Following the Dream - One Year In

I'm getting to the point when I'm starting to see the reminders on Facebook of me taking my first steps towards starting my business. It took a series of events for me to even consider what I'm now doing, but in retrospect it was one of the best decisions of my life.

It started out in my third year of university, a friend of mine wanted to start training Muay Thai. We loved it. We picked up more martial arts classes where we could, it got to the point we were training different martial arts 4 or 5 times a week. I had trained some martial arts previously but I'd always dropped off. The major factor was probably that friends could no longer come to training with me and I lacked the confidence to go alone.

The same thing happened this time. To be fair to him, we were training a lot, and he had a girlfriend. The training/life balance is a factor I consider very important. If the scales tip too much in one direction the other can suffer. The difference for me this time was that my confidence was better, I was working with good coaches that kept me motivated and I was researching (and seeing the results) if dieting. I made an incredible weight loss that year. So much so, that when I mentioned my training/dieting to one of my lecturers he said; "oh that's good, I didn't want to mention anything in case you were ill", which I'll take as a compliment.

Through my goal for weight loss I found a real passion for martial arts. I trained as many styles as I could with the best coaches I could find. I came along quickly and developed an interesting mix of styles. When you see techniques from different arts, taught in different ways you see the reasons, benefits and mechanics around it. I think that's an important aspect of coaching, recognising the benefits of different arts and using what works best for you, or for your clients. The same can be said for other training methods. When I was on this 'weight loss journey' I built a small home gym in my parents garage. Similarly to the martial arts training I played about with different techniques, attended various fitness classes with good coaches and practised different training styles. I had previously attained my L2 Fitness Instructor Certificate to aid my own training, so I knew the basics about fitness training.

My studies were research based so I was expecting to get a job as a writer of some description. Go in to some post-grad job and work in an office for the rest of my life. I took some time out after my masters to go live (and work) in New Zealand. I spent six months there, it built my confidence again. I worked my first 'real' full time job,  I started training in competitive martial arts at an MMA gym and took my first two full contact fights.

When I came home I was determined to get a job quickly. I applied for all sorts of jobs, all over the country. I didn't have much luck. I had a light bulb moment when I was applying for a social media manager for a curtains and blinds company. You had to right a short essay on why you would fit the post. I was writing about my love for curtains and blinds when I thought to myself, 'I don't love curtains and blinds'. I re-wrote my cv to fit my fitness portfolio and started hammering out the cvs to local gyms, councils, anyone who had an email address.

I was invited to an interview for Tees Active, the first part was a practical, I had to take someone through a workout. I went to set off for my interview and my car wouldn't start. I'd left the lights on overnight and the battery was drained. I tried to bump start it pushing it up and down my street but couldn't get it running. I called my friend for a lift and made it there in time (just). I smashed the interview, I found that they are much easier if it's something you actually love doing. I was invited back to a sit-down interview and offered a 0-hour contract position.

I worked at Tees Active while I did my Personal Training L3 Certificate. I didn't take clients at their gyms but I took clients in my free time, coaching fitness and martial arts. At work they didn't really understand my drive. I wasn't there to work sales but I went above and beyond for the members. I loved the gyms and the members, but I had a real issue with the Managers. I used to think to myself, I wonder how much better this place could be if the people at the top actually had passion for this. Rather than just grinding out the sales.

After leaving Tees Active I started preparations for my own business. I was really nervous about it. I invested the money I had saved (which wasn't much) and started putting things in motion. My girlfriend had started working in Xercise 4 Less in Darlington so I went over to see it. I thought it might work well as I was training (and occasionally teaching) in Darlington. I reserved a position to PT out of there, on a self employed basis. I then looked for some advice and was recommended to visit 5 Lamps to get business advice and the helped fund me for some kit.

I had developed my home gym and it was a lot smarter than it had been years previously. I thought that I might run sessions there too, as well as over Darlington. My clients started trickling in, slowly at first. This was understandable, they want to be able to see what you can do, they want to know that you're good. My confidence wasn't great at first, I hadn't really dealt with paying clients, I was encountering different problems and had to find the solutions.

