MUSCLE-MAKING MINDSET

For world-class personal trainer Parker Cote, there are no quick fixes, only long-term solutions. Tap into his hard-earned philosophy and foolproof advice to make the kind of progress that actually sticks.

- KIERAN LEGG 

Enjoy the process; that's a motto US-based PT Parker Cote, 36, lives by. The Boston-based fitness fanatic forged a name for himself with tireless reps, an entrepreneurial spirit and an honest, zero-BS muscle building philosophy that pretty much any guy can emulate. Through his 20-plus years honing his craft, he's been careful to sidestep the trends, viral hacks and instant fixes in favour of research-backed, thoughtful progress. And it works (Exhibit A: the pictures splashed across these pages), not just for him but for the countless clients he's helped navigate their way towards their fitness goals.

"I consider myself to be the opposite of most trainers on a lot of levels," he admits. "I notice plenty of them try to impress clients by putting them through needlessly brutal workouts." His thesis? Fitness should be fun, and you should never expect to see results overnight. It's why his studio-opened in 2015-is still standing, even in the aftermath of that old economic wrecking ball we know as the pandemic.

Fun isn't a word you hear thrown around often in fitness circles. There's not much space for the noun amidst extreme verbiage like "hardcore", "no pain, no gain" and "gains, gains, gains". But Cote stresses that finding that fun, in whatever you do, is what will keep you coming back.

"A lot of trainers will repeat the same workout over and over again, leaving their clients feeling bored and not getting the results they desire, he says. That's why he's constantly decking out his studio with new equipment-getting your sweat on should feel fresh, novel and intriguing, not like you're clocking in at the office.