Clinton Township expert teaches fitness: Nutrition coach works via Web

By Melanie D. Scott

Mar. 23, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
As a teenager, Clinton Township resident Justin Harris began learning more about exercise in hopes of changing the way he looked and felt.

As a student at Adrian College, he played football and graduated with a bachelor's degree in exercise science. He went on to become a power lifter and bodybuilder.

Harris, 28, is now a nutrition and fitness expert for Elite Fitness Systems, an Internet company based in Ohio that offers advice on strength training.

As a fitness and nutrition expert, he teaches the visitors to the Web site how to achieve a lean, toned body and gives information on which regimens work best.

Harris is married to Jorie Harris, who is attending dental school at University of Detroit Mercy. The couple has two daughters, Lydia, 3, and Celia, 18 months old.

QUESTION: How did you become a fitness and nutrition expert?

ANSWER: I never set out to be a fitness or nutrition expert, but I was always interested in exercise. When I was 14 or 15, like most boys that age, I wanted to change the way I looked. So I started buying nutrition books. For just about every birthday and Christmas after that, I got nutrition books.

Q: How did you get into power lifting?

A: I graduated from college in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science. After graduation, I found that I still ate like I was playing football 40 hours a week, so I tried power lifting to help me stay fit. Later, I heard about a bodybuilding contest, and I started training in the fall of 2002 for a competition in spring 2003.

Q: What are some common mistakes people make when they start working out?

A: Not using weight training. Weight training is the only thing you can do to change your body. Muscle is dense, so if you add 5 pounds of muscle, no one would notice. ... Another mistake people make is thinking that eating less helps with losing weight. Instead, they should try to exercise and burn more calories. If they eat less, it sends signals to the brain to slow down your metabolism.

Q: How does Elite Fitness Systems help people who are beginning to work out and those who are more experienced?

A: (The Web site gets) about 1 million unique hits a day, and the vast majority of people who visit the site don't compete. It is mostly an information site with different experts giving advice. I am a nutrition expert on the site. There are also booklets and pamphlets for people who are beginning, and things ranging up to the top level, preparing athletes for professional sports or those training for the Olympics.

Q: What do you like most about exercise?

A: I've always been able to accomplish my goals. My wife calls it the beat-it syndrome, where you try to accomplish a variety of things. If weight training gets boring, you can concentrate on cardio. There are an infinite number of ways to improve your body.

Contact MELANIE D. SCOTT at 248-351-3681 or mdscott@freepress.com.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0048-23962594