Training advice for the Fit Pros

Starting again after a major medical setback is hard.  I cannot even remember coming out of hospital – the day before Christmas- after spending two months at Southampton. During my time in hospital I had undergone several surgeries, the main one which was to put a shunt in to help relieve pressure in my brain. 

I was able to come home on Christmas day and celebrate with my family at home. Unfortunately the tube in my stomach was leaking and so I went straight back to Southampton Hospital on Boxing day! I have no memory of these days, only what I have been told by my parents. I also have a photograph which I absolutely hated where I was sat at the dining table smiling but seriously overweight! I had a long journey to go and it wasn’t just a physical change needed but also a mental one!

I struggled to grasp what I had been doing in life up to the point that I had my seizures and was completely incapable of going back to any semblance of normality for several years. My vision was affected, my mobility was in tatters (due to 2 months lying in a hospital bed) and my memory was like a television with a broken signal! 

There was no real support available when I came out of hospital, other than a couple of follow up appointments at the hospital. The only way to improve was to take on a DIY approach. Due to my connections with gyms before the seizure I was able to find a personal trainer that could help me with my mobility. I also had a counsellor who I spoke with each week. My vision improved gradually over time as the pressure on my brain continued to ease. Any strategies that I used during this period of recovery were done by me and as I got better I was able to see what I needed more of during each step of the way. Thankfully I always had the support of my family to keep me going as well and to keep me company whilst I battled my inner demons. 

This was just the beginning of my story but it served to inform me on how I could help make things better for others who are going through a similar experience of being completely displaced from their past life.  I want to be able to provide the support and care that was missing when I left hospital. From my personal experience I understand that getting fitter and stronger isn’t only about the physical benefits but also the mental ones. When you start to realise that you are getting stronger physically, your mind also gets stronger and you are able to make progress.  

Training sessions with me are not just about exercise, they are about communication and achieving goals that build your self belief and mental stability allowing you to tackle the struggles that come with the changes in your life. Training really does improve us as it filters through to the rest of our lives allowing us to realise that we are capable of controlling outcomes in our life. With this power brings confidence in ourselves and helps bring about positive change. 

If you have survived serious ill health and come out the other side then you are definitely strong enough to overcome the hurdles you face. Sometimes we just need a little help as I did during my recovery. 

I would encourage you to get in touch and enquire about training with me and we can navigate the challenges you face together to achieve your goals.

Please get in touch via my email alex@aok-pt.co.uk and I will get back to you to arrange a zoom to discuss what you want to achieve from your training.