Ben Sullivan
Ben Sullivan is a Los Angeles-based fitness trainer who loves helping his clients become the natural athletes that we are all capable of becoming. He believes that desire — along with a little rest, some commonsense eating and a good attitude — is the key to success.
Ben's fitness journey began long ago when he was far too young to understand the notion of exercise and what it would mean for his life. As a child growing up in southeast Arkansas, Ben ran the gravel roads around his grandparents' farm. He loved exploring nature and searching for armadillos, skunks, possums, beavers, and dragonflies. For Ben, exercise has always been about appreciating his surroundings: the sound of the ground beneath his shoes, the rhythm of bike pedals.
Ben's favorite part of his job is as a personal trainer is "getting to know these souls, going through their lives with them — their achievements, their breakups, their home purchases, their world travels, their losses, their changes of address, their everything. My clients have taught me so much about the world, different kinds of living and careers. For that I am grateful; I hope I gave them something, too!"
Q: What's your favorite time of day to work out?
A: My favorite time of the day to exercise is late morning to early afternoon. A trainer's schedule can be erratic and random; changing hourly due to cancellations. Late morning is still early enough in the day for me to be inspired about changing the world, one body at a time.
Q: What's your favorite workout?
A: My favorite type of workout is exactly what I prescribe to my customers--HIGH INTENSITY CIRCUIT-TRAINING. I always begin with a warm-up. Sometimes, I'll even jog/walk to the gym. Once there, I'll begin with an upper body move. Then, I'll move to a specific arm exercise like a bicep curl. After that, I go immediately (no resting you freaks) to an explosive cardio move like jumps or step-ups on a plyo-box. Next, I start the whole thing over and repeat 3 to 4
sets. ROCK ON!
Q: What song really gets you in the mood to work out?
A: My favorite song? Well, my favorite artist of all, period is Van Morrison. His music will tremble and shutter through my soul. And I'm talking about his recent stuff here. However, for my EXPLOSIVE workouts, I like HARD-HITTING, SEX-GRINDING, dancing at an after-hours bar that you know you shouldn't be at, PULSATING TECHNO DANCE MUSIC. The dirtier and naughtier, the better.
Q: What is your greatest motivation to stay in shape?
A: My motivation? Well, there is this vague notion that some of my customers use to describe the indescribable confidence that comes as a result of our intense exercise. The confidence of feeling better and looking better. I call that "feeling substantial." And, when I don't exercise, I don't feel substantial.
Q: What part of your body do you like best? Least?
A: When I'm on my game, I love the body that has been sculpted--my whole being is fit and the world is beautiful. Did I say on my game. Yes, even trainers go through periods where they question their existence and hate going to the gym. It's an industry hazard; you spend so much of your life encouraging others, there's nothing left for yourself. However, I always find my way back. The part of my body that I don't like, I have some very dramatic varicose veins in my lower legs. Those, I don't like.
