Manager at Archway’s Dowe Dynamics, Lucas Thomas trains like he’s half man, half machine – and expects just as much from his clients. He tells The Resident why he trains the girls just as hard as the boys and dispels the idea of women ‘bulking up’ from heavy weights 

Marvel Comics came up with the idea of powered amour man-machine hybrids known as ‘steelcorps’ developed by the fictional Hammer Industries in 2010, as part of The Invincible Iron Man: Volume 5. The megacorp describes one of these man-machine hybrids in particular as ‘the most bleeding-edge research into man-machine spinal hybrid mechanics the world has ever seen,’ and his name was Detroit Steel. Of course, he’s not real, but Dowe Dynamic’s Lucas Thomas comes pretty close, mindset wise.

This personal trainer and sometimes life coach for when you need that last minute tough love to push through to the end of your session got me in the best shape of my life. He also snapped me out of the skinny is beautiful mentality I’d adopted at the end of school and worshipped ever since, not to mention instilling a sense of pride in what my body could really do. No pesky light weights allowed, and that goes for the girls as well as the boys.

National bodybuilding champion, Ian Dowe, opened the Dowe Dynamic’s Personal Fitness Centre in the late 70s

His long term friend and national bodybuilding champion, Ian Dowe, opened the Dowe Dynamic’s Personal Fitness Centre in the late 70s and has seen some of the best UK and international athletic talent pass through his doors. He’s even brushed shoulders with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, back when they were both competing and the Austrian Oak was yet to be discovered in Hollywood. Now taking the reins from Dowe and continuing on the legacy, Thomas is bringing his military training style to the masses, from serious athletes to high profile lawyers, CEOs and media types.

Having trained many military professionals, Thomas has found that the only way to really get in the best shape your body is capable of is to push yourself to the limit, without excuses or being eased into it. He throws everyone in at the deep end.

‘Female clients often think that serious weights will make you bulk up,’ explains Thomas. ‘That is simply not true, hard weights are needed if you really want to achieve that toned sculpted look. People also think that cardiovascular is essential for weight loss. Cardiovascular is essential for your health and fitness, but hard weight training is the only way you will lose a significant amount of weight while maintaining muscle mass and tone.’

Cardiovascular is essential for your health and fitness, but hard weight training is the only way you will lose a significant amount of weight while maintaining muscle mass and tone

With in depth, detailed nutritional plans and state-of-the-art DNA testing available, Thomas will pull out every stop to ensure you achieve your physical goals. Although, he stresses that he will not help anyone lose more weight than they have to, because he’s ‘not in the business of creating matchsticks’.

One thing that Thomas makes sure hits home from the get go is that if you’re not mentally prepared to work for the body you want, you will never have it – half the battle is in the mind. Hard truths and hard training are what you get at Dowe Dynamics. It’s definitely not for the fainthearted.

dowedynamics.com