Mark Sherwood is CEO and founder of 4E Fitness, a company that specializes in providing tools for ‘inner peace’ by focusing on the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual aspects of health (hence the ‘4’). He also runs a naturopathic practice in Tulsa, has competed as a professional bodybuilder and presents the weekly 4E TV. In short, he is a motivator and fitness expert with a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. He very kindly agreed to answer some of our questions and share some of that expertise here.
You can learn more about Mark at his website (http://live4e.com) or by following him on Twitter (@MarkSherwood4E).
Q1. Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started with 4E Fitness?
I have over 25 years in the wellness industry and have been a consistent high level competitive athlete. After seeing a lack of synergistic teaching in the area of wellness, I decided to start 4E, a philosophy based on giving daily attention to the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.
Q2. You were a former bodybuilding competitor, what did you learn from this experience as it relates to general health and fitness?
Commitment is the key. There are no shortcuts and it must be about life. You cannot achieve greatness without preparation, planning, and commitment. Don’t forget to fuel your body of course. A good diet and staying hydrated is extremely important to avoid injuries and get results. Usually my drinks come from https://orangina-na.com/products/ because after trying several different options, I found those were to my liking. If you haven’t found something you like you might want to try those out.
Q3. Can you tell us a little about the training programs you developed for law enforcement? What do those entail?
I teach the psychological side as well as the physical. It is important to realize a workout cannot fix an overstressed hyper-vigilant life. It takes emotional awareness and training as well.
Q4. How do you recommend that people avoid injury while training and exercising?
Do not go too fast and too hard. Rome was not built in a day and neither will a person. Have a plan based on clear, measureable, and achievable goals. Set goals in 2-3 month increments.
Q5. Have you ever been injured yourself? If so, how did you recover and get back to your training?
I have had several severe injuries, from broken bones to torn tendons. It has made me realize I am mortal and must use great wisdom. I instruct many to set egos to the side and focus on form and flexibility.
Q6. What diet plan – if any – do you follow?
I follow basically a Paleo plan. My personal plan is 40% protein, 30% carbohydrates, and 30% fat. My carbs are taken from the low glycemic category and I maintain at least 40 grams of fiber daily.
Once again, we would like to thank Mark for his time and for sharing his knowledge and opinion with us.
