As a Personal Trainer I hear often that people want to look like magazine photo shoot models or body builders or perform like a great athlete, which is great.

What I advise to you and others if your goal is similar is this;

Be realistic. You may well have the genetics to look or perform along side the best of them, you may be an undiscovered gem. Honestly though, you aren’t. If you were, chances are that you would already be on that path. The most amazing looking and performing people are that way for two reasons; 1) Genetics and 2) Years, a lifetime of practice.

Watch this video and see what total mastery of a given skill is;

(Props to Davie for the link to this video)

The man in this film is the best at what he does, it didn’t come by walking into a bike shop or skate park one day and deciding he wanted to be pretty good at trials riding, it came through and amazing natural ability for no fear, balance, coordination, strength, timing and a multitude of other genetically passed down gifts. AND years of practice, of falling down and going again. I personally think he is a government experiment and is actually a mutant with supra human abilities:)

Would you get on a bike and expect to be able to ride like him? Not a chance. It could take you years to perform even the basics of his stunts.

My point is this; when you walk into a gym, don’t expect to look or perform like the amazing athletes you see in professional sports like boxing, football, tennis, rugby, cycling or any other sport for that matter. They look the way they do because of their genetics and years of practice.

8 weeks of effort will not see you looking like a six packed gymnast or a sexy underwear model. 1 - 2 years may well put you nearer, if your genetics are that way inclined.

I am not saying don’t bother, I am saying be realistic - we can all learn to wheelie but not all of us can scale buildings or back flip off camper vans.

You’ll never know how far you can go unless you push your limits.

If you want to see how far you can go, call me on 07742 952 208.

Epsom based Personal Trainer.