Portuguese scientist, Lewis Candeias, retrains as personal trainer

A Portuguese man has embarked on a new and exciting career after quitting his job as a scientist. Lewis Candeias from Flanders in Belgium qualified as a personal trainer with Bristol-based Lifetime Training and now earns a living improving the lives of busy professionals.

Lewis used to work as a research scientist and his scientific career took him from Portugal to Germany, the UK, Japan and the Netherlands. Scientific research was really exciting for Lewis but as he progressed he found himself spending more time stuck in front of a computer worrying about research grants and administration than about science.

"A few years ago, and already on the wrong side of 40, I decided to quit research in search for a more rewarding career," Lewis explains. "I had been into sports and fitness on and off, so I decided to try it as a job."

Whilst his wife's job had taken them back to the UK, Lewis undertook a level 1 Gym Instructor distance learning course which required him to study in London for a few days for the practical part and the exams. Lewis then joined as a helper at the gym of a local leisure centre, operated by Leisure Connection, and it wasn't long until he earned himself a full-time position as a gym instructor at the nearby Great Dunmow Leisure Centre.

"My first full-time job was fantastic and I was soon promoted to fitness manager. Running a gym in a friendly, small community gave me a sense of making a difference to people's lives that I would have never got as a scientist. Leading a team of gym instructors, group training instructors and personal trainers was also a great experience."

During his time at Leisure Connection, Lewis studied for the Advanced Instructor Award with leading training provider, Lifetime, where he was required to attend an intensive course at the Lilleshall Sport England Centre in Shropshire. A dozen of level 2 instructors were put through intensive training, both practical and theoretical.

"The Lifetime tutors were very knowledgeable, excellent communicators and always ready to help. We could always contact the tutors by phone or email whenever we needed support on any aspect of the course. The case studies pack was very well organised and guided us through the steps of preparing and submitting a case study."

It was again Lewis' wife's change of job that prompted the next move back to Belgium this time. It meant Lewis had the opportunity to increase his skills base and work as a freelance personal trainer. Having qualified as an advanced instructor in the UK, Lewis studied two more modules - Nutrition and Weight Management, and Business Skills - so he could qualify as a personal trainer.

"Both were done by distance learning, evaluated by a case study plus a theoretical exam for the nutrition module, which only involved a half day trip to London. I started these modules when working in the UK and finished my case studies while setting up my business, BeFitter.be, in Belgium. Despite being overseas, I never had any difficulty contacting Lifetime and getting the support I needed."

Lewis is a firm believer in having the right qualifications. Since leaving his job has a scientist, he has successfully earned level 2 and level 3 instructor qualifications as well as GP Referrals and Chronic Lower Back Pain which led him to qualify as a personal trainer.

"Once I qualified with Lifetime, my plan was to build-up slowly, targeting the expatriate community. Instead, I found that personal training is pretty much in its early stages in Belgium and people have a real appetite for it. I immediately got a client base, mostly Belgians, sufficient to keep me busy and provide enough income to keep going."

Most of Lewis' clients prefer to train outdoors, so he visits their workplace and trains with them during their lunch break or after work. Lewis also has a good relationship with a local gym where he often takes his clients to exercise.

"At 44, I consider myself very lucky to have a job that keeps me active and in contact with a variety of people. My business is still developing, but I keep in mind my initial plan to market my services mainly to busy professionals. Although I speak some Dutch, my image is based on the English language and health and fitness services by the high UK standards. I make a point of remaining on the UK Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs)."

"I found that unlike in the UK, people think of doing sport rather that keeping fit. My message to most clients is: 'You don't have to be an athlete. Forget about being a runner, a cyclist, or whatever. Be fit, healthy and have fun!'"

For more information on Lewis Candeias visit www.befitter.be