{"id":1318,"date":"2020-02-28T13:22:56","date_gmt":"2020-02-28T13:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/slimmingworld.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=1318"},"modified":"2026-03-09T13:40:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T13:40:44","slug":"steves-diary-i-never-dreamed-id-set-foot-in-a-gym","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.ie\/blog\/steves-diary-i-never-dreamed-id-set-foot-in-a-gym\/","title":{"rendered":"Steve\u2019s diary: I never dreamed I\u2019d set foot in a gym"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From running or rowing to raving or rollerblading \u2013 there are so many fantastic ways to feel more active. That\u2019s what our Body Magic programme<\/a> is all about: finding an activity you really enjoy, and taking small steps towards a more active lifestyle \u2013 like Steve, our brilliant target member. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve says that the support he found when he joined Slimming World gave him the confidence to go to the gym for the first time. Have a flick through his Body Magic diary to find out more…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll never forget the day I knew I wanted to do something about my weight. I\u2019d decided to apply for a job as a physical training instructor at the prison where I worked as an officer. But when I plucked up the courage to see a senior manager about the job, he told me I wasn\u2019t fit enough to handle the physical demands of the role. I was crushed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking back now, I realise I shouldn\u2019t have been surprised. My weight had crept up over the years and life had become a struggle. Although I\u2019d scraped through my annual fitness test, I couldn\u2019t climb a flight of stairs without stopping to catch my breath. Working shifts, I rarely had time to cook a proper meal. Instead, I\u2019d snack on crisps throughout the day, and fill up on slices of buttery toast during my breaks.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Steve<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

After my knockback, I realised that my weight was stopping me from progressing my career, too, so when a relative suggested I joined Slimming World<\/a> I knew I had to give it a try. Even so, as I sat in group that first night I didn\u2019t think it wouldn\u2019t work for me \u2013 in fact, I was determined to prove that I couldn\u2019t eat pasta, chicken and potatoes and still lose weight. But, after losing 7lbs in my first week, while filling up on lasagne<\/a>, burgers<\/a> and prawn jalfrezi<\/a>, I was hooked!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wanted to get more active alongside my weight loss, so I started running on a treadmill in the prison gym. I hated that first run \u2013 after three minutes, I thought my lungs were going to burst and I had to stop. I stuck at it, though, and as the weight came off, I started to run further and faster. Even more surprising, I discovered I really enjoyed lifting weights. Losing weight gave me so much energy, I couldn\u2019t wait to get back in the gym, and I always came out of workout feeling strong and positive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although I became a physical training instructor two years after joining Slimming World, I\u2019d grown to love exercise so much that I decided to go into business for myself as a personal trainer. Now, 7st down, I can\u2019t imagine not being active. I feel fitter, healthier and more energetic than I ever dreamed possible \u2013 and I wouldn\u2019t change \u2018that feeling\u2019 for the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Week 1: Getting gym-confident<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I checked my body was positioned correctly on the weight bench, lifted the barbell off the rack and started counting out the reps. One\u2026two\u2026three\u2026 After I\u2019d finished the set, I sat up and looked around at all the other people in the gym. To think, when I first joined, I was so self-conscious that I\u2019d deliberately go early in the morning when I knew no one else would be there.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Steve<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

A colleague had offered to show me a few basic exercises, and I surprised myself with how much I could lift. The more I went to the gym, the more I was able to do. And as my confidence grew, I stopped thinking about whether the other gym-goers were looking at me and just focused on myself. Now, going to the gym is my \u2018me time\u2019. As well as going to group every week to get support with my weight loss, taking an hour out of my day two or three times a week to train really helps to clear my head, and I always finish a workout feeling more positive and energised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve\u2019s tip: Start off slowly to build up your confidence. The great thing about the gym is that you can go at your own pace and only have to do as much as you want to.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Week 2: Back in the swim<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jumping into the water, I pushed off from the side of the pool and swam towards the other side. Getting into the pool was a big step for me. At my biggest, I avoided swimming as much as possible, only going to the pool when I was on holiday. Even then, I made sure I covered up in a baggy T-shirt first. But after going to the gym for a couple of months, I wanted to find a way to cool down after a workout that wouldn\u2019t put pressure on my joints, and I decided to give swimming a go.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Steve<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Even though I\u2019d already lost 2st, I still felt incredibly nervous getting into the water for the first time. I scurried from the changing rooms to the pool, and jumped in at the deep end before anyone had a chance to see me. That only started to change when I decided to try an Aquafit class. As I stood in the pool, going through the exercises with the instructor, I realised the class was filled with people of all different shapes and sizes \u2013 and they were all laughing and enjoying themselves. I realised then that no one was really interested in what I looked like, and now I don\u2019t worry about taking my shirt off in the pool \u2013 or even on the beach if I\u2019m on holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve\u2019s tip: If you\u2019re nervous about going swimming, try a swimming class \u2013 being part of a group might help you feel less self-conscious.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Week 3: Keep on running<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe can do it, Steve!\u201d I heard my fianc\u00e9, Sheryl, shout as we raced towards the finish line of a 10K obstacle course. We\u2019d started doing organised sporting events together a few weeks into our relationship, when I surprised Sheryl by signing her up to a 20-mile obstacle run. It\u2019s more fun to exercise together, and it\u2019s definitely brought us closer as a couple. We cheer each other on, and help one another if one of us is struggling. We might get a bit competitive with each other at times, too!<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Steve<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

I\u2019ve also found that having an obstacle run or a 10K in the calendar helps to keep me motivated. Knowing I\u2019ll be running in an event in a few weeks\u2019 time is just the push I need to get me to go running on those days when I feel too tired or the weather isn\u2019t the best. Thankfully, Sheryl forgave me for that first obstacle run, and we\u2019ve been doing them ever since. We\u2019ve even roped a few of our friends from group into signing up, too! I\u2019ve got more than 40 medals in my collection now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve\u2019s tip: Body Magic is a brilliant way to spend quality time with your better half.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Week 4: Being an active family man<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As much as I enjoy keeping fit in the gym, spending time with my family always comes first. And now family time is active time! A weekend doesn\u2019t go by without Sheryl and me taking the kids to a junior Park Run, down to the park, or to a climbing centre where we can spend the afternoon racing each other to the top of the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Steve<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Recently, Sheryl and I woke up one beautiful sunny morning and decided to make the most of the weather by going for a bike ride. We spent the entire day cycling around Rutland Water Nature Reserve \u2013 on a tandem bike, of all things! \u2013 and stopped halfway round to enjoy a Food Optimising<\/a> picnic. It\u2019s hard to believe that a few years ago I would\u2019ve been stuck to the sofa all weekend. Being active has become a part of my normal life, and I\u2019m enjoying every moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve\u2019s tip: Falafels<\/a>, houmous<\/a>, scotch eggs<\/a> and quiche<\/a> are my Slimming World picnic faves<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Steve<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

It\u2019s fair to say that Steve is loving his newly discovered active lifestyle. If you\u2019d like to get \u2018that feeling\u2019, you\u2019ll find lots more information about Body Magic \u2013 as well as unbeatable weight loss support \u2013 at your local Slimming World group<\/a> and at Slimming World Online<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether it\u2019s swimming lengths in the pool or dancing around the living room, we\u2019d love to share what\u2019s in your Body Magic diary on the blog<\/a> or on social using #theSlimmingWorldblog<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Before losing weight, Steve Tranmer felt unfit and low on confidence. Now 7st lighter, he\u2019s got a Body Magic diary bursting with activity<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":1308,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[22,25,14,23],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1318"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1318"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1318\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15872,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1318\/revisions\/15872"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}