Check out time – Fitness Journey

There were no awkward goodbyes, just another set of half-burpees and off we bopped to start our Friday.

It was the final class of my six week trial at the Source Gym in Cookstown and any notion of free-wheeling through the last 45 minute session, was soon set aside as the weirdly comforting and now familiar strains of the exercises kicked in.

It has been a trial in the truest sense of the word. Getting out of bed before 6am – I always need some toast before I get started – was the first big triumph.

Overcoming the so-called ‘gym-timidation’ and a deep-rooted scepticism of gyms, was another hurdle to overcome.

But the relaxed atmosphere at Source and the huge variation of exercises, have definitely made a positive impact. And it turns out, I do have a core after all.

Don’t fear, I haven’t become a fitness evangelist, preaching of the benefits of ‘straight leg walk-outs’ and ‘bench presses’. I’m afraid there’s no bulging biceps either, and a six-pack will always mean beer to me.

And yet I’m determined that the end of my six-week trial at Source will be the start of a more consistent approach to strength, fitness and flexibility.

Running is still my primary fitness fix, but as I have all too often found out – the lack of core strength and a proper stretching regime – has laid waste to plans for various running events over the years.

This trial at Source all came about as a result of a feature I had written, lamenting the annual failure of New Year’s resolutions.

Speaking to Niall Hollywood at Source, we discussed how so many resolutions are centred on fitness and food and how the targets are usually unrealistic.

While I can’t claim to have found the solution – or awakened a dormant iron willpower – the big difference with this challenge was the support and solidarity of being in a class.

I know it sounds bad – but sometimes it’s good to see (and sometimes hear) other people suffering too.

Monday was results day, when I would discover the proof of the pudding, so to speak, or, if I has been coasting along for the six weeks.

“The machine never lies,” said Niall, who was not talking about me, but about the hi-tech In Body Scanner which gives a complete breakdown of what each body is made up of.

And first up, I had actually gained weight – around 1.3kg – since the first body scan. This was exactly as Niall had predicted and was due to an increase in muscle mass.

Crucially the scan had shown a significant drop in body fat, almost by 1kg and the detailed analysis also showed a significant increase in muscle in the core area and some increase in the upper body area.

Everyone loves a bit of science and the In Body Scan results provide the perfect book ends for my trial. The results also act as a motivator, vindicating the effort and early mornings.

“Of course a lot of people, will look straight away for their weight results and they will maybe see that it’s gone up slightly, but then they realise that this whole process is also about how you feel and if they stick with the process then the weight will come off,” said Niall.

Unlike some of the diet and fitness makeovers you see online, I don’t have any dramatic before and after photos to share with you – not much to see here.

At the start of this, my target wasn’t to lose weight, but rather gain some core strength. Not only did the body scan results show this, but my sense of well-being and improved posture has been significant.

Embarking upon this trial has sparked conversations with a few people who have also been struggling with various injuries and ailments. My shoulder injury back in September last year led to almost constant pain in my neck, arm and back, and there are many people walking around with similar tales of woe, whose lives are blighted and often curtailed.

Of course, some of these injuries and ailments will require ongoing medical and professional treatments, but there is a significant number of people suffering with chronic back pain often caused by bad posture and a weakened core and that is something that can be addressed with training.

I am not claiming some miraculous cure, but I can attest to the simple ethos of the Source Gyms.

Niall concluded, “It’s often just about coming into the gym regardless of how you feel. Getting in the door is the most important step to take. We always make clear that there are no quick fixes to people who are looking to lose weight, or getting fit.

“This is all about creating habits, eating well, and training regularly, and when people do that on a consistent basis then it’s inevitable they will see real results that will last.”

While the six weeks have flown by, there were many times when I was literally counting down the seconds until the end of a class, in keeping with the dichotomy of the pleasure/pain allure of training. Often, the process of writing these columns has been the most daunting part – what was I going to write about lifting a few weights and doing a few squats? But these ramblings have helped me reaffirm another simple maxim – whatever you do, just do something.

The final word, is one of sincere thanks to Niall, Scott and Aaron and everyone at Source Gyms for their advice, words of encouragement and the opportunity to discover this more realistic approach to health and fitness.