Taking Risks, Building Your Own Path & Trusting Yourself | with Lleucu Mains

In this episode of The Everyday Mindset Podcast, I’m joined by Lleucu Mains, a self-employed gym owner, personal trainer and fitness coach and we go beyond the surface to really get to know HER!

We talk about Lleucu’s journey into building her own business, the risks she took along the way, and the reality behind going all in on something you truly believe in. From leaving behind other paths to navigating the challenges that come with running your own business, this conversation is honest, relatable and full of real-life perspective.

We also explore mindset, relationships, personal growth and the importance of setting the tone for your everyday life. Lleucu shares how fitness has always been more than just physical for her, it’s been a space to reset, refocus and reconnect with herself.

This episode is a reminder that life doesn’t always go to plan, but sometimes the unexpected path leads you exactly where you’re meant to be.

If you’re building something of your own, navigating change, or simply trying to stay grounded and positive... this conversation is for you!

Hope you enjoy as much as I did!

Love Ursula xoxo

Follow my Instagram page...
www.instagram.com/vibes_ursula

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hello and welcome back to the Everyday Mindset podcast. It's been a while since I did my last episode. My last episode was with Leo Thomas. So if you haven't listened to that yet, I suggest you go and check that out. But today I actually have another guest, and I am with Miss Shaky Mains today. And I think like a lot of us, we all see Shaky on social media and promoting her business. But I think there's a lot more to Shaky that meets the eye and what we all see on social media. So I'm really excited to get to know her and find out a bit more about her. So welcome Shaky. Hello, thank you. Thank you for having me. I'm really excited because, like I said, I think a lot of us we only see so much of you, which is mainly around your business. So I'm really excited to get to know the real you. And I think a lot of us probably feel the same. Yeah, hopefully. I thought we'd start with a day in the life of shaky mains. So pick like one of I don't know, your busiest days of the week and just run through just so we can get a flavour of what is in the day of the life of shaky.

SPEAKER_00 1:14

Yeah, so I mean every day is quite busy, so I work six days a week. So Sundays are my only day off, even though it's not really a day off. But if I have to run through one of my busiest days, it normally starts with an alarm clock going off about four o'clock in the morning. So yeah, it takes me about 10-15 minutes to get myself together, but I've always got to have a coffee and an electrolyte first thing in the morning. That's just my routine. I think I sat out have a sit-down and just think about what I've got on that day. A normal busy day of PTing, so being a gym owner and being the only person working at the gym is roughly around 10 hours of face-to-face PT. So for example, like this Tuesday, I've got a yeah, 5am client start, so that'll be a 4am start. And then I usually have a you know a stint in the morning, so my morning on Tuesday morning will go until I think half eleven. I have a few hours gap then. That's where I mainly try and fit my own training in, a bit of admin, if I need to reply to messages, eat food, have a little rest. Sometimes I have to fit a little nap in if I can. And then my afternoon shift starts then, which is usually about 4 pm and can go through till you know, I'm at the gym mainly closing about half eight, sometimes nine in the evening. And then it's basically a repetitive cycle. Wow. Yeah, especially Monday to Friday anyway. It's ba basically that repetitive cycle, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:42

It's mad because I you say obviously I go to the gym, but we only see I see for like an hour. Yeah, yeah. But it's mad to think everything else that you do in that day. Yeah. So obviously there might be people listening now that don't actually know you. So how would you describe what you do in your own words?

SPEAKER_00 3:00

Yeah, so if I had to like say it in a nutshell, I'm a gym owner owner. So yeah, I've opened a gym called the train station nearly coming up three years now. So it was actually an old train station back in the 1980s, so we've kept the name. I think it's quite, by the way. Exactly. It just makes sense, isn't it? Like a train station, you train there, but it was an old train station. So we've kept that. So yeah, it's an outdoor-based gym, which is a bit different to your normal commercial gyms. It's like an old schooly boot campy style gym. And yeah, I'm the only person that works there, so I'm the face of the gym, and mainly specialising in, you know, one-to-one, face-to-face group classes, PTing, and yeah, a fitness coach, basically.

SPEAKER_01 3:44

When did you start to realise in your life that it might take a different direction? So, like talk us, maybe go back a few years, where you were at, and when you started to think, oh, this is the route that I'm gonna go down.

SPEAKER_00 3:58

Yeah, so like I've always been involved in like sports and things in school, you know, like I was the captain in at ball, played hockey. So I was always involved with athletics and everything in school and you know, just growing up really. I then went to when I was in sixth form, I decided I was gonna go to Cardiff Mat Uni, which specialises in sports. That was a last-minute decision. Being in sixth form, I feel like it's that point in your life you're not really sure what you want to do. And I wasn't I wasn't 100% sure of what I wanted to do, to be honest with you. So I thought I'll go to uni just because at that point that was the only really option I had at the point. So went to UNI, went to Calfmet UNE with only seven days days' notice. I it was a really last-minute decision for me, probably the best decision I've done though, had the time of my life at that university, studying business and sports management, which has ended up fitting in quite well now. So yeah, I did most of my course through the medium of Welsh as well. So that was really helpful because you had a lot more support as well. So yeah, that was the best decision I'd done in terms of getting my degree there. Finished uni, I then got a job as a sports officer with the earth down in Carliffe Bay. So just to describe that job, it was basically schools coming in and I had to do the itinerary. So it was it was a really cool job. I took them around the principality stage where the rugbyes played obviously for Wales. We did like speedboat trips, went ice skating and arenas, like I loved it, it was really good. I did sports activities with the kids, so basically, yeah, schools coming in and I had to basically do the itinerary for their stay, like overnight stays and stuff. Then COVID hit really unexpectedly, and at the time, the house I was staying in in Cardiff, our like rent was coming to end, so I knew I had to move out of that house. During this time as well, I was in the process of trying to become a full-time firefighter. This was just something I was doing alongside the job because my dad was a firefighter for 15 years, so I think just naturally he was trying to stir me on to get it, you know, a good quality job basically.

SPEAKER_02 6:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:18

Hoping to stay in Cardiff though, that was my plan was staying in Cardiff. Like if this if COVID had happened, I think I might have still been in Cardiff for all I know.

SPEAKER_01 6:27

Yeah, isn't that mine?

SPEAKER_00 6:28

Yeah. So because of the house situation, I moved home for a bit and I was on furlough with the sports officer job at the time. There was like seven of us in a team. Six of us lost the job eventually then, so only one person stayed. And because I I was the newest one in the team anyway. I I kind of knew like I was gonna I was gonna go.

SPEAKER_02 6:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:49

So just making use of my time being on furlough during lockdown, I did my personal training qualification because I just thought I have all this time. I'm not just I mean, you know, everyone has going on walks training, which I did do as well, but I just thought just to make use of that time I had, yeah, did my qualification, which in all fairness, I could have probably completed it a lot sooner than what I did. I kind of just it took me about two years, but I was just like plodding along with it here and there.

SPEAKER_01 7:19

Yeah, but that's fine then still doing it.

