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Fitter Veteran Project, 18 Gordon Avenue, Baillieston (2026)

31/03/2026

Got this message recently:

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"Mate might seem like a daft question am back running mainly to get out the cab for a bit at nite got my 5km back to 30mins looking to up my km a bit am I better just going up by 1km at a time or should I do a couple? Army head says do what I can till I drop lol but want to do it sensible as don’t want to risk any injury’s"
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Although the Army gave us a lot of helpful traits, like the ability to work hard and push through the pain barrier etc, there's a good reason the Army has high injury rates, and pay out a s**t load in injury compensation 😆

It's also one reason a lot of veterans struggle to avoid injuries when they are cracking on with their own phys - the Army doesn't teach you to manage your training volume or intensity, or to read the signals your body is sending you when it needs a break or some TLC.

In this example above, you are often taught the complete opposite.

Don't get this twisted - we believe in training HARD. Your body needs this.

But hard effort has to be channelled into smart strategy.

And it needs to be accompanied with 'easy/enjoyable efforts' also.

None of you need to be pushing your limits until you drop.

Getting healthier, fitter and stronger should build your body up, not crush it.

It pays to be a winner - but winning is also about feeling good staying in the game 🫡

23/03/2026

This may come of no surprise to you, but over the past 13 years of coaching in civvi street, I've noticed military veterans are often the most dedicated fitness clients I've worked with.

So they often achieve great results.

If you've fallen out of shape since leaving, you have't lost the discipline or dropped your standards.

You lost the structure.

When structure comes back, so will your 'old self'.

See...

You've spent a large part of your life (maybe from mid teens) being told exactly what to do, when and how to do it.

From how to pick up fag doubts around the block, to when you can have a water break on company PT.

That old saying that you're not paid to think is kinda true to some degree.

Now?

You need to come up with that structure.

And when it comes to keeping your (aging) body in good condition, you don't know how to do that. You know how to push yourself and work harder than most people. You are not average. You just don't have the skill-set to channel your efforts in the right things, consistently.

If the thought of getting back to your best feels overwhelming, this is why.

If you're motivation always falls off a cliff, this is why.

Or if you feel like you're putting in the work but getting little back in return, this is why.

It's one of many reasons we're starting the FVP -veterans are great to work with because you aren't shy of putting a bit of effort in, so with the right structure, accountability and support, we can get you to felling, looking, and operating at your best.

This is a remote coaching/community program in the making, so you'll be able to join from anywhere.

We'll handle your workout programs so you just need to follow the layout, enjoy getting fitter and stronger and reaping results.

We'll give you the guidance you need with food and nutrition for fat loss, increasing energy or improving performance.

We'll give you a community of like-minded veterans in the WhatsApp group to keep you motivated and accountable.

And we'll pencil in dates now and then where we come together in person for hikes, a group workout, or other outdoor pursuits.

Want in? If you haven't already, give us a message on here to register your interest. We'll add you to the short list for first notice.

21/03/2026

No one tells you how hard it is when the structure disappears.
Almost time to do something about it.
Who’s ready to be better?

Fitter Veterans Project.

17/03/2026

One of the TOP reasons veteran's say they get out of shape after leaving the military is they struggle to find time.

But have you ever heard of the expectation effect?

Grab yourself a seat for this one -

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Researchers gathered 83 people who claimed to have "Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity" (meaning they genuinely felt sick when they ate gluten, but medical tests showed they did not actually have Celiac disease or a wheat allergy).

They split these people into four groups giving them oat bread for breakfast and lunch. The trick was in mixing up what the participants expected to eat versus what they actually ate:

Group 1: Expected gluten / Actually ate gluten

Group 2: Expected gluten / Actually ate a gluten-free placebo

Group 3: Expected a gluten-free placebo / Actually ate gluten

Group 4: Expected a gluten-free placebo / Actually ate a gluten-free placebo

*The Results Were Mind Blowing*

The researchers measured their gastrointestinal symptoms (bloating, stomach ache, discomfort) throughout the day.

