My fitness journey started around 11 long years ago, and throughout this time I’ve found that my commitment to a healthier lifestyle led to a much happier me.
When I moved out of the family home at 21, I was overweight and ate a lot of sugar and fat packed treats, as well as having the excessive boozing habits expected of a Glasgow student. The only exercise I got was whatever passed as dancing on nights out. Despite me being unhappy with my weight, I had little motivation or knowledge about healthy eating or physical activity - but having to fend for myself changed that...
Suddenly not having my mum making all my meals and not having enough money for takeaways meant I had to cook for myself! I ended up experimenting with new food and cooking techniques and found I really enjoyed it. I realised something then; with some cheap ingredients and a bit of organisation I could make some tasty food that was also healthy (which my new flatmates loved!).
After a few weeks of cooking for myself, I noticed I had way more energy and I soon started walking more, moving away from my sedentary lifestyle to a more active one. Surprise surprise, I began to notice some weight loss which in turn made me feel great - eventually this gave me the confidence to join a gym. Over the years in the gym I discovered how determined and focused I could be; I started to enjoy regular circuit classes with friends and planning personalised gym sessions to fit around my social life. I made the sessions work for me by adding a few personal touches, like watching back to back Friends episodes to keep me occupied whilst undertaking long stints of cardio on the treadmill or cross trainer (let’s just say season 9 era Ross Geller was an excellent training companion!). I really can’t emphasise enough the positive impact this routine had on my body and wellbeing.
Like most people my fitness goals changed over time – my main motivation, in the beginning, was to lose weight and be healthier, but once my weight stabilised I felt it was time to bulk up. This presented a different challenge, which involved eating like I used to, but just better! The truth of it is that I did all this for myself. I didn’t do it to look good on the beach, or to impress anyone, ultimately it was to feel healthier and happier. I did it because I had the determination to better myself, and I succeeded. That’s not to say that I didn’t receive any help along the way - I have also learned from trainers and coaches over the years – as the value a professional adds can help you go that step further, but fitness also starts from within. Now, I’m focused on maintaining my physique whilst living my life the way I want to and helping others live more active healthy lifestyles.
Being passionate about fitness and food led me to retrain as a personal trainer, coach and nutritional advisor. Having the qualifications and concrete knowledge behind my own personal experiences has been really important to my own personal growth, now I want to share this with others.
So today? I still love cooking from scratch and eating well, which is easier than you think. I have a personalised workout schedule – which involves exercising 3-5 times a week on my current plan – and I get to be happy, fit and focused.
If you feel like it’s time for a change in your life, then my coaching programmes could be for you. I’ve been there, done it I understand the challenges you will face and the thoughts that go through your mind, but the end goal is to be happy right? Happiness is achievable, and happiness through healthy living and eating is a solid foundation.
Now - who’s ready to start their journey?
