2) What is your biggest accomplishment in sports and in life?
Up until now, the biggest professional accomplishment was winning 4 times the #1 Best Personal Trainer in the World and US, 22 times #1 in Texas, 29 times #1 in Houston for Bally’s Total Fitness. Men’s Journal voted me top 100 fitness experts in America and Top 10 in weight loss and martial arts in United States. But my biggest accomplishments are yet to come, because I aspire to change the world in health and fitness.
3) What one or two things do you currently do in your training that is keys to your success?
The Resync Method I developed, using the body’s own resistance to achieve results. The risk of injury is between 200-300% less and the results are 30-40% faster.
4) What would you say is your ultimate achievement?
My ultimate achievement is yet to come. I would like to educate people around the world in health and fitness and to succeed in that.
5) How do you set your goals? Where do you see yourself in 5 and 10 years?
In 5 to 10 years, I see my method being spread around the world because it is convenient, effective and very different from training methods that are popular today.
6) What is your biggest challenge, and what did you do to manage this challenge?
My biggest challenge was the perception of how fitness professionals are viewed by the average person. The average person expects a fitness expert to look like a professional body builder. This is a very unhealthy view of what the body should actually look like when it is healthy and fit. I overcame it by broadcasting my views in my seminars, tv, radio, and print media that a fitness and health professional should be educated, taken seriously, and promote a body type that can only be achieved through natural means, with training and proper nutrition.
7) What is your daily training and diet?
I personally exercise 2 – 2.5 hours a day, 5 days a week. I do not believe in a structured diet, but I follow my healthy nutritional guidelines by eating more nature – made food and less processed foods: I eat grilled meat and vegetable, I avoid fried foods; I avoid processed/ simple sugars, and focus more on complex carbohydrates, lean meats, lots of fruits and vegetables, organic when possible. I eat 5-6 small meals a day, drink 1 gallon of water a day. I maintain a positive attitude in my life.
8) What is 1-2 things do you believe differentiates you from your contemporaries who have tailed off in their athletic participation and abilities?
I view fitness and health as a lifestyle that I intend on maintaining for the rest of my life. I have been in sports all my life, and it is what fulfills me. I want to spread the news that with a healthy lifestyle, including fitness and nutrition, we can avoid, manage, or control 75% of existing illnesses. That message drives me!
9) Do you have any recommended resources to share (books, seminars, websites, and coaches)?
Every magazine, tv station, and newspaper have a section devoted to educating the masses on being healthy. We should be open-minded to the 21st century health and fitness resolution that is coming. There has never been more available information than right now on educating oneself to be healthy and fit. Anything anyone does to educate themselves, whether it be on the internet, a book, or a trainer, is a step in the right direction to bettering themselves.
10) Have you experienced a breakthrough, and if so, what led to it?
Yes, when I actually realized that people with a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition can cut their medication by 75%, and some completely. The happiness on their faces when they achieve their goal of becoming happier, healthier, and more fulfilled. 2 months ago, my own father had a blockage in his artery. I put him on an exercise and food regimen that led to him losing 25 lbs and avoiding major surgery. This breakthrough made me realize that this is what I want to be fighting for, and the message I want to be spreading.
11) What was the best advice you were ever given?
Never say never! Anything is possible.
12) Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?
I live my life by working hard, as if I were to live forever. I enjoy my life and maintain my positive attitude to the fullest, in any given moment.
13) Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Several things inpire me on a day-to-day basis:
When I see elderly people being active, maintaining a joy for life, and still having dreams.
When I see a young person being a great student, listening to their parents, and being a positive change in their generation.
When I see parents educating their children in making healthy choices and being a constructive part of society, so that each generation improves on the last.
14) Do you ever plan to retire?
Knowing my personality, I intend on spreading my message forever.
15) Anything else you’d like to share?
I would like for more athletes to be positive role models to children and society in general. I would hope that athletes and politicians assume their responsibilities as role models and become more conscious of their decisions and how they affect other people’s lives.
16) What Certifications do you have?
Fitness Trainer Certification AAAI/ISMA
Master Fitness Trainer Certification AAAI/ISMA
BTF Master Trainer Certificate
Master Trainer Bally’s/NASM
And Many others…
17) How do you keep your fitness knowledge up to date?
I am in touch with major universities across America and the world that do major research on the human body and fitness. I continuously read to educate myself and have performed my own controlled studies to develop my methods.
18) Why do you want to be a personal trainer?
An educated fitness expert with a natural philosophy can change a person’s health, life, and mindset more than one could imagine. Over my career, I educated several hundred trainers for Bally’s Total Fitness, and my own company, and I found that very fulfilling by being able to directly and indirectly change someone’s life for the better.
19) What is your personal experience with fitness and working out?
I was a martial arts athlete my entire life, and then became a fitness expert through my training experiences and professional accomplishments.
20) Are your certified internationally?
Yes
21) How do you find new clients to train?
My clients recommend me to other clients.
22) Why should I work out with a personal trainer?
Because an educated personal trainer, with a natural philosophy can improve your health, make you live longer, and feel more alive. They should help you maintain a positive and healthy outlook on life, so a happier, healthier society can be created.
23) What about any recent business ventures? and for the future ventures that you are planning
My recent business venture is being part of a national tv show, The Perfect Gentleman. I plan on writing my second book and becoming active in media to promote healthy lifestyle.
24) How did u first got started in the business?
Being an athlete was my first taste of the business. Later when I moved to the US, it became my career because it was my passion. There is nothing I would rather do than this.
25) Do u have any currents projects you working on?
I am trying to improve myself on a daily basis, which is a constant, lifelong project.
26) What is your favorite pastimes?
Reading, spending time with my beautiful wife Dijana Handanovic, who is also a master trainer, listening to classical music, & enjoying nice cars.
27) What do like to do?
I like to travel, be active in charities; I support Kick Start Kids Program with Chuck Norris and the International Empowerment Foundation by Dr. Deavra Daughtry.
28) What are your personal believes? In Diversity of Houston and the everyday citizens.
I love Houston’s diversity, I think the more diverse we are, the more culturally rich we are. The future belongs to the world where all cultures and ethnic backgrounds can intertwine and create a stronger society, morally and intellectually.
29) Years as a Personal trainer?
16 years as a fitness personal trainer and 20 years as a martial arts trainer
30) Have you ever participated in any sports?
Wu-Shu, Sanda, Kick Boxing, Boxing.
31) Is there any other information you would like to share?
250 million Americans don’t have a healthy lifestyle, and that is my biggest concern. Right now, America is the most overweight nation in the world with a rate of 31% people being obese. They say in 2015 75% of American’s will be obese. 360 000 Americans die every year from being obese and not having a healthy lifestyle. I say this needs to be stopped, America is the greatest nation in the world and should be the healthiest as well, given all the resources and possibilities available here. We are leaders in the world when it comes to democracy, military, and individual freedoms, there is no excuse to not be leaders in healthy lifestyle. I say that by 2015, we should be the fittest nation in the world, and we will be! America wake up, it’s time to be fit and healthy! This is the perfect opportunity, with the start of the new year 2011, to upkeep the health resolutions. Remember, a new years resolution is every day when you wake up.
As Originally Published in Undefeated Magazine
