Get Out of Your Fitness Rut! My Story

The first thing I need to admit is that I am only just coming out the other side of a serious lack of motivation with my own health and fitness. That's right! A fitness professional who has helped hundreds of people to reach their health and fitness goals can go off track. We all go through periods where motivation is lacking. Although this hasn't been ideal for me, it has really helped me to empathize with people who are going through a struggle to get on top of their weight loss goals. Let me tell you a little more about my story.

My Story:

A few years ago I was living my dream. Part of the 'Green Machine' training for a job that I always wanted to do. Extreme fitness training, abseiling down buildings and elevator shafts, jumping out of helicopters and being part of a highly trained team was all in a days work. Literally in an instant that dream came to an end with no way to return. My sole reason for gaining top fitness for 10 years was cut off at the legs. I found myself lacking motivation to stay fit. I knew a lot about how to get fit and stay trim from my experiences but the desire to stay that way literally disappeared. One day I looked in the mirror and I was 25kgs (55lbs) overweight. Once at this point I became injury prone and it was a vicious cycle or 'too injured to get fit' and 'needing to get fit to stop being injured'.

The Turning Tide:

There is nothing like a serious health scare in your family to wake you up. The news that my father was undergoing urgent triple bypass surgery was a real wake up call. Knowing that heart disease was a part of my family history got me thinking hard about life. Whatever your current situation and the physical challenges you face, there is something you can do to stay active. No excuses. All you need is a catalyst for change.

Step 1: Own your current situation

The time came where I had to brush aside all the excuses and take charge of my health and fitness. Being overweight really is a choice. It's the choice to not invest in your own health by giving yourself at least 30 minutes a day to engage in being active. It's a choice to over indulge in poor nutrition over a prolonged period of time. The first step in change is to acknowledge your current situation and take responsibility for where you are.

Step 2: Any exercise is good exercise

Whether you are walking around the block with your dog, engaging in a boot camp session or training for a charity event, anything that you do towards staying active is a victory. My motto that I use for myself and my clients is 'moving is winning'. If you are moving your body in some way then you are winning your own health and fitness battle. Incremental gains are the best way to get fit without injuring your body. This philosophy will get you back to your best.

Step 3: Get organised with your nutrition

Time and time again, I see that being organised with food preparation is the main obstacle to clean eating. Having good eating habits is generally more of a logistical challenge than a temptation challenge once you get started. That is not to say that you won't have urges to eat junk once you are clean eating. Prepared meals help big time. While you are getting your weight down to a manageable level it's a good idea to be strict on your nutrition.

Step 4: Find your motivation

Take time daily to ponder on what you want for yourself with your health and fitness. How do you view yourself as a person in regards to your appearance and health? Wanting to look good is perfectly naturally and you don't have to look like a fitness model to be happy. Picture yourself and your partner and kids growing old together and cling to that feeling to keep you on track with your health and fitness goals.


Mark Tulloch is a fitness professional with a background in the military. He is the co-founder of

Boot It Fitness which trains bootcamp and fitness business trainers

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