Those of you that follow my Instagram page will know that 2024 didn’t really start with the bang that I had hoped, with regards to my fitness training. Yet another surprise injury to my right knee, scuppered my plans to hit the ground running and has meant I have had to instead spend the time thinking about what it is that I want to achieve.

I have broken this down into areas that I feel I need to make some progress in – not necessarily the technical or trainers guide to these things! (Disclaimer done!)

Toning

Since steadily losing weight over the last few years – finally there is some muscle beginning to develop! I am hoping to tone up the areas where there is still a little softness and create a firmer overall aesthetic.

These are the areas that I am most self conscious about especially on my Stomach and my sides. I’m not expecting to be Adonis-like, I just want to focus on these areas and be able to build up my physique from there.

Flexibility

I used to be a fairly flexible guy! I trained in dance and drama up to the age of 21 and as I look back on it now, I wasn’t bad at it either. I didn’t perhaps look like your average dancer, but I could certainly move. Between weight gains and then the subsequent loss and gym training that followed, and I guess not dancing any more, I lost all the flexibility and actually became quite inflexible as a consequence. The tightness I feel in all of my muscles can no doubt be remedied, and I am hoping that yoga and some Alexander technique will help both my flexibility and my posture. I think the way to tackle flexibility will be regular (everyday) sessions.

Strength

I want to up the weights that I can lift and build up a bit of bulk. But as well as that – I want to develop my mental strength and perseverance. Be able to achieve one more rep, to reach my treadmill goal without switching it off a minute earlier! And to have the strength to know when rest is more important than getting to the gym so that my can embrace every aspect of my life with strength.

Emotional strength is also a key element for me. I have always been a wear your heart on your sleeve sorta guy – but this can lead to my emotions being manipulated by people. I choose now to develop the strength of character to take control of my own life.

Structure

My aim is to keep everything in proportion. To develop my muscle inline with my overall physique. For example I want my chest and arms to build at a similar rate, and that this is also in proportion to the build of my thighs.

I also want to do this by approaching my journey from diet, weights, cardio and mental approach. That way it will feel wholistic and in turn much easier to remain consistent throughout.

Maybe not the most conventional fitness goals, but they serve the purpose of marrying fitness as closely as possible to my overall well-being. Here’s to 2024 being the year that we achieve exactly what we hope!

Smash it my friends

TIB