Me: Please share with my readers a little about yourself.
Elizabeth: Hi, My name is Elizabeth (but only my dad still calls me by my full name), but most people know me as Liz. I'm a level 3 qualified Personal Trainer and lover of movement in all forms. Our bodies are great tools, and I love exploring what my body can do.
Me: Tell me what inspired you to start your fitness training journey?
Elizabeth: I was super active from a very young age. As soon as I could walk, I was running, and I was really fast!!! Growing up, I used to race all the boys in my neighborhood and win, but my love of movement meant I didn't want to just run, but I wanted to jump, bound, throw, try and succeed in everything. So instead of competing in just one discipline, I trained as a Hephthalite in my teenage years. At 18, I gave it up to focus on my studies, and as I began working to support myself, I ended up tending bars in London's biggest nightclubs, to eventually managing them. The more successful I became in the hospitality industry, the less attention I gave to my health and wellbeing. After almost 10 years I wasn't able to continue outrunning the heavy drinking culture and late nights. I could no longer rely on my youth and fast metabolism like I used to, and was beginning to put on noticeable weight. It was time for a complete revamp. But wary of the gyms, I instead joined a dodgeball team (again a sport that i loved playing in my teens) and that was a great gateway to not only more exercises classes like pole dancing and boxing, to weight lifting in the gym, and reigniting my passion to build my career based on my one true love.
Me: How long have you been helping people reach their body weight goals?
Elizabeth: As soon as I became a gym rat, I was always bringing other women into the weights section, showing them how to use the equipment, and how to perform the exercises correctly. Starting off with friends and family, I would train them in both home and gym settings, until I finally made my career change, started studying full time for my qualifications and was able to apply even more knowledge to them as well and being able to extend my client base 2 years ago.
Me: In your opinion what is the hardest challenge for your clients when starting on the journey?
Elizabeth: Consistency!!!
A lot of people start and stop, finding it hard to get momentum. It could be a variety of issues, the initial DOMS (delay of onset muscle soreness), realizing it's
actually hard work, or simply struggling to build the new habit.
However I always encourage people to keep going. Start small, and build from there. Fall in love with the process, and don't beat yourself up about it too much. We all have days off, we all have moments where we are just fatigued and our mind or body is just telling us to chill. It is absolutely normal. Just try not to let those days, turn into weeks, and then into months. Physical activity has so many more benefits than just dropping the weight, so make sure you have a really strong WHY! The reason you get up and dance, go for a run, box, or throw some weight around. This will be the difference between a monotonous routine and something you get up and enjoy doing (with added benefits)
Me: What advice would you give someone that is interested in joining your program, but is afraid?
Elizabeth: It sounds cheesy but its true! You will miss 100% of the shots that you don't take. So give it go, you have absolutely nothing to lose, but everything to gain.
Me: What are you hoping people gain from participating in your programs?
Elizabeth: Exploring a new way of training not only the body, but the mind too. My bodyweight flow courses challenge and help develop your proprioception, and general body awareness using new exercises you've probably never done before and combining moves you have done into new, fun and challenging drills.
Me: How can your programs be purchased?
Elizabeth: I currently have a free 4 week Bodyweight Flow guide available for anybody looking to try something new using nothing but their own bodies. There is a donation link also, so if you enjoyed the course and are moving better, show some love!
Sign up can be found through my Instagram Bio Link.
Me: Please share your media pages for new fans that you would like to share.
You can follow my journey on my Instagram - @bestversionofliz
My new Youtube channel, for follow along workouts, that you can do anytime, anywhere - @bestversionofliz
And keep an eye out for a monthly subscription program coming soon.