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“It’s been almost a year now that I’ve been working with the Trench Fitness team, and I have to say that the process has been nothing short of amazing.

When I think back to my first nutrition consultation meeting, I remember being absolutely terrified about what I was getting myself into. I initially thought that I’d have to limit my diet to: chicken, broccoli, rice. Repeat. Well, turns out my assumption couldn’t have been more wrong. Instead, I found out that I could eat whatever I wanted through flexible dieting. Only catch was: you have to choose your foods wisely, weigh them and keep track of everything through myfitnesspal. Initially, I was a bit skeptical about this, but thought, “Why not?”

This was just only the first half of the program, as I still had yet to experience my first one-on-one training session with Coach Tyler. Like nutrition, I thought my first session would involve putting my body through an endless cycle of punishment, pain and recovery. Wrong again. Instead, Tyler explained exactly what we were going to do, together. I was also told that we’d be working on building strength in the main areas for movement first, so that eventually I could work up to my way up to my goal weights. It wasn’t about doing everything at once – I was reminded over and over that it’s a process.

trench transformation brennen2I completed my weekly check-ins and was provided with fantastic encouragement and feedback week-by-week. During this time, I was also attending my one-on-one sessions with Tyler. The day I realized that things were changing was when I noticed I had to tighten my belt. I thought to myself, “Wow, this process is working.” Twenty-four weeks flew by with Kal, and that’s when I knew I had to sign up for another round of nutrition with Neil, while still working with Tyler during my one-on-one training sessions. I also started noticing that my meal planning and entry into myfitnesspal was becoming easier and easier. And, before I knew it, strength training, in addition to flexibility, was getting better and better. The weight and reps were going to levels never thought possible, not to mention my macronutrient levels.

If I learned one thing from this process, it’s that fitness isn’t just about a state of body. It’s exclusively a state of mind. That’s because I have learned, and continue to learn, that the body can do amazing things when you put your mind into it. Also, I learned that the number on the scale means nothing (if you want to read an absolute fantastic post about this, check out Erika’s blog entry), as body recomposition isn’t exclusively represented by a number.

One question that I have been asked is: “How do you stick to it?” Well, that’s an easy one. As Neil (or Erika?) so eloquently put it in their post, “if you focus exclusively on a particular goal, it’s pretty hard to stray away from it.” It may sound difficult, but when you put your mind on achieving a goal, temptation and distraction go by the wayside. It’s also pretty tough to stray from your goal when you’re surrounded by such positive people who make up the Trench Family. Those I’ve worked with along with the rest of the Trench Fitness team, exude a level of positivity and commitment that’s tough to describe. All that I know, though, is that their positive attitude is infectious – you see their same attitude exemplified by other members of the Trench Fitness family, even when they’re not around. That says something. It’s also something that’s pretty tough not to take note of.

I would highly recommend Trench Fitness to anyone and everyone who’s interested in working toward fulfilling their personal fitness goals. It doesn’t matter if you consider yourself “fit,” or not. We all have to start somewhere. I can’t think of a better place to start fighting for one’s personal goals than in the Trenches.”

– Brennen

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