An interview with one of our Beckwith Chart Toppers about his fitness journey.
Every month, members with the highest number of visits to our gym make it on to the “Beckwith Monthly Chart Toppers” list, an achievement reserved for only the most committed!
One of these members is Steve F., who has been on top of the Chart Toppers list for an incredible 5 consecutive months!
We sat down with Steve to learn more about his fitness journey, his goals, and motivations, and to see if he had any helpful tips and tricks for us to become as consistent as him.
Why did you join Beckwith Health Club?
Steve: I joined the Beckwith gym because it’s conveniently located near my home. I’ve historically been good at talking myself out of going to the gym, so I’ve made it easy to get there by removing the traffic/travel time as an excuse.
When I inquired about a membership, Sara from the Beckwith team introduced me to the EGYM machines, which really helped me get started on my fitness journey. The EGYM gave me goals to focus on. I’ve always been a target/goal-oriented person, and so this system really worked for me.
[Note from Beckwith: EGYM is a great way to get started for those who are new to the gym and less experienced with the machines. As Steve says, it sets goals for you and helps you with tracking your progress. Reach out to one of our friendly team members for an induction to teach you about the system, and then you’ll be ready to go!]
You’ve been on top of the “Beckwith Monthly Chart Toppers” list for 5 months consecutively with an incredible number of visits – what’s your motivation?
Steve: Firstly, I’m retired, so I have more time than most to focus on my fitness. But more importantly, all the staff at Beckwith are friendly and approachable, making the gym experience more of a pleasure than a chore.
I started with the objective of going once a day, doing 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of EGYM. The first month was tough. I was heavy and seriously lacking fitness. However, after the first month, my body started to adjust. I began to lose weight, sleep better and wake up with more energy.
I felt I could train more. So, I did. With a morning session and a mid-afternoon session, increasing the cardio to 45 minutes and eventually to an hour. I got fitter and lost more weight. My energy levels went sky high.
Freya and Miles from the Beckwith team suggested I try classes as they come free with the membership. So, I joined a class at lunchtime. I’ve since engaged with a personal trainer and replaced the classes with his tailored strength training sessions.
What motivated me? Seeing the positive impact training had on me just spurred me on to train more.
Note from Beckwith: Our primary focus is making sure our members are happy and getting the most out of their time at Beckwith. If you’d like to optimise your workouts, get in touch with one of our friendly and experienced Personal Trainers here.
How many training sessions do you aim for each week?
Steve: I aim to do two to three sessions a day during the week and use the weekends for rest. So, on average, about 12 sessions a week.
What are your current fitness goals?
Steve: Having initially focused solely on weight loss, my goals have shifted to general fitness and building muscle.
My personal training sessions have opened my eyes to nutrition, as well as the importance of exercising with the proper form to maximise the benefits of each exercise.
What’s your favourite exercise?
Steve: Anything to do with arms and chest.
What’s your least favourite exercise?
Steve: The plank.
Do you have any training tips you’d like to share with other members?
Steve: I would say, don’t get put off by how hard training is in the first month. If you can overcome the initial challenge, it does become easier, and you will start to see results. The more you put in, the more you get out. The team at Beckwith are very encouraging and is there to help you achieve your goals. If I can do it, anyone can!
Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Steve, and well done again on topping the chart! For anyone interested in learning more about the positive effects of physical exercise on sleep, mental health, and general fitness, read more here.
