Kirsty’s journey to stage

In 2006 I decided to join the gym. I got fed up trying weight watchers several times, and I decided that going to the gym would be good for weight loss and fitness.

I went along one evening to have a consultation with a trainer Kat, whom I was referred to. We had a good chat and I told her my goals; the usual things woman want – weight loss etc. It all seemed real this time, as I knew I wasn’t on my Journey alone.

I had no idea about weight training and started off slowly with Kat. I remember during my first session I couldn’t do a lunge – even without weights, and as for after the session – I felt so sore in body parts I didn’t know existed! I think people let that soreness stop them coming back! But it’s all worth the pain!

Nowadays, that pain is normal and if I don’t have it, I wonder if I worked hard enough! It’s a small price to pay for the results at the end of the day.

Kat wrote me programs with little pictures and descriptions for when I worked on my own, which helps when you get confused or are still learning about the body parts. Having your own programs are good, but really the push from a trainer is what I needed – less time to go into a dream world at the gym on my own and more time to work hard!

Don’t get me wrong sometimes when thing hurt you don’t want to be there or do it, that’s why that push from Kat has helped me so much along the way, sometimes we need that extra motivation!

I had no idea that weights not only help you get strong, but change your actual body shape. If you put in the time, hard work and cope with the soreness, it’s amazing! It’s not meant to be easy, in fact it gets harder, but we get stronger and more mentally focused and the excitement of defeating new challenges is the best feeling! Kat gives me challenges on every new program we do.

The funny thing is, when I joined, I wanted to look good for my boyfriend. Now I do it for me. Having the time on my own doing my training has made me a more independent person. Weight loss is not my number one goal anymore, since becoming stronger I have gained more muscle and dropped in body fat which is more important – and I try not to go by that number on the scales, as I know it can change so much from day to day.

I also have a much better understanding of each muscle group and the way I should work each one.

My new challenge was to do a body sculpting competition, of which I loved every single minute!

Kat designed my programs, trained me and helped push me all the way. It involved a strict diet and months of hard work, but the changes on the weeks leading up to it were the best thing ever! Definitely worth the dieting and giving up chocolate and wine for months.

It’s both a mental and physical challenge, but on the day its all worth it. In the last few weeks you see changes and lines coming through that you’ve never seen before – the feeling is amazing!

I can’t believe that I actually got on stage in a bikini, when a year or so ago I wouldn’t even wear one to the beach. It was the best feeling ever, I loved it so much!

Its so good to have someone share the excitement with you help you through the hard days and help set you new goals.

Any dream is never too far off – it just takes commitment and determination.