The Pull-Up Was Never Really The Goal

In July 2021, I walked into a gym for my very first PT session.

I was nervous.

Actually, nervous doesn’t quite cover it.

I felt vulnerable, intimidated and completely out of place.

I remember looking around and wondering if everyone knew I didn’t belong there.

It’s funny how our minds work sometimes.

When Shaun asked me what my goal was, I replied:

“I want to do a pull-up.”

It seemed like a sensible goal.

Something measurable.

Something achievable.

The reality was that I couldn’t do much at all.

But I had done something far more important.

I’d shown up.

Looking back now, that first session wasn’t really about fitness.

It was about possibility.

At the time, I didn’t know it.

I thought I was signing up to learn how to exercise.

What I was actually doing was opening a door.

Not overnight.

Not through some dramatic transformation.

Just one session at a time.

One week at a time.

One decision repeated over and over again.

As the months passed, I became stronger.

I learned new exercises.

I became more confident in the gym.

But something else was happening too.

I was changing.

Not physically, or at least not only physically.

My mindset was changing.

My confidence was growing.

I was becoming more comfortable taking up space.

I was learning that I was capable of more than I had given myself credit for.

The physical transformation was obvious.

The internal transformation was life-changing.

Somewhere along the way, I stopped focusing so much on the pull-up.

Don’t get me wrong.

Nearly five years later, I can almost do one and I’m ridiculously proud of that fact.

But I realised something important.

The pull-up was never really the goal.

The process became the goal.

The consistency.

The discipline.

The confidence.

The friendships.

The community.

The feeling of investing in myself.

That first PT session opened the door to things I never expected.

Gym classes.

New friendships.

Sauna sessions.

Adventures.

Opportunities.

Confidence.

Even some of the work I do today can be traced back to the person who walked into that gym feeling unsure of herself.

One decision led to another.

And another.

And another.

Earlier this year, I signed up with another PT, Dom.

Not because I was struggling.

Not because I was new.

But because I wanted to improve.

I wanted somebody to challenge me.

To refine my technique.

To help me level up.

One of the biggest misconceptions about personal trainers is that they’re only for beginners.

They’re not.

They’re experts.

They help you see things you can’t see yourself.

They notice the small adjustments that make a big difference.

They push you further than you would probably push yourself.

And occasionally they introduce you to muscles you didn’t know existed.

After my last glute session, I can confirm this is absolutely true 🔥

I’ve learned so much over the last few months.

I’ve had an incredible amount of fun.

I’ve become stronger.

I’ve improved my technique.

And I’ve been reminded that growth doesn’t stop just because you’ve been doing something for a while.

There’s always another level.

There is, however, one thing I still don’t understand.

Personal trainer counting 🤔

You know how it goes.

You’re halfway through a set.

Everything is burning.

You’re questioning your life choices.

And then comes the question:

“How many have you done?”

Whaaatttt! 🫣🤣

Because they’ve been standing there watching me the entire time! 😆

Surely they know?

At this point, I could probably say anything.

“Twenty-seven.”

“Three.”

“About a hundred.”

But for some reason, I usually tell the truth.

(Well… most of the time 🤭)

And somehow, every single time, honesty is rewarded with:

“Great. Give me two more.”

I’ve come to the conclusion that counting isn’t actually part of the PT qualification.

Shaun did it.

Dom does it.

And every other PT I’ve ever spoken to seems to suffer from the same condition 😆

I’m starting to think it’s covered in Module One:

“How to Pretend You Can’t Count So Your Client Does More Reps.”

Humour aside, there’s something else people often say when I mention having a PT.

“I’d love one, but I can’t afford it.”

And I completely understand that.

Personal training isn’t cheap.

But one day I sat down and worked out what my old lifestyle used to cost.

The alcohol.

The takeaways.

The hangover food.

The impulse spending.

The health costs.

The emotional costs.

The endless cycle of feeling rubbish and trying to feel better.

When I added it all up, something surprised me.

This lifestyle actually costs me less.

Around 20% less.

That wasn’t what I expected.

What surprised me even more was what I receive in return.

Better health.

Better sleep.

Better energy.

Better friendships.

Better confidence.

More adventures.

More experiences.

And perhaps most importantly, a much better relationship with myself.

That’s why I don’t see exercise as something I have to do.

It’s something I get to do.

It’s become a non-negotiable part of my life because I know who I am when I look after myself.

I show up differently.

For myself.

For the people I love.

For the life I want to create.

So this blog is really a thank you.

To Shaun, who opened the first door.

To Dom, who helped me keep growing.

To every coach, instructor and expert who shares their knowledge and helps others become stronger, healthier and more confident versions of themselves.

And to every person who has ever stood outside a gym wondering if they belong there.

I understand.

I’ve been you.

But here’s what I’ve learned.

The thing you’re worried about probably isn’t the thing that will change your life.

The pull-up wasn’t the thing.

The gym wasn’t even the thing.

They were simply the doorway.

The real transformation happened when I decided I was worth investing in.

And that changed everything.

Remember, it’s all about You ✨

Sue 💛