7 years… 2019 was the last time I wrote a blog, and wow, how much the world has changed since then.

Seven years ago I was a young, enthusiastic PT, 25 years old, and my biggest worry was whether I had a 6-pack or an 8-pack. My intentions were always to help my clients as much as possible, but it’s only with experience you realise how much you still have to learn. As my dad still frequently reminds me!

Since I last blogged, so much has changed within the fitness industry and in life in general. We’ve seen COVID completely change people’s lifestyles and priorities, the rise of budget gyms, the huge online coaching boom, social media fitness culture, AI, and a world that now seems more health-conscious than ever before. Yet somehow, despite all the information available to us, staying healthy and balanced feels harder than ever.

_{(The gazebo we had to move to one summer whilst the gym was being built)}

Over the past seven years, I’ve learned a huge amount and not just about fitness, but about life, balance, business, and what truly matters when it comes to health and wellbeing.

As someone who has always been quite an “all or nothing” person, I know how easy it is to fall into the trap of extreme plans:

• training seven days a week,
• obsessing over calories and macros,
• eating ultra-low carbs,
• chasing perfection,
• and believing more is always better.

But with experience, I’ve realised that long-term health and fitness is much more about consistency and sustainability than extremes.

Now, at the grand old age of 32, I’ve noticed more than ever how important rest and recovery really are. I know some people reading this will probably laugh and say that’s still young and they’re probably right! That being said trust me, you definitely notice the difference between 22 and 32!

The days of surviving on four hours sleep, training hard every day, working nonstop and somehow repeating the cycle again the next morning just don’t quite hit the same anymore.

One thing I’ve always been incredibly lucky and grateful for is my upbringing. My parents are very different people in many ways, but they both share the same core values:

• work hard,
• enjoy life,
• and don’t forget what’s actually important.

Although, if you ask some of my members and clients, they’ll probably tell you I sometimes take the “enjoy life” part a little too seriously!

_{Me and one of my clients Lee, who has spent the last few months travelling (Sure he’s having the best time!)}

I’ve now been qualified as a fitness professional for 15 years, and somewhere along the journey I realised that health isn’t really about abs — although admittedly it’s always nice having them for a few weeks of the year!

Real health is about having a lifestyle you can maintain for the rest of your life.

It’s about:

• having the energy to play with your children or grandchildren,
• going for walks with friends without worrying about your fitness,
• being able to enjoy holidays and meals out without guilt,
• recovering properly,
• managing stress,
• and ultimately living life on your own terms.

That’s what fitness should do is improve your life, not take it over.

_{4 of the gym lads, on one of our gym nights out, proving you can get great results and still have balance.}

So moving forward, my aim with this blog and website is simple:

• to keep myself accountable,
• to share knowledge and experience,
• and hopefully help people where I can.

Whether that’s through:

• fitness and training advice,
• nutritional guidance,
• recovery and massage treatments,
• or simply sharing honest thoughts and experiences from working in the industry for the past 15 years.

If I can help even a few people move towards a healthier, happier, fitter future (slightly stealing my dad’s slogan there!) then taking the time to write these blogs again will absolutely be worth it.

I’m hoping to use this space a bit more regularly again, sharing thoughts on fitness, recovery, lifestyle, training, business, balance, and the realities of trying to stay healthy in a busy world. Not every blog will be serious, and not every blog will be perfect, but if there’s something useful people can take away from it, then that’s all that really matters.

Thanks for taking the time to read 🙂