Bob
Coy P
aveur h u “Yonow yo can’t to kts; yourogram em. cliesnign a opwing thart to de ut kn it’s an l o “Spiritual witaht’s whay perso.n”a strength and Th be rainer conditioning is part of t my life, too,” he explains.
atrons of Bob Coy’s Fitness Solutions don’t have far to look for motivation. Bob Coy is a living example of his career and lifestyle. The 66-year-old fitness trainer and competitive bodybuilder has a physique that men decades younger would envy. Originally from Salem, Ohio, Bob opened his Ocala training studio in the mid-1990s, but health and fitness have always been a main focus. “I spent eight years in the Air Force and started in the fitness field while still in the military,” says Coy, who became a fitness trainer in 1976. “After my second tour in Vietnam, I got involved with Jack La Lanne’s company. He was my inspiration; I still use a lot of his techniques.” Bob’s clients come from all walks of life, ranging in age from mid-20s to 70s. On an average day, he’ll typically train eight clients in his men-only facility where the one-on-one sessions run approximately an hour. “You have to know your clients; you can’t design a program without knowing them. That’s why it’s an art to be a personal trainer,” says Bob. “I take their lives seriously and know what they can achieve. You take what you have and make it the best you can. The body is like clay; you can mold it through proper exercise, nutrition and consistency.” The studio is sleek and modern; although there’s plenty of exercise equipment, there is no “gym” aroma. Bob shows up at 5am every morning and starts each day with prayer and quiet time, which he credits for his success.
46
NOV’13
ocalastyle.com
“You can be in the best physical shape, but without that spiritual component, you’re missing something.” A successful bodybuilder, Bob has won multiple titles, including The Southern States Bodybuilding Competition (over 50 masters), Florida State Masters Bodybuilding Competition (over 50) and the Southeastern USA Bodybuilding Competition (over 60). “I didn’t start competing until age 50. It’s time-consuming and requires discipline, but I wanted to challenge myself to see if at that age I could do it,” says Bob. “Now I’m waiting until I turn 70 to compete in the over 70 age group.” “Bob is a certified trainer, but it’s his tremendous personal experience that really benefits his clients,” says Tammy Coy, Bob’s wife and workout partner, who’s also a certified trainer. Bob has faced sobering health challenges of his own. Heart disease runs in his family; he’s had three heart attacks (doctors say his recovery was helped by his being in such great shape), and he’s also a cancer survivor, having beaten stage IV melanoma, a usually fatal diagnosis. “As we get older, the body ages, but proper exercise will slow that process,” he notes. “That’s why you have a difference between chronological and physiological ages. If you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will.”