SPEAKER_00 7:22

Always thinking I was gonna get the firefighting job. Yeah. Which I nearly did qualify in really, just with the whole COVID situation, they were just cutting back, like you just a very slim chance, they the application process of the firefighting became smaller then because it was taking on less amount of people, obviously, because of the situation with COVID.

SPEAKER_01 7:42

So do you think it was like I don't know, I'm obviously quite spiritual and stuff. So for me now, I would be like, well, clearly that wasn't for me, and I was being redirected to do something else, even though you didn't know at that time what you were gonna be doing. Yeah. But do you look back now and think, oh, I was definitely that's why that happened because I was supposed to do what I'm doing now.

SPEAKER_00 8:03

Yeah, like I couldn't believe it. Like when it came to like moving from Cardiff, I was like, oh, I just saw myself like living in Cardiff. I just see myself moving home that that young. Like, you know what I mean? I loved Cardiff. And just there was I thought there was more opportunity in terms of job wise there. Obviously, not thinking I'd become a PT and open my own gym.

SPEAKER_01 8:24

Yeah. I suppose COVID like made you think about like think outside the box, I guess.

SPEAKER_00 8:29

Well, I ha I had to think of plan B because no one knew how long COVID was gonna be, and it ended up being like Quite a long time. Quite a long time. And you had to move home. Exactly, yeah. It's just like there was just little things adding up all together that obviously made me in turn move home and now here I am.

SPEAKER_02 8:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:49

You know, this I haven't moved back since then, basically. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:53

So how did it like feel building something like totally unexpected, which like your own gym? Like, how did that feel?

SPEAKER_00 9:00

Yeah, so like I qualified as the as a PT, that went through all night, and I just thought I'd have that as a backup, like I'd probably just get a job in a gym somewhere because I loved training in sports, that's just a part of me anyway. So your own gym wasn't even on your radar then? No way, no. And my dad like sprung it. My dad has always been involved in like business and he's you know, so he was just springing like it onto me. He was like, Oh, if I set you up a little like gym, would you like consider like starting to PT from there and stuff? And I was like, I was turned out, I was like, oh no one's gonna want to come and I'll PT them. Like, do you know what I mean? And it was a really small set setup, but you will probably know yourself. It was like cabin. It was literally a small cabin. I can't even like not much bigger than this like room, basically. And I was like, oh no, like you see gyms lately, they're just fully equipped, they're massive. And like, you know what, I was like never say nervous and it, but yeah, because COVID started to ease a bit out then, I just thought, right, I'll just put like a few glasses on and just see what happens. I think that was that, day one. Yeah, you were and I think there was like was there like six of us or something? Yeah, I think that was like started, but I think you were limited because obviously the size didn't I I had a bit of outdoor area, didn't I? So that helps, but I was so weather reliant. Yeah. Yeah, so started doing that. However, I also had a part-time job at the time. Well, I had two part-time jobs actually as a Bristol, and I did start coaching in another gym in the evenings.

SPEAKER_02 10:35

Yeah, that's it, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:36

So I think it was just a lot to like think about at the time, and I just couldn't see it being like, you know, I couldn't see it being what it is now.

SPEAKER_01 10:46

It's mad because everything that you put into, even just opening the train station, and you work into part-time jobs as well. And not only that, social media is a massive thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you would have had to spend loads of time promoting on that. Yeah, yeah. Like, yeah, fair play to you. Yeah, it's a lot. It is a lot. Yeah. So obviously, what then made you make the decision, like, oh okay, this is going well, I'm gonna take this on full time.

SPEAKER_00 11:14

Yeah, so like with the classes and stuff, I think, like you said, with the social media side of things, like I was I love doing the social media type of things, and it it's what I did in uni as well. There was a bit of like business involved a bit. So I've always like enjoyed doing that side of it.

SPEAKER_01 11:29

You're very good at it, I will say.

SPEAKER_00 11:32

But yeah, so I just like you know, started to advertise a bit here and there. A lot of people were inquiring about classes and PTing, because there wasn't anything like that around the area.

SPEAKER_01 11:42

So I personally have been crying out for anything. Yeah, I remember you saying because I was on maternity and there was nowhere local. The nearest place was about 20 minutes, half an hour, which you're not gonna do when you've got if you've got children or you've got a baby. Like I just wanted to go down the road, but I also knew I needed someone to tell me what to do. Yeah. So go into a gym on my own, yeah. I wouldn't have gone.

SPEAKER_00 12:04

Yeah, so like to tie in with that. Like I got I got the opportunity to do evening classes at another gym, which in all fairness gave me a lot of on-floor PT experience, which in tie in like tied in to help me with my confidence in terms of my PT to start off as well. The Brister job was more of a case of just getting some income in because study income, yeah. Yeah, but I know loads of people that have done that before. It's going three times, isn't it? Yeah, it's and you've gotta have you've gotta have that safety net. Like, don't get me wrong, like I didn't want to be a Brister, even though I did find that very therapeutic. Yeah, I bet. Yeah, like you could suppose you could switch off a bit. Yeah, like I don't know, there's something nice about making like a nice coffee. I wasn't fancy with the art or anything, but I've never been that creative in terms of things like that. But yeah, it came to a point where I was doing these three jobs, like Peteing at my gym in the morning, sometimes in the evening as well. Working in the Bristol job like nine to five, and then going to another gym, which was nearly a half an hour drive away from me as well. Yeah, it took a massive toll on me as a person. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:15

Do you appreciate because I don't feel like you might not, but me listening to that, I'm like, wow. Like for all the like things that you had going on at the same time when you were trying to build your own business.

SPEAKER_00 13:27

It's like yeah, I was you know, I was quite young. I was like, what was like 22, 23. I I was in a position to be able to do that because you know, I had a place at home, I'd somewhere to stay, like go with my parents at the time, and I had no kids. Like my, you know, I didn't have major priorities in terms of having to be anywhere at a certain time. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? So yeah, so I was able to do it. Just I knew like long term, this is gonna burn me to the ground massively. And unfortunately, I did hit the point where I did massively like burn out. And I think that was like the pinnacle. My dad though said, like, oh, you didn't think I sh should go just full time, like I should still keep one of them. Yeah. Just for you'd only put actomy at the end of the day. But no, I don't know, there's something set, my my class was getting busier, I was getting more people inquiring, and I ended up having to turn the people away because I was having well, I had other commitments with other jobs then.

SPEAKER_01 14:28

But honestly, something inside of you was like, uh, telling you, like, no, you need to keep going with this. Yeah. You didn't realise it at the time. Yeah, yeah. If you listen to like your dad and other people would say the same, because everybody's trying to look out for you, aren't they?

SPEAKER_00 14:41

Yeah, that's all it was. Yeah. It was just looking out for me, just making sure I was making the right decision with things. But after me, or after me, obviously I'm an adult and I it is my decision of what I was doing. And I was really unhappy at one point with those three jobs. I lost myself completely as a person. And mainly because I was committing to all these hours working that I was losing things I was enjoying. Like I I hardly trained, I was I put quite a bit of weight on, I was in a relationship at the time that had a massive toll on the relationship.

