Clark Bartram looking incredibly lean and muscular standing with his shirt off in the gym

Clark Bartram

Personal Trainer, television host

Clark Bartram is a professional fitness model, published fitness writer and ISSA Master Personal Trainer from Ohio, USA. He is well-known as an online trainer and TV fitness show host in the USA.

Growing up, Clark was very passionate about sports, playing as many as he could at school. He was inspired very early on to take up bodybuilding – being told by a local YMCA trainer that his body was perfect for development.

As Clark developed his own physique, he also decided that he would help others with theirs. He trained to be a personal trainer and started to train individuals online, eventually achieving the accolade of ISSA ‘Master Trainer.’

Through this promotion, he managed to find work on US television. He inspired millions of people as the co-host of Kiana’s Flex Appeal on ESPN and took part in a number of other fitness related shows.

Fast forward to today, and Clark continues to be involved in online fitness training. He’s also appeared in an alternative batman film and enjoys acting greatly. This is his story:


 

Clark Bartram completing a tricep pulldown, showing off his large triceps, chest and ripped abs

Athlete Statistics

Full Name: Clark Bartram
NationalityProfessionEra
AmericanPersonal Trainer, television host2000, 2010
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPersonal Trainer, television host
Era2000, 2010

 

Clark Bartram showing his toned Obliques, chest and abs

Accomplishments

  • ISSA Master Trainer
  • Popular magazine contributor
  • Sponsored Athlete

 

Clark Bartram using a resistance band, working his large arms and delts

Biography

Sporting Beginnings

Growing up, Clark was always active and played sports at junior and high school. He was always attracted to sports which pushed his body to its limits such as football, and the interest for this sport stayed with him.

Weight lifting became a part of Clark’s life during high school. In 1979, a weight trainer at the local YMCA saw his bicep definition and told him that he’d make a great bodybuilder. Since that day, he’s been hooked.

Clark mentions hat he actually called the man 30 years later, and it turned out that he had been following his career. Clark says that “it was awesome to let him know that his positive comments actually had an impact.”

Taking Up Bodybuilding

Following this fortunate meeting, Clark began hitting the weights regularly. He was obsessed with building an impressive figure and looking like the men in the YMCA gym. He also loved the opportunity to incorporate such a positive force into his life.

For once, Clark was reading about something he was genuinely interested in, as opposed to schoolwork. He read about bodybuilding nutrition, weight lifting technique and the history of the sport – soaking up all the knowledge he could.

Fitness Modelling

As Clark built the body of his dreams through years of hard work, he also began to attract the attention of modelling agencies. He was hired as a fitness model and received work from a number of top magazines and online publications.

As his face became more and more well-known, Clark managed to appear on over a hundred covers including Muscle & Fitness and Natural Bodybuilding. He became the go-to man for natural bodybuilding shoots and ‘working-man’ focused articles.


 

Clark Bartram completing a dumbbell lift, showing off his large chest, arms and abs


Personal Training

As Clark developed his own physique and learned as much as possible about weight lifting, he also decided that he would help others on their journey. He trained as a personal trainer with the ISSA and began to take on clients almost immediately.

Again, through years of hard work, Clark became a certified ISSA Master trainer – an accolade only giving to a select few elite members. This allowed Clark to build his client base massively and work with everyone from amateurs to elite athletes.

Television appearances

As a major name in the personal training world, Clark managed to find work on major network television in the USA. He was a co-host on Kiana’s Flex Appeal on ESPN and hosted American Health And Fitness – another popular fitness show.

Clark thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to be on television and help millions of people with their fitness needs. It also gave him publicity with which he could further his personal training business.

Contributing To Magazines

As well as appearing on the cover of many world-famous magazines, Clark also wrote for a number throughout his career. He regularly contributed to national fitness magazines like Ironman and Muscle Media, and is also the author of the how-to guide, You Too Can Be A Fitness Model.


 

Clark Bartram showing his large chest, abs and vascular arms

Training

Speed And Intensity

Clark’s approach to working out is to “get in and out.” He chooses this approach as he sees no point in spending hours at the gym and overtraining with the intention of being as big as possible.

He says that he has actually changed gyms once, because people were constantly noticing him working out. They kept him from his weights by talking to him which he hated.

Routine

Clarks routine can be instinctual for a lot of the year. He works as a trainer, football coach and model, so he may have to change his training approach at short notice.

Because of this, Clark says that he has built a work out which can be adapted at short notice. It is by no meals fixed to certain times of the day and can be altered based on his individual needs. His usual approach is below:

  • Monday: Chest
  • Tuesday: Back
  • Wednesday: Legs
  • Thursday: Shoulders
  • Friday: Arms
  • Saturday: Free
  • Sunday: Free

 

Clark Bartram listing two dumbbells and showing his large arms, chest and abs


Back Routine

When it comes Clark’s back session, he believes that less is more. His exercises are switched up frequently, but the workout usually consists of one warmup movement, followed by four exercises. He performs four sets of each, for a total of 16 sets.