The people who experienced the worst symptoms were the ones who expected to eat gluten - even if they were actually eating the gluten-free placebo. In fact, the group that expected gluten but ate the fake bread reported significantly higher pain scores than the group who actually ate gluten but didn't know it.

This study didn't conclude that these people were "faking it" or that their pain was imaginary.

Their pain was entirely real. But the study proved that the source of the pain wasn't the food; it was their brain's expectation of the food. Their brains anticipated a threat, sent distress signals to their nervous system, and literally manufactured the cramps and bloating they were afraid of.
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Your mind is the most powerful bit of kit in your toolbox (and you can use it for good or bad).

Behavior conforms to beliefs, and from this comes our reality.

If you believe you don't have time (because 5 x 60-90 minute PT is no longer practical) then you're unlikely to make time for a more manageable 3 sessions a week of 45 minutes.

But if you're looking at this through a lens of making the absolute best with what you have consistently? You're gonna be the guy who consistently makes time for yourself, getting back to and staying in good condition...

Whether that's 60 minutes a time on the good weeks or 20 minutes on the chaotic weeks.

Adapt and overcome.

When you're mind is in the right place, you always find a way.

It pays to be a winner.

PS - Just so you know, we have a community challenge coming up in April for Veteran's who want to get back in shape and feel at their best again, all along with a supportive group of the lads to bring out your best standards - eyes peeled.

Want to make sure you don't miss it? Shoot us a DM here and we'll give you a heads up when all the details are confirmed.

15/03/2026

Shared hardship.

Whenever I ask any of the guys who've left the Army if they miss it, most of them say the same thing.

I miss the troops.

We all long to feel part of a tribe and when you have that bond of a brotherhood everything is easier.

It's a big part of what's missing in civvy street especially on the fitness front.

You can definitely find a tribe in certain gyms or classes. But it's hard to match that bond and togetherness you had in the Army with the guys.

Military banter is just another level 😆

And that's a big part of what we want to bring to the online challenges and program for the veterans project.

Imagine going about your usual daily business but in the forefront of your mind is that all the troops in the community group chat have similar boxes to tick and targets to hit, posting up their sit rep for the day to stay accountable to the mission.

What does that kind of positive daily influence have on all the small decisions you make around food and fitness?

Likely a huge influence that leads to big results over time.

The first challenge is planned for April and we are currently putting all the pieces together for it.

Want to make sure you get the details when it's ready?

DM us on here and will add you to the short list for the warning order. We already have a whole bunch of you lined up for it.

Eyes peeled 🫡

13/03/2026

You're in your own time now!

It's been over a decade since I left the military (Dean).

So it's been easy to see how so many of us let our health, physical fitness and mental game slowly spiral in the wrong direction.

Because when you're part of the green machine there's so many things you take for granted, that felt like a bit of a pain in the arse at times.

From the routine dentist checks (remember how big a kick in the balls you'd get if you missed that?).

To your annual medical.

And your PFA (dunno what they call it now) and BMI (even though I think that one's useless) with the PTIs down the gym.

If something was off with your personal health or fitness?

It got flagged.

And it was addressed systematically.

Run into an injury? Referred straight to the physio's then under the watchful eye of the unit ERI.

All done during the working day as well :)

But now?

No one's checking on you.

No one's getting you back on track when you need it.

It's all up to you and you alone.

And after leaving of course the priority is always paying the bills, providing for the family and winning the bread.

Your health and physical ability doesn't fall off a cliff overnight, so it's not a big problem in the beginning. But when it does start catching up, you know what we are good at don't you...

"Solider on."

"Man up wet pants."

"Get a grip of yourself"

We are very good at pushing through the struggle.

That helps in a career where you are paid to go to war.

But it's not sustainable.

Man, as much as fitness has always been my anchor...

I have ran into chronic health problems, dental issues, and harboured more injuries way longer than I should have, all of which created a harder road ahead of me when I finally chose to address them.

Because when left to my own devices I just kept soldiering on until the pain of staying the same was greater than the pain of making a change.