SPEAKER_02 15:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:16

Yeah, there were several several different things, and ultimately I was like, no, I have to just go all in and something here.

SPEAKER_01 15:23

Yeah. So what would you say was like the scariest part of going all in?

SPEAKER_00 15:29

I think it's failure, isn't it? Like committing yourself 100% to something and it not working out. Yeah, I think I and I don't like failing. I'd no one does anyway, do they? But I think it was like like I'm making this decision to go all in if this doesn't work out. I think it was more like what am I gonna do if it doesn't work out? Because like training and fitness was like a massive passion of mine. Obviously, yes, like the firefighting thing might have worked out for me, you know, otherwise, but like I think the more experience I had working as a PT, the more I was like, oh no, this is what I want to do.

SPEAKER_01 16:10

Like so, do you think, you know, like for anybody listening as well, like sometimes you just have to take that risk because yeah, look how it it can pay off. And I think if you like you say you don't like to, you know, fail or whatever, but you've obviously got that drive then, haven't you, to make sure that you're not going to, which again I think helps.

SPEAKER_00 16:30

Yeah. I think like that's what you're saying, put going 100% in. Like I wasn't giving 100% into the business because I had certain percentages elsewhere. Yeah. And I think you'll never give your full potential into something unless you're 100% in it. And I was like, right, this is my opportunity to give everything I've got into this business. And if it doesn't work out, well, it is on me because I've committed myself to make it work. In all fairness, you've got to make it work. Yeah, definitely. I feel like and with in terms of like taking the risk, if I didn't take the risk, I could be ten years down the line looking back, like, oh, why didn't I like do that, you know? And like someone else could have jumped on that opportunity. And you just be there like, I hate the what if.

SPEAKER_01 17:18

Yeah. And that's like a really good place to be, I think. Yeah. Because a lot of us are scared to do something or go, and like you say, in a few years' time, you're like, Oh, I wish I'd have done that. Yeah. And yeah, I'm literally, I've been there myself.

SPEAKER_00 17:31

And I look back and I think, oh I'd rather have tried and it didn't work out, and I knew it didn't work out. It's the same with anything, really, isn't it? Than I didn't try and I'm sitting here like could be in another like still in the sparista job, like or like just looking at the clock, like ticking away, you know, like Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:50

And just wishing that you'd done something. Yeah, yeah. So obviously you've spoken about like the sacrifices, you know, like leaving your other jobs and obviously a long-term relationship. So how hard was that decision at the time, you know, especially with when there's a relationship involved? I can imagine that was probably quite difficult.

SPEAKER_00 18:10

Yeah, yeah, it was. Yeah, like with the relationship, I was like with someone for five years, and he was actually in the same kind of job as me, which I don't think helped because you're both working the same hours. It's unsociable hours, isn't it? So yeah, you're both coming back tired, talking about the same sort of thing day in, day out. In terms of leaving the other jobs, I d that wasn't really concerning me as much because you know I'm willing to work. Like I I knew I would have found something else if it didn't work out. So the the job side of things wasn't massively bothering me in terms of like relationship purposes. Like I think because I got into this massive rut with balancing everything. Any of my spare time I had, you were trying to I was trying to give to this relationship. Yeah. And it's like I'm still not giving 100% of myself to what I want to give it to.

SPEAKER_01 19:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:06

I didn't have my own time then either, which is I think having your own time is also important. Yeah. To like de-stress and things. So yeah, it came to the point. I was so unhappy with myself. Like I didn't love myself, and that sounds so sad. I ended up not falling out of love with this person as well. Yeah. So yeah, like telling that person, like, I basically had to tell him, I was like, look, I want to put 100% 100% of myself into this business. Basically chosen my career. Not over over like a relationship, but it was a bit. Yeah. But I was so unhappy with where I was at. The only thing I wanted to do was be on my own, focus on myself, and focus on the business. That's all I wanted to do. Yeah. So in in that turn, I I had to do it. I literally dropped the we I left the job of the Brewster. The other coaching job I had, we both had like a mutual conversation, and we just decided like, look, this isn't gonna work out. Like I do want to go my own way, and he was, you know, really supportive of that. Leaving the long-term relationship. And I also was living with him as well, so I had to m we had to move out of this flat together. I literally feel like I was starting a whole new life, but that's the only way I wanted to do it. That's what I thought I needed to do.

SPEAKER_01 20:26

Yeah, yeah. And I I remember that time because obviously I was part of the gym then, and I just I remember thinking to myself, like, wow, like this girl has just started her own business, and also emotionally and mentally coming out of a relationship, yeah, yeah. And everything else. Yeah. And like you're still having to give hundred percent and like I just think that's a massive credit to you because I just remember thinking, like, wow, like you're brave, yeah, and like an inspiration.

SPEAKER_00 20:55

I feel like I was throwing everything at my clients at once. I was like, oh, just who know, guys, this has happened, this has happened, this has happened.

SPEAKER_01 21:01

I just think like and I think that is a massive part of why you have like there's still the same crew, like we're still with you because we're just like we've watched you grow, and obviously the sacrifices that you've made, and yeah, we just think you're amazing.

SPEAKER_00 21:16

Yeah. Which is like you said, I don't really talk about myself that much. I don't think people realise people probably won't know majority of this that we'll just spoke about to be honest, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 21:25

But I think that's a good thing that people do realise because you deserve the recognition. So obviously, we'll just touch on relationships again a little bit. So obviously, you that happened and you had to end your relationship and things like that. So do you find it a struggle now, or how is there room for any kind of romanticness thing?

SPEAKER_00 21:49

Well, put it this way since I left that relationship when I went full time with the gym, I haven't had a relationship since. No, I in in all fairness, I have fashion. Dating quite hard. In all honesty, it's not been a massive priority of mine anyway. Yeah. It's been quite low on my priority list compared to other things. Yeah, but I have found dating very hard. I've found meeting people hard because obviously in the gym, I'm the one that works there. In a commercial gym, you see PTs all over the place and loads of people training there, but my gym's a bit different to that.

SPEAKER_01 22:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:24

Like it's more of a community gym, local gym. I don't have people walking in and out training when they want, you know. So in terms of meeting people, I found that hard. And obviously I work in sociable hours, so like going out on a Saturday night for me is not what I want to be doing with my weekends anymore. Um working Monday to Saturday sounds sad, but I actually just want to night in on a Saturday. But I used to go out a lot, you know, and I when I did go out, I did obviously meet a lot of people and things. But yeah, in terms of yeah, relationships, that's been a struggle. I'm hoping it's just gonna be a case of a lot of people telling me, like, I think you've told me it'll be like it'll happen when it's meant to. And I'm really chilled about that. Like, I believe I'll meet someone when the time's right. I think it will take someone to fit into my lifestyle now.

SPEAKER_01 23:18

Yeah, but it does happen.

