JC Deen Interview

JC Deen is the fitness coach online, a nutrition and training enthusiast, but more than that: JC often brings new perspective and insights about how we see ourselves and our journey. I was more than happy when he accepted to answer a couple of questions I had for him…

Hi JC, would you introduce yourself in a few words, what you do, and why you do it?

My name is JC Deen and I’m a fitness coach, and writer out of Nashville, TN. I work with individuals to help them create better physiques and habits that suit their lifestyle.

You are the creator of JCD Fitness, a blog and website for fitness-enthusiasts… but not only. Could you tell us more about how that idea came and its philosophy?

It’s ever evolving, I suppose. I first started the site as a place for me to get my thoughts on fitness and lifestyle out in the open, but after about a year of writing, I noticed an audience building. From then on I decided to take it more seriously, write specifically for that audience and grow it over time. My philosophy is based on my practical knowledge, and what I’ve learned from working in the field.

Your article about the former-fat boy syndrome is one the most famous I think, and I’m sure it has been a catalyst for so many people being afraid of putting on some fat along the process of getting muscular. How would you explain such “fear” among starters?

I think the fear is a rational one. If you’ve ever been fat, and been ashamed of it, then it’d only make sense you’d never want to experience that mode of being ever again. However, the fear can be so strong that we end up sabotaging ourselves when we try to improve our physiques further.

As a fitness coach, what are the mistakes you often see with your clients and how can they be prevented?

The biggest mistake I see if expecting too much too soon. I try to teach my clients to be realistic with their goals and progress.

You lately made quite a turn when you started to introduce us to concepts such as “visualization” or “mindfulness”. Now these are not new, but you brought these fields and are confounding them along your journey. How did that came?

I began meditating about 1.5 years ago, and it’s had a tremendous impact on my life. So much so I wanted to incorporate it into the fitness lifestyle.

We often say, the devil is in the details, and as regular who have solid knowledge in both training and nutrition, I don’t know sometimes myself how to deal about which matters and what doesn’t. How can we keep it simple?

I think success leaves clue. Look at who’ve been the most successful, and analyze their big wins. What are they? Usually it’s a mix of consistency, progress documentation, hard work and simplicity.

Paleo, Intermittent-Fasting, ESE, Keto…” are all diets some famous coaches popularised. I’m myself trying to teach my readers it doesn’t really matter in the end. Is it just a way for selling book and coaching? Thoughts?

I mostly agree. There is merit to each approach you mentioned, but it’s mainly how one implements each approach that matters. I also feel the individuals goals and temperaments should be kept in mind when choosing a diet. Whether naming a diet is a method of selling services does not concern me as long as it’s doable for the client, and of course, gets results.

Beginners often quit quickly, because they either do it too much without results, or not enough without results. What’s the best piece of advice we need to give them?

Trust those with the answers (us), and be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Enough said.

A subject I’m very interested about, and not often discussed IMO, is the “Body Dysmorphic Disorder”, a taboo subject in bodybuilding community, what’s your view on such important topic?

It’s real and needs to be addressed. We get really caught up on what’s optimal, and even doable. The lines are blurred between what’s natural, and what’s not. As a result, our expectations can be largely unrealistic.

Another one concerns steroids…or performance enhancing drugs. Companies that sell such [products]become millionaire because we keep seeing muscle monsters in magazines and ads. I think many don’t know it’s not really possible to attain such level naturally. What’s the deal about all these drugs? Does packing 30 pounds worth having your hormones dancing salsa?

I don’t know enough about steroids to comment, but I do know that a lot of the drugged up cover models are creating some very unrealistic expectations for guys all over.

Thank you!