OC Fitness: Here it is the wonderful Kelly Dessington, South African trainer and athlete!

Let me introduce one of the finest trainers in South Africa... Kelly Dessington! Not only is she a great trainer but she's also STRONG! She holds 3 South African records for powerlifting... not something you would say she does by her looks. As the saying goes... 'STRONG IS SEXY'!

Can you give us a bit of background about you and your business?

I returned to South Africa 2,5 years ago after 7 years abroad to be closer to my family and pursue a lifestyle that I missed when I was in London. I was a late starter as far as my athletic career goes; I only started training at the age of 26, but it very quickly became not only a lifestyle but something I was passionate about. After about a year in South Africa, we recognized a gap for the type of facility that was very popular in the UK but which hadn’t really taken off here as yet; something that offered a very personalized service, dealt with all aspects of wellness and not just training. So in February last year I completed my level 1 & 2 PICP certifications and started my new career as a gym owner and coach.

What’s your inspiration for doing what you do?

I’m inspired by the people I work with on a daily basis, the ones that show up for every training session, that show commitment and drive to achieve their goals, and the changes I see in them. Obviously the physical changes because that’s my ‘job’, but to see people’s confidence grow is hugely rewarding.

How did you get into it?

I spent years working in the corporate world, with my passion for strength training being something I did on the side, lunch hour.. after work.. but the more I learned and progressed in my own training, the more people would ask for advice and help with their training and nutrition and the more I helped others I realized how much I enjoyed helping people improve the quality of their lives with the tools I used myself.

What’s the most important factor in your own development as a professional?

To keep learning; continuous research and new developments mean what we do is ever evolving and it’s important to stay ahead so that what I offer my clients is the best service possible, but also to keep focus on the basics, the methods that have been around forever, that have been proven to work.

Who is your clientele?

I work with various client types; I see a couple of students/athletes whose focus is primarily strength and conditioning, but the majority of my clients are those wanting to change their bodies.

How do assess your client’s needs?

Understanding the clients goals is always the first step. Initial assessments include body fat measurements, nutrition consultations and programming.

Where do you go from there?

We do some work! Everyone is different and the best way to figure out what makes them tick is to throw them into a workout and make them sweat.

Do you deal with all aspects of your clients? Nutrition, Training, Psychological?

Yes, they are intrinsically linked and you can rarely make progress in one without addressing the other.

What do you say to clients/athletes who aren’t making progress as quickly as they would expect?

I always try to set realistic expectations from the start, but without dampening enthusiasm. Encouragement and honesty usually go a long way. For someone who isn’t training hard or following the nutrition protocols it’s as simple as making them understand that. Sometimes it’s easy to fool ourselves into thinking we’re doing 90% when in actual fact it’s only 60% so for a lot of people, it’s making them realize the difference. For someone who is doing 100% and is still not making progress, there is usually an underlying problem in which case I’d advise for blood tests. This really is the exception though as the majority of clients see significant changes with training, healthy diet and supplements.

What do you think is the biggest mistake females make generally when training?

Women are still shying away from lifting heavy weights and strength training in exchange for hours spent doing traditional cardio.

Who are your favorite top 5 experts in fitness and strength in the world?

There are so many experts that specialize in different areas that I can honestly say I don’t have a top 5… if anyone has influenced my training styles and knowledge it’s the coaches I’ve had the pleasure of working with, the ones I’ve trained with or been trained by, that have programmed for me, and shared their knowledge and experience.

What are your top 5 nutrition tips for females looking for a lean physique?

Drink more water, eat more protein, eat more good fats, eat more vegetables, don’t replace one bad thing with another because it’s the lesser of the two evils… learn to do without it!

Your favorite 5 exercises?

Chin ups, Deadlifts, Squats, GHR’s, Power cleans

What’s your training split at the moment?

I’ve just started a hypertrophy phase; 4dpw with 2 upper and 2 lower days.

Kelly hitting an 88kg chin up!

What’s your go to program, the one that you really look forward to programming into your year?

Strength –whenever I’m working with 5RM’s or less.

Top 5 tips for ensuring results?

Show up, work hard, eat well, be consistent.

What is the personal training scene like in SA?

Probably about 10 years behind the UK and US and still commercial gym based where you can pretty much do a weekend course and become a personal trainer, but we are starting to see a movement towards more personalized ‘lifestyle’ services