Conversations with Justin Bates

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Bates

Hi Justin, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started training myself at 13 years old. My dad took me to a personal trainer for a session. The trainer showed me a workout and drew stick figures on a sheet of yellow lined paper for me. That was the very beginning of my training journey. Although I enjoyed training, I remained heavier up until I was 17, when realizing I needed to lose bodyfat to increase my speed and athletic ability to play baseball at the collegiate level especially only being 5’7″. This is when I began studying nutrition and how bodybuilders got so lean. I lost roughly 30 lbs which doesn’t sound like much, but for a 5″7 frame it made a huge difference for me. I felt like a new person!
I trained and played baseball through Junior college and transferred to Santa Clara University as a walk on. The walk-on tryout didn’t workout to well for me, which left me extremly lost and depressed. I continued to train because training was the only thing that I knew and made me feel good. Without baseball I ended up leaving Santa Clara and entering “real Life”. I worked as an administrative assistant for a large supplement manufacturing company where I gained a ton of knowledge in the supplement industry.
An opportunity arose to move to southern CA and live with a friend and go to university of Redlands and try and play baseball there with my last 2 years of eligibility. Before having the opportunity to play, our father passed away of a sudden heart attack. He was only 46. I moved back home to help my mom, and younger brother and sister cope with our father’s death. I began working for the same supplement company but this time in Human resources.
Throughout this time i continued training myself and others began asking me to help them get in shape, get stronger etc. I I started writing workouts and programs for people and began playing semi-pro baseball.

Eventually enough people told me I should become a trainer so I got certified and started my training journey at 24Hour Fitness in Morgan Hill, CA. Shortly after starting at 24 Hour my brother who had just been drafted by the Boston Redsox told me about an opportunity of a $13 million gym in Armonk, NY. I got an interview flew to NY and two weeks later I packed 2 bags and moved to NY at this amazing facility where they only selected 5 trainers. I happened to be one of the trainers they liked. I had to give a full list of about 30 clients (which was (a lot back then) to other trainers before moving. When I moved I had very little money, no car, no place to live and 2 bags with what belongings I could fit. At this gym I learned an incredible amount from, the other trainers, continuing education training pro athletes to people with terminal cancer. after about fve and 1/2 years I needed a change and moved to florida with an ex girlfriend also a trainer because we were burnt out and needed a break.
After a year in Florida and trying to start our own failed business, I moved to Western, Ma near where my mother lived and began training at HealthTrax where I found a company called TRIBE TEAM TRAINING. I fell in love with this small group training programming and became Master Trainer for them. Alwwys having the desire to move back to the west coast after 3 years in Ma. I moved to Chandler, AZ near where my brother settled down and worked for the Dodgers organization. I Quickly found a gym that was interested in Tribe Team Training and brought Tribe to AZ while continuing to travel for tribe training other trainers across North America. Covid came along and like many people I had to pivot and began my own business which turned into BATES TRAIN which I currently run now.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No was never a smooth road. This business had seasonal ebbs and flows. You always have to hustle and have the desire to want to help others. Losing clients is always a struggle. Covid was a huge struggle especially knowing the training business is what people needed during those difficult times. Having no car or place to live throughout times in my journey were also struggles.
I also had a recent struggle where I had a heart attack and stroke and was in a coma for 12 days. Lack of sleep too much stress can seriously bite anyone in the behind and I was neglecting both. I’m lucky to be alive and i attribute that to training and my body having resiliency as well as my family’s support along with clients, colleagues and friends support. I couldn’t have lived with out them. I was able to recover my heart back to full normal function within one month after being releaded from the hospital. They said they haven’t seen anyone recover that fast after what I had been through. I had a clot in my heart, brain and lung and was in the hospital for 30 days prior to my recovery.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am most proud of my ability to adapt to any and everyone’s situation. I have trained in so many different modalities, from crossfit when it first began, to Tribe team training in small groups and different populations, to cancer Parkinson’s, dementia, little kids etc. Having Trained in so many places in the US and varied demographics has given my the experience and ability to work with so mays many walks of life. I constantly stay up to date on new studies, concepts always reading and listening to podcasts on varied topics in fitness nutrition, psychology, self-help, mental health, etc. I feel having as many tools in my toolbox as I can helps me help more people especially as the country and world had become unhealthier than ever.
I learn from other trainers, my doctor and best friend, athletes, my brother, and his coaching and ways to get through to top athletes. Never stop learning! Also knowing there ae MANY ways to accomplish goals. Too many trainers and coaches speak in absolutes. When I hear people speak in absolutes regarding health and fitness I know they stopped learning and have closed their mind. Always have an open mind!
I am also know for kettlebell training and doing some crazy or different stuff some people have never seen.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love waking up and seeing the sun. I love the sun! the sun gives us energy! I also like the growth of our city and at the same time dislike the growth. Its a love hate thing! The 2-3 months when its super-hot can be rough, but ill take the heat over snow any day of the week and twice on sundays.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @bates_train
• Facebook: Justin Bates
• Youtube: Bates-train
• Other: batestrain33@gmail.com