We’re celebrating you for Never Give up day!
Do you have any success stories in the world of fitness, coming back from injury, breaking a PB or entering the gym for the very first time… we’d love to hear from you by emailing us below:
I joined a year ago I come at least 4 times a week.
I do strength training and cardio in the gym. I started off doing 30mins I’m now in there over an hour as the more.
I got use to the equipment. I felt like I wanted to spend longer in there. I was a newbie before joining Linda gave me my induction and was amazing. I also swim after to relax the muscles but I love it so much I’ve managed to get a couple of my friends to join also. I take part in classes such as aqua fit, clubersize and yoga. The whole team are amazing and always there to help it’s such a wonderful community and I’m glad to be part of it. I feel my fitness levels have improved dramatically
Also I go away on my first holiday abroad this year and the confidence I now have in myself feels amazing so a big massive thank you to the team for making me feel comfortable and enjoy my time with use. All in, I’m down 4 stone.
I joined the gym a little over 1.5 years ago after being overweight for some time. This was from a combination of a high stress lifetyle, bad eating habits and very little excercise. So I knew something had to change. Before I even stepped foot in the gym I made an intentional effort to to a life laundry and took time out to assess and reflect on my bad habits. I changed my sleep routine to get 8 hours in, did an review of my medication and reduced or slowly stopped ones which were no longer needed and were just on repeat with the help of my GP and distanced myself from toxic personalities and relationships privately and professionally. This improved my mental health and wellness almost immediately. The weight started to very slowly come off a pound at a time.
I then reviewed my food intake and reduced takeaways and removed the delivery apps from mobile. This really helped and the weight reduced more. The next step was increase water intake and see what I was actually eating. I realised a lot of the time I was eating not when I was hungry but out of habitual routine or because I was dehydrated and didn’t realise. More weight was lost. I focused on what I should eat and not what I shouldn’t. So I increased fruit, veg and salads and whole nuts – not rocket science. I reduced sugar, salt, carbs like bread, chocolate, snacks, fatty fried foods and alcohol. More weight was lost. This process took about 6 months or so and I had lost 2 stones and counting and still no real change in exercise.
Only once I had started putting these measures in place I thought about a gym membership. I joined and paid for the annual membership up front which meant I was all in so I had to attend. The induction was booked and gym bag packed.
First step. New experience. Nerves rose. Xcel centre staff made it feel so comfortable. I was guided around and shown the facilities. Pool. Gym. Studio for classes, changing rooms and spa area. I booked in for my first gym session. I really didnt know how to use the machines but the staff were approachable, friendly and non judgemental. They helped. I was shown around the machines and how they operated and away I went. I was hot, sweaty, self conscious but did it. 5 mins on 1 machine 10 on the next some I lasted 2 mins and so on. It felt great afterwards. An hour later I had done it completed day 1 of the gym! I had got a feel for which machines I liked and which I didn’t. I’m not a running on a treadmill girl but fast walking, raising your heat beat and feeling hot means you are burning calories regardless yep that will do for me.
The main thing was I wasn’t put off instead I headed to the sauna to relax followed by the steam room then a dip in the jacuzzi. The next day my muscles ached because they hadn’t been used in so long. I saw this as a positive (no pain gain they say) and I ran a bath with epsom salts and was back to normal quickly afterwards. The next week i went back and this happened again and again. Each time my confidence increased.
The time I spent in the gym increased and I started to do more. Slowly I started booking in classes for yoga, pilates, aqua aerobics, bodypump and others. One day a week went to up to 2 times. 1 class increased to 2 a week and so it went on until sometimes now I am at the gym at least 3 times a week doing several classes sometimes in 1 day, in combination with the actual gym and swimming finished with chill out time in the spa. Some weeks are better than others but the key is being consistant. The weight had taken time to put on so it would take time to come off. Thats what I told myself. I said kind things to myself this shouldn’t be minimised as it was essential. Its what drove me and motivated me and encouraged me especially on those dark wet cold and rainy days when you just cant be bothered. I realised I can do it in fact I was doing it. I kept going and didn’t give up.
Fast forward to now 1.5 years on. I have made new friends have my, have my own routines and have lost 7 stones thats nearly 45kg! This was a couple of pounds a week over a period of time including maintaining this new lifestyle outside the gym and at home. Don’t get me wrong I still eat what I actually enjoy but in moderation and portions are visibly smaller. I’m still me, but feel healthier, happier and know I’ve become stronger not just physically but mentally.
This year I climbed Mount Snowdon for the first time for charity. It was an amazing experience. I laughed, I cried and was helped along the way in parts with encouraging words from strangers and before I knew it I was at summit. And like my weightloss journey it was all about taking that first step, keep going, pushing forward, not giving up but critically looking in and up and around. If I can do then anyone can. With a will to change, and to do anything is possible. My mantra is Deep breaths and Small steps. Its free and it works!
So to anyone starting out on their journey be kind to yourself. What works for one person may not for another but it’s about learning to do whats right for you and building on that. Doing as much or as little as you can but remembering that you are actually doing it and then allowing yourself to feel the emotion after whatever that is whether its pride or joy or that little voice inside of you saying well done you got this as thats what will keep you going forward and climbing your own mountains.
March this year my mother got diagnosed with her triple negative breast cancer, which is the most serious and dangerous type of cancer anybody can be diagnosed with. I chose to make a positive action through a fundraiser by swimming 20km across the month of June for Cancer Research raising a total of £1,405.
Watching someone you love go through treatment, fear, and uncertainty changed your whole perspective on life. Through the fundraiser, I wanted to raise awareness about breast cancer, support the women and families affected by it, and remind every woman out there how important early checks and support can be.
