If somebody had told me a year ago, that I’d be lifting weights and enjoying time at the gym, I would have laughed. Up until the age of 27, I didn’t think about my weight, I hadn’t ever considered the benefits of changing my lifestyle or my eating habits.
This was until I became easily fatigued and noticed that clothes were feeling tight. Nobody seemed to notice this but me and most friends and family laughed at me when I said I needed to exercise and lose weight. I began to avoid going out clubbing with friends and meeting at events where everyone would be dressed up.
Without realising it at the time, my mood had changed and my motivation was low. I joined park-run on a Saturday morning and began to enjoy the challenge of running, having something to get up for on a Saturday and enjoyed beating my personal best run time each week. This feeling of quick progress made me feel addicted and led me to attend every Saturday for 13 weeks.
Although I enjoyed the running I wasn’t losing noticeable weight or gaining any muscle definition. It became frustrating and I began to regress. As winter approached I ran less. This led me to join a commercial gym. Like most women my age I started to go to classes, started to attempt lots of cardio but felt intimidated moving around the gym independently of the treadmill or a staff led activity . I felt like I was walking around aimlessly, guessing what piece of equipment I should use next.
In addition to this, I wasn’t losing weight and I hadn’t gained any muscle definition. I gave up going to the gym and again, I felt disheartened. My last resort was to seek out a Personal trainer. I didn’t know what kind of trainer I wanted, all I knew is that the prospect of approaching somebody felt embarrassing and intimidating. I went with the trainer that seemed to inspire me and care about her work ( Sara Galoni ).
Lots of people think “I’ll go for a male motivator with big muscles “. That terrified me. Meeting Sara for the first time met my expectations and totally squashed all of my fears. She was non judgemental, understood my journey and together we constructed small, achievable targets and exercises to begin with. I had come to her with little to no exercise or sport experience and she was understanding of this.
Knowing that somebody was tracking me each week, made me want to persevere and held me accountable for the effort i was putting into my training. Sara ensured that I felt comfortable using equipment and regularly made me train in the weights room ( even if we were focusing on core ) to develop my confidence in training ANYWHERE in the gym, instead of hiding in a class. She didn’t make me train until I felt like fainting or push me to the exhaustion limit. Sara taught me techniques at a pace that was right for me and my development.
Within 6 weeks I lost weight, from 59 kg to 52 kg. I had begun to see definition in my abs and had more energy. I bought shorts and dresses for the first time in over a year and felt body confident.
Later in the year Sara opened SS60. This has been an incredible experience. The studio offers a more bespoke and personal, professional experience. Cuts out the chore of finding weights and waiting for equipment. It’s a second home. Sara and Stephen work together to support all of their clients . Dedicated to giving advice for home work outs, diet and queries you may have. They go above and beyond the dedicated hour sessions and make you feel welcome and safe.
I now enjoy exercise and training. I am beginning to understand my body and appreciate the limits I can push it to (in a safe way). Training is a stress preventive, it’s fantastic for positive mental health and the support I’ve received at SS60 has been worthwhile.
If you are low in confidence, unhappy with your body image and want professional support and a clear education. SS60 is the place for you.
Sophie