Jimmy Richards:  I’m 4 weeks into the Transformation Programme, so this is a little review for people that are interested and thinking about signing up:

Mindset

Obviously you will lose weight, and me and my fellow transformers have lost weight and changed body shape with some dramatic results ( pictures will follow ). But the biggest surprise for me has been that it’s still possible to find motivation to go to the classes even when you’re shattered from work, the kids, an injury and a new baby. You can still pick yourself up from the sofa and go to a class no matter how you’re feeling (even the late classes ) because once you’ve done it once and got through the next day, your mindset changes. You just think “you’ve done it before you can do it again”.

Once you’ve done it again and again your mindset changes from feeling guilty about eating rubbish food or slumping on the sofa, to feeling guilty for not finishing that round of sit-ups or slipping on a box jump.

I even wanted to get to class 10 minutes early to stretch my ankle out that doesn’t want to bend forward anymore, so that it improves my form on dead lifts and back squats .

I ache the next day but don’t care because I’ve managed to beat my wall ball record from 3 weeks previous, and can’t wait to do it all again. I want to talk to Ray and Danny about my form and diet and want to know what’s being written on that dreaded whiteboard that gives us