Interview: Dylan Hickey

Today we will be interviewing the personal trainer and fitness model Dylan Hickey. Dylan Is most notable for his success in providing fitness transformations. Dylan’s online web presence is growing exponentially and he is developing into one of the most fierce online trainers. Big things are expected to be coming from Dylan in the future.

1. Furiously Fit: Dylan your personal fitness training success has taken off lately, how do you find time to workout with your busy schedule?

It’s difficult sometimes but it’s always possible. Weather its going for a 10 minute run on your break, or doing a quick 5 minute ab workout before bed… it all counts.  The most challenging part is overcoming the mental barrier that I am too tired, or too busy- once I overcome that the physical aspect is less challenging.

2.Furiously Fit: Many people believe abs are made in the kitchen , what are your thoughts on that?

Belly fat is made in the kitchen too!  The key is to properly fulfill your bodies demands after you’ve depleted nutrients from an exhausting workout. Nutrition is such a huge factor for instance; a guy that eats extremely well and works out lightly could get a washboard. Another guy could bust himself in the gym, eat very poorly and not develop a strong core. Instead of saying you are what you eat, I’d say you are what you train to be Look at it this way;

3.Furiously Fit: What are some of the barriers you had to achieve your current fitness level?

There’s this hot apple crumble piled with ice-cream at Whitespot… I swear I could eat a dozen of them.

But aside from that – I have suffered relentless injury. I tore my MCL 3 times, twice in soccer and once at a physical training session for basketball, I also broke my ankle somewhere in that period of time. This happened over 2 years and I spent half of it on crutches. I could practically use my crutches like pogo sticks- I had them for so long they felt like another attachment of my body! Mentally not playing sports or working out ate me alive. I felt my muscles atrophy and body weaken. I remember dragging my self to the gym in the winter hobbling over ice in the parking lot, hopping around in the gym to grab dumbbells-I’m not the type of guy to sit on a couch and mentally decay. I busted my ass on crutches working upper body just as hard as I normally would.

4.Furiously Fit: Do you ever have days when you don’t feel like working out? What do you tell yourself to get through it?

Absolutely, there are days where I wake up completely sore and feeling like I got ran over. I tell myself to man up,I have a cold shower. If I’m feeling really taxed I’ll still do light cardio, such as swimming, running, or boxing.

5.Furiously Fit: How many calories do you eat a day?

Who counts calories? I eat when my body tells me to.

6.Furiously Fit: How do you stay sub 8% body fat all year around?

You keep yourself moving all the time, sports are a huge factor. I always switch it up- soccer, rock-climbing, tennis, snowboarding, swimming, and drumming. Hobbies like this plus weight training and working on flexibility keeps my fitness consistent.

7.Furiously Fit: What is your favorite quote?

“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure… life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”

8.Furiously Fit: Is there a situation which fitness has changed or saved your life?

It was a really foggy day and I was snowmobiling by myself in the woods in Newfoundland. The fog blinded my vision and depth perception and I landed myself in a pitt! It began to snow 5 minutes before I got stuck to make matters worse. The nose of the snowmobile was buried in the snow. I realized the only way to get it out was to stand side ways lift up the handle bars while gassing the throttle. My upper body strength failed, my hands were cold and I was losing hope. I had no cell phone and the snow was coming down hard and snowing over my tracks to lead me back to the cabin. I spent 45 minutes with all my energy pulling and throttling, even reversing- I wanted to give up. There was a tree on the left and I braced both feet on it,  stacking them one above the other I used my legs to push up while pulling hard. I was able to lift the nose out. It took me 2 hours to find my way back to the cabin after that because by that time the snow covered my tracks. I was starving and had frostbite in my fingers and wrists. Since I have realized real power comes from the legs!

9.Furiously Fit: What is your favorite supplement?

Barely green. It tastes gross but my Aunt told me when I was younger that it makes you strong. Iv been taking it off and on for years.

10.Furiously Fit: Who has inspired you growing up?

My older cousins, Jonathon and Nathan. These two guys filled the role of my older brothers. Growing up they loved to beat on me relentlessly, don’t get me wrong I usually started it but it was always me who suffered. Being 5 years older than me their strength power and speed came crashing down on me. I looked up to them as being invincible. They helped toughen me up to a huge degree. When your matched up with someone stronger than you, your given nothing but the desire to improve.

11.Furiously Fit: What is your favorite meal/ favorite exercise?

Favourite food: Lamb Souvalki. Mmm.

Favourite exercise; Wall walkout -plank with straight arms, with your feet on the walk. Walk your hands towards the wall while walking your feet up, until your in a handstand. Sick huh!

12.Furiously Fit: Give us an example of what your workout week looks like.

Day 1 Powerlifting
Day 2 Stability/core training
Day 3 Cardio/swimming/or boxing
Day 4 Fullbody Compound workout
Day 5 Rest/stretch
Day 6 Upperbody weight training
Day 7 Lower body weight training

There’s no real structure, usually I’ll wake up and choose what I feel like among these. I love to switch it up.