One of my earliest clients as a personal trainer, let’s call her Marianne, was an incredibly dedicated young woman.
She was determined, disciplined, and ready to dive headfirst into the world of health, fitness and to get into amazing shape.
She was on a mission to lose weight and had a clear goal: she wanted to be lean and strong.
Marianne was one of my hardest-working clients, always first in the gym and last to leave, and she tracked her food intake religiously.
Despite her dedication, I noticed something.
Marianne’s pursuit of her fitness goals was taking over her life.
She became obsessed with the numbers – her weight, the calories she consumed, the calories she burned, and the number of weekly workouts.
She would be gutted if she missed even a single workout or went slightly over her calorie limit.
Her journey for health and fitness, which should have been empowering and life-enhancing, quickly became a source of stress and guilt.
This experience with Marianne made me realise that health and fitness should be about adding to your life, not taking away from it.
It made me understand that being in the fitness industry, my role wasn’t just to count reps and set dietary plans, but also to help people forge a healthy relationship with their bodies and their lives.
Now, as the co-owner of THQ Group, with currently six gyms, and an online members platform, I see and speak to a lot more Mariannes.
They come with their goals, determination, and fitness apps, all set to count every calorie and every step.
It pains me to see them equating their self-worth with the figures on their fitness apps, feeling guilty for not hitting that 10,000-step mark, or occasionally indulging in their favourite foods.
Don’t get me wrong, when on a 12-week shoot, for example, there has to be a short period of time to knuckle down.
And when I see members do this, I’m absolutely buzzing as I know they will be the leanest they’ve ever been.
The beauty is that this is just temporary, and they don’t have to be quite as obsessed once they have achieved their body shape goal.
But here’s what I also tell them, and what I want to tell you too.
Health, fitness and staying in shape is not just about the numbers.
It’s about how you feel, both physically and mentally.
It’s about waking up with energy, carrying shopping bags or playing with kids without getting winded.
It’s about feeling strong, confident, and happy.
Of course, tracking your progress is important, especially when you’re working towards specific goals.
But don’t let the numbers dictate your life.
Stay calm if you hit 9,000 steps instead of 10,000 or if you have a slice of cake at your best friend’s wedding.
Your worth is not defined by these numbers.
What truly matters is the bigger picture: a balanced lifestyle.
It’s about making healthy choices most of the time but also allowing yourself some flexibility to enjoy life’s pleasures.
It’s about working out to feel good, not just to burn calories.
Remember, the goal of fitness is to support and enhance your life, not to add stress or guilt.
So let’s focus on the journey rather than the destination.
Let’s learn to celebrate our small victories, forgive our small slip-ups, and above all, let’s remember to enjoy the process.
After all, fitness is a way of life, not a punishment for enjoying life.
Ryan