Chris McVay. 49, competes across the globe as a bodybuilder and now wants to help people on their fitness journey
Chris McVay has launched a new specialist coaching service(Image: handout)
A North East bodybuilder hopes to help others on their fitness journey by launching a specialised, tailored coaching service. Chris McVay, 49, who lives near Newcastle, is targeting busy, mature professionals who demand a high-quality, discreet, and empathetic approach to health and fitness.
The service differentiates itself by prioritising the lived experience of the coach – Chris is a competitive athlete who also juggles running two businesses and raising a family. Chris’s philosophy stems from a realisation that many high-volume online coaches or younger, less experienced trainers may struggle to connect with clients who have complex professional and personal lives.
“My clients are of a certain age; they are successful, dedicated, and they want a mature, more relatable experience – someone who has lived a little and understands the challenges of modern life as a business owner, parent,” says Chris. “They want a coach who understands the stress of a 12-hour workday, the difficulty of a school run, and the need for a solution that fits their life, not the other way around.”
“Some of my clients have struggled to access my kind of approach. It’s not easy – the fitness market is extremely congested. It can be quite confusing – I keep it simple – I will work with you directly, drawing on years of dedicated experience.”
With over 30 years of personal strength training experience and a history of competing as a bodybuilder successfully at a global level – including a second place finish at the World Championships two years ago – Chris offers a unique level of credibility. He also recently finished fourth out of 12 in his height category at the Euro Masters over-45s – an impressive result against athletes from across Europe.
Chris said: “I only started competing about three years ago, so I came into the competitive scene quite late. It wasn’t something I initially planned, but a few friends and colleagues pointed out that, despite having children and running two businesses, I still managed to maintain a very healthy lifestyle.
“That made me look at things differently, and since then I’ve made real progress. The response has been really positive. The competitions matter because my clients can see that I take this seriously. I’m willing to put in the hours and the dedication around training and diet.
“I know it’s extreme in terms of diet and commitment — and it’s not something I expect from my clients — but I feel it’s important to lead from the front and show what’s possible. I want them to see that I’ve committed to a process and seen it through. I’d never ask a client to do something I’m not prepared to do myself.”
By offering a time-served, relatable perspective, Chris is setting a new standard for adult-focused personal training, proving that dedication to fitness and a demanding professional life are not mutually exclusive.
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