As you can see from my ‘before’ photo, I was carrying a lot of weight around my stomach and I was starting to feel out of breath after even short walks. I knew it was time for me to get my life in order and do whatever was necessary to get my health back.
I visited a different gym to start with, but it felt rather intimidating. When I first walked into ATP the same day I was greeted with a smile and was able to have a chat with one of the ATP coaches straight away. It felt inviting and friendly, not like the first place I visited at all.
Everything has changed – the difference is enormous. Fitness-wise, on day one I needed to rest for 30 minutes of my first 60 minute session. I needed half the time just to catch my breath. After 2 or 3 sessions I was able to complete a whole workout but I still needed to rest for quite a long time between different exercises. Moving forward to the last couple of months, I finally feel as though I am able to complete my training session sometimes even with a few minutes to spare. I require less time for recovery too.
In terms of mindset, I knew what I wanted to achieve from day one so there hasn’t been such a big difference there. I’m not done yet!
Oh yes. Yes, yes yes – my kids see the difference all the time because I am always showing them my before and after photographs!
On a more serious note though, before I started this program, I was actually quite lazy. It wasn’t that I chose to be lazy, more that I just didn’t have the energy to keep up with them. Nowadays, things are different; I can keep up with them wherever they want to go.
Before I joined ATP, I was on medication for high blood pressure. Even with the medication, I was still above 130 over 90, but since I got on top of my diet, my health and my physical fitness I was able to safely come off the medication and my blood pressure is normal, usually around 110 over 70. For me, that was better than having visible abs – knowing I will live longer and be healthier when I’m aged. Psychologically, coming off the meds was a huge boost for me – I had no idea that I would ever be able to do that but I have proved that I can. That has been my greatest achievement with ATP.
It’s really a completely customized program. You have so many exercise machines here. that it would be easy to just go through stations one to 10 every week, week in, week out, day in, day out. But what I liked was that my ATP Coach Charis understood what I wanted to achieve. She was able to tell me honestly what a realistic timeframe would be (I was not in good shape when I arrived here!) Charis understood my challenges and my fears as well as my goals, and I am so glad that I totally trusted her to get me where I am today in a medically safe manner.
I would say that they need to have an end goal in mind and that they have to be disciplined. Trust your ATP Coach and enjoy the process. ATP Personal Training is a close-knit and friendly community but also very efficient and the best place for you to come for support in reaching your goals.