So You Want to be a Fitness Trainer: Fitness Trainers Gone Bad

(This is one of my older, favorite blogs that I decided to dust off and revise.......)

Fitness Training 'should' be a respectable line of work. Unfortunately, sometimes our career choice is viewed to be on the same moral plane as a politician's executive assistant, a snake oil salesman or an unaccredited massage parlor attendant! This is usually because of the behavior of certain individuals that ply the wellness trade in a dubious manner.
I have created a special category for that small minority of Fitness Trainers that have left
our profession with a certain taint. I call it the Fitness Trainer Hall of Shame!!!

Craig Titus was a world class bodybuilder. He was a USA Professional champion and competed in the Mr. Olympia, the Super Bowl of bodybuilding competitions. He was a Personal Fitness Trainer to some celebrities. One of his clients was a guitarist for the world's foremost heavy metal band.
(hint: they were a 'Motley Crew' of musicians) He was married to Kelly Ryan, a world class competitor in women's physique contests. Craig Titus. was a constant feature in muscle magazines. He was under contract to sports supplement companies. Kelly was popular for her gymnastic talent used as part of her presentation routine. She was also a favorite of the supplement companies.
Craig Titus. had that California beach look with blonde hair often tied back in a ponytail.
He had muscles like a Greek god. He had the facial features of a movie star. The man reeked of charisma from every pore. He was my favorite bodybuilder of that era. He looked more natural and aesthetic than the current crop of juiced up, sinew popping, vein bulging, mega monstrosities of pro bodybuilding.

Image result for kelly ryan fitness model

Craig and Kelly in happier times.

Craig in competition form

Craig and Kelly seemed to be the epitome of success in bodybuilding, Fitness Training, business, and life!
Unfortunately, there was also evidence of some troubling character traits.

Craig Titus. had a reputation for being a sore loser. He once walked off the stage in protest after finishing only second in a bodybuilding pro qualifier.
Craig was known to go into an angry tirade towards the judges if his wife, Kelly Ryan, was the recipient of a less than expected contest result.
He had a reputation as a 'bad boy' with a hot temper, a fast decadent lifestyle and a roaming eye as a serial womanizer.
In 1995 Craig Titus. was arrested for dealing ecstasy, a party drug.
In 1997 he broke probation and was arresting for possession and use of steroids. He did a short stint of jail time for that digression.
He supplied steroids and human growth hormone to his heavy metal rocker client from the band Motley Crew. He even gave the injections.
I doubt that it was any secret that our golden maned Greek god was also pumping his own body with questionable enhancement products.

Then the Craig T. story gets very bizarre. Craig and Kelly had a woman living with them who was supposedly their 'personal assistant'. The woman, Melissa James, was found dead in a burnt out car in the desert near the couple's Las Vegas home. Melissa Jane's body showed evidence of morphine intoxication, possibly administered against her will. She also appeared to have been severely beaten and tasered. When suspicion fell on Craig and Kelly, they went on the lam, becoming fugitives from the law.
They were caught and were charged with murder! Apparently one or both of them killed Melissa James  and then they tried to cover up the crime. The motive was unclear. Rumors flew of a methamphetamine and booze fueled love triangle that finally went bad. Another theory was a jealous Kelly killing Melissa James. because she suspected an affair between the assistant and Craig. Other unproven rumors involve Melissa James stealing from her hosts and when they confronted her it turned ugly.
Craig's version was that he was breaking up a fight between the two women but not knowing his own strength ended up killing the unfortunate assistant. They were confused and fearful due to the methamphetamine use and not helped by the possible hormonal mood swings caused by anabolic steroid abuse.
There's more! Supposedly contract hit men were contacted about killing witnesses before the trial!  Eventually Craig and Kelly both pled guilty to some lesser charges as follows:

Craig Titus. : 2nd degree murder

Kidnapping

Arson

Eligible for parole in 2026 -Still in prison

Kelly R. : Arson

Battery with a deadly weapon leading to bodily harm

Denied parole in 2011.
Out on parole as of 2017 after serving 9 years

(Kelly's mother died of a heart attack while Kelly was awaiting trial)

There are those that would have liked to see the death penalty for such a heinous crime. Then there are the more forgiving types that would like to see a paroled and rehabilitated Craig T. competing in Master Bodybuilding competitions in 2027.
Was Craig Titus a bad person or was he a victim of the effects of drugs and rage. There may be an argument for this. I worked as a bouncer in some of Edmonton's less reputable bars and observed that:

Booze in enough quantity can turn the nicest person into an annoying boor
Street drugs can turn the same person into an out-of control hooligan
Booze, and street drugs can turn this person into a violent devil.
Throw mood altering hormones such as anabolic steroids into the mix and you can have a pumped up, raging Anti Christ!
Anabolic steroids have been a controlled substance in the U.S.A. and Canada. This has made such substances more difficult to obtain from medical doctors. The modern sources are often the same same criminal groups that supply illegal drugs such as methamphetamine, ecstasy and cocaine. I can buy into the theory that someone such as a Craig T. could fall under the influence of these accompanying illicit drugs with dire consequences. Steroids have been known to cause 'Roid Rage'! Who knows what 'Roid Rage' and 'Meth Mania' can morph into?

It should also be noted that professional bodybuilding is not about health and fitness! It is an extreme lifestyle rife with chemical enhancement and extreme dieting.

You may buy into the theory that Craig Titus was under the control of demonic substances and unresolved anger management issues. Nevertheless, he is still an example of how the profession of Fitness Trainer can be painted with a taint of sleaze. Supplying drugs to clients is a dangerous game! Being involved in a horrific killing is as bad as it gets!
Craig Titus falls far short of the ideal Fitness Trainer role model. His potential was swallowed up by

excessive vice and poor judgement.