James Elliott

WPM's Bodybuilder of the Month - June 2011





Interviewed by: Mike Hall


At a very young age of 11 years old, James Elliott’s mother introduced him to her trainer, who helped James rehabilitate his left arm, which just got out of a cast for one year because it was badly injured in a renovation accident. He almost lost his arm. That was the beginning of how James was inspired to body build.

When James turned 17, he visited the trainer that had earlier rehabbed his arm. He asked if he could work as a trainer at his facility; which was a very small gym. The trainer referred him to Free Form Fitness. They got him prepared to be a trainer and here he is; still working at the same gym. Today, what use to be a small gym, Free Form Fitness in Kanata Ontario now has three different personal training locations across the city and stronger than ever.

The first time James attended a bodybuilding show, he was only 12 years old. He found it to be the most fascinating thing he has ever seen. His mother got tickets from her trainer that promoted the show and it’s been a love affair with bodybuilding every since. “That show, I knew it was something I wanted to do. I mean, who wouldn't? The fame! The lights! The people cheering you on! The energy in the building and getting awarded for something you put so much time into to benefit your health”, says James!

11 years later, his passion has been being a personal trainer and a competitor.

"...I would like to see more natural bodybuilding shows, since I am a natural drug tested athlete. I would also like more opportunity to compete on a bigger stage with professionals that are completely natural."

WP: You look great! How do you keep the physique you have? What is the hardest thing for you to face when it comes to keeping your physique?

In order to keep a great physique year around, I have to eat healthy. I don't necessarily have to eat at the same time every day, measure everything, and do morning cardio like I do for a show; all I have to do is eat healthy and stick to my diet, moderately. If I see myself gaining 3 or 4 pounds above where I’m comfortable, I just jump back onto my contest diet for a week or so. I never lose track of my workouts. I always try to build muscle to keep my motor running. (i.e. muscle being like an engine. Keep it powered up!)

WP: What was it that made you know without a doubt that you wanted to go into bodybuilding?

When I was a kid, I wasn't allowed in the house to watch TV or play board games. My mother always forced me to go outside and play sports, or do something productive. (Not that I was loud and obnoxious, but that's not the point! Ha-ha!) On that note, I would get bored at times, so I found myself going to the gym and weight lifting because I found it fun!

WP: Anything you would like to see change in the bodybuilding world?

I would like to see more natural bodybuilding shows, since I am a natural drug tested athlete. I would also like more opportunity to compete on a bigger stage with professionals that are completely natural.

WP: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Being a bodybuilder, that's quite simple; size! I’d love to add that thickness to my outer quad or thickness to my lats, to add just that more dimension. At least, it's a change I have control over!

WP: You have competed as a bodybuilder. What competitions have you appeared in and what place did you win?

Ottawa Capital Classic - 1st place Junior

Ottawa Capital Classic -1st Place Lightweight

Ontario Natural Bodybuilding Championships - 3rd place lightweight

Canadian National Natural Championships - 2nd place lightweight

WP: Do you have any advice to people that wish to build more mass and/or more cut?

To build more mass, all I can say is you have to lift heavy. Lifting heavy and not doing it right is another thing. You must do the exercise in a controlled motion to a semi-full stretch, depending at what you're doing, while trying to increase the load on the muscle.

For cutting, that is pretty simple; diet! Diet is everything when it comes to cutting. No exercise program will work, or guarantee you results, if you eat like an elephant. In my eyes, and what I follow for competition prep, is known as the shock factor principal. Always try to shock the body with new routines/loads/lift transitions and different time under tension; work to really get the body to respond while dialing in your diet perfectly for a minimum of 8 weeks for a bodybuilder, depending on his body fat levels.

WP: Talking about diet, what do you eat in a normal day?

Breakfast: 1 cup of oatmeal with apple sauce
Snack 1: Cup of egg whites
Lunch: 4 oz. chicken with salsa and half a cup of brown rice
Snack 2: 40g Whey Isolate with an apple
Snack 3: 2 oz. almonds and 4 oz. chicken
Dinner: 6 oz. lean steak with 1/2 cup of sweet potato

WP: Do you allow yourself a cheat day?

Yes! I think a cheat day is good idea! Cheat days reset your metabolism, and in most cases, speeds it up because it's so immune to the deficit in calories. It will also prevent your body from turning into a catabolic state where your body relies on your hard earned muscle for fuel. I recommend 1 cheat day every 4-6 weeks depending on your condition.

WP: What supplements do you take?

Creatine - 5g pre workout
Glutamine - 5g pre/5g during/5g post
Protein Isolate - 40g during snacks and post w/o
Fish oil - 15g a day
Pre-workout - 1MR

WP: Do you have anyone you can thank for helping you get where you are?

Nothing would have ever been possible if it wasn't for my mom, Pamela, who raised me all by herself with the support of my older sister Nicole. Thank you!

Also, a shout out to my older cousin Rod; who is like a brother to me, Jean-luc and Chelsea for believing in me and what I can accomplish, all the staff at FFF and all my close friends inside and outside of work!

WP: Where do you want to be in 5 years?

In 5 years, I want to have my own training facility; doing exactly what I do today, by helping and reaching out to even more people. I’d like to have my own TV Show and I’d like to be networked with some of the top fitness and bodybuilding companies for endless opportunities.

WP: Tell me about your future projects. Have any in sight?

This year, I will be competing in the Toronto Pro Show, which qualifies me to the CBFF Canada's. I hope to do well at these shows, allowing me to continue to compete at a high level.

WP: What is your work-out regimen?

Monday-Chest
Tuesday-Legs
Wednesday-Arms
Thursday-Shoulders
Friday-Back
Saturday-Legs

WP: Have you played in sports before?

Yes! All my life! If I wasn't doing sports, I was cleaning! Ha-ha! I have done sports such as Track and Field and sprinted the 100m/200m and 4x100m relay, hockey in which I played competitive for 6 years, soccer, football, and I’ve also studies Muay Thai Kickboxing.

WP: The interview is coming to a close. Is there anything else you would like to add?

I want to thank World Physique for giving me the opportunity to do this interview and become June's “Bodybuilder of the Month”!

WP: You have been a pleasure to interview! Thank you for your time and good luck in your future bodybuilding endeavors!