Eian Scully: From Fitness Enthusiast to Fitness Trainer

At home on photo shoot sets as well as the gym, top model Eian Scully helps brands look their best and his clients be their best.

Being in good shape is a major part of being a professional model. For Eian Scully, physical fitness is much more than just a job requirement: It’s a passion that he has persisted in to the point that, not only was it instrumental in his success as a model, it also allowed him to train other people to reach their physical goals. So, now, the New York-based model-slash-personal-trainer is not only an expert on how to look great but also in how to be great.

DA MAN: Hi, Eian, awesome to have you with us. So, how are you doing at the moment? What keeps you busy these days?
Eian Scully: I’m doing very well. Excited for New York to open up again and to get back to work! I have been keeping up with my fitness as well as training clients online. I have also been cooking a lot and trying to get outdoors as much as possible whether it is hiking, camping or just taking my bike on a long ride.

DA: So, all over the world, we’re seeing businesses, cities and even entire countries starting to open up again. What will your “new normal” look like in the coming months?
ES: My new normal will be getting back to work even though it might be in different circumstances with masks, gloves and social distancing. Things might never go back to the way they were but we will all make the best out of it and make it work. I will definitely continue to enjoy nature over social gatherings for the time being.

DA: What are some of the most immediate challenges that professional models like you will probably face when getting back to work?
ES: I think that the hardest thing in getting back to modeling will be not being able to travel for jobs.

DA: What kind of modeling projects do you look forward to the most after a long hiatus? Photo shoots, working on brand campaigns, runway shows? Which do you enjoy the most and why?
ES: I look forward to doing photo shoots and making amazing photographs as well as brand campaigns. Brand campaigns are definitely my favorite, as I have a chance to work with some of the top brands and also the top talents in the world.

DA: On that note, what would you say has been the most amazing, rewarding or otherwise awesome modeling project you’ve ever done so far?
ES: I would say one of the best experiences I have had with a job was the 2(X)IST campaign. The pictures turned out amazing and it was featured all over the city.

DA: If we could go back even further, can you tell us a bit about your very first gig as a professional model? Do you still remember what it felt like at the time?
ES: I started modeling when I was 18 years old and traveled across Asia and Europe for three years, on and off. It was such amazing experience to get to see the world and travel with a job I loved.

DA: Roughly how long did it take for you to find that modeling was something that you wanted to make a living from?
ES: I knew right away that it was something I would love to make my full-time job.

DA: And, of course, you’re also personal fitness trainer. Let’s start from the beginning: What inspired or motivated you to take fitness and nutrition seriously?
ES: I started working out when I was 16 years old and I have always loved being able to put in hard work in the gym and see the results. I attribute a lot of my modeling success to my hard work in the gym and kitchen. After years of modeling I was looking for a new challenge and passion. I have learned so much from training and dieting with myself for years, let me pass along my knowledge and help others get the bodies of their dreams.

DA: What was the journey like from fitness enthusiast to fitness trainer?
ES: It was honestly very easy. I knew so much about working out from training myself for 10+ years at the time, that it was quite easy to apply to others. It’s also super rewarding to help others on their fitness and health journey. I continue to learn and study, you should never stop learning.

“THINGS MIGHT NEVER GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY WERE BUT WE WILL ALL MAKE THE BEST OUT OF IT AND MAKE IT WORK”

DA: In your experience, what are some of the most common mistakes that people tend to do when they try to become healthier?
ES: I think people tend to go on very strict diets that they cannot maintain. It’s about being consistent and enjoying your life at the same time. On the working out side, people just find programs on the Internet that aren’t right for them or use poor form in their exercises. If you really want to fast track your progress, I would suggest you learn from someone that has a lot of experience and has built a body you would like to have.

DA: How should a client approach training with a professional like you to get the best possible results?
ES: The first step is to find a good trainer who is right for you and your goals. Once you do that you must be open minded, dedicated and patient with the process and the outlined game plan.

DA: On the flip side, what would you say is the most rewarding part of being a personal trainer?
ES: I love helping clients be the best versions of their selves. Not everyone has the same goals or outcome in mind. But with consistent effort and dedication everyone can feel and look their best.

DA: On your website—eianscullyfit.com—you also elaborated a bit about your approach to nutrition. In your experience, what is the best surefire way to get people motivated to pay attention to what they eat?
ES: I am big into nutrition. If you want to improve your health and physique, you need to train and eat well; one does not work without the other. If you want to see changes in your body you need to fuel it with good food. Plain and simple.

DA: Mark Twain famously said: “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Does this apply to you?
ES: Absolutely. I feel blessed every day, I love modeling, personal training and maintaining my body and health. I wish for everyone to find their passion and work at it every day.

DA: Speaking of quotes, you also put Bruce Lee’s famous line “Absorb what is useful to you, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own” on your website. Can you tell us a bit about what this means to you?
ES: One of my favorite quotes. To me it means learn from yourself, your experiences and others, but not blindly following other paths. Everyone and everyone’s experiences are different. You need to experiment, find what works best for you and absorb that into your life.

DA: Besides modeling and fitness, what else are you passionate about? What else have you made “uniquely your own”?
ES: My wife Brittany, my dog Runkle and my friends and family are the most important things in the world to me. Anything I do with them makes me happy. I do love to get outside as much as possible and enjoy nature—hike, run, bike, camp. I cook a lot, I love to travel. Honestly, I do spend a lot of time working and learning about fitness and nutrition. It is a full-time job when you reach for the highest level of anything. But life is nothing without loved ones. That should be the most important thing in your life!