When I first stepped back into the gym in my 40s, I didn’t really know what to expect. I’d been a member of various gyms on and off throughout my life, but I never really stuck with it. I’d even had a personal trainer before, during lockdown, but on reflection, it wasn’t the right time. There was no sense of community, no shared energy, no spark — and it didn’t last.
I don’t remember exactly what prompted me to try again. Maybe it was the end of the marathon charity walk training I’d thrown myself into. Maybe it was just a sense that I needed something new — something for me. I was 43, and I knew it was time to start building strength, not just for now, but for the years ahead. A yoga friend had planted the seed, often talking about the importance of strength training for women as we age. It stuck.
So I started working with Sophie, a personal trainer at my local gym. What I appreciated most in those early days was that she made all the decisions for me. I didn’t have to overthink or over plan. I just had to turn up. That was a big relief.
As my confidence grew, so did my curiosity. I started trying classes, walking into unfamiliar spaces full of people I didn’t know, but gradually I started to feel part of things. I got to know the regulars, I chatted to people before and after sessions. And before long, I realised I was enjoying the social side as much as the physical.
Now, the gym gives me structure and I enjoy catching up with my gym freinds each week. It’s become part of who I am — and it no longer feels like a chore. If anything, I find it stressful not going. I miss it when I can’t make it.
One of the biggest shifts for me has been learning the power of consistency. By turning up regularly — even when I didn’t feel like it — I started to rebuild trust with myself. That quiet kind of confidence that grows when you follow through on the promises you make to yourself. Not perfectly, not obsessively, but with care and commitment. There’s something deeply empowering about showing yourself you can do hard things — or even just regular things — without letting yourself down.
When I first started I wanted to lose weight but that has gone by thewayside as I feel physically stronger and more confident in myself and thats enough. I’m more conscious of how I fuel my body, and I’ve taken responsibility for how I look and feel — not out of pressure, but out of care.
I had no intention of making this blog post about coahcing but I can’t help it! Sometimes we just need a bit of help to get started with making a change. We think we know what we want (although that often changes), but we need a bit of help getting started.