SPEAKER_00 23:20

It does happen, and hopefully, like you said, it's the like right person, right time kind of thing.

SPEAKER_01 23:26

And I think because your priorities have changed, like you say, you don't go out as much anymore. Like you don't really want to be meeting someone on a night out. Well, it's a like that part of you has changed, I guess. Massively. So I do think you're doing it the right way because you're living your life, and I do think you will attract someone that will fit into that life.

SPEAKER_00 23:46

Yeah, I'm I'm hoping so, isn't it? Like, I do feel like I'm in a position now, like the gym is doing well. I've got a bit more of a routine, like I could probably meet someone now if it happens and I would allow it kind of thing. But yeah, it's hard because like you know, you say about social media side of things, like I'm really trying to push my social media, but then I'm still just getting like random people messaged, just they're just bothered about what you look like, aren't they?

SPEAKER_01 24:14

And just cut them off, you know what I say. And if anybody takes longer than two hours to reply and taking like two weeks, yeah, block. Yeah, no, I've had like a few people like that as you probably know.

SPEAKER_00 24:29

Um and if we're honest, you're you haven't got the time to be messing around with time. Yeah, and I think I have I am quite a straight up person like that. I'd rather people just tell me straight because I've had like, you know, I have dated a bit, but like I am so straight up and you if people people won't know this, but Ursula is very good at giving me advice when it comes to dating. She's always like in the middle of a clash to be like, so have you got anything to tell me? And I'm like, no, just someone's pissed me off this week.

SPEAKER_01 25:01

Or she'll tell me, Oh, I haven't heard from him for three days. And I said, Well, end off. She's bad.

SPEAKER_00 25:06

And you know what? I think you have rubbed off for me a bit because I'm like cutthroat now.

SPEAKER_01 25:11

I'm like, but you should, because at the end of the day, they're obviously not if they can't be bothered to reply, ta na, you get rid. It's my advice. Moving forward, carry on with that. So would you say that you find your life uh quite lonely at all? Do you find like periods of it quite lonely?

SPEAKER_00 25:32

Yeah. It's probably the loneliest job I've ever done compared to my other jobs. Yeah. And people will be like, what do you mean? Like the loneliest job. Because I see people when I bump into people just on a day-to-day basis, they're like, Oh, you're doing so well, like you look like the gym smashing it. I'm like, yeah, it is. And don't get me wrong, I do see my clients every day. Usually the same sort of clients I see day in, day out, but that's the that's the only time I'll interact with people is during their session with me. I don't think people see me getting up at 4 a.m. on my own, setting up, opening up the gym on my own. The obviously break I have in between, like it's usually between lunchtime and like afternoon, and training on my own.

SPEAKER_02 26:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:19

The gyms usually I do go train at other gyms just to give myself like a bit of a change of scenery. And a bit more social interaction. And it's not a time of day where a lot of people train, so I don't usually see anyone then. And it's also like just things like having supper on my own in the evening. And do you know it's like the like some of my friends the other night were like, oh, they texting me, they're like, Oh, hey, because I know you probably can't come, but like we're going out for food tonight. It was like a Thursday night, and they were like, I know you probably can't, but we're just texting you. Say, ah, good, that just texting you in case there's an off chance. But that's nicer that they recognize yeah again. Sorry guys, like you know, I'm I've got classes on till like eight top of stays. And that's hard for you as well. Yeah. So yeah, it's lonely. I find yeah, the time I do have by myself quite lonely.

SPEAKER_02 27:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 27:11

And obviously going back to like my my social life's changed massively, basically. I could probably try and be more social on the weekends, like the girls, like, oh come on, come out.

SPEAKER_02 27:23

But yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:24

But it's hard, I guess, because like you say, the going outside doesn't really appeal to you anymore. It's not my lifestyle at all.

SPEAKER_00 27:30

And so honestly, by Saturday, I'm exhausted.

SPEAKER_01 27:33

Yeah, I can imagine.

SPEAKER_00 27:33

Because I need to recover.

SPEAKER_01 27:36

And if you went out, and then you've got a hangover to deal with on time. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 27:39

Like, don't get me wrong, I have to go out sometimes on these occasions. Like a few of my friends got married last year and there was hand, they were really funny. But I think it's just like certain priorities. I go out on occasions now, but but yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:54

So do you find that like a bit of a like obviously in uni, you used to go out a lot and things like that, and you said you really enjoyed it and that was a good time of your life. So do you find like going from that to then like almost nothing? Do you find that yeah, like how do you deal with that change?

SPEAKER_00 28:13

Yeah, so I was actually like the biggest party animal of the movie. As it I I you know, I was not nuts, but like I wouldn't say no to an ice out. I was out four or five times a week. First year, sometimes more, but like it didn't help. I lived with a there was eight of us at one point, I think. And as soon as someone was around the table, like, do you want to go out? And I'd be like, Yeah, I think it was just because we live where we do in West Wales, like going out in Cardiff was just different.

SPEAKER_01 28:43

It was so good.

SPEAKER_00 28:44

Yeah, and yeah, so like, yeah, I was a big party animal. My lifestyle in uni is nothing like it was now. Yeah. Don't get me wrong, I still played knackball and stuff with Cardmet and stuff. I just still kept quite active. But yeah, I'm glad I've lived that part of my life though, because so in uni, I was single, I was going out. I've enjoyed myself. I've I'm happy I've done that part of my life. And I think it's important for everyone to experience that part of their life, just to know, have a bit of fun that you had down and things. In turn now, I you you'd have to drag me out now.

SPEAKER_02 29:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:21

Literally, you'd have to drag me out. One of my best friends, um Ellie, actually, she lives up like the Ronda, she's a proper on the girls. She's always phoning me like, oh, come out to Cardiff Tright. And I'm like, oh Ali, no. Yeah. But like, so you know, I can't fault my friends, they are really good like that. But yeah, my social aspect in terms of going out is massively changed. But I think I've just like I said, I've just outgrown that person of me now. Going out drinking just isn't a priority of mine and doesn't make me feel good. So I'll do it occasionally. I think it's very important. Balance, I'm all for balance, but yeah, I just save them for special occasions. And to be honest, I actually look forward to going out more then because I don't know, it's more of a celebration, and you know, you have a bit of time to like plan it. I to be honest, I like a bit more notice of going out now.

SPEAKER_01 30:21

Yeah, literally. Yeah. So like obviously you train yourself. So do you think that exercising is what helps you like through those quiet or harder moments? Like, do you think if you didn't train yourself, do you think it would quite be a mentally struggle for you in with regards to like the loneliness and things like that? Like, how would your life be, I suppose? Like, do you think exercise is what helps you through those times? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:51

Yeah, no, it does, because you know, I know I just said like I have to train alone sometimes, but I I do quite like the training alone aspect of it. That doesn't bother me as much. It is nice to train with other people. There's the odd occasion I can train with, like, you know, Liz, I do higher arcs and stuff with her. Like, there's the odd chance I can. So with the training side of things, like say I've had, you know, like a morning of PTing, I quite like just taking myself away and just kind of switching off from work and just getting my session done.

