Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a health and fitness nut / writer / peanut butter lovin’ / green tea drinkin’ guy from Loch Lomond in Scotland.
I’m author of the Strength Training 101 book series on Amazon, which is aimed at helping men and women discover the many brilliant benefits of lifting weights. (I’m also on a mission to save people from boring themselves to death on treadmills where they’re getting nowhere…literally.)
I’m not a fan of the typical bodybuilding advice and I believe too many people are put off strength training because they have the wrong impression that gyms are full of ‘meatheads’ and hugely inflated egos.
That’s definitely not the case and through my writing – and online personal training – I promote the real value of lifting weights to help people become stronger, healthier, better versions of themselves. I teach them about my effective ‘non-meathead’ approach to strength training and diet. This means helping people sculpt lean, athletic, awesome bodies with a big ocus on overall health…rather than building bulky, unnatural, over-developed physiques.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book ‘Strength Training For Women: Burn Fat Effectively…And Sculpt The Body You’ve Always Dreamed Of’ is the fourth title in my Strength Training 101 series and is already proving to be popular.
It was inspired by me seeing female friends, relatives, colleagues etc doing standard cardio exercise like jogging and aerobics classes 4,5,6 days per week and getting nowhere. Seeing them being miserable eating boring, bland diets for weeks…seeing no difference…going on a junk food bender in frustration…and then repeating the cycle.
Weight training not only raises your metabolism levels, but it can create an after-burn effect for the next 24 hours. This means that your body is continuing to strip excess bodyfat, while developing toned muscles, even while you sleep. When you train like this consistently you don’t need any fad diet to lose weight and you’ll see clear, physical changes in your body.
I also wrote this book to:
* Clear up lingering myths that weight training makes women ‘bulky’ or ‘too masculine’;
* Educate women on why this form of exercise is ultra effective for burning fat and developing a lean, toned body with curves in all the right places;
* Convince women that they are much stronger than they think;
* Prove that the weights section in the gym is no longer male dominated – and explain why women should be training just like men do;
* Help women build up their confidence in a gym environment and take steps towards becoming stronger inside and out.
When researching the book I interviewed various women who had the same fears and insecurities as most females about lifting weights and stepping into the gym for the first time worried about being judged. They reveal how they overcame their fears – and are now hooked on strength training after experiencing great results.
The book also features two chapters with women’s strength/wellness coach Marianne Kane, co-founder of Girls Gone Strong and the renowned Get Glutes training program. She shares her expert advice on how women can develop a toned butt and transform their bodies overall.
I really enjoyed writing this book and I’m sure it’ll help a few more people join the ever-growing army of women who are becoming stronger, leaner and healthier every day.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really unusual, but I do have a system for being productive.
I only write in the mornings – usually from 6am onwards – as I feel I’m more creative at that time.
I drink a cup or 6 of green tea while at my computer.
I turn my mobile phone off so the world can’t get in the way of what I’m writing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the American writer James Altucher. He’s pretty funny and this one blog article he wrote had a big impact on improving my own writing: http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2011/03/33-unusual-tips-become-better-writer/
Definitely worth reading for any newbie authors out there.
I don’t do fiction books, whatever I’m reading has got to be real. I’m big into the personal development/improvement genre and health and fitness too for obvious reasons.
Here are some of the top titles on my bookshelf:
– The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield.
– Tools Of Titans by Tim Ferriss.
– The One Thing by Gary Keller.
– The Power Of Intention by Dr Wayne Dyer.
– Letting Go by David Hawkins.
What are you working on now?
My next health and fitness book, which will be titled ‘How To Burn Fat Fast’, and sold on Amazon.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Probably emailing my own list of subscribers who joined my mailing list at weighttrainingistheway.com. I let them know about my latest books and give them the heads-up when the book is on a free Kindle promo for a few days.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
#1 Write about what you’re most passionate about.
#2 Try to be different…don’t just say what everyone else is saying.
#3 If writing is your side project while working a 9-5 then I’d get up earlier and write for 1-2 hours every morning. Once you get home from work you’ll likely be too tired and will find an excuse not to write.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be kind to yourself.
What are you reading now?
Money: Master The Game by Tony Robbins (….because I need to stop spending and sort my finances out!)
What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to publish 8-10 health and fitness books as I have so many ideas. Then I intend on creating an online video courses to help men and women get in great shape, improve their health…and maintain it all more easily.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Warrior Diet by Ori Hofmekler….because it’s all about fasting during the day and feasting at night like they did in caveman times. I’m guessing it would be the same kinda scenario on this island.
Live Life Aggressively by Mike Mahler…because I’d need to get my shit together if I was going to survive on this island.
The Acid House by Irvine Welsh…for some laughs and deep, dark humour.
The Power Of Intention by Dr Wayne Dyer…to keep me calm and centred and not lose the plot on the island!
Author Websites and Profiles
Marc McLean Website
Marc McLean Amazon Profile