Introduction
When Vicky started training with Totally Smashed It, she was 16 stone 12 lbs, had low self-esteem, and suffered from anxiety and panic attacks. Vicky also struggled with severe back pain but decided enough was enough! How Vicky achieved a stronger back sustainable weight loss. Read her story...
Vicky's journey to being pain-free and sustainable weight loss
Vital statistics:
- Started: 16 stone 12, a weak lower spine, and back pain that took one to two hours to loosen each morning before she could put her shoes on
- Now: 13 stone 5, 3.5 stone lighter and stronger
- Timeline: December 2018 → ongoing
- Service: 1:1 PT (in-person) plus group classes
- Key insight: "If you don't do this, you're going to just keep being in pain."
- Transformation arc: In pain and anxious → stronger body → stronger mind
Taking the Leap Into Classes
WHEN DID YOU JOIN TOTALLY SMASHED IT AND WHY DID YOU START CLASSES WITH ME?
Steve encouraged me to try Box Fit. I started personal training with him at the beginning of December 2018, and he got me to start Box Fit in February this year. He said it would benefit me to increase my exercise. I’ve never tried or done anything like that before. The thought of going to a class by myself filled me with terror, if I’m honest. I’m not very good in groups or with strangers, but now I’ve learned that skill. The first class was quite massive for me!
SO, THIS WAS THE FIRST GROUP EXERCISE CLASS THAT YOU’VE DONE?
This was the first-ever. I’ve never done any kind of Box Fit or Zumba. I’ve always thought I’d really like to try yoga, but I never had the guts to actually go. It frightened me quite a lot. But when Steve tells you to do something, you kind of do.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO TOTALLY SMASHED IT. WHAT WAS YOUR MOTIVATION FOR STARTING PERSONAL TRAINING WITH STEVE?
There’s a lady at school who was training with Steve before me. She was one of the people that I always noticed around the school. She had the same build as me and was about the same size. Then she just went from being the same size as me to looking incredibly fit. I was friends with her on Facebook, so I used to see her fitness journey. One day, she posted about a session with Steve. I commented on the post saying, “Oh wow, I really need someone to kick my butt, as you’ve had!” Steve contacted me and said, “I’ll be happy to see if it works with you.” I was really nervous. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.
The biggest thing that I kept telling myself I needed to go to him for was my back. I’ve had back issues since I was about 15. I’ve got a very weak lower spine. I was waking up in a lot of pain. It used to take me about an hour to two hours in the morning to loosen my back enough to put on my shoes. So that was another massive reason for me to go to him. It was one of those pivotal moments where I thought, “If you don’t do this, you’re going to just keep being in pain.”
Stronger in Body and Mind
IMPROVING YOUR LOWER BACK STRENGTH WAS A BIG GOAL THEN, BUT YOU’VE OBVIOUSLY LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT TOO, SO WAS THAT A GOAL AS WELL?
I hoped to lose weight. I told Steve that I wanted to be stronger, both physically and mentally. To be stronger in the mind. Which is a difficult thing to say.
I hoped it would help me because, a lot of the time, when I’m bigger, I have quite low self-esteem. If I’m in situations with new people or at work and I’m big and can’t control what I eat, I think people won’t take me seriously. I’m self-employed, so you’re selling yourself. You’re selling your abilities and who you are as a person. But I felt like I wasn’t confident enough to really sell myself for my job.
People look at you differently when you’re bigger, and you’re unhealthy. People generally don’t feel comfortable talking to you or engaging with you. I noticed this a lot when I was bigger. And when I got smaller, it made a massive difference. I think it was mostly confidence because I held my head up when I got smaller.
I have mental peaks and troughs, which I think Steve’s slowly trying to figure out. That’s quite new to me too. Having someone who actually wants to figure me out. It’s comforting, but uncomfortable because I’m not used to having so much emphasis on me.
YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WERE VERY ANXIOUS ABOUT GOING TO THE CLASSES INITIALLY. HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW AFTER YOU’VE BEEN GOING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS?
It’s a lot better. It’s nice. I now find it a challenge. If there are new members in the group, or more new members than I’m used to, it still takes me about 10 minutes to get used to having more people there. But I’m finding it more interesting than terrifying. That feeling hasn’t gone; I’m just managing it better. And I’ve had quite in-depth conversations with Steve about that. He talks me through it. It’s been a really good way to learn crucial people skills I should have learned as a child. It’s really helped me.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU’VE GOT A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH STEVE AS A TRAINER. DO YOU FIND THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE TO YOUR TRAINING?
It does when you trust that person, especially when you’re having a panic attack. Usually, I just don’t want to be touched. I'm basically an introvert. I try to get away from the situation, not because I feel awkward, but because I don’t want to hurt anybody. He’s taught me to accept a hand, which is quite big.
Steve’s like a mum. It’s hilarious. So, if I gain weight, it’s not like slimming club where they say, “What happened there?” He doesn’t do that. He just weighs you, and he’ll say,
“Right, two pounds next week. Try a little harder. Go back to the way you were doing it last time.”
3.5 stone lighter, fitter every week
FROM THE WEIGHT LOSS PERSPECTIVE, HOW MUCH HAVE YOU LOST DURING THIS JOURNEY?
"I was 16 stone 12 lbs when I first started. And now I’m down to 13 stone 5 lbs. t’s a journey. I don’t feel down if I put on a few pounds. It has just come to light that my stress levels and eating are linked. So, I guess it’s just learning how to manage that."
IT’S ALL SUCH A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT, ISN’T IT? THAT’S ONLY SINCE DECEMBER?
Yes, but it just doesn’t feel like enough yet. But again, that’s just something that I’ve got to work on. I can see my fitness levels go up. Even today, I was able to do sit-ups with a ball and games I never would have done before.
Better than expected
DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN LIFE-CHANGING OR HAS IT JUST BEEN EYE-OPENING?
I think the first visit I knew was going to be quite monumental. The journey. I didn’t expect it to be this monumental. It’s changed my perspective on health, eating well, and the links it has to my mental health and my anxiety.
It’s let me say “No” more to myself because I’m generally more of a yes person. It’s gotten me closer to understanding where my anxiety comes from and what triggers it. I think I’m learning more about me because I’ve got that time. It helps my anxiety because I have less anxiety when I’m training and going to Box Fit. So, I think it’s a massive positive for me.
Most of the time I just try to ignore everything. That’s why I overeat. Because overeating and thinking I’m eating too much is way easier than dealing with everything else.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE THINKING ABOUT STARTING CLASSES WITH ME?
Definitely try it with Steve, because he doesn’t just run a class; he watches everybody, which I didn’t expect. He starts to learn everybody’s personalities and who works better with whom. I like the fact that Steve never lets up.
Conclusion
In Vicky's case, the exercise helped relieve her pain
Since December 2018, Vicky has lost an incredible 3.5 stone and has learned more than just boxing skills. She’s conquering her anxiety, discovering herself, and embarking on a monumental life journey. This is Vicky’s story.
If you are interested in getting rid of pain, getting stronger, and feeling better, get in touch. Work with Steve >
