Growing up, Jay Harris would always compare himself to those he saw in magazines or films.
Wrestler The Rock, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and boxer Anthony Joshua all had one thing in common in the 29-year-old’s eye - a physique he wished he had. Jay, from Kensington, claims he didn’t weigh any more than six stone when he was 15 years old and because of his “skinny” build and “short” height, he recalls never getting a look in on the sports team.
The personal trainer told the ECHO: “Even Sunday football teams said no to taking me on because of my height and build. One game, I played a friendly against the B-team and we won 4-3, I scored all four and still didn't get signed up. When I didn't get picked, I always felt it was because I wasn't good enough and it was a kick in the teeth because I was the best player on the pitch that day. My height and build did put a lot of pressure on me because I was aware I was small and underweight at that time.”
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Despite this, where he is today - celebrating a decade in the fitness industry - is somewhere Jay knew he would always be. The former PE teacher fell in love with the gym after he fell out of love with acting. Having, initially gotten into university to study drama, Jay knew it wasn’t the right path for him after learning the course was 70% theory.
Going back to what he loved, Jay completed an 18-month sports coaching course in Speke. However, standing at 5ft 7in and weighing close between nine and a half stone, Jay struggled to get clients to begin with.
The Crew 42 gym employee said: “The hardest part was getting clients and I started feeling insecure about my appearance because I was beginning to think I need to look a certain way to get clients. I'm still quite small for what people expect a personal trainer to look like. From day one, I knew people were looking at me as if to say 'how is he a PT?' It isn't the nicest thing to feel. I certainly never looked unhealthy, in my eyes, anyway.”
Still, thanks to Jay’s presence, he said enough people have seen him on the gym floor or on social media to know he puts “100% into every client that walks through the door”.
One of Jay’s proudest achievements is his fitness bingo - a class for menopausal women. The session, which features a mixture of a circuit and musical fitness statues, is loved by many including Liverpool actress Lindzi Germain.
The class came about after Jay offered Lindzi a shoulder to cry on whilst she was struggling with menopause symptoms whilst in the gym. Jay added: “The women had their own Fitness Bingo night out at Christmas which was fantastic to see. It's nice to see they've become lifelong friends due to this class and I have no plans on stopping it anytime soon. It's the best thing I've done.”
Now, no longer comparing himself to others ,except from the "old" him to see how far he has come, Jay said he embraces what makes him different to other personal trainers out there. He added: "Clients have told me I've saved their lives and sent messages thanking me for that. That's better than any photo transformation. That's a real transformation."
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