Life often throws us completely unexpected challenges that can derail our best health and fitness intentions. This was the case with Elaine and after a challenging year she decided it was time to get back to feeling fit, strong and healthy.
“I had a challenging year where I was plodding on with life but not really doing anything. My weight was starting to creep up and my iron levels were plummeting so I decided that i needed to take back full control.
I had seen Shauna and the effect it had had on her so I decided to give it a shot. (Elaine is referring to Shauna Donovan)
I had a trip to new Zealand planned for 6 months time so I just wanted to get started, see if it was for me and now I’m totally addicted.
I had rowed in as a teenage, tried running but it wasn’t for me and love walking so I was active but wasn’t the most sporty person.
I’m not a lover of gym, don’t like mirrors and don’t want to see myself exercising so it was a change for me. After talking to Shauna and seeing how good she was looking and feeling I got started.
My first goal was simply to get my head back on track and feel better in myself and my health and fitness was a part of that. I also wanted to get my weight back to it’s previous level of 64kg This was a secondary goal to getting my head in better shape but I have achieved that since joining.
Once I was brave enough, I put a goal of getting my first push up on the goals board and it did motivate me.
I’d be my own worst critic but the coaches see more in you than you’d see yourself and I can now do 5 and have my goals on getting my first chin up down the line!!
I’m much more confident in the gym and don’t find it as scary as I used to.
The atmosphere in the gym is great. The members that are there are brilliant. While everyone e is there for their own reasons, they push you on, congratulate you and motivate you- it’s great to be able to do it as a team.
I also love the fact that there ups a always a coach there for you all the time. If I just walked into a gym on my own I wouldn’t know where to start and even if I did, i don’t think the motivation would be there.
I do 3 days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at 7am which really suits me as I work full time and can get my workout done before my working day starts. I delighted to say that unless I was out of the country, I haven’t missed any session since joining!!
I feel more energised, fitter, and stronger- I recently loaded 100kg of compound into a wheelbarrow and sifted it into the shed- I could never have done that before yet i did it without ever thinking. To be honest, I probably won’t ever do it again 🙂
Getting my food on track was a bit of a challenge at the start, especially if there was too much unhealthy food in the house and family members weren’t of the same mindset. I have gotten them eating a bit healthier so thats good.”
We asked Elaine what advice she would give to anyone on the fence about getting started on their own journey:
‘Just get started and see how you get on. Most people are scared and intimidated to join gyms because they are looking at the stronger, fitter clients and comparing themselves but it’s not that sort of gym. When I started I was looking at women doing push up on the ground deadlifting, etc. and now I am doing that stuff. You just need to get over that fear and get started.”
If Elaines’ story has inspired you to et started on your own journey, take a minute to click the link below to get started on your own journey.
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