Posted on August 22, 2016 by Jenny Cromack
When I first started working as a personal trainer I think I misjudged how rewarding a job it would be. My clients make me proud on a daily basis from digging keep to hit that extra rep or making changes to improve their diet. Any fitness journey isn’t easy but starting from scratch nearly 18 years since you last were fit is very impressive.
This is what Simon, one of our gym and class members, did. Simon started out training with us at some classes we held at the place he worked, and has since joined the gym and comes to classes at our Marshall Court studio. Simon always puts 100% into every class and workout and is a great motivation to others. Here’s Simon’s fitness journey…..
‘Two years ago I was about to get married I was also coming up to my 40th birthday and the middle age spread had started to show itself. Then at work an email flyer went out about the possibility of a fitness class at work so I sat down with my soon to be wife to see if she would be interested in signing up as I thought it would be fun way for us both to get fitter together.
So day one of the Rosemont fitness class and I’d come over to the meeting rooms early to remove the tables and chairs to create space for the class and then,surprisingly, nervously waited wondering what torture awaited.
I’d never done a fitness class before I’d ran a couple of half marathons in my early 20’s and thought my base fitness levels weren’t too bad, how wrong was I. We’d barely finished the warm up and I was sweating, out of breath, thirsty and thinking I’d maybe made a mistake! Christ I thought…..I’m not that fit at all….10 push-ups seemed to take an eternity and I struggled to get up of the floor afterwards but the wonderful Lucy kept encouraging us all and somehow we all made it through our first class.
I got home and I felt great NOT! The initial endorphin rush has subsided and I couldn’t walk up the stairs to take my 2 year old son up to bed, why did I do this? But I looked down at Toby and that was the number one reason. I didn’t want to be the unfit dad, I wanted to play football, rugby and ride bikes with him. I didn’t want to be the dad in the park just sitting there while the kids have all the fun, I want to be in the memories not just watching them made from the sideline.
I really loved the classes at work even though there were various fitness levels, everyone worked hard but most of all everyone had fun. I’m not going to mention any of the conversations that we had (what happens in class stays in class lol). Personally, my fitness levels improved and my diets a little better. The classes are not just about push-ups,squats lunges it’s about information, what we put in our bodies is just as important if not more than the exercises.
A few months in and it’s bad news, after a fall at home and few months in hospital my mum died….she was only 65. My dad had died a few years earlier aged 60, so this brings me to reason number two for wanting to be fitter and healthier. I want to look forward to retiring at 60 (65 at the latest) and I want to enjoy it! I don’t want to grow old and sit in a chair all day dreaming of my youth……I want to dance, travel, have fun with the grandkids. I want to be fun grandpops and I want my kids to be telling me off for getting their kids into mischief.
So about a year in and I’m feeling the fittest I never felt but numbers at the Rosemont fitness class are dwindling and unfortunately Jenny had a call to make to cancel the class. Noooooooooo! What are we going to do?
Lucy to the rescue again, we decided if Lucy can’t come to us we will have to go Lucy, no more Wednesday 5pm Rosemont fitness class now it’s at Thursday 6pm round the corner at Motive8 Marshall Court studio and I make a decision….not only am I joining a new class I’m joining the gym as well! I definitely been bitten by the fitness bug and I’m loving it.
The Marshall Court Massive, well what a great bunch of people. I can honestly say it’s not just a gym, it really feels like a community. Everybody made me feel welcome which really helps with the goals I’ve set myself. Since I started, no matter how big or small the goal, I’ve not been able to accomplish them without the help and support from the trainers and my friends (so many new ones from the classes and gym members) and my hugely supporting wife.
And do you know what?! It’s working! People are actually commenting, wow have you lost weight? Actually no I’ve actually put weight on (I’m 2kg heavier than I started 2 years ago) but I have lost some body fat and gain some muscle mass.
Every month I sit down and think, what can I do different or better this month? This could be something as simple as drink less beer when I’m at the Rhinos game (always struggle with that one), cook more (6 packs are made in the kitchen not the gym) or the suns out go for a run on a Sunday morning but most of the time I’ll try to focus on making sure that my form is good and to make sure I don’t listen to that little voice in my head…..yes, you know the one we all have that tells us your tired, you can go to the gym tomorrow or ooh I’ve not seen this film before, go on sit down get a pizza you can catch a class another day.
So 2 years in and it’s definitely a lifestyle change not just a fitness fad and I’m feeling great! I’m fitter than I’ve ever been, I’ve still got a lot of improving but my fitness journey isn’t over yet. I’m more confident (suns out guns out), I’ve just completed my first Toughmudder event, my third motive8 games and now preparing for the Major series in October definitely wouldn’t have been able to do the kids mini mudder 2 years ago let alone the main event (12 miles up hill and down dale and 26 obstacles) I would have probably laughed at you and gone to the pub instead!
Why classes? For me I get the same sort of feeling taking a class as I do taking part in team events, if I’m struggling I can look across and I can see my “team mates” battling through and I know I can’t give up. And the banter helps too.
Saturday morning gym sessions that’s just my time, get down early get done what I need to get done then the rest of the day is free for family fun.
So that’s it my journey so far….lots of new friends have been made, challenges conquered and new ones made, long may it continue because there’s one thing I’m sure of, I’m not quitting.