Results keep on going
Andrew got in touch with us asking us to come train at a proper gym where he can concentrate on his big lifts, get loud and really go for it in his training. The love of training this lad has is unreal, he maxes out nearly every week trying to hit his one rep max. He has also been a great addition to RT Fitness as he has very good knowledge in training and nutrition, helping out our current members along the way.
In February when I started here I was around 70/69kg at 5ft 9, I had been doing a lot of cycling and running and was really unhappy with the way I looked, clothes I had hung off me and I had to buy new jeans and shorts because of the weight and muscle that I had lost. I was never comfortable with how I looked, I always felt small and it had knocked my confidence. The gym used to be a massive part of my social life as a lot of my friends were into it and given my busy schedule with university and work I had less of a chance to go out drinking and other things so the gym was vital. It may seem a bit daft putting so much significance on ‘the gym’ as a part of my life but losing it left a massive void.
I got to know Ross through Tom Bainbridge, who was one of the coaches/technicians at the gym, where funnily enough he, I and Ross were going to do a steak eating challenge. That’s where I first met Ross and got a look at the facility. We got talking and he set me up a programme based on squats, bench press and deadlifting with a focus on increasing strength and functional training for sport.
My lifts when I started were a none existent bench press, due to an injured shoulder, a 120kg deadlift and an 80kg squat. My current lifts as it stands now are a 110kg bench press, 200kg deadlift and a 140kg squat at 77kg bodyweight. This is all down to Ross and Tom, not only have I made a friend for life I have also found the best coach and training partner I’ve ever had. To the point where I get up at 7am on a weekday just to train with Ross even though I don’t have to be awake till around midday…let’s not forget I am a student. Now the gym is something I look forward to, it’s the 2nd best thing I do in a day behind eating, Ross has created a positive enviroment for change as well as fun place to be. When we train we joke, we laugh, we have fun… but we also train really hard, it’s not a scary environment full of misogynistic blokes shouting and swearing whilst they half rep a bench. For me that’s the most important thing, a personal pet hate of mine is when lads make a weights room/area too uncomfortable for girls to train because they are intimidated. There is an inherent culture in the gym where everybody wants everyone else to succeed, that’s not something you can fake and it’s something Ross works very hard to promote.
As well as adopting a powerlifting style training regime with a 450kg total and aspirations of competing, I have also took on an MMA/Kickboxing style classes that are offered within the gym. I’ve never been into fight sports and I have no aspiration of stepping into a cage and getting punched in the face… it’s not my idea of a good time. This style of training has really helped my conditioning for football and offered me an ability to develop some self-defence skills.
In conclusion I am really happy with what I’ve achieved in the 5 months that I have been a member here and I am not looking forward to leaving and going back to my university gym. I couldn’t recommend the place and Ross as trainer/coache anymore, a genuine positive environment for change.”