All sweat, no excuses - Personal trainer

Just 2 examples of the absolute bull 💩 that is being used to exploit the many vulnerable women who are so insecure and desperate they will try ANYTHING to lose weight!! There was another lot of tripe advertised to do with sticking some crap in your belly button!! I mean WTF??

How low do these companies want to sink in order to ROB people of their money!! They are preying on peoples desperation!

Ladies (and gents) I am begging you DO NOT GET SUCKED IN TO THIS S**T!!

There are so many gimmicks out there and it breaks my heart when people contact me after being fooled by this stuff. Honestly guys, if there was some magic device/pill we’d all be using it, selling it and we’d all be skinny!!

Calories in V calories out, that’s it!!

I know I’ve been a little absent on this page for a bit and I’ve continually said that I’m back but truth is I wasn’t ready.

Lockdown had a bigger impact on me than I thought. Not just physically but mentally. All that hard work gone because I was juggling too much stress.

Homeschooling
The unknown of how Poppy’s body would deal with covid.
Closing down one business to struggle to maintain this one when i couldn’t do anything with it.
Paying bills with no income.
Finishing courses that I didn’t know if there was any point because I wasn’t sure if I’d have a business left at the end of it.
And general life 💩
I couldn’t train or swim, I couldn’t escape the house, I couldn’t get a costa!!

After Lockdown I needed to stay away and work on me but I was still trying to do everything else on top and ultimately I was failing. I was doubting my ability to help you guys if I couldn’t even sort myself out. I’ve always maintained that training for me is more mental than physical, it’s where I get to release, where I can get lost. So I gave myself a kick up the ass and at the beginning of March I started back on it.

Starting weight was 75.5 which meant a nearly 10kg gain from pre lockdown.

I got the brand new studio, some great equipment and I’ve been doing my own training on and off while fully tracking my food intake.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve not gone back on what I’ve been saying, I’ve still been enjoying myself, eating pizza (not through lent, I blame Poppy🤦🏻‍♀️) and last night guzzled some Reece’s pieces. I’ve just made sure it all fits into my plan. I’ve not tried to hide behind excuses.

So fast forward to today, 71.6kg, body comp looking good and I’m starting to get back to where I was mentally. I’ve got a little way to go but I’m in a better place now!

So watch this space, I may actually be back this time!! 💪🏼❤️

This week so far I have received 3 messages from people asking for help, they’ve followed an ‘influencers’ fitness video and subsequently injured themselves.

Little note:-

Just because they’ve popped a video on Instagram or YouTube doesn’t mean they know s**t about fitness/exercise. Most couldn’t care wether you follow them correctly or even if they are doing the exercises correctly themselves!! All they care about is their engagement and payments from IG/FB/YT. As they aren’t ‘instructing’ you they have no relevant insurance or even have to accept any liability.

There are plenty of qualified trainers out here who put our all into making videos with not only correct form but will also demonstrate alternatives for beginners or those who may struggle.

Please STOP risking your health for some love island/gogglebox/‘celeb’ who isn’t going to pay your wages/bills when you have to call in sick!!

Always seek advice from a gp before starting any exercise programme and follow guidance from a qualified trainer who actually gives a s**t about their clients.

Hey, so yes I’m aware I’ve been absent lately, but to be fair you know me, if I’ve nothing to say I generally don’t.

But in all honesty there’s been a few reasons.

We’ve all shared Covid
The dog punched the window (yep big hole in windown, and his leg 🤦🏼‍♀️)
Some family bits and pieces
I couldn’t be arsed

And the more important one………We have a new home!!! 🎉

Bigger, better, warmer lol. We are still working on the space and can’t wait to start using it to its full potential. Watch this space!! 💪🏼

Oh god I’m fat
HELP ive fallen off the wagon
I can’t stop eating
I’ve eaten too much
I’ve let you down
I’ve let myself down

These are some of the messages, conversations or fb posts over the last few days from you lot and I’m here to tell you to BEHAVE!! Why are we associating it with doing something bad? It’s not illegal to eat and be merry so stop putting such a negative spin on it!

