In general, it is very difficult for women to develop large muscles unless they lift very heavy weights, train most days of the week, and eat in a calorie surplus. There are huge benefits of strength training for women-a faster metabolism, a more toned look, stronger bone density, better posture, improved insulin response, lower risk of cardiovascular disease…truly it is the elixir of youth!

However, I do also believe that being bulk is subjective in the same way that being tall or thin is, and so I understand that it is a valid concern for some women. We will determine your physique goals when we begin to work together, and your training will be organised with these goals in mind. If you ever feel that some aspect of your training is not working for you, we will adjust course.

Of course starting something new can feel overwhelming and a bit scary. I promise that I am no army drill sergeant! I start slow and gentle with all clients to ease you into your new routine. We will work together to push you gently-1% better each week adds up to huge improvements over time. A little muscle soreness is normal for the first week or so but is nothing a warm bath and gentle massage should be able to help with. We will of course also make sure we are working safely should you have any medical or joint/bone health concerns.

This is totally normal and very common-there is nothing wrong with you! When we decide to start a new habit that we feel very excited about, we get a rush of dopamine (this is what causes your surge of motivation). We may think this is it now, new me is just around the corner!. This motivation will only last until the first setback e.g. the kids get sick, you have a bad day at work, the weather is bad, and so on. We need to learn that motivation is temporary, and simply changing our thoughts around our desired habits (there is a proven mindset formula for this!) is what will increase our self-discipline for the long haul, and ultimately allow us to reach our goals.

Having realistic habits and expectations is also vital. This is why people who lose weight very quickly almost always gain it all back-they likely exercised and dieted in a way that they could not sustain once they reached their goal. Taking it slow and steady means that you are taking the time to learn new mindset techniques to support your habits, and you can easily maintain your goal once you get there.

The right exercises carried out with the correct form could actually reduce knee pain during exercise. In some cases, tight or under-exercised muscles in the legs can force pressure on the knee that it is not designed to take. We can work together to figure out what is most suitable for you, and combining strength training with a stretching routine may even entirely eliminate knee pain