I joined Zenith in October 2025, hoping to build muscle, lose fat and improve my cardiovascular health. The resurgence of some hereditary health issues in my family has made me start looking at my health on a long-term basis. Having done some research and made a start on weight loss, I realised that building strength and fitness would require me to go somewhere I had never ventured before in my adult life – the gym.
I have never been a sporty person, so the gym was quite a foreign environment. Zenith’s clear consideration for making clients welcome, such as not having mirrors on the gym floor and providing adaptations for all abilities, not to mention the owners’ extremely friendly dogs, was a key draw for me. I have always felt welcome and value how much the coaches do to facilitate different fitness levels, with gradual progress celebrated. Although starting anything new can be uncomfortable, over time the movements become easier and more familiar. It’s also very encouraging to be around other people who are on similar journeys – everyone is very supportive and focused on working towards their own goals, so it gives you some positive reinforcement.
I started on the small group plan, attending sessions 3 times a week. The programme is structured so that any 3 days should generally cover the full body, making it very flexible. That means I just have to focus on getting to the gym and giving my best effort. Having the mental load of things like planning what exercises to do taken off is a huge help in making things more manageable. I would say that figuring out my schedule and having a backup time/day in case something comes up has been essential to maintaining consistency for me.
I have been training 3 times a week for approximately 6 months now, with the odd break. The results have surprised me, particularly my improvement in strength; I even recently achieved a 50kg deadlift. I have also achieved weight loss milestones, such as losing 6kg since starting at Zenith. Another win for me is the difference in my running abilities. This is still not my strongest point, but as someone who had childhood asthma that can still sometimes flare up, I can clearly feel a difference in the ease of breathing, and I know that I have tangibly improved my health. My sore shoulder is also much better now! I have seen results not only in the gym but also in everyday life – I can stand for longer at my standing desk at work, carry multiple very heavy shopping bags home from the supermarket and fly up the stairs of my apartment building. I generally have a lot more energy throughout the day and have also noticed an improvement in my sleep pattern.
For me, it is about giving myself the best chance in life and feeling empowered to try new things, like hiking or kayaking, without my lack of fitness being a barrier. Instead of feeling sad about my current situation or worrying about the future, I now feel proud of the improvements I have made and excited to see how far I progress.