Matt Mills – MA, CSCS, AOS Strength & Conditioning Specialist, ASC Pro Strongman
Matt Mills, born December 12th 1982 CT.
Sport: Strongman currently resides in South Windsor CT. USA
Q. What made you get into fitness?
A. I was a little overweight as a kid, and I was always embarrassed when I couldn’t do a push up or pull up whenever the test came around in gym class. Once was in high school I knew I needed to change so I started working out in my basement at first. I was reading all the muscle magazines and doing whatever I could at my home gym. I was obsessed immediately when I started getting bigger and stronger and I knew it was something I wanted to continue with. Getting into competing was an easy choice as it only motivated me more in the weight room. I never thought I would be good at strongman or powerlifting but I used it as motivation to get more results.
Q. Any considerable changes in your life before being a coach and after?
A. Being a coach is what pushed me to open my own business. So far it has been the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life but has been more than worth it. I get to train and do what I love every day in a facility I designed myself.
Q. What is the secret behind your success so far?
A. Being consistent is the most difficult thing for people when getting results. I have never missed a planned training session unless it was due to sickness or an emergency. Of course I own the gym so I am able to build my schedule around when I want to train, but it has led me to where I am today as an athlete.
Q. About your Social Media presence, where can others keep up with you?
A. I’m on facebook as Pro Strongman Matt Mills, also on Instagram as Matt Mills “Millsfitness”
Q. Let us know about your workout regime I train 6 days a week, 4 are weight training, and the other 2 are conditioning circuits. For most of the year I’m competing in Strongman which generally has 5 events. I split the events up over the 4 days, and my accessory work is very close to how a bodybuilder would train. I like to be strong but also be lean enough to show my hard work. For conditioning I like to do a lot of sled work so prowler sprints, jump rope, and I’ll do a lot of kettlebells on my off days of training to keep in shape.
Q. What Vizinx Supplements do you take?
A. The protein is a must for me, B4gym as my preworkout, I’ll use the ShredX when I’m cutting weight for a competition, and MVP I take every morning with breakfast.
Q. What is your daily diet?
A. At the moment I’m gaining weight for a heavyweight strongman competition so my calories are around 5000 a day. I eat very close to a bodybuilder year round as I like to stay very lean. I eat protein every meal, lots of green veggies, and high carbs on the days I train. On my off days I lower my carbs which again helps me stay lean even when gaining weight.
Q. Last but not least: Your message for quitters?
A. As a coach I see a lot of people quit unfortunately. Most people don’t last long in the sport of strongman and powerlifting. Most of it comes from staying motivated, and again being consistent. You have to be self-motivated to do this and get real results. If you have to rely on someone else to keep you going then you are just going to quit at some point. I never lose motivation, and competing keeps me training harder and harder.
Q. Additionally, offer any certifications, accomplishments or goals that you’re working to attain.
A. I have my bachelor’s and my master’s in Kinesiology and I’m a certified strength and conditioning specialist from the NSCA. I’m also working on my nutrition certification from Precision Nutrition. My main goal is to win America’s Strongest Man which I came in 3rd place this year. I would also love to win the Arnold which I am competing in next year.