SPEAKER_02 31:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:23

But compared to how I used to train, I used to go to the gym, go to classes, and I do miss that environment in terms of the socialization. Where you can just turn up and go to the gym. Yeah. Because like that's why I was playing rugby whilst I was doing the gym, because I thought, okay, I can still keep the social aspect of that.

SPEAKER_02 31:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:43

But then that in turn as well took its turn because I just couldn't play on a Sunday, my day off, trying to recover for Monday. I was just, it was just burning me out again. So yeah, like in terms of training, it is my switch off. I do feel mentally better afterwards. I think everyone does.

SPEAKER_02 31:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:00

I do feel mentally clearer and it kind of sets me up for my evening clients. If I had the choice though, I'd I'd rather train in the morning. I've had to just adapt and just I put my headphones in, get my session done. Sometimes I find it hard. I think it's more like motivational hard. You you won't always have motivation. And you're probably exhausted a lot of time. Yeah, and some days I'm like, oh, this is like this is hard for me now. Like I need to train, but I just do you know, when you turn up to a class, you know there's other people that and you all push through it too. Well, I've kind of got to rely on myself to do that. So, yeah, a bit of both. It's like a switch off for me, but it's it can be hard as well.

SPEAKER_01 32:41

So, how do you like obviously you see us as clients? So, how does it make you feel like seeing people like me, like choosing themselves and like showing up to the gym?

SPEAKER_00 32:54

Well, yeah, it means a lot, doesn't it? Especially with my client base going as big as it has now. I think it's just like I can't believe there's people choosing me as my gym to come and train because I know that's your one hour of day, where it's your time as well. Yeah. Because this I've had so many people come to the gym and they're like, This is actually the best hour I have of my day. And you feel like you're giving that impact to your clients of actually making them feel better about themselves. Yeah. So like choosing to come and train at my gym means a lot to me. Yeah. And in all fairness, like you're one of them. Like, I've had clients that have been there from the start, and I think it's just like having that support all the way through. Like, if I didn't have my client, the gym wouldn't it wouldn't be what it is now.

SPEAKER_01 33:45

Yeah. And I think along the way, obviously, I've been part of that as well. You know, there's other gyms that have opened in the area or thinking or whatever, and like we've like witnessed you like starting to doubt yourself. And like, you know, we've always been like, you literally, you don't need to worry because like I you know, what you have is different, and like everybody that goes to you loves what you do, loves the gym, whatever. Like, there's no doubt that anybody is gonna go elsewhere. So I think obviously for you it's quite a daunting time, but like for us, we're like, we're not going anywhere, so don't worry about it. But like, do you know what I mean? It's like but that's a quite yeah worrying side for you, I guess.

SPEAKER_00 34:27

Yeah, but like, do you know the fitness industry has gone massive now, so like having competition is just natural, I think. And I think it it's not it's not necessarily a bad thing either. Like there has a there's a gym opened literally in the village, and they seem to be doing really well. And to be honest, I think the village needed that as well. Yeah, the gym we can walk in and it was an open gym. Yeah, like in turn you said, I just offer something different. It's if you want more of a class-based gym, I think it's just complement each other really well, really. But it's I think it is a good thing to have competition like that as well. It just gives you more of a drive and yeah, it just pushes you along a bit more as well. But um, I do appreciate my clients for uh no, we all love yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:09

So, like, what does it mean to you like personally that you're helping other people on their health and fitness journey? Because obviously you see a different variety of people, you know, you have PT, um like PT classes of people that you know I don't know, and yeah, everyone's on their different journeys. So what does that mean for you that you're part of that?

SPEAKER_00 35:29

Yeah, it means a lot. And do you know what? You learn a lot about people whilst you do it as well. I could have people walking in to that gym, say it's their first session, and I don't know what their reason is for joining the gym. So I that's one of the first things I ask. I'm like, so what is your purpose for starting the gym? And like some people might be like, oh, I want to run my first half marathon, I want to lose X amount of weight, I've got a wedding. So like you get to learn a lot about your clients, and I just didn't realise how much variety of people can come in and out of the gym for different reasons. Some people just, it's like, oh, it's just a mental thing for me. Like I just want to do it to help for my mental health. But yeah, it I do really appreciate it because I feel like people put their trust in you then. So I feel like people trust me with what I can do to help them reach that goal. I think that's the pinnacle of it. And that's the whole purpose of my job, isn't it? Like they have a reason, they have a goal they want to reach, and I have to help them reach that goal. But it's nice to know that people want to put their trust and trust you to do that for them as well.

SPEAKER_01 36:37

Yeah, definitely. And like I said, you see so different people and what they want to achieve and stuff, and you know, like even last weekend you went on a marathon with it.

SPEAKER_00 36:50

Like and like his own journey and like how like he's lost like something like 30 or something, 40 kilos. Like I was just I was just telling him, like, you could have been trying to run this with that on top of him. Like he's completely changed his lifestyle. He didn't even he couldn't run to that gate on his sash. And he just half marathon, like I mean, don't get me wrong, he was like calling me everything and didn't send all the time, but But he did it. It's yeah, he was just like he was just like, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 37:19

Like Yeah, but like how did that does that make you feel like, oh my gosh, like I've actually really like have helped you do this?

SPEAKER_00 37:25

Yeah, but that's the whole reason why I ran it with him, see. I just have to run the half marathon with him. And he was like, You're only doing this because I'm doing it. I was like, Yeah, exactly. Like, you he hit a bad he won't mind me saying this, but he hit a bit of a wall at mile 10 and he could have been there on his own. Everything's better with someone else by your side. I had to push him for that three miles. I told him on that last run. I knew his family were like on the last mile, and I was like, right, we're running and we're not stopping now. And he saw his family, and I can't tell you, like, he got this like bundle of like uh energy out of nowhere to cross that line. So yeah, it's like meeting different people walk through life, and like not only that, like I had a lot of female staffed at the beginning. Mo majority of my clients this year have been males, so that's also been nice because like I feel like I am opening up to like I said, a variety of people. Like I my oldest client's 81. I know that's you know, and he's a male. But then I have like mums like you, you know, I have teenagers want to get into hierarchs. It's like, yeah, it's it's amazing that it's like you're literally covering like all like areas, basically. But I want to be versatile, isn't it? Like it's always good to you know, offer a gym where it's accessible for anyone at any level. Oh well, I think it's great.

SPEAKER_01 38:47

I would just say that anyway, but honestly, like I just yeah, and like last weekend, like I don't know Saab anyway, like personally, yeah. Like just reading about his journey and like what he said about you, and like yeah, I just thought it was amazing. So yeah, like that must make you feel good. So obviously, we'd like discussed a bit before this episode. We were talking about, you know, obviously this podcast is called Everyday Mindset. So you told me that everyday mindset is about setting the tone for your day. So what does that look like in practice for you?