It IS hard to stay on top of your health, fitness and physical ability on the outside.

HOWEVER.

An important way to look at this is - your body and mind is the one biggest asset in your life.

Many of us are at the midlife stage or older.

If you want to keep bringing the bread home and be able to do live an active, capable lifestyle with your family?

You need to look after it.

And, you don't need anywhere near the level of training you did in uniform to get back to feeling and operating at your best.

Relate to any of this? Let us know.

Dean

PS - We are pencilling in a date in April (TBC) for our first challenge to help the first intake of veteran's create a burst of momentum in taking control of their health, body, and fitness. Eyes peeled. And let us know if you want on the short list for first notice when all the details are squared away.

PPS - Still reading this far? Do us a favour and share this about. It will help us massively reaching more military veterans to have the best possible impact with the upcoming challenge. And it's much appreciated.

04/03/2026

We had a cracking long day out on the hills yesterday.

That was after we both had big lower body heavy training sessions on Monday the day before - safe to say today is all about the recovery 🫡

Anyway, recently we've been mapping out logistics of the coaching service for veterans, and spent a lot of time on the hike talking about the best means to deliver valuable content to the wider audience on the front end. It's very likely to be a podcast.

Question: what sort of podcasts do you normally listen to if any? what platform do you listen to them on?

16/02/2026

Being strong is timeless and always useful.
Strong people are harder to kill, not because they avoid hardship, but because they’re built to survive it.

14/02/2026

Out training with Arthur this morning, be a good example and look after yourself, to be around to look after them 💪

13/02/2026

Some of the base-line tests we'll be running in the program to assess your general health, body composition, and physical capability with standards to aim for and then maintain when you get there - this is just the initial draft. Recording and uploading all these assessment into the coaching software next.

We'll be running a 'test week' likely every 12 weeks or so.

This will keep you on point with what needs work and then our support to help you move the needle each time.

10/02/2026

📢Thanks for all the messages to the page so far lads - we've had messages from quite a number of you keen to get started right now, so I wanted to update here where we are at with it.

First, we are in very early stages of building everything out: training programs, nutrition/food/sleep/lifestyle coaching pieces. Identifying the best platform for delivery etc.

So we aren't taking in members right this minute, but it is very much in the works and everyone who PMs the page, and who put their details on our survey form for the initial warning order, will be given first notice for entry to the program. Which we may well limit the first intake to get a feel for running it and take on early feedback to help us refine the process.

Further -

This isn't gonna be a one-size fits all approach where everyone is all on the same training plan.

We are are building out training plans currently for a number of different fitness/training abilities and experience, based on the feedback on our survey...

Whether you want to start training at home with nothing but a daysack available to fill with some weight (btw, this program is gonna be incredible for building anyone's general physical preparedness)... Or if you prefer to hit the gym, or have a little home gym set up.
.. Whether your goal is firstly to lose weight/fat and get fitter, or if your main aim is strength and muscle gains.

Equally, outside of the gym - if you want to improve your 1.5 miler, 5k or 10k time. Or if you want to train for big hiking big days on the mountains whilst losing the extra weight, or even your first trail marathon...

We will be knocking together lots of training protocols for any stage in your fitness journey, and you'll have us guiding you through it to keep you right.

Something we will also have in place are some fundamental tests/assessments that everyone should be able to get to and maintain regardless of goal, in order to be healthy, fit, and strong for life (think the old annual PFA, except these will not be military relevant, more general relevance for us now as every day civilians). These will give us all reference points and highlight what we personally need to work on for better health, mobility/flexibility, strength, and fitness.

This is A LOT of work on our part to get this together.

But we are excited about it and look forward to delivering this to the first intake of you who are keen to come on board when we are ready to rock and roll.

If this sound good to you and yo haven't already done so, shoot us a PM on here and we will add you to the list for first notice 🤝

Fitter Veteran Project

31/03/2026

23/03/2026

21/03/2026

17/03/2026

15/03/2026

13/03/2026

04/03/2026

16/02/2026

14/02/2026

13/02/2026

10/02/2026

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