You’ve not fallen off anything, you’ve relaxed and enjoyed the Christmas season with your friends and family. You’ve let your hair down and nothing else!! Did you have fun? Yes, so what’s your problem?

Firstly let’s put this into context - it’s 1 week in 52!! If you’ve been eating well and exercising before that then 1 week won’t do much harm. Plus, you know you’ll get back to it when you want to. Your body will adapt quickly.

And before you hit me with ‘yeah but what about……’ ok so 1 week at Christmas, 1 week for your birthday and say, 2 weeks in the summer 🤷🏻‍♀️ that’s ONLY 4 weeks in 52!!! You have another 48 weeks to weigh food and obsess over macros etc. You’ve potentially been miserably counting calories for 48 weeks, give yourself a break!!

I’ve been no saint, I’ve tracked NOTHING the past 2 weeks, 1 from illness and the other because ‘F& it, it’s Christmas’ is definitely one of my favourite sayings in December. I’ve lived off party sausage rolls and cheese, haven’t stepped foot in the gym and currently resemble Jaba the huts (more attractive) twin! 😉

Do I care? No, I’ve had a ball. Am I stressing and reaching for the Kale smoothies? Stuff that!! The kids are off, man person off, so I’m going to enjoy this time with them then jump back in the gym when I want to, not when some muppet on fb or insta shames me into it!

All these ‘fitness’ companies will be coming out the woodwork for the ‘new year, new me’ peeps shaming people into joining their memberships and 30 day plans and no doubt they will make you feel ashamed, but that’s kind of their marketing strategy. Ignore them, they aren’t you. Enjoy your time and get back into it when YOU are ready!! 🍾💪🏼 x

Do you know you should………’
‘Why don’t you……….’ - (Do bootcamps, have an app, do videos, the list goes on)

Both sentences are said to me regularly when it comes to my business. My response is always the same - BECAUSE I DONT WANT TO!

That’s the joy of being self employed, I no longer have to do anything I don’t want to. Now don’t get me wrong, they are all great ideas, they will all make me money. But anyone who knows me knows I don’t do this for the money. It’s called Dead money to me.

I have absolutely no intention of being the next Joe Wicks or James Smith. I see no point in spending my day copy and pasting the same drivel that other trainers post purely to boost their own ego, stay relevant or gain likes and followers. I do this to help people, ordinary people, most have health issues, mentally and/or physically. Also athletes who are trying their best to keep doing their chosen sport. I don’t need to be social media famous to achieve any of it. I won’t sugarcoat it, training is hard. It’s sweat, tears and pain!!

As much as I agree that any excercise is good, I personally don’t see the point in training for the sake of it, all my sessions have a purpose and I enjoy them, so do my clients. So I know bootcamps etc aren’t for me, I certainly wouldn’t enjoy instructing them. I prefer the 121 sessions. That’s just me.

I could spend time and money building an app, but let’s be honest, how many of you have downloaded a fitness app and then not stuck to it? So I could end up with 100 subscribers but only 5-10 sticking to it and we all know people blame the app not themselves if they give up. Also, as much as these companies say they are tailored to you I can assure you they are not, we’ve had a look, we got the same session lol. There is no such thing as ‘One size fits all’ when it comes to training. You won’t all get the same results and I’m not going to deceive you to believe otherwise.

Videos are the same, not only do I find them impersonal, I can’t correct your form and you can potentially hurt yourself. Also again, no ‘one size fits all’ so would you really benefit from it? Also, you wouldn’t like mine, I won’t fake them like the ones you see posted. They wouldn’t be glossy and look easy.

I will show you my ‘Before and afters’ and progression pics and not theirs because - This is their journey, not mine, it’s a reflection on how hard they’ve worked, not an excuse for me to boast! Also like I’ve said above, we are all different, you will get different results so comparing yourself to someone else’s pics is pointless and can be damaging. I show you mine to show you that I know what I’m talking about, I’m not just talking the talk, I’m walking it also. Showing you that even with my health issues, mentally and physically, that results are achievable. (But remember, our goals will be different)

So does that make me a good businesswoman? Probably not. But does it make me honest, compassionate and caring? Yes and I’ll take that over money, fame and followers any day!! 💪🏼💋

Well, kids back at school, man person back at work and I’m back in MY seat 😉.

