No Pain, No Gain

Sure, we've all heard the saying "no pain, no gain" and it's quite true... those painful muscles are results... but when it's that first week back at gym, your adrenaline is pumping and you're over excited so you tell yourself you're going to push through the pain because of the old saying and you find that every single second, was so worth it!

From my experience, I've found that the pain serves as a reminder of how hard you worked in your training session and how much you have achieved thus far. It serves as a push mechanism, to keep the momentum going. But most importantly, it serves as a NO, when looking at that delicious cake at your friend's birthday celebration and reminding yourself that you've eaten healthy all week, you've changed your lifestyle and you feel so much healthier than what you did when you started.

For myself, eating healthy was a problem, so i started preparing my meals and buying a weekly supply of healthy snacks for when I'm at work or on the go... then it was packing my gym bag, so I'd pack it the night before and leave it in the car, so that excuse is out of the way too. Then there was the actual going to gym mission. So my bag is packed, it's in the car and I've gotten to gym... but now I sit in the car and tell myself I can come back tomorrow, I can train tomorrow, or even the day after...

This, dear friends, is the hardest part of training... getting myself to get out of my car and inside the gym, but once I'm inside, I'm surround by all these fit, lean, toned bodies... So I have to remind myself, but that'll be me one day, all I have to do is keep going to the gym.

So if you ever see me at the gym, not working as hard as I should, push me, encourage me, support me... because the mission to gym, was not easy and I know that isn't exactly your problem, but I'm certain, I am not alone.

After all of the above, a session has been attended, I have tried my best and slowly but surely, I feel my fitness level increasing and my strength improving... and we're back to square one with sore muscles and and aching body... but at the end of all this, I look back at my weekly challenges and achievements and I tell myself that I can only improve from here. I have the opportunity to look at where I went wrong and make improvements. Onwards and upwards. Happy training everyone!

I'm Back!!

For a number of reasons, I have been inactive for over a year, which obviously means that I haven’t been living my best lifestyle... Thankfully, 360 Specialized Training came along at just the right time... I had decided that I'd run out of excuses, and that there was no better time than now. Four different programmes were devised (Drop, Lean, Strong, Girl) and are currently running at the gym. You’ll find more information on these programmes on the website.

When I saw the post on the 360ST Facebook account, I figured why not give it a shot... I know how to train, they have classes and now they’ve laid these programmes down which means that they’re there to my advantage. The initiation to the gym was pretty simple, I was given an optional day and time to meet with Chris Walsh, owner of 360ST, who spent some time explaining the programme and showing me around. My heart obviously melted when I reached the boxing section... we all know my first true love (**,)

So 3 days after having been given access to the gym to do this programme, I make my first appearance. 

Being nervous was an understatement, because 1. I’ve been inactive for over a year, 2. I did not know a single person, not even the lady at reception, 3. I had no idea what to expect and I think that not knowing what to expect was what left me with the feeling of bolting out the door before class even started (please note that this did not happen, despite it being a long thought process, haha)

Generally, people prefer group sessions at the gym, classes specifically... but why though? Why would anyone want to be told what to do, when they have the option of doing whatever they want to? The answer to that is really simple- knowledge... Convenience aside, let’s all be honest, the coach or trainer who hands out instructions and motivates you along the way, is usually the person who knows exactly what they’re doing... 

This brings me to my first experience at 360, the Cardio Blast class, lead by Chris Walsh. 

If I were to be completely honest, I would say that it appears that everyone that trains at 360 is super fit and slides through sessions with ease... But if that were to be the case, why would they keep coming back? Well, because it’s nothing like that. 

The sessions are challenging and intense... people fall down, they lose their breath and they feel the burn of the muscles that they’re working, but you know what makes it all worthwhile... the fact that you chose to be there, the fact that you chose to keep going, and most importantly, the person that you didn’t know anything about before the session, who is now cheering you on with encouraging and motivating words and suggestions to #MakeFitYourLifestyle