Australian Daniel Remon has been in Thailand for eleven years, first working with Chiva Som and then Six Senses. With a string of qualifications in health, fitness and human science to his name, he saw a niche develop as the Spa and Wellness industry expanded.

“I had worked in Australia, Mexico and America, but recognized early on in my career that Asia was where I needed to be and where it was all happening in the kind of fitness training that interested me. The Spa industry was exploding, and I could have gone in that direction, but I saw this unique opportunity growing where I could offer fitness training, combining nutrition with stretching and muscle building, giving the whole body a thorough workout. Nobody was offering this method or approach to health, wellbeing and fitness that I know works every time.”

By introducing niche, goal oriented health concepts, Daniel developed specific goals and objectives under the Fitcorp Asia name, a Bangkok based company that today is a testimony to his own positive approach and results driven enthusiasm. Always carrying a smile, Daniel is a dedicated fitness and performance professional with more than 12 years of international experience bundled into the Fitcorp Asia philosophy.

“Over 1,000 people have gone through our programs over the past six years. We specialize in cutting edge, result oriented fitness and conditioning programs that guarantee results in the least amount of time. With a combined 40+ years of experience in all facets of the health and fitness industry, my team is dedicated to delivering the most effective education and programs with the most positive life changing experience available. The transformations and changes in lifestyles that we see as a result of our programs are rewarding for us too – it makes all the sweat and tears worthwhile” grins Daniel.

Among their award winning and industry leading fitness services, the programs and concepts in Bangkok include Fitness Boot Camps, Functional (Movement) Training, Golf Fitness, Youth Fitness, Fat loss Challenges and Corporate Health.

As innovators of personal training in the fitness industry, their unique position in Asia shows an understanding of Expat needs, the challenges faced by living in a different culture and dietary considerations. Knowing what it takes to achieve results in Asia, and especially in Bangkok, Fitcorp Asia understands the food, which makes nutrition a whole lot easier when it comes to getting in great shape.

“It begins with a personal consultation with myself or one of our trainers. Based on the clients’ goals and working schedule or daily commitments, we ensure the training is super effective, where you can achieve more in less time, so you can spend more time living your life!” says Daniel, with an energy reserve that seems endless.

Throughout his career Daniel has created programs for international health resorts, hotels, international schools and companies. In addition to his degree in exercise science and sports management, he is Thailand’s first and only certified golf fitness expert, youth fitness specialist and fitness boot camp trainer.

Within the scope of Fitcorp Asia, Daniel travels the region working with the Nick Faldo Series Asia, conducts workshops for athletic coaches on young athletes performance training and works exclusively with companies delivering powerful corporate health and performance programs. These companies include GSK, Pepsi Co, PCS among others.

To prove it, we have sent two of our most corpulent correspondents on a mission to shed the fat and tone the muscles. Over the next four months we will be following their sweat, tears and progress all the way.

Countdown to Christmas at Fitcorp Asia

For the next four months Jenny Smith and Dino Hall will share their quest to shed the fat before the festive season, and keep it off into the New Year.

The Woman’s Take

I hereby declare a war against 30+ cumulative Christmas dinners, festive celebrations and a fair amount of stuffing in between. My quest is to conquer gluttony and to look – ahem – lean by December 20^th.

Consultation

I have been assigned to a personal trainer at Fitcorp Asia who is nothing short of a 6ft 2inch Viking and looks like he belongs on the Danish Olympic team.

“What I want to do today is a little fact finding about your current state of health, hear about your vision and goals, so that we can share the same vision, and come to an agreement about the workout schedule,” beams Jacob the Viking.

Beginning with a dietary consultation, I am given a personal journal in which I am to document my five meals a day – enter obstacle number one; for the past 30+ years I have had a three-square meals a day routine. Sat with Jacob, admittedly the logic of three + square becomes blatantly silly, and I readily accept to change my ways, eat healthy snacks and drink gallons more water.

Next came the health assessment, painless beyond the embarrassment, but feeling almost like a Christmas Turkey myself, the muscle, bone structure, body fat, water and overall body composition are broken down into percentages of recommended and actual figures.  I’ll not go into those here, there is enough humour to be had elsewhere.

Thankfully Jacob has decided to spare me the 6am bootcamp sessions and recommended regular attendance for the hourly small group sessions – either morning or evening depending on my schedule and at least three times a week.

The Experience

Luckily I didn’t give Jacob my home address, otherwise I’d fear a Viking knocking at my door to keep a check on me. Wishful thinking for many girls, but for me, Jacob’s emails and phone calls are enough to stop me taking a cheeky dessert when the sweet tooth fights back. He is clearly on my case with this and isn’t going to give me any chance of escape.

Five meals a day isn’t easy! Reduced portions, planned snacks, only food on the recommended A + B lists is all good, but that 4pm snack plus all the water I am drinking means I am just not hungry until 8pm…and that’s too late for the evening meal when on a weight loss program. The Viking trainer and I have come to a compromise; four meals for now – bringing a certain logic to the square meals concept that I can get my head around.

Small Group Sessions

My introduction to this hour of hell was with trainer Richard. Forty-minutes into the session Richard announced the first official water break, but of course we were all ¾ of a way through a bottle by that stage. After 55 minutes one lady was literally clinging to the mirrored wall while the rest of us stood with a frozen stare wondering how we were going to move just one more muscle.

As the newbie in the group, I gave myself a pat of the back for holding my own. The other five members were anywhere between two and five months into their training and said “it gets addictive after a while”.

I found this hard to believe after my first session, and the next day all the aches and pains resulting from an ascent on Mount Kinabalu were recalled. With only two days to recover before the next session, the war on Christmas Turkey already seemed a little harsh. After the second session I was convinced the trainers had watched Bridge Over the River Kwai one too many times when designing the exercise regimes and my bottom felt an affinity with a football after it had been kicked around a pitch for ninety minutes.

Three weeks into living life the Fitcorp Asia way and the training weights I use are two kilos heavier than in the beginning. The clothes are already hanging looser, my metabolism has increased and while I am not yet addicted to kettlebells, I realize it’s all coming together better than I had anticipated!

Bring it on!

Published by Traversing The Orient Magazine. You want to make an online travel business? Please go to www.web.com.

Fitcorp Asia – Results Driven Fitness