SPEAKER_00 39:21

Yeah, so what I mean by that is a mind your mindset can dictate a lot of things of how you see things in life for me.

SPEAKER_02 39:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 39:31

So what I mean by setting the tone for the day is say like you wake up and you you don't know if you just don't feel your best, like you set the tone for the day. Like, it's up to you to change your mindset for that day. Doesn't mean you started your day off bad, it means the whole day, the whole week goes bad. And I think I'm just implementing this in terms of like a fitness industry side.

SPEAKER_02 39:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 39:53

You know, on Monday, you vet so you vet bad on Monday, people just carry that on throughout the week.

SPEAKER_02 39:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 40:00

And I really like to try and make people set in their tone like mindset to set their tone for the day doesn't necessarily mean your week's gonna follow on the same. Yeah. You've just got to learn to get your mindset in the right place sometimes.

SPEAKER_01 40:15

And like you say, that that's hard to learn, but once you do put it in practice, it's the same as like, you know, there's me and many others. Like we'll turn up for the gym, we're like, oh, we really can't do this tonight. Yeah. But literally, I say to myself, once I've done this, I'll be glad that I've done it.

SPEAKER_00 40:30

Yeah. And that like that in practice to me just means I've got like a s I like to tick certain boxes every day, you know. They're they're simplistic ones like make sure I take my vitamins, electrolytes, get my steps in. If I meant to train that day, get that training session done, make sure I get a bit of admin done. It's like ticking boxes. The earlier you tick them, you it's unbelievable how the rest of your day pans out then.

SPEAKER_02 40:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 40:56

It's just setting little goals that just in turn, that's what I mean by setting the tone. Is like you'll be mad if you get all that done in that first day. Like you say, like you might not feel like the gym that night, you get that gym session done, you feel a million times better. The next morning, you're like, oh, you can't wait to wake up the next morning, then because you're like, Oh, I'm so glad I went to the gym last night, I didn't skip it.

SPEAKER_02 41:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 41:18

You tick that box, didn't you? So that in turn, the next day, it does set I it does set the tone for the day, sets the tone for your week. You just take boxes.

SPEAKER_01 41:26

And the same with like eating, obviously, you know, you know about calorie deficit, and so do I. And like I've learnt now, you know, okay, if I do have a bad day or whatever, it's fine. Like, like I've got to the position now where I'm like the next day I can do it. Yeah. But it is hard, and it I can see how easy it is to just fall into that trap of, oh well, I've eaten it now, so I might as well just carry on.

SPEAKER_00 41:49

I I have clients like that all the time, they're like, Oh, I yeah, I yeah, you know, I have a bit too much to have to setbows that I went to a cupboard and I was like, right, you're not you're not gonna do it tonight though, are you? Yeah. Yeah. It's one it's one day.

SPEAKER_01 42:00

And people don't realise it doesn't actually have that much of an impact. It's if it's a constant, constant like thing.

SPEAKER_00 42:08

And I've had to learn that. Yeah, we guess a problem is if you carry on into your whole week and then it'll start Monday, yeah. Start Monday, Monday never comes. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 42:17

No, I agree. So obviously, like, say some days if you wake up in like a bit of a negative headspace, what what would you do?

SPEAKER_00 42:27

Yeah, but do you know what? This actually happened to me the other day. I think I posted it on my story saying I was in a bad mood. So I don't know what it was. I think I just had a really busy weekend. I've got a race coming up, so I'm training quite hard in a minute. I'm trying to watch what I eat. And it was my time of the month, so you know, just girl stuff. Um I do, I just woke up in a really bad head space. I don't think I slept very well that night. And I had quite a busy morning of PTing to do. I literally uh back to back PT'd for about five hours. Didn't prepare breakfast, you know. I just I didn't start my day off very well for it being Monday or anything. Nothing majorly happened, like there's a lot worse things that happen. But so after I finished my class, I just sat down, made myself coffee, made myself breakfast. I had an appointment to be at at 12 or something, which meant I wasn't gonna be able to train that day either. So I think my ha my mindset was just a bit off. Yeah. But my appointment finished a bit earlier and I was in Kamala and I was like, oh, I could just go to the track and just get something done. I literally wasn't I went to the truck because I like the running track because I'm not on my phone. I just leave my phone to the side. It was just me on the truck. I booked the truck, it was free, just me. And I literally did 20 minutes of running, it was sprints, and I can't tell you I left there feeling mentally so much better. It was just a twenty minute running session. It's like crazy, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 43:54

It just shows it, it just show. And like you say, sometimes you like have to force yourself to do something.

SPEAKER_00 43:59

It wa it was Very forceful. I think I just didn't want to train that day. I don't know, it's just not like me, you know. Like I do get days like that sometimes, and that those days are the worst for me because like if I don't want to train, there's something wrong.

SPEAKER_01 44:09

Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_00 44:11

You know, but yeah, literally took myself away 20 minutes and my day went swimmingly after that.

SPEAKER_01 44:18

But and like it just shows it was 20 minutes because a lot of people think that oh you've got to do an hour or something when really 20 minutes is a short time, but it was enough to help you through that day.

SPEAKER_00 44:29

Yeah, isn't it? It can be a walk, honestly. Yeah, yeah, that's true. If it's too in terms of like mindset mentally, it doesn't have to be anything strenuous at all, you know?

SPEAKER_01 44:40

No, I agree. And yeah, I think that's the lesson for us all. 20 minutes is all it takes. Yeah, we can do it. So obviously we've spoken a lot about the gym. So even though it sounds like there's very little, but life outside of the gym, like what is it that you enjoy doing?

SPEAKER_00 44:59

I'm a really simplistic person, to be honest with you. You might not believe it, but I'm really simple when it comes to enjoyment. I like going out for coffees.

SPEAKER_02 45:07

Nice.

SPEAKER_00 45:07

Uh even if it's on my own, I don't care. Like I'll go into a coffee shop on my own and have a coffee there by myself, it's fine. Or with friends, obviously. Yeah, it's just to be honest, it's just chilling out. I don't really watch any tally or anything. I do do a bit of journaling, believe it or not. I have got a little diary. My vibe. I know. I do I do like to write just things down that like I just like to power my week out a bit. And just little things I like to write down. I love that. Yeah, I did that last night, just I was just in bed and just yeah, writing away, just putting things down that I might tend to forget, to be honest. Yeah, so going out for a nice coffee. I love eating, so I don't mind cooking at home or going out for nice food. I also like to just look at holidays. I do like a bit of travel, as you probably know. Um, and yeah, just basically switching off from the chaos that goes on with my head sometimes. Really simple. I like being outdoors, as you know, hence why I've got an outdoor gym. But yeah, I like you know going on sunrise walks and stuff, hopefully soon now, because uh well, the shit disaster.

SPEAKER_01 46:18

Yeah, so just outdoors, coffee. Nice, yeah. So do you like obviously I know that you like to travel a bit. Do you sometimes feel like I don't know, guilty about wanting to get away? Because I know I tell you in the gym, like, you shouldn't feel guilty because not being funny, a lot of us would be like, oh, it's okay, we'll have a rest. We obviously miss you at the same time. But like, I do think that you it is important for you to actually Yeah yeah, I do feel guilty.

