2 years ago a couple sat in front of me and said something I’ve heard loads of times.
“We nearly didn’t come. We thought we’d be the slowest ones.”
They’d actually sat in the car outside for 10 minutes arguing about it.
Mid 40s.
Busy jobs.
Kids.
A bit heavier than they used to be.
Not massively overweight.
Just uncomfortable.
Avoiding photos.
Tugging at tops.
They assumed everyone inside would be fitter, faster, further ahead.
That fear nearly stopped them sorting it.
Fast forward.
They’ve both done shoots with us.
Lean. Strong. Healthy.
The sort of shape that looks normal in clothes but sharp on a beach.
He dropped over 1 stone in the first 5 months.
Waist down 4 inches.
She built proper shape in her shoulders and legs for the first time in her life.
And here is the bit that no one expects.
They’ve never once crawled off the floor.
Never once been screamed at.
Never once done a session that ruined their week.
No hero workouts.
Just graft done properly.
3 full body strength sessions per week.
Rest between sets.
Progress the weights slowly.
8,000 to 10,000 steps most days.
3 high protein meals a day.
Carbs still in.
Protein at every meal.
When progress stalled, we tightened things up.
They tracked calories for a few weeks whilst on a shoot.
Not forever.
Just long enough to get momentum back.
Weekends weren’t a free for all.
That’s where most people mess it up.
If you “relax” every Friday night to Sunday night, that’s 40 percent of your week off plan.
Instead, we treat 3 weekends out of 4 like normal days.
Still 3 protein based meals.
Still sensible portions.
Reduce the snacking.
Keep booze to 1 or 2 drinks, not 6.
Then once a month, fine.
Proper relaxed weekend.
Meal out.
Dessert.
Few drinks.
No guilt.
Then straight back on it Monday.
That rhythm works.
And this is where I get a bit opinionated ha!
The fitness industry keeps pushing harder, louder, more extreme.
Workouts that look savage.
People flat on the floor in a puddle of sweat.
Everyone chasing times.
It looks impressive.
But impressive and effective aren’t the same thing.
If a workout makes you dread walking in, you won’t last.
And if you don’t last, nothing changes.
You don’t need to train like you’re entering an event.
If you want to just tone up and define, drop a few pounds, feel more energetic and fit in smaller clothes, you just need:
- 3 proper strength sessions a week.
- Progression on basic lifts.
- Enough steps so you’re not sat all day.
- Protein at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Snacks cut back.
- Booze under control.
- Sleep sorted.
That’s it.
It’s not sexy.
It doesn’t make a good highlight reel.
But do that for 6 months and your body changes.
Do it for 12 months and people start asking what you’ve been doing.
The couple who nearly didn’t come didn’t need extreme.
They needed something they could repeat next week.
And the week after that.
If part of you sees hardcore workouts online and thinks, “I’m not sure that’s for me” that’s not weakness.
That’s you knowing you’ve got a job, a life, a body that needs looking after.
You don’t need theatre.
You need consistency.
And consistency isn’t loud.
It’s just done.
-Ryan
PS
If you’re reading this thinking, “That sounds more like me” we’ve got a small handful of openings across a few locations right now.
Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Don’t sit in the car for another 6 months overthinking it.
Hit the button below and grab more information…