09/03/2018
Client testimonial....😁👏🏻
WOD, RX, AMRAP, EMOM......any ideas?! Me either, not a sodding clue until a couple of months ago when we started what can only be described as the most traumatic experience my body has endured since the birth canal (sorry mother)!!
First, you need the back story to understand the achievement that my best mate (wifey) and I have made.....we are warriors!
So over a glass of vino or two my best friend in the world, Wifey/Bev told me about a great new place which was being opened by a great guy and he was training using functional fitness as his method to create a better lifestyle of fitness and wellbeing. Sounds great, but what the hell is that (as two longtime devotees of yoga/Pilates....basically anything where you get a lie down at the end in a darkened room, this sounded quite frankly the opposite)!.....Wifey sensed my reluctance so pulled the trump card - I was promptly shown a photo of said great guy and to be honest I would have given walking over glass and hot coals a punt. "I'm in" came the cry. I'd like to say that was the only time on this journey that I've left my dignity at the door but I said I'd give an honest account so here it is......
So wifey and I are off to Vegas for her 40th in October and needed to be Vegas body ready! Now neither of us are in bad nick but it's fair to say there is weight to be lost, wobbly bits to stop wobbling and more than a few areas to lift up the way.
Darren offers a Body Transformation package which over six weeks sees 3 sessions per week of specifically designed training coupled with a nutritional plan which gives all of the nutrients, proteins, fats (good ones) you need to keep you going through the tough sessions of the week. The beauty of the food plan is that it isn't restrictive in the sense that you can't have treats or everyday food, the trick to it is sticking to correct quantities (scales are a must) and keeping things balanced between protein, fat and carbs. Food is as important as exercise, one is redundant without the other if you expect to see results over the six week period and beyond.
Speaking of exercise.....functional fitness is the most addictive, torturous, exhilarating, harrowing, uplifting, exhausting, inspiring method of exercise I could imagine doing. Neither Wifey or I had experienced anything like it and if I said it wasn't intimidating as hell at the beginning I'd be lying. There are box jumps, burpees, running, sprinting, pull ups, sit ups, hand stand push ups, standard push ups, wall balls (faces beware, that ball hurts when it hits) and that's before I even get to the barbell!!!
Introducing the barbell......the nearest we've been to one of these is the worlds strongest man (well what else do you watch between xmas and new year)!! It's an alien thing when you haven't experienced this type of exercise but my god it works. Darren talks you through technique and you drill drill drill until he's sure you aren't going to break something lifting the thing. Now here's the thing, you would think that you need a lot of weight for anything to be effective but that's not the case. The bar alone weighs 15kg so even when you are simply learning technique you are making changes to your body. Once weight gets added, those changes become greater and more rapid.
Wifey and I have sweated more than I can explain and considering neither of us have had kids the fact that at times we felt we were lactating tells it's own story!! When I mentioned dignity earlier, well the sweating is only the start.....girls be warned, wear only dark clothing particularly on your lower half!!!!!
Results - They speak for themselves, but in 6 weeks we lost 14.4 inches between us and 14.3 kg!
Louise - toning, fitness, muscle building
* 1.9 inches
* 4 Kgs
Bev - toning, fitness, weight loss
* 12.5 inches
* 10.3 Kgs
So all in all, was it worth it?! Definitely, absolutely, categorically. We have both lost weight and inches, we have a healthier attitude to portion size and a complete understanding of how to maintain a sustained balanced diet. As far as the actual exercise element goes we are complete converts. Our journey hasn't stopped with the completion of the Body Transformation programme, we are members of the Yard and proud to be fully fledged Yardies. We are there 5 times per week, not because we need to but because we want to. This is a community and a family (yeah yeah I know, pass the sick bag right?!)! As the worlds greatest cynic I would be saying the same but it's true. Wifey and I started this knowing no one and yet all the way through we have gained friends who have championed us every week and given so much encouragement when we could have punched the next person to say 'burpee' and happily reached for a Big Mac!
Try it and see......no guts no glory and all that!