I will admit I am one of those parents who are happy when their kids go back to school, not because I want rid of them, but because I can then get back into my routine, I can get back to work properly and that makes a happy Nic(ish)

Not going to lie I’ve got a lot of work to do, stepped on the scales this morning and there’s 4kgs that weren’t there before the holidays. Am I kicking myself? Not really, I’ve relaxed, I’ve enjoyed myself, I’ve been out of routine and at times been so busy, 6/7 days now taken up with football, that I’ve just eaten anything. To be honest, not a lot of chocolates or sweets but more evening meals, take aways instead of home cooked. But now I work on getting rid and let’s face it, it’s not really that hard in the grand scheme of things.

So off I go to the gym this morning and what better way to start it than leg day!! X

So, why do I get so frustrated when you message me that you haven’t lost any weight?

Here’s why, these 2 photos were taken a couple of months apart, first pic you can see the top is tight, it’s a little shorter, you can see some chub in my arms and face. Second pic it’s longer and looser, you can see my face it slimmer. I’ve dropped a dress size.

We can all agree that I’ve ‘lost weight’ in the second photo…………NEWS FLASH I’m 74kg in both photos!!!

So, when I say step off the chuffing scales I mean it!! As long as you can see the difference, feel the difference, what does it matter what the scales say?!

Progress photos and measurements are the way forward, especially if you are weight training

Xx 💪🏼💋

Well I suppose I should practice what I preach!

No training for me this week due to a little accident. As much as I want to 😢 I need to be sensible, this is a new concept for me lol.

Usually I’d just take some strong painkillers and get on with it, but if I can’t grip a bar then I’m just being irresponsible and could potentially cause more damage to other areas of my body in the process.

So looks like it’s a day at the desk, session plans, pre season and catching up on some overdue coursework it is!! 💪🏼⚽️ x

Struggling to lose weight?

Well, cut the crap!! I mean that, not only the physical crap that you are shoving in your body, but also the crap excuses!!

Now I am just as guilty, too tired to cook? I’ll ‘just eat’ it then, or I’m tired so grab a bar of chocolate. Grumpy so I’ll grab pizza and donuts!

See, excuses right there. Too tired, too grumpy, don’t have time, where the reality is I’m just being plain lazy!! Well that laziness has bit me on the ass over lockdown with a 15kg gain (2.3stone). There’s another excuse, lockdown!! Now as much as we couldn’t go to the gym, we could walk, we could exercise at home. Granted I was doing several zoom sessions a day, but……..that was nowhere near the level I trained before lockdown.

Now I knew that, but still shoved the kebabs and pizza down my gob, all the while moaning that I was putting weight on! MY OWN FAULT!!

So for the past 2 weeks, to get myself back in the right routine and discipline, I reinstalled My Fitness Pal. Now I’ve always said I don’t want to be skinny and it’s not why I’ve done it.

Using MFP allows me to be more responsible, to take accountability for the choices I make. If MFP says I can’t have it, I don’t! I also can’t get my definition back with the extra ‘padding’.

So for the last 2 weeks I’ve had no chocolate(my choice) I’ve cut my morning costa latte and toast(800cal) to a cup of tea. I am cooking more, I have purchased meals from Vitamin-shop Long Eaton for lunches to stop the greggs or chip cob dash or even skipping lunch. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had a kebab, pizza, Chinese in that time. I’ve even had a cider or 2.

The last 2 weeks I’ve probably eaten more than I have done the last few months, but, I’m eating better. Below is my weigh ins for the last week. I will say I don’t usually weight myself every day (it’s for menstrual tracking research for footy) but just look, over 1kg down!! Now you could say it’s the gym, but we have a new baby (4-legged) so I’ve not trained this week and also I’m muscle building at the moment so wouldn’t really show a loss, this is purely down to making the right choices. (And to show I’m not starving myself, here are 3 decent calorie dinners)

I’ve kicked my own ass, it is time to kick yours?! Xx 💋