During his military service, Jim Sayih became involved in powerlifting, strongman competitions and bodybuilding. In 1987 he joined the City of Miami Police Department. Sayih entered the Toughest Cop Alive competition, winning a number of medals in the Police Olympics. He pursued his fitness interest by obtaining certification as a health-fitness instructor through the American College of Sports Medicine, the Cooper Institute and the National Council on Strength & Fitness, and soon thereafter started providing fitness presentations to his police department.
When MET-Rx approached the Miami PD about conducting a field study, Sayih agreed to direct the project. At the conclusion of the study, he was asked to direct he same project throughout the country. Sayih explains how that sparked his entrepreneurial interest and led to the incorporation of his company, 911 Fitness. "I conducted bodyfat-reduction field studies for police and fire departments in Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, St. Louis, Cambridge, Dallas and Miami. My involvement brought a genuine satisfaction in that I witnessed, firsthand, many positive lifestyle changes for some participants who were heart-attack prospects. I saw the opportunity to build a career and, shortly thereafter, 911 Fitness became incorporated."
Today, Sayih still conducts ongoing training programs for police officers and firefighters, operates a supplement product distributorship for Labrada Nutritional Systems, and conducts seminars and appearances to further spread his important message of physical fitness.
August 2000 MUSCLE & FITNESS 199