1) Who is Elliot Simmonds? (where are you from, what do you do, a bit about yourself (hobbies, etc)
I'm originally from Worcester, England but I moved to Abu Dhabi in August 2014 to be one of the head coaches at Crossfit Yas.
2) How many years have you been training?
I started Crossfit "officially" in September 2013 and before that I played rugby. Growing up my main sport was squash, however I quit when I started my GCSEs to focus on getting through school and into university. This is when my focus shifted to rugby. I quit rugby in my second year at university and 'bodybuilding' wasn't doing it for me so after talking to my mum, who has been doing crossfit since 2009, I tried out Crossfit Cardiff and got hooked straight away.
3) Whats been the most challenging/hardest part of your journey so far? and how have you overcome them (set backs, rejections, injuries, basically anything difficult that you have had to overcome)
In 2014 I picked up a pretty bad injury that went on for just over a year. I saw doctors, physios and tried pretty much everything to no avail. I was pretty much accepting that I was going to quit to focus on coaching when I was recommended to my now Coach James Jowsey. He told me that I was in a pretty bad way and that I would need to put in a lot of time if I was to improve. I found it hard to trust anyone at the time after a year of bad advice and no improvements but he was my last resort. After feeling slight improvements almost instantly we discussed a time frame to get back into full training and I have gone from strength to strength since then.
4) What does your typical workout/diet routine look like?
It depends on the time of the season. Right now the volume has ramped up in preparations for the Regionals and Games. With training increasing in volume this means I have to be smarter with my nutrition. Luckily I have a great guy in London who tells me everything I need to eat and the support of a great company here in the UAE that delivers all of my food for me.
5) What new knowledge have you learned over this past year regarding training, lifestyle and nutrition?
To be the best you can be you have to learn more about yourself and what works for you every day. Thats how you keep improving. There's no secret pill or general piece of knowledge that I have learned but more to surround yourself with good people and trust both them and yourself.
6) Whats your favourite cheat/Treat meal?
I love food. So hard to choose one favourite. I would say top 3 are: 1) burger, sweet potato fries and a milkshake. 2) Curry with rice and naan bread. 3) Breakfast cereal - the bad ones.
7) Whats one supplement that you could not live without?
Luckily I'm not over dependent on supplements and I cycle which ones I do take throughout the year depending on the training block. However if I had to choose it would probably be vitamin c. Even if I didn't exercise I think I would continue to take it.
8) If you had to start your Journey from scratch with your health & physique what would you do differently and why?
I wouldn't change a thing because it might impact where I am now. I have thought about this to myself many times and every time I do I consider all of the other potential routes I may have taken. For example not meeting my beautiful other half Jamie.
9) Who do you look upto in the fitness industry and why?
Arnold. MJ. Froning. The greats. They all have this common relentless drive that you can't help but respect.
10) If you had to give one bit of advice to people starting out what would that be?
Go and find a box that suits your personality and spend at least 6 months going to classes. That is how I and most athletes started and fell in love with it.
11) What new goals do you have on the horizon?
2018 Crossfit Regionals Top 4
2018 Crossfit Games Top 15
12) Where can people find you? (website, social media accounts)
@ellsimmo93 on instagram