SPEAKER_00 46:48

I do I do feel guilty. I think it's just because I'm a big part of everyone's routine every week. Yeah, it's your routine, doesn't it? So I'm a facting on people's routine, and I'm like, oh no, I can't do that. But I literally we would all we all say anyway. No, in all fairness, everyone's very good. Like I can't complain. When I tell people I'm not here, they're so they're so fine with it, you know. You know, not being funny, you're offering to open Christmas Day.

SPEAKER_01 47:10

Like let's be honest. Just like every bank holiday though, you offer a class. Yeah. Yeah, but people out there still on a train, don't you?

SPEAKER_00 47:18

Yeah, of course, but I just don't want you to ever feel guilty for it. I know, thank you. I I mean this year I have actually been better. Like, I have got a few holidays coming up that don't involve me doing a hierarchy or yeah, that's good. Yeah, so I have got some holidays that I'm like I'm actually going out to visit like one of my uni friends, I haven't seen her for five years, and she lives in Hong Kong now, so I'm going out to Hong Kong to see her. That's amazing. Like, so I have actually and my dad's 60, we're going to dumb. That's good. It's gonna be wild. That'll be me reliving my uni too. But no, I I do feel guilty, but obviously, yeah, it's just a part of life, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 47:58

So are there any personal parts of your life that do you think that people might not know about? I know we've covered quite a lot. Yeah. And like I say, the purpose of this is for us to find out a bit more about you. But is there do you think that people I don't know, look at you a different way or have an opinion or yeah, stereotype you maybe?

SPEAKER_00 48:19

Do you think that not as much now? Well, I think people there's people that judge you every day these days, and they you just gotta choose if you listen to them. I don't know, I just switched them. Yeah. Sound like it's better today. But I did do I did compete in Miss Wales in I think it was 2019, so it was a few years ago now, whilst I was in uni, and that really good experience because I it opened a lot of opportunities for me because I was speaking Welsh. I think there was it's like 40 of us and only like three of us spoke Welsh. Oh sure. So in terms of like opportunity for me, I was really lucky because S4C wanted to like get you in for like interviews. I was on Proundar a lot like for fashion y stuff like with Hilfash modelling and stuff. But yeah, I didn't realise how much criticism you'd get for doing something like that as well.

SPEAKER_01 49:12

I think especially around here, and like I think in like West Wales, I don't know, I think people are a lot like quite small minded, I think. Yeah, yeah. And like you say, you can get judged and criticised for things that maybe are outside other people's box, if that makes sense. But like I'm guilty of like with the Miss Wales thing, like you don't know actually what it involves, it's not just walking down a catwalk and do you know what I mean? There's quite a lot to it. Yeah I've obviously I've learned since then, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 49:46

But you there's a lot of like appearances and stuff in places. I like don't get me wrong, I think I sucked in I sucked into that lifestyle quite a lot because I was like, oh like this is class. Like I when you were young as well. Yeah, and like it was really it was really weird things, like you would get like VIP in clubs and stuff. So I felt like I was probably a bit cocky with it all in in all honesty. It was probably in fact like rubbed on. I wasn't cocky with it, it was just like you know, people maybe saw me that like live this kind of lifestyle, but it's actually crazy because a lot of people won't know a lot of in and outs of it, but like you weren't actually you weren't allowed to post certain things on your social media and stuff. It was like, yeah, it was a weird lifestyle to be in at the time. But like I'm glad I done it. It was a good opportunity. Um I I wouldn't do it again. No, but yeah, in terms of like an experience, it was a really good experience for me. Like I've I've been lucky because I still get like S4C contact me now and stuff for different reasons.

SPEAKER_01 50:47

Yeah, but it's still it's kept you in that sort of circle, I guess.

SPEAKER_00 50:52

But yeah, it'll help you, you know the things that you're doing now, isn't it? Yeah, it's like that dating show where I've got asked to go on that was it, it's like the Welsh version of Love Island. Yeah, but no, it's you know, like it's still helped me along the way now.

SPEAKER_01 51:07

So it just shows, doesn't it? Like little you look back and like little things that you've gone through and experienced actually do contribute to where you are now in a different way. Yeah, but yeah, and again, it just you know, unfortunately, people do judge without actually knowing anything about something, isn't it? Yeah, they don't actually know the ins and outs of the stuff.

SPEAKER_00 51:26

Yeah, like there is more to me as a person what you might see on social media. I know I like there's a lot of me on social media, but like like you said, like a lot of people don't actually know me as a person. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 51:40

But and like you say, if peak people want to know, they'll get to know, isn't it? Do you know what I mean? Otherwise, don't you know don't worry about it.

SPEAKER_00 51:48

And that's that's unfortunately that's just how social media is as these days as well. Like you see it a lot, like people seem happy on social media, you don't know actually know what's going on in their lives at all.

SPEAKER_01 51:59

People just post what they want people to believe and see, unfortunately. Yeah. But yeah, I know I think you keep it quite real to be fair. And yeah.

SPEAKER_00 52:08

I've got a lot better at it. I used to be quite like with the social media side of things, I used to quite try and hide not hide, I used to hide myself a bit, but I did a bit. But like now, like I've grown so much confidence in myself. Yeah, and I think that's good. Yeah, and like I don't mind like talk like you I've probably seen some reels I do now, like I talk to the camera, just yeah. But like at the end of the day, you're promoting your business, but you're also promot promoting yourself. Yeah. Like you have to, yeah. You don't want a PT that's not even showing themselves their face to the camera, like they don't even know who you're like dealing with. Do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 52:42

No, exactly. And you're doing what everyone else is achieved, trying to achieve, basically. So you're like a role model.

SPEAKER_00 52:48

And I want to be approachable. I I feel like I'm an approachable person. I want people to be like, oh, I I I feel like a messenger, maybe. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 52:56

Do you know what I mean? So yeah. No, I agree, definitely. So obviously I've said at the start, but like, have you now taken time to acknowledge, just see like how far you've come?

SPEAKER_00 53:08

Do you know what? It's only recently I have, I think, because I've only recently expanded the gym. So obviously I was a bit in a bit of a smaller place. I've expanded the gym the last six months now. And I think because I've just I just keep growing and things, and a lot more people I've I've had people, strangers message me, not strangers then, but like they're not from West Wales, they're probably from South Wales and stuff, and this they just say like your gym looks so good, like your classes look so good. Like, I just want to say like you're doing really well and things. Like a PT the other day from Swansea, literally um I think she saw something on my story and she was like, Oh, posted on a story, it was that turnaround song by yeah, she did it with her group, but she's like, Oh, I was like, Well, that's that's class, like I'm like not inspiring someone to do something, but it's like yeah, it's only recently, mainly because there's just people actually acknowledging what I do, I think. I've had a lot of messages recently and just people actually praising me. Like you said the other day, you're like, That's nearly three years, like what you've done.

