls than I did training at the gym. It was also around this time that I met my now-wife, Donna in 2006.
I stayed with her in Kitchener while I perfected my skills as a Personal Trainer and Nutritionist. She was like my angel at the time and contributed greatly to my success. I thank God for her!
Note: I told Katie I was going to put her before and after picture on my website. She wanted to lose some weight after her pregnancy and decided to get some help from me to change her body. Katie put in allot of hard work, which was unusual for someone who didn’t like exercise. Katie got bit by the fitness bug and I couldn’t slow her down. Katie made a dramatic transformation and lost 41 lbs. Hi Katie, keep up the good work, luv ya!
I started writing articles to help reach more people and soon found that people were confused, misinformed, and didn't understand their bodies. I was thrilled when people were coming up to me and saying your articles helped me to lose weight, your articles gave me clarity.
I arrived! I was the "go-to guy" for health and fitness! Celebrating my small victories I still wanted to do more, trying to reach people who lived a sedentary lifestyle I started training clients in their homes.
This led to the birth of my Women's Only Fitness Boot Camp that I taught outside at Victoria Park.
I was one of the first to ever do fitness boot camps outdoors. I actually became so popular that we made the local newspaper.
With the growing popularity of the women I attracted that wanted to stay fit and the seasonal nature of doing a fitness boot camp outdoors. I needed to find an indoor location.
I eventually opened a fitness studio and, I got really busy! So busy in fact that I neglected my own fitness goals!
Consequently, I developed my own weight loss struggles which I blamed on my busy lifestyle and emotional eating. (Sound familiar ladies ) Lucky for me I successfully was able to overcome my mental hurdles, and lifestyle challenges and even went on to lose 50 pounds.
My experience inspired me to write a book titled “Keep the Weight Off, a women's guide to losing weight and keeping it off.” It's currently available on Amazon.
Note: My weight loss transformation. My starting weight was 215 lbs. and my end weight was 165 lbs.
Embrace a long-term solution and discover the key to naturally maintaining your weight for life. Chris Walker, a nutritionist, weight loss expert, and mindset coach, shares invaluable insights from his time as a former Personal Trainer. Having worked with numerous women, he presents their experiences as cautionary tales, so you can avoid repeating their mistakes.
By identifying the reasons behind your weight loss struggles and providing effective solutions, he empowers you to take control. This thought-provoking book not only offers practical tips and exercises to overcome emotional eating, but also delves into essential topics like nutrition, meal plans, training, and stress reduction techniques. By achieving hormonal balance and improved health, you can bid farewell to the frustration of trying countless ineffective methods. If you're ready to break free from the cycle of disappointment, this book is a must-read.
Throughout my life's journey so far I spent more than 20 years and have completed over 300,000 pages of research, including several certifications in the natural health field and over 50,000 health and fitness client sessions as well as diplomas and certifications in Holistic Nutrition and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition.
I also hold numerous certifications and have specialized training in the areas of Hypnosis, Neuroplasticity, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Strategic Life Coaching, and Emotional Freedom Technique. I consider myself a lifelong learner and I'm always in the pursuit of higher education.
I have made several media appearances on Global Television, Rogers Daytime, The Record News Paper, and Playa Times and I have published many health, nutrition, and fitness-related articles. I have done countless community charities and events including raising money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
I have also been chosen by various schools to mentor youth interested in health and fitness during their high school volunteer programs. In addition, I have led or participated in several Health Retreats at prestigious resorts and beach clubs in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. My community and social outreach have allowed me to reach more people and hopefully impact the lives of many.
Fast-track to the future, in order to serve others better and reach even more people. I've decided to close my health and fitness studio and serve clients mainly online. Having a business model where I could reach millions of people instead of thousands is better suited for my goals. Having lost my parents to diseases and knowing what I know now, I realize how easily their deaths could have been prevented. I also realize how both diabetes and colon cancer have deep connections to gut health. But this isn't something we hear about often.
Our gut is home to trillions of bacteria that play a crucial role in everything from our metabolism to our immune system. When these bacteria are out of balance, it can lead to chronic inflammation, poor blood sugar control, and even an increased risk of cancers like the one that took my mother.
The good news is that we have the power to change this. With my growing online social media presence Coach With Chris is now able to help clients from all over the world. I'm not sure where we will end up but I'm excited about our future and our potential to make a beautiful impact on the health of humanity.
Combined my wife and I have 4 daughters all in their twenties. This allows us to focus on our businesses and travel.
As we encounter people in various countries they all wished that they have taken better care of their health so they could enjoy retirement without having to battle illness and obesity. Don't let that happen to you.
Better health is in your own hands and when you're ready I'm here to support you!
Note: A picture of me and my wife Donna. She was the person who I stayed with in Kitchener when I was down and out.
Free training with Chris reveals how to get healthy and lose 25, 50, or even 100 pounds or more 100% naturally without strict dieting, strenuous workouts, supplements, drugs, or anything like that!
