From Couch to Confidence: Colin’s Journey to a Fitter Self

JW Fitness
Oct 14
4 min read

The Starting Line: A Familiar Struggle

For years, Colin found himself in a familiar cycle. The desire for a healthier, more active life was always there, but the motivation to consistently hit the gym or make lasting dietary changes felt elusive. "I attend the gym but mostly for cardio as I am unsure how to use free weights properly," he admitted.

As he turned 50 he decided he wanted to make a change, lose some weight, learn how to do exercise properly and understand the apparatus on a gym floor.

For us this was a dream, this is exactly what JW Fitness is all about.

Taking the First Step: Finding JW Fitness.

A big factor of someone's journey always begins when they make the conscious decision to look for HELP. That is exactly what Col did.

How did he think he would achieve his goal?

‘’Change my mindset and get to your gym’’ Colin said, prior to meeting any JW Coach in person. The form he filled out, expressed the desire for change and the doors were ready for him.

Once Colin stepped foot into sessions, it was clear that the only results that would come would be positive from here on out. He listened, he soaked information like a permeable rock and began to develop in various training areas - at quite a fast rate. Nothing spurs and motivates someone on more than achievements and success.

The Gym: A New Chapter

Colin had trained in the past but suffered injuries with certain movements, which in turn, would lead to reduced consistency and an unwillingness to want to keep pushing any harder due to fear or discomfort. The usual gym pattern we see, an injury happens and then people revert to the simplest things, which is people heading into a gym and making a B-line directly for cardio machines as it is the simplest thing to do when you d o not understand the rest of the gym equipment.

He joined onto our Semi Personal Training programme which provided the structure and camaraderie he enjoyed. "The trainers are great, highly experienced and always there to guide you. The atmosphere is welcoming, not just from the staff but also from the amazing community of members," he shares.

Quite quickly, he gained confidence. He began incorporating weight training into his routine, discovering a strength I am not sure he ever knew he possessed. Colin appreciated that he had a ‘’structured approach’’ around his injuries and ‘’a focus on accurate technique to avoid injury’’.

Week after week, Colin would attend sessions, never missing a beat - the consistency was nothing sheer or impressive and something that people take for granted. Goals were set, goals were hit and Colin was slowly building a name for himself, even topping various challenge leader boards. Now over a year on and the progress within this time frame is astonishing.

Overcoming Obstacles: The Power of Perseverance

Colin's journey wasn't without its challenges.

There was a recurring tennis elbow and a pulled Piriformis muscle which was causing some havoc. In addition to this, we have to throw in Colin’s addiction to HOLIDAYS, regular visitor to his caravan site in Wales and visits abroad throughout the year (well deserved of course).

With this came the familiar cycle — regular snacking, small shifts in his diet, and the occasional bottle of Madri (because honestly, who doesn’t enjoy a cold Madri in the sun?).

But somewhere along the way, that routine began to change.

And no, we didn’t suggest giving up holidays — we wouldn’t dare!

The Transformation: More Than Just Weight Loss

Today, Colin is a changed man. He has lost over 10kg in weight and dropped below 10% in bodyfat, which was a goal of his own to achieve.

This all began when he signed up to our 30 day shape challenge.

And as we have said, Colin loves to win a challenge. The idea behind this is a fast fat loss program. When it ended Colin had almost hit 7kg weight loss in only 4 weeks which is incredible. Nonetheless, this did not stop there - he continued to work with the gym, and managing his calories outside keeping discipline with his own diet and training to drop even further down the scale.

But more importantly, he's gained a deep appreciation for his body and his nutrition knowledge. His strength has increased across the board on pretty much everything he has touched since he started and has maintained his strength whilst dropping over 10 kilograms - now that's impressive.

He continues to train at JW Fitness, where he's become a familiar and inspiring face for others.

Colin has since reflected. "It's about proving to myself that I'm capable of anything I set my mind to. My energy levels are higher and I feel great’’.

Colin’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the incredible rewards of prioritising one's health and making that first step.

We guarantee just like Colin said ‘Its honestly been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for MYSELF’’