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#21 – Cosmo Cover Shocker: Tess Holliday & Health vs Appearance

I’d never heard of Tess Holliday until THAT Cosmo cover. 

Her image jumped out at me in my local Tesco Express, she’s a striking looking woman and not your typical cover model (I don’t think I’m breaking news here).

A couple of days later Tess’s image started popping up all over my social media feed. Piers Morgan was going in hard (yawn), Fitness Professionals were aghast, and in general – people had strong opinions. I hadn’t witnessed this level of polarising debate since Brexit, Trump and that optical illusion dress (FYI – it was blue). 

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#20 – Going to see a therapist for the first time

In the last blog, I mentioned I “sat with a mentor” – this mentor was actually my therapist.

I’m not sure why I didn’t write this originally.

Embarrassment and fear of being judged I guess.

In the spirit of keeping this blog as honest as possible, I thought I’d talk about it.

I experience feelings of depression and anxiety. 

The depression is a relatively new addition (last 18months) whereas anxiety is something that I’ve had for the majority of my life (although admittedly worse in the last few years).

I’ve always managed my anxiety but it requires effort. 

Mental resources need to be allocated and when feelings of depression started to enter the mix it became a bit too much.

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#19 – The CAN’T vs WON’T Filter Test

I find myself sat with a mentor giving a perfectly rational explanation for why I didn’t do the thing I was unposed to do:

“I couldn’t do that because of x, y, z…”

She paused just long enough to make me consider what I’d said before looking me dead in the eye and enquiring:

“Couldn’t or wouldn’t?”

Cue more dead air that I was happy to fill.

“No, you see I can’t do the thing because…..”

She interjects.

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#18 – “I can’t afford a gym membership”…….Really?

I drink a lot of coffee.

There’s a Starbucks 10mins from the gym and I work in various coffee shops (I’m writing this in ‘Eat17’) in town.

I pay anywhere from £2-3 a coffee.

I easily ‘drink out’ seven times a week.

£14-21 / week.

£56-84 / month.

Fucking hell that’s a wake-up call for me reading that in black and white!

I spend more on coffee than most people do on a gym membership.

Membership at KORU (where I PT) Gym = £35/month.

Coffee is an inexpensive, highly available product that provides an immediate buzz.

Gym membership is a perceived luxury that on its own guarantees nothing. It requires substantial work on your part to make it worthwhile.

Coffee is instant, short-term gratification.

Gym membership is a long-term investment in your health.

I’m not here to bash coffee. I’m here to tell you that for £25-40/month a gym membership is an absolute bargain. 

It has the potential to be one of the best investments you ever make.

I love coffee.

I love living a healthy life more.

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#17 – “People don’t care how much you know until…..

…..they know how much you care.”

Theodore Roosevelt

This is Personal Training in a nutshell.

I presented a nutrition seminar a few months back and was asked about my qualifications. 

My surprised response:

“That’s 5”

5 GCSEs? 

No, that’s a total of 5 times in the last 10 years I’ve been asked about my education background. 

If you’re reading this as a current or aspiring PT it doesn’t mean education isn’t important. You simply have to realise your client probably doesn’t care, and that’s ok.

If you’re reading this as a CLIENT of a PT do they:

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