I was living on the bare minimum, investing every penny into the business. I worked hard, it was intense and 24/7. I found it very hard to switch off, and I still do. When I wasn't working I was researching, marketing and (still) training. For the first 6 months I was working with under 10 clients. Then I started getting results, I started getting recommended. I've seen some amazing changes in people, not just physically. Confidence change is the most noticeable. Both physical, and mental changes take some time. It's the most rewarding part of this business. I've seen my client base grow to over 30 active clients.

I feel that my relative success, so far, has come down to the fact that it's my passion. My clients see it. I keep my sessions fun (when possible) and try to make everyone laugh all the way through (it's great for the abs). I'm glad I suffered through the difficult times, the long hours and tight budget. It's allowed me to grow as a professional, a business and as a person. Now my biggest worry is going on holiday for a week, need to keep my guys motivated while I'm gone!

Positive Thinking, Positive Results

I don't want this to sound like your usual 'self help' article. I just want to share a few tips on making a positive impact on your lifestyle. Believing in yourself, your goals and your ability can make the real difference. When I first started my own fitness journey I didn't believe dramatic change was really attainable. When I started to see results I started to get compliments on social media and in person. People noticed the difference in me. That helped me through the harder times, when dieting was hard and training was gruelling.

In one of my classes, several years ago now, a fellow student came up to me and complimented my social media posts. He said that it 'inspired him', that's a hell of a motivator. To think that the positive influence you have on your own life can spread to others. One of the things that has motivated me to write this piece is that one of my clients recently had a positive influence on her friend. A short conversation regarding diet has led to her friend losing some weight. Her friend attributed it to my client's positive messages.

Complimenting someone's progress is a small step to give someone that extra boost. But it's not the only way that a positive mindset can help progress. To me, the most contributing factor is that you're not doing something you hate. I'll use weight loss as an example because there's a lot of people out there, just waiting to lose weight. But they are mentally preparing to take on a diet, or exercise, that they hate. That's the main barrier right there. Do something fun, do something you enjoy. Eat healthy but do it in your own way.

I'll look at exercise first. As a Personal Trainer I spend a lot of time developing training methods that I find most effective for my clients. Everyone is different so it's not a 'one size fits all' process. You have to take into account what the clients like, what keeps them motivated and the quickest way to their goal and that's before you look at any physical aspects. I usually use a lot of martial arts training, specifically pad work. Most of my clients really enjoy this part of the session. Enjoyment is key. If running on a treadmill isn't working for you, try a class, a sport, find something that you can enjoy while you burn those calories.

The next aspect is dieting. There's lots of ways to lose weight while dieting. As long as you create a calorific deficit you will reduce your body-fat. If you hate a diet, you are much less likely to stick to it. One of the reasons I bash low cab diets so much (even though I know they are effective) is because they are often unsustainable. Or at least they should be! Check out flexible dieting as it allows you to still fit in foods you like but promotes balancing it and calculating mathematically your recommended calorific intake. You're more likely to stick to a diet if it consists of foods that you enjoy.

Before I started training clients I knew that rapid weight loss and lifestyle improvement was possible. Now I know that all it takes is a positive, goal driven attitude. I've seen such massive improvements in many of my clients already, perhaps more than they can see. Not just in their weight, but their fitness, stills and even their confidence.

Positivity breeds positivity. If you're looking to improve your lifestyle then look for ways to do it which you can enjoy. It's not torture, it's a lifestyle change. Find something you enjoy doing, find a healthy eating programme that you can enjoy and feel more positive!

Why do YOU Need a Personal Trainer?

You don’t.

Don’t let me talk myself out of a job here. I’m just saying that there’s enough information out there to complete your goals on your own. If you do some research and gain a little experience then you can achieve your goals without the help of anyone. Personal Trainer or no Personal Trainer, it’s going to be you putting in the work. It’s going to be you controlling your diet and it’s going to be you sweating it out.

I’ve only ever had one personal training session. When I first started using the gym I was given two free PT sessions. I had 40 mins with a PT who stood there, disinterested while I struggled with a very basic workout. It wasn’t planned, it wasn’t geared towards my goals. To their credit they did explain why we were doing what, dropping some knowledge bombs on me which I absorbed like a sponge. But in the end I was so put off that I didn’t redeem my other session.

