Lakyle Thomas – Male Fitness Model Statistics
- Name: Lakyle Thomas
- Height: 6’0″
- Weight: 175 pounds
- Date of Birth: 7-12-1985
- Hair Color: Black
- Eye Color: Brown
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Website: Facebook.com/lakyle1
Lakyle Thomas – Male Fitness Model Interview
What is your background?
I am a former high school and college football player of Tri Cities high school and Fort Valley College. I’ve become a model and actor and most recently a personal trainer. I continued the same fitness regimen that I had from college and incorporated a few new exercise techniques to fit my current fitness goals and body type. It was in 2008, that I decided to branch off from football and venture into the modeling world and use my physique to my advantage. I began modeling in shows and appearing on sitcoms and commercials. In doing so, more people started to take notice and solicit my advice on staying fit. I began thinking this too could be a notch under my belt and an opportunity to educate others on health and fitness. As a personal trainer, the number one thing I like best about being into fitness is the internal feeling I get from working out as well as seeing the smiles on my client’s faces after helping them reach their fitness goals. It makes me feel good about what I do as well as encourages me to continue to take care of my own body. It’s not just about the outer appearance, it’s also about the inner and emotional results that a good workout plan offers.
How did you get started in the fitness field?
I have always worked out during my high school and college football career. After I stopped playing football, I decided to take my physical appearance and venture into the world of modeling and fitness training. Being that I was my own walking fitness billboard, it became easier to get booked for fitness modeling gigs and castings, as well as obtain new clients to train.
What is the #1 thing you like best about being into fitness?
The level of energy I feel, as well as the emotional and physical results I get. Staying fit allows me to feel, sleep and look better; and when I’m engaging in any activity my endurance level is a lot higher, and I don’t feel as out of breath.
What has been your biggest accomplishment in the fitness field?
Helping others to reach their weight loss goals and providing them with an overall healthy lifestyle.
What is the best way to get started in the fitness modeling industry? Should I just contact the photographers directly or should I use an agency?
First, you should start by getting a trainer to get your body in fitness shape. Contact professional photographers to get a portfolio done with a variety of looks. For extra guidance, it’s also a good idea to seek a personal manager to help present your work to an agency, and assist with handling contracts, etc. It’s also a good idea to get a publicist to help create media exposure and visibility opportunities for you.
Please describe a typical day for you. What is your daily routine like?
At 7:30 am I go on a two mile run. Then I go to work, scheduled castings, photo shoots and then I’m back in the gym again, working out and training clients from 6:30 pm to 8:30 PM
I don’t have that much time during the day to workout, so I really want to burn major calories in a short amount of time. What is the #1 “bang for the buck” cardio exercise I should do to burn serious calories?
Super sets are the best exercise for people with little time. For example: 15 push-ups, 20 sit-ups and 20 free hand squats. Repeat 3 times, from 3 to 5 days a week. By following these steps, it will help you burn calories quick, in just 20 minutes a day.
How much weight (pounds) should I focus on losing every week? What is a safe amount to make sure I keep it off?
It depends on the weight goal you are trying to reach. Normally 2 to 3 pounds a week is a good amount until you reach your goal. However, it’s important to maintain a healthy diet, while incorporating an exercise regimen.
What type of food or supplements should I take before and after my workouts to help me see results in gaining lean muscle and losing fat?
Make sure you drink plenty of water though out the day. Eat something light before your workout. After your workout, focus on foods like chicken salads (grilled) with light dressing, baked chicken or steak for protein and vegetables or brown rice for your sides. Ideally, to keep your metabolism increasing it’s best to eat at least 5 times a day (3 meals and 2 snacks).
How do you deal with cravings for junk foods, sweets and salty food? I can stay on a diet for maybe a few weeks but I eventually get really bad cravings and binge on snacks and fast foods.
Replace junk food with healthy snacks like nuts, berries and fruits with natural sugars. This way you can still feed your cravings but it will be with something healthier for your body.
I’m trying to create a healthy shopping list to stick with. What are some of the main foods I should include to maintain a lean and muscular physique?
Spinach salad, fresh fruit, avocado (no canned fruit), chicken breast or ground turkey, water, raw vegetables (asparagus, kale, green beans), light dressing, skim milk or 1% milk, and low-fat Greek yogurt.
I’m about 35 pounds overweight. I have never started an exercise program and really don’t know where to start. What tips can you give me to get started on the right track?
Join your local gym and start by walking on the treadmill and doing light sets on the exercise equipment. After a few weeks your body will become conditioned and then you can increase your workouts. Slowly but surely you will start to see results.
