After years of just average eating, failed workouts and getting nowhere, I came across Simon's page and over the past four months have been working closely with @James Pace to lose weight, build muscle, eat smarter and most importantly - build confidence. I was already eating ok when I started back in May, albeit too many calories, but the biggest factor in my life that needed changing was my exercise. I was terrified of the gym, having tried it before years ago but never able to commit through fear, lack of knowledge or no consistency. James started me off on some home workouts which were great, but the big step came when he pushed me to get into the gym. In July I stepped into the gym - and I hated it. The people, how busy it was, worried I'd look stupid, or that people would be looking at me and my skinny arms. But I pushed through. I'm the sort of person who once I have actually done something, the the fear and nerves are wiped out immediately. And through that dogged determination and crucially James' support, I'm now going 3-4 times a week and feeling like I can actually belong in a gym. I still look around and compare myself to others, especially when I see other guys with bigger muscles than me, and I'm still very nervous whenever I try a new piece of equipment or an exercise. But getting over that hurdle, that fear, has meant I'm now finally, albeit in small steps, getting the jacked body I've always wanted, and I'm actually waking up most days wanting to go to the gym! Long story short - keep pushing, once you get over any hurdle, it gets easier, and you'll face new challenges - but you'll be able to tackle it so much better than before! Big thanks to James for getting me where I am today - though I'm annoyed because my success so far means I'm actually now wanting to get even bigger and better than I had planned haha, a victim of my own confidence! And testameny to how great the programme is! I have a very long way to go to get what I'm hoping for - but I've done more in the past 4 months than in the past 4 years!! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Alright everyone, thought I’d share a bit from my side since I’ve nearly been with @Jason Smith a year now. Started this journey in October last year 106kg with the aim to lose the love handles by the Summer, but not just lose, learn a lifestyle of balance so they never come back. By June I weighed 82kg, and have maintained since! Biggest win for me is that I’ve actually learned how to maintain my results without feeling like I’m on a diet. I used to be someone who’d cut everything out, then binge and fall back into old habits. Now I can have a takeaway or some ice cream, enjoy it and not spiral out of control. That’s been huge for me. I’m not stressing about logging every calorie anymore, I just focus on protein, keep the main habits in place and I’ve been able to stay around the same weight for months without even thinking about it. Honestly, that’s something I never thought I’d manage. Just wanted to say if you’re struggling with consistency, don’t underestimate the basics: protein, steps and planning your week. It sounds simple but it’s what’s kept me in shape when I’d usually have gone off the rails. Can’t thank Jay enough! 👏 👏 👏

Hi team, hope your weekend’s been awesome. I thought I’d share a bit about my journey now it’s been a few months. Apologies for a bit of a long post!! When I started out back in May, I hoped to learn good nutrition habits, burn some fat and learn about strength training. I felt I was choosing this *instead of* focusing on swim-bike-run activities, my main interests. Before this, I’d kinda fallen off the wagon during lockdown years and hadn’t done many sportives in quite a few years, so I wanted to get my rhythm back. I dived in and really tried to build that consistency from the start. After a few months, I had completely changed my routine - my eating habits were healthy, my activity and energy levels were up and I was in the midst of a transformation I didn’t know was possible. And the crazy thing is by August, when a buddy mentioned a triathlon he was doing that month, my first thought was: I wonder if I could do that. I hadn’t been training for a triathlon, but with the months of training under my belt and the stellar coaching from @Jason Smith and @Simon Johnson, I realised: you know what, I can do this. I’d built the confidence to just get up and go for it. So I did. I finished the sprint distance, 9 years since my last tri, even with a time I’m proud of. This training has given me more than I expected at the outset and I’m grateful to our coaches and to the inspiring stories from all of you. I hope you’re out there killing it this weekend. Stay strong and aim higher 🚀

P.s my grey hair are getting out of hand now 😂

The goal was sub-1:25. That meant averaging 4:02/km. I trained hard for it. The strategy was to settle in at 4:05/km, hold steady, then build in the second half. And early on? It felt good. Pacing was on point. Breathing was controlled. Even in 26°C heat, I was locked in. Then at 7km… my lower back locked up. The same issue I’d been dealing with for weeks came back tightness, spasms, throwing off my form. I tried to run through it. Adjusted my stride. Stayed calm. Hoping it would ease. Then the stitch hit. Deep, sharp, hard to breathe. I’ve never had one like it. HR spiked. Pace dropped. I was fuming. Tried to dig in for the next 2km… no luck. It wasn’t easing and I knew if I kept pushing, I’d crumble by 12–15km. So I made the call: Back off. Manage it. Stay in the game. Settled into 4:20/km pace for a few km, hoping I could push again later. At 13km I tried to kick. Every time I dropped to sub-4:10/km, the stitch came roaring back. So I pivoted again: Finish well. Hold form. Do what I could. Crossed the line: 1:27:58 ✅ 30-second PB 😤 In pain 💭 But proud Because the truth is: ❌ You won’t win every race ❌ Not every day goes to plan ❌ The body won’t always cooperate But what can you control? 👉 Your mindset 👉 Your attitude under pressure 👉 Your ability to adapt and finish well — even when it hurts That’s what this was about. This wasn’t the race I wanted. But it was the lesson I needed. And it’s all fuel for December’s marathon in Abu Dhabi. Finished the day with a couple of beers with @recomp_pt and a rogue cycle home through London (thanks, tube strike 🍻🚴). One step closer. LFG. #BuiltForMore