One thing I did get from that session was Motivation. It’s one of the most important things a PT can offer. I put my all into that session because someone else was telling me what to do. You have an appointment at a certain time, you are going there, and you are going to train. A good PT will push you to your limits, without risking your health. If you’ve had a hard day at work and head to the gym, you may be tempted to put less effort in or cut your session short. A PT will make sure that you are working hard every session. That you stay motivated and geared towards your goals. Motivation doesn’t just cover the physical aspect. I spend most days reading up on training methods and experimenting with new methods. Maybe I was lucky. When I started training, I was at University, I had the time to put in my research and attend lots of fitness classes. That isn’t a luxury that everyone has.

The next point I’ll cover is Preparation. Diet is easy, you plan your meals based around your BMR (Base Metabolic Rate) with your activity level factored in. You then calculate your required calorie intake then plan a serious of meals that gives you an appropriate deficit for the results you are after (for weight loss). That system is a little complicated for me, so I break down the calories into macros (Macronutrients). Then you plan your workouts, this will stop you slacking off. Depending on your goals this differs massively from person to person. A few pointers would be to hit everywhere so as to avoid muscle imbalances, check posture, and pick appropriate weights, appropriate exercises and plan around your life. With fitness programmes and diet plans you may reach a plateau. To keep the momentum I’d look at mixing it up every 4-6 weeks (at least). A good PT will help you with this as there’s a lot of conflicting information on the internet, especially about diet. I have tried to explain, in detail, about diet and training in some of my other blog posts, so take a look!

Efficiency, for me, is the primary purpose of a PT.  It’s not about getting you to your target. You can do that alone if you have the motivation. It’s about getting to your target quickly. A well-structured diet plan and fitness programme will help you achieve your goals without the complications. As I will keep reiterating in this blog. I did this largely myself. I trained in some good classes with some good coaches and some friends who shared my passion for training. I learnt what I could from every one of them. There’s lots of styles and they all work (in their own way). I always look for the quickest way. People don’t want to forever chase their goals. They want to achieve them and move onto the next one. When I first started out I trained with a gym partner who was very keen on biology, so he often talked about the science behind certain things. It was very interesting but I lacked the motivation to do my own research. He progressed much faster than me, due to better diet and more logical training. I therefore took a L2 Gym Instructor course. To supplement my own training. I lifted weights (on and off) for 7 years without seeing much difference. I enjoyed it but I’d phase in and out as my lack of progress made my motivation flag. At university I studied History. Does this help with my current occupation? You’re damn right it does. The most important skill you learn is separating fact from fiction. I’m very quick at researching and I am very good at it. Even so, I’ve hit so many speed bumps on my own journey. So much so, that I count experience as one of my main assets now.

The last point I’ll go over is Separating Fact from Fiction. Globally, fitness is an $80 billion industry. That’s just from health clubs, now you have access to much more, internet coaches, brands, supplements, classes, juices, smoothies, diet prep, cookbooks, the list goes on. Everyone is trying to sell you something. Even this blog. I’m hoping you look at it and think, ‘actually, that sounds like a lot of work, this guy knows what he’s talking about…’.  At the same time, I’m only in this industry because of the positive impact it had on my own life. If you can do it on your own, then get to it and show everyone what you can do. If you want to run questions by me, drop me a message, I’d be happy to help. 

When I joined a certain chain of discount gyms (which I won’t name) we were given a ‘free business seminar worth £400!!!’. I turned up, excited to learn how I was going to grow my business. But they lost me within the first hour. The guy leading the session said,
“raise your hand if you’re in this industry to help people”. We all raised our hands. He then said, “raise your hand if you’re in this industry for the money”. Nobody moved.
“Wrong” he told us.
“It’s about making money”. Now this didn’t sit right with me. I left the course at the lunchtime interval (I think I want £200 back). This is the problem with the fitness industry. There is so much money in it that everyone is trying to make their piece. For many, it's not about passion, it's about sales. There is so much access to information that it leads to disinformation. Your PT, if they’re good, will sift through all the rubbish to find what will really produce results.

Which brings us back full circle. A PT will give you the motivation. A good PT will lend you their motivation. They will make your journey as quick and efficient as possible. They will offer you the advice you need. They will do their best to make your journey as quick and painless as possible. And (dare I say it) they might even make it fun. I’ve met a lot of good PTs along the way, all great in their own ways. I now consider myself among them. A good PT.

But you don’t need a PT.

Or do you?