I tend to eat out most of the time and really don’t know what healthy foods to order from the menu. What tips do you recommend for eating out at restaurants to make sure my diet will not suffer?
Don’t order anything fried or cooked with a lot of grease. Try choosing grilled chicken or fish, salad or a turkey or chicken club sandwich made with whole wheat bread.
What exercises do you recommend for getting a bigger, rounder and fuller butt?
Squats and leg press are amazing for building a big round butt.
What is the most challenging thing you deal with about consistently staying in top shape?
Eating a midnight snack, since it’s hard not to do sometimes. So instead of eating junk food I replace it by eating healthy foods like almonds and drinking water.
Please describe your normal diet. What do you eat in a typical day to stay in shape?
- Breakfast: Protein shake with fruit in it.
- Mid-Morning Snack: Bowl of oatmeal and fruit (preferably grapes, or strawberries).
- Lunch: Grilled steak or chicken with asparagus or steamed green beans.
- Mid-Afternoon Snack: Apple or orange.
- Dinner: Baked tilapia with a spinach salad topped with light dressing.
What type of exercises do you include in your routine to stay in shape?
- Strength Training Exercises: Push-ups, pull-ups, squats and sit-ups.
- Cardio Exercises: Biking, running, tennis, basketball and handball.
What are the top 5 tips (specific exercises, diet advice, etc) you recommend for developing toned and defined arms?
1. Drink a gallon of water a day.
2. Eat lean meats for protein (chicken breast and lean beef).
3. Incline press.
4. Bench press.
5. Arm curls.
What are your top 5 tips for losing unwanted body fat?
1. Running and speed walking.
2. Jumping rope.
3. Stairmaster.
4. Sit-ups.
5. Incorporate at least 25 grams of fiber in your diet. This will decrease your appetite as well as keep your digestive system healthy and regular.
What are your top 5 tips for gaining lean muscle mass?
1. Eat protein with every meal.
2. Drink water.
3. Bench press.
4. Squats.
5. Curls.
What are the top 5 tips you recommend for staying motivated on a fitness plan and truly making a healthy lifestyle change?
1. Find a workout partner to train with.
2. Set a workout time that fits easily into your day.
3. Weigh yourself once a week to see how much you have improved.
4. Mark your calendar every time you lose more pounds until you hit your weight loss goal.
5. Eat healthy foods even on the days you don’t workout.
What is your training routine like? (Please include a few details – training split, sets/reps, exercises, types of cardio, etc.)
Monday: Chest Day
- Bench Press (4 sets of 10 reps)
- Dumbbell Press (4 sets of 10 reps)
- Dumbbell Flys (3 sets of 15 reps)
- Cable Crossovers (4 sets of 10 reps)
- Seated Chest Press (4 sets of 10, 8, 6, 4 reps)
Tuesday: Leg Day
- Squats (4 sets of 10, 8, 6, 4 reps)
- Leg Lunges (4 sets of 10 reps per leg)
- Leg Press (4 sets of 10, 8, 6, 4 reps)
- Lying Leg Curls (4 sets of 10 reps)
- Leg Extensions (4 sets of 10 reps)
Wednesday: Cardio & Back Day
- 4 Mile Run and 30 min on Stairmaster
- Dumbbell Row (4 sets of 10 reps)
- Romanian Dead Lifts (5 sets of 5 reps)
- Upright Rows (4 sets of 10, 8, 6, 4 reps)
Thursday: Arm Day
- Bicep Curls (4 sets of 10 reps)
- Barbell Preacher Curls (3 sets of 10 reps)
- Tricep Extensions (2 sets of 20 reps)
- Close Grip Bench (4 sets of 10, 8, 6, 4 reps)
Friday: Leg Day
- Squats (4 sets of 10, 8, 6, 4 reps)
- Leg Lunges (4 sets of 10 reps per leg)
- Leg Press (4 sets of 10, 8, 6, 4 reps)
- Lying Leg Curls (4 sets of 10 reps)
- Leg Extensions (4 sets of 10 reps)
Saturday: Rest day
Sunday: Rest day
What are the top 5 tips (specific exercises, diet advice, etc) you recommend for losing fat around the stomach and developing a toned and defined midsection?
1. Sit-ups.
2. Crossover crunches.
3. Ab crunches.
4. Flutter kicks.
5. Heel touches.
What are the top 5 tips (specific exercises, diet advice, etc) you recommend for toning the thighs, hips and butt?
1. Leg press.
2. Squats.
3. Jump roping.
4. Running at least 1 mile on the treadmill.
5. Lunges with dumbbells.