He also starts lifting heavy straight away. While his first set is usually a warm up, by set two Clark is lifting the maximum weight that he can handle.

Perfect Form

He says “I was taught at an early age to have perfect form.” If the heavy weight is affecting this form, Clark chooses to lower the weight or rep count slightly.

The back exercises he performs can be split into two categories; pulldowns/pullups. Among rows, the bentover barbell row is his all-time favorite.

To perform the movement, Clark bends his knees at 15 degrees. Through completing the movement in this fashion, Clark says he can activate the illiotibial band in the leg.

Advising Beginners On Lifting Approach

A mistake many beginners make is focusing too much on the number of reps and not enough on the quality of each rep. “My goal is to conduct each repetition as if it were the first, last and only one I’m doing.”


 

Clark Bartram completing an oblique twist with a ball on a rope, showing his abs, obliques and chest

Nutrition

Nutritional Approach

Clark has no issue with eating carbs, saying that his “muscle bellies feel and look fuller” when he has eaten carbs during the day. He says that everyone should simply find what works for them, rather than following a path laid out by a pro that doesn’t know them.

Through working out his own plan, Clark now knows exactly what he can get away with. He says he can calculate “how many chips” he can eat precisely based on his macros. Through having this knowledge, he can control his weight and maintain his muscle mass.

“I’m not concerned about slapping five inches on my shoulders,” he says. “I’m more concerned about being able to run, jump, twist, squat, and do all those things at a very high level.”

Focus On Water

Clark places a lot of importance on his water intake. He tells his clients that dehydration can happen in both winter and summer, so a regular stream of water is absolutely essential for those who intend to workout.

He also stresses that the carbohydrates and proteins that we eat are metabolized and transported with water, so it is essential for bodybuilders. Without an adequate supple of water, it would be much harder to build muscle.

Advice For His Clients

Clark loves to give his clients clear-cut advice about their nutrition. He believes that there is too much nonsense out there, so people simply need to know what to eat and when to eat it.

He tells his clients to start off by keeping a food journal. Dieting is central to bodybuilding, so if people don’t actually know what they’re eating, they will struggle to make gains.

He also asks them to consider the 4 questions below:

  • Are you eating 4-6 small meals/snacks a day, spaced approximately 3-4 hours apart?
  • Are you having protein in each meal?
  • Are you eating fresh fruit and/or  vegetables in 3 of those meals?
  • Are you drinking less than three 5-oz.  alcoholic beverages per week?

 

Clark Bartram using a resistance band to work his large shoulders, chest and abs

What we can learn from Clark Bartram

Clark has built a career for himself through his own hard work and networking. He initial interest in bodybuilding came from a YMCA trainer who told Clark he had what it took to build a great body.

He has taken this positive message with him throughout his life – finding inspiration to help others in the same way he was helped. He has worked as a master personal trainer, and has written for magazines while hosting major television shows.

If you want to achieve the same level of success as Clark, show the same level of dedication and who knows where you could end up.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


You might like...

Nick Jonas Physique and Workout

135 Views

See Profile

Kevin Heart Physique

1178 Views

See Profile

Joe Manganiello Physique: Achieving an Enviable A-List Fitness Level

1548 Views

See Profile

Tom Hardy Physique

5530 Views

See Profile
0

10 Meal Planning Mistakes to Avoid: Get Shredded the Right Way

Preparing food in advance is a tool used by pro athletes and bodybuilders to stay lean, strong and aesthetic all year round. Avoid these meal planning mistakes and sail to single-digit body fat in no time at all. 

Read article

Vin Diesel’s Physique

2635 Views

See Profile

KSI Physique: How Did KSI Get In Shape?

3049 Views

See Profile

Jake Gyllenhaal Physique

3091 Views

See Profile

Gerard Butler Physique

3999 Views

See Profile
0

10 Protein-Rich Foods for Vegetarians

If you're a vegetarian who's serious about strength training, you need to know how to optimize your diet to get the best results. Check out our guide to protein-rich foods to help you on your way - a completely new fitness level is just around the corner.

Read article

Henry Cavill Physique

9578 Views

See Profile

Alex Eubank Physique

6609 Views

See Profile

Will Tennyson Physique

6118 Views

See Profile

Cristiano Ronaldo Physique

12944 Views

See Profile
42

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger - He's been named the Austrian Oak, The Terminator, John Matrix, Mr. Freeze, The Governator, and to many of his fans just Arnie. Not only is he known as one of the greatest bodybuilders in history, but also as an action movie star, and an American politician.

Read article

Jason Mamoa Physique

4389 Views

See Profile

Ryan Gosling Physique: Ryan Gosling’s Ken Transformation

9869 Views

See Profile

Stephen Amell Physique

5973 Views

See Profile

Chris Pratt Transformation and Physique

2954 Views

See Profile
0

90 day Muscle Building Workout Plan

You just can’t beat that feeling of knowing that your physique is one you’ve worked hard for. Noticing the appreciative stares from envious strangers, and knowing that every time you hit the gym, you’re pushing the boundaries of what you once thought was impossible - makes it all worthwhile.

Read article