"Alice, you don't have to be the big funny person, you can do whatever you want to do and if you want to lose weight then come and do it"
This was the comment that started my journey.
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I was out with friends for food and drinks when one of my closest friends said this to me. Although I had accepted who I was back then and I didn't let my weight get to me too much , deep down I wasn't happy and my friend knew it. I wanted to do things like going shopping for cute outfits which i never wanted to do when I was bigger, the clothes i liked either wouldn't fit or just wouldn't look right on me.
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My friends had started training at this new place (The House of SK-1) which they raved about and were getting great results from, so they told me I should come along too. At first i was like "No Way! ive heard its hard and there will be no way I can do it!!" .......I couldn't even run to the shop!
I'd been a member of a commercial gym and I wouldn't even do a class there, I just felt like a fish out of water, that i wouldn't be able to do it and would just end up showing myself up.
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They eventually managed to convince me that SK-1 was different, that people of all ages, shapes, sizes and abilities went there. They told me the people who ran it and went there were great and very supportive and I wouldn't be judged and they weren't wrong!
In January 2015 I walked through the doors and have never looked back.
Was this your first attempt at losing weight?
Gosh I wish!!! No, I tried Juice plus, Zumba, Aqua Aerobics, commercial gym (1 year, went handful of times), Slimming pills, slimming word, I tried all sorts.
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I had very short lived experiences with these, I'd start them and quickly lose motivation to follow through. Many were basically Starvation diets and were just total punishment.
At the commercial Gym I just didn’t know what to do with no one to guide and motivate me and the fact I wouldn’t go to classes on my own for the reasons i mentioned earlier, it just wasn't the right environment or set up for me.
Why has training at The House of SK-1 stuck?
I saw results quickly and for the first time in my whole life, I actually enjoyed fitness!
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I quickly made loads of new friends and I just really enjoy being there, the atmosphere is electric and it just makes you feel great! I also met the love of my life at the House and he has always been so supportive to me on my journey.
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I also started to progress with my fitness and see massive changes in what I could do in the sessions and that became very addictive for me.
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At The House of SK-1 you are always learning and progressing, they are always introducing new kit and i can now do things I never thought I would be able to do.
How has life changed for you?
Loads!! I have always been an outgoing confident person and I had accepted how I was before, but I was very negative and felt quite angry, regularly having mood swings. Now i'm a much more positive person and have much more confidence to do things on my own…….and I now love going shopping!!
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I have a lot more energy and feel more awake in the day than I used to. I train 4 to 5 times a week where before id go home, eat, sleep or go to the pub socialising.
I also look at food totally differently now, I didn’t use to even consider how food could affect me both emotionally and physically. I do still struggle now and then with food at certain times but I'm in a much much better place than i used to be.
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I prep my food for the week, I certainly never used to do that! And I have found balance by eating how I have learned in the week and having treats at weekends. I also make different alcohol choices than I did before.
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I see old pictures of myself and think about how far I have come, I feel so much happier with my new lifestyle I would never go back.
Tell us about your highlights at The House of SK-1
Well when I first started I struggled lifting a 5 kg Kettlebell and just this week I snatched a 24kg Kettlebell! On top of that I can now jump a 30 inch box and clean a 50kg Olympic bar.
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One of my proudest moments was completing the Mens Health Survival of the fittest 10k obstacle race with the SK-1 team! I have never been able to run in my life so I was crapping myself! I never imagined that I would take part in something like this, it was an emotional day.
Taking part in the plans has been a great experience, I have never felt as fit and strong as I have when I have done a plan. I was really focused and fully prepped with what I was eating, I could see results every week and it taught me that food really does fuel your body, so for the first time in my life although I was dieting I had more energy and strength than I ever have had. I have learnt so much to take forward into life.
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What advice would you give anyone looking to start?
You have to start somewhere and I have never been to such a supportive place where you are not judged, people came up to me at the end of my first session saying "well done mate!". This happens still and we have all been new at one time so we all make sure everyone is looked after and made to feel welcome.
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I initially thought there was no way I was physically going to be able to do the workouts so I was really worried about showing myself up but luckily I had friends that convinced me that I could go at my own pace and I wouldn’t hold anyone up, so if you don't have friends who already come to convince you, then listen to me and believe it!
If you don’t have anyone to come with like I did then really don’t worry because you will be well looked after and you will always have people to train with who are supportive.
You’ll never look back or regret it.
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Oh and Ski (the Head coach/owner) isn't actually as scary as he looks!! ;-)
Alice was 20 when she started in Jan 2015 and she weighed 17 stone
In July 2016 Alice weighed 10st 4lb and she has successfully maintained her weight loss!