Don’t let a lifelong reluctance to exercise get in the way of changing your body and changing your life; it’s never too late to get started!
Jerome had started to notice that his body was getting more and more out of shape and so, after walking past ATP Personal Training on his way to work each morning for many months he finally decided to come in and take back control of his body. He had no track record of regular exercise and was therefore concerned that he might not be able to keep up with the workouts, but under the guidance of his ATP Coach Iskandar Jerome was able to achieve a massive 20kg weight loss and now enjoys being more active in his daily life.
We asked Jerome about his transformation and the effects it has had on his life, even outside the gym:
There is so much more to the ATP experience than just the before and after photos that you see from some other gyms. At ATP there are some very impressive transformations of course, but at the same time the programmes are extremely organised and there is a level of intensity that I could never have imagined.
The biggest hurdle for me was the thought of exercising. I had never enjoyed doing any kind of physical activity before and I was simply not used to pushing my body. My wife is amazed that now I enjoy being more active; she never thought regular exercise would become part of my routine.
So many things have changed for me but the biggest two are that I am much more active and also that I am far more mindful of what I eat.
With my diet, it was important for me that I could still enjoy eating meals with my family, and I have been able to do that. Before, I would eat anything, and I had a strong affinity for cheese and dairy products, so it was challenging at first to practice restraint and portion control. But of course if you have a goal to reach there are no shortcuts! My ATP Coach Iskandar and I built a solid routine with weekly goals, and along with our daily communication and various other tools I was able to see continuous progress, which is the best motivation to keep going.
With the training itself, my coach Iskandar is doing a really fantastic job. After several decades of sitting with bad posture behind a computer, I knew I needed a specific program tailored to my own body. I have a painful shoulder that I did not want to make worse, and I was unaware of how to perform exercises safely and correctly. Having the undivided attention of a dedicated and experienced coach makes all the difference! For me it was never about building big muscles; it was about improving my body flexibility, waking up muscles I had never used and learning how to train correctly to avoid injuries. Iskandar adjusts my program to ensure I see progress while at the same time he is helping me gain strength in my back to improve my shoulder condition and my overall posture.
I was surprised by how quickly my body reacted. I achieved fast progress with weight loss as well as noticing in the mirror that my body looked so much more toned. I never thought it would happen so fast.
I feel much healthier, lighter and more mobile. I am also more aware of what my body needs, both in terms of moving it but also how I should treat it with the foods I consume.
Just go for it and don’t look back – you have to be 100% dedicated to the program to get your best results. I’d recommend ATP to everyone but especially people who have never trained before or who think they don’t like exercise – you will surprise yourself and seeing continued progress is the best motivation you can get. I highly recommend ATP Personal Training if you are looking for a real change!
Yes, I am absolutely certain that I can sustain my new lifestyle. I have already felt so many of the immediate benefits in terms of wellbeing, health, stamina and happiness that I don’t want to give that up. I know that I will need to find the right balance for me and this is something that I plan to work on. I would like to get into yoga and calisthenics; from there I will work on gaining strength and mobility at a sustainable pace.