ATF Expert Advice: Steve Pfiester

Hey everyone – as you know we’re always looking for ways to improve and expand the ATF site so I’m really excited to share a brand new feature we’re launching today called ‘Expert Advice’.

Angry Trainer Fitness is all about giving you the REAL deal when it comes to your health and fitness and I’d be the first to admit I don’t have ALL the answers (only 99% of them!)

So once a week I’ll be asking some of the fitness industry’s leading pros 10 key questions that’ll help give you insight into your own program and choices. After all, you can never have too much information.

Today I’m thrilled to introduce you all to my great friend Steve Pfiester of pFiesterpFit.com

Steve has some serious experience in the training world. The man with a body of steel has been featured in numerous magazines and TV segments and was the trainer for VH1’s Bridal Boot Camp in addition to many other credentials I don’t have space to list. He’s a certified personal trainer, physical therapist, Crossfit trainer, fellow FitFluential ambassador and more! But what counts most as I always say is PASSION, and Steve has that in abundance.

I was fortunate to meet Steve through our roles as a FitStudio Board members and from the get go we instantly felt a connection. Steve is one of the smartest and most intellectual personal trainers I’ve ever met and I highly suggest you follow him (details below)

So what’s Steve’s Expert Advice… here we go:

1) How did you first become interested in health and fitness?

I first became involved in fitness wrestling in high school. The conditioning got me in better shape but I wanted to gain strength so I started lifting weights in my garage before and after school.

2) What’s the biggest fitness mistake you’ve made in your own life?

Relying on isolated strength training for results you can only get from functional training and conditioning drills. After wrestling I became solely a “bodybuilder” leaving out other disciplines of fitness that a healthy body relies upon to perform. After 20 years of lifting weights, just five years ago I started truly “working out”.

3) What’s the most common mistakes you see trainees make?

Relying on exercise to lose weight. OR relying on diet to make them healthier.

4) Describe your current workout regime?

I train a mixture of workouts 7 days a week. 6 days of weights, 3 days of cardio, 4 days of sparring or wrestling, and 4 days of cardio. In regards to strength training, I do 2 body parts per day. Day 1&4-chest, back and abs. Day 2&5-shoulders, arms and traps. Day3&6- legs and abs

5) What diet do you follow?

I follow principals found in many different diets as the foundations for many diets begin very sound… and then they tend to go south due to unscientific / in vogue philosophies that has nothing to do with metabolism or nutrition and definitely wont yield results. I stick most closely to the ZONE diet principles; however, I deviate as my training and physique require and as long as “deviating” doesn’t contradict what I have learned.

6) How often do you ‘cheat’ and with which food(s)?

I do cheat. First I set goals… then I achieve those goals… Then I responsibly pick a meal or a type of food I enjoy and I eat… and boy do I eat. And then, back to the grindstone I go!