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‘Why I left a lucrative finance career to become a trainer’

Gideon Akande’s risk paid off big time.

gideon akande podcast

Gideon found his way into fitness in a rather unique way. He was a star football player at Holy Cross and actually set the record for most kickoff return yards in school history. But when he graduated he went straight into the financial sector. Let's just say that it wasn't the right fit for him.

"You ever see those old office linebacker commercials with Terry Tate?" says Akande. "That was pretty much me in a corporate setting. Kind of like a caged beast waiting to be unleashed on the masses."

Eventually Gideon decided to pursue his passion and left a lucrative career to enter the fitness industry. Just as he was building a following in Chicago, he caught wind of an opportunity that would change his life forever.

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"A sales associate with Men's Health was a guest at my bootcamp and she said, 'You've gotta apply for the Men's Health Next Top Trainer contest,' and I did. The rest is history," says Akande.

Gideon managed to survive the grueling week-long competition and came out on top. His prize? A feature in Men's Health mag and his very own workout DVD. Gideon continues to be a regular MH contributor and he's working non-stop to impact as many people as he can.

"I feel very blessed to be able to make a living doing what I love," says Akande. "My Nigerian parents came to American with nothing and all they wanted was for their kids to achieve the American dream. They are very proud of how far I've come and that truly means the world to me."

Other topics covered in this episode include:

  • Gideon's boxing days as a Golden Gloves champion
  • Bodyweight fat loss workouts you can do anytime, anywhere
  • And much more!
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We post a new podcast episode each week on iTunes and SoundCloud and it's great listening material for cardio or your commute. Please be sure to like, share, rate, and subscribe so we can spread the gains to more good people like you!

P.S. If you liked this episode, be sure to check out the episode we did with the first ever winner of MH Next Top Trainer Andy Speer.

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