SPEAKER_01 54:16

I know.

SPEAKER_00 54:17

And I'm like, Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 54:18

Because like it's mad, because like I remember it's a small little cabin. We'll train out in the rain. Yeah. And like now we've moved up and you've got a roof, and then I remember one class, like all the men were like, Oh, Mamburo Glau, and all of this. And I was like, hey, we used to do this without like we used to be soaked. So like don't talk to us about rain. But like yeah, we still like loved it. Like, yeah, and I think it's like I don't know, it's done us a world of good. Like just training outdoors. I think it's a massive benefit to be honest.

SPEAKER_00 54:46

Like you can't get much better than being outdoors. If you have an office job, you're stuck inside all day. Like me. And yeah, exactly. You you you can train, but you actually train outdoors just adds to that to it all, doesn't it? But yeah, but I think that in turn also just shows like you a lot of people do say, Oh, you must you must be living life now. Like you've got your own business, you're self-employed. Yeah, I do appreciate where where I am now. Like I I am probably living like my best life right now, like I am, but it doesn't mean I started like this because I started very small. I've built up to this, you know what I mean? It's not been a case of I've walked into this with, you know, no thoughts.

SPEAKER_01 55:27

And like just the mental side of it, like mentally of Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 55:31

Like just trying to build a gym and in a small rural village. I think this year has been the best I've been mentally since opening.

SPEAKER_02 55:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 55:39

I think it's just because I finally found my feet with everything, I think. Not finding burnouts and actually just enjoying yeah, enjoying the gym as what it is really, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 55:51

Oh, that's good.

SPEAKER_00 55:53

Love it.

SPEAKER_01 55:54

So as we're like coming to an end, I just thought obviously, if someone uh listening, I know we've touched on this already, feels unsure about taking a risk, what would you say to them? Even though I feel like I know what you're saying.

SPEAKER_00 56:08

If you already know what to say. But yeah, just uh take it, obviously, do it. Because like I said, you might look back in a few years' time and be unhappier than what you were now. You're better off taking the risk than having regret. I know it can be scary. I think taking a risk is scary, but it uh it's also really exciting. Yeah. Because you never know what will happen. It could be life changing for you. It's changed my life. Yeah. I've got like I've I've no doubt say that. But if you don't take the risk, you you might like look back in a few years and really regret not taking it. I agree. So proof of that. Like you've literally proved it. Yeah, so like I'd just say, like, I I know it might be scary, but just think of an ex think of the excitement and the fire in your belly. If you're passionate enough about what it's going to become and what you can do, it will work out if you, you know, commit to it 100%. I love that.

SPEAKER_01 57:10

And like I said, you're literally the proof of that. So yeah, it works. So is there anything else that for anybody listening that you want them to take from this conversation? So obviously taking the risk is one. Is there anything else that you would like and like anybody that's listening just to take away from what we've talked about?

SPEAKER_00 57:29

Yeah, like if there's something I want people to take away, is you think you might have your life panned out when it could be something you completely completely different to what you pan out it to be. I do believe everything happens for a reason. Like what I thought I was gonna be doing with my life is completely different to what I've ended up doing now.

SPEAKER_02 57:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 57:51

And just you've gotta put the work into it as well. Like you can't walk into your dream job straight away. You've got to start from the bottom, you've got to work your way up to it. Yeah, maybe I'm lucky that it's only taken me three years maybe to get to where I am now. But you've also put a lot of work into those. Yeah, everyone. If you're willing to work, everything will come into place as you want it. But it's not gonna be a smooth sailing ship. No, it's you're gonna face a lot of challenges and you might find yourself in like a lot of difficult positions, you've got to have difficult conversations, a lot of decision making. You've just gotta trust yourself and trust what you can do, and it will all work out in the end.

SPEAKER_01 58:37

I love that, because as you know, that's totally my vibe. But yeah, no, I just want to say, like, even like this conversation, even for me, like I feel like I I know you, but I feel like I've just like learned so much more about you, and yeah, I just think you're amazing. I think that everything that you've achieved in three years is absolutely like yeah, amazing. And I know that everybody listening is gonna be like, wow, gonna be loving this conversation. But yeah, I just want to thank you for coming on and I hope you've enjoyed, because I've really enjoyed getting to know each other. Just before we finish, I did say prior to coming on, like, do you have any question for me and like put me on the spot with this question? I don't, because you don't know what I'm gonna say.

SPEAKER_00 59:23

So since it's Mother's Day and you being a mum yourself, and you know how hard it is for mums to find time for themselves and to prioritize themselves, and especially in like health and fitness, what advice would you give mums out there that may be feeling a bit like lost for themselves after having kids and things, and maybe, you know, are scared to maybe attend a gym, put the health and fitness, put time for themselves first? What advice would you give as out there? Just because it's Mother's Day, I feel like it's very fitting because I know it's hard. I've got a lot of mums that come to the gym, I know it's hard to juggle everything. Kids being ill can ruin your routine, and you know, you you you put the kids first, don't you? Yeah. So what advice would you give leather's out there?

SPEAKER_01 1:00:12

I love that question. Yeah. I think it just comes down to you've got to do something for yourself. And I I've always been quite an active person, and I remember when I had my daughter, and then you're sort of on stop for a long time, and then I just remember that having that urge of like, oh no, I really want to get back into fitness or whatever. But like I said at the start, I remember looking around thinking, Oh my gosh, there's nothing in Chandisil, and then like I did contact a gym that was like I think 20 minutes, 25 minutes down the road, and his basic response was like, Oh, well, it's only 20 minutes down the road, I've got other mums that come here. And I was a bit like, Yeah, we don't understand that because I've got 25 minutes to get there, then I need to find someone to watch it, or like obviously if Gareth, like my partner's got a different plan or whatever. So yeah, I think you just got to it's finding what works for you, isn't it? You've got to try and see what what's around and what works for you, and you have to give that time for yourself, and things happen, like if they're up in the night and stuff, and you feel like you can't go to the gym that day, sometimes you just gotta give in because you need to sleep. But ultimately, it's just getting back on the horse, going back the next session and just keep going like that. I've had it where days where I've said to you, like, Oh gosh, Ida's been up all night, I can't like couldn't do it this morning, but then I'll just come another class. And yeah, I think it's just really important that if you've got that drive inside you that you need to yeah, just try and make that time, and it is hard, especially like single mums. I really do feel for single parents and dads, there's not just single mums. But yeah, if you can get that time, yeah, I think it's really important, and mentally, oh my gosh, it saves me, I'll say that. So, yeah, that is my advice.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:54

Such very good advice. Exactly what I'm probably gonna say. Yeah, you are good at giving advice as well.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:59

Thank you. But yeah, I hope everyone's enjoyed listening, and yeah, it'd be great to have some feedback, and I'm sure Shaky would love to have some feedback as well. So, yeah, be back next episode, and who knows who will my guest be then. Woo! Bye.