Get to know our entrepreneurial Co-Founder, Trent Scanlen

Thanks for catching up with me, Trent. Firstly, how do you start your day?

I would like to say I do 5 minutes of Yoga each day, but in reality, it happens only 2-3 days per week. I train BJJ so often spend my first few minutes of the morning hobbling to the kitchen for water and black coffee. I then fast each day until 2 pm (my current food plan is intermittent fasting 16-20 hours, 5-7 days per week).

Do you miss Australia? Do you find it harder to be healthy living in a colder climate country (after coming from healthy Australia)?

I definitely miss home. I grew up on the beaches of Wollongong and miss the surf, the sounds and the presence of the Pacific Ocean. However, London has a deep history, cosmopolitan life, and some of the most interesting people in the world.

The UK winters certainly test your fitness discipline, but that’s just another variable to overcome.

Have you always been into martial arts? If not, what got you there?

I did Judo as a kid, but surfing and Rugby League dominated my sporting life. I always respected Martial Arts and it is now a central part of my life. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) has intrigued me on every level, and I will devote the rest of my physical life to getting better at that.

Did this inspire you to open your gym, Elevate, in London?

My 9-year-old son was the main driver, I wanted to help him develop physical life skills and be influenced by the principles of Martial Arts.

I had a few years of obesity in my previous corporate life – travelling the world, eating and drinking in the best restaurants in the world. I never want to relive that lapse in health priority. So I started a Martial Arts gym, this ensures I will train most days and have developed my social circle around my training partners. 

Most people join a gym in January to get fit, I went further and created my own to ensure I can train with pro- athletes and continue to progress in BJJ. Some say that’s extreme. Maybe – but it is working!

What is your favourite part of owning a gym?

The people. I get to see people at the start of a transformative change in their life. We have created an intense class schedule with trainers that demand performance, so if people stay with us, they get incredible results.

What has helped you the most in your health journey?

My health journey has been an interesting cycle...

#1  0-16 years 

Dominated by clean food, deep sleep, Rugby and surfing.

#2 16-25  

Alcohol enters and makes an impact, especially at University, early-career pressure and moving to UK worsened my diet and fitness.

#3 25-34  

Career was the sole focus, poor food choices and zero exercise ballooned my weight to over 100kg for a couple of fo years. Success was on my business card, not in the mirror.

#4 34-43

I found Martial Arts, then got Cancer. So the current period contained a roller coaster of finding my fitness and diet again, but a year of Cancer treatment for Lymphoma put the rest of my life in perspective. I then started competing in BJJ and have devoted my physical life to getting better every day.

What are your favourite healthy foods?

Curcumin (of course I would say that), I have taken lots of this every day since Dr Harry and I started to research it. I have been able to drop all the painkillers and believe its properties will become very widely known imminently.

We hear you just recently got married! Is your wife also health-conscious? 

She provides the dietary discipline in my moments of weakness, she trains a lot too so we work well together in our quest for physical strength, endurance and mental happiness.

How about your young son? Do you find it hard getting him to enjoy healthy foods? Any tips for our customers who are parents?

My boy is a very fussy eater, luckily he loves the taste of our Shield blend in Greek yoghurt and our Vitamin D3 spray. Kids have an incredible endocrine system full of Growth Hormone, so as long as he trains hard in Martial Arts and football, the diet isn’t as important.

How important is sleep and recovery for you?

Extremely important.

Sleep – Matthew Walker has changed the world, I aim to get 8 hours, but with our incredible business growth, this is a challenge. 10-minute Meditation is a huge help for me to get energy after a tough night sleep.