Advice to help lose any lingering lockdown pounds

THOSE dreaded lockdown pounds, they crept up on all of us while we were busy clapping for the NHS and watching too many hours of Netflix. But one Strabane woman has turned that lingering lockdown hangover in to a positive. Shauna Stewart was working as a carer when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, now she is in the final throws of becoming a fully qualified personal trainer (PT).

Shauna explained, “I put on weight myself over lockdown. I couldn’t get to the gym, the weather was too bad to go out walking, I have two young kids and I was just stuck in a rut… eating chocolate, drinking beer – just everything. I got up one morning and I said ‘this is going to stop’. I contacted local PT Vaidas Adomaitis and did an online course with him which was great as I didn’t even have to get to a gym – then once the gyms opened again I was where I wanted to be.

“I did a 12 week transformation with Vaidas, it was unbelievable and that’s how this all came about. I saw the before and after pictures and I knew I wanted to keep going.

“My success was inspiring other people, and then I decided I wanted to do my PT course, and now I have my own business up and running, so I’m not only helping myself I’m helping other people as well. Life couldn’t be any better right now.”

Speaking specifically about the impact lockdown has had on people Shauna explained, “There has definitely been a rise in people putting on weight, but it has affected their mental health state more than anything. Obviously they are glad to lose some weight but most of my clients are saying ‘thank you so much for helping my head’, they were in a rut and getting active has lifted their spirits.”

With an abundance of female clients Shauna is well aware of the obstacles which woman feel when they gain weight and are uncomfortable with their appearance. She explained, “My transformation was more about getting toned but I did lose 10kg, I was 69kg and I dropped to 59kg, so that was a stone and a half off me, people might have said I didn’t need to lose weight but I did, for myself.

“I would definitely recommend fitness to anybody looking to lose weight and get their mental health state up again. I’d advise people to look at a one-to-one training rather than going straight in to a class. Build up your training and your confidence a bit and then I would introduce clients to small group training. Most of my clients are in groups of three and that works really well. We have private group chats and they can get to know each other a bit so it’s all good.

“It’s not about what you wear to the gym or worrying about anyone looking at you. Revolution – where I am taking my classes now – is closed to the public I rent it out, so there’s just me and the girls there.”

Concluding Shauna added, “Don’t be afraid, it doesn’t matter how much weight you have put on, you have to start somewhere. Just take that first step and we can set your goals to make it happen. With everything open again and restrictions lifted now is the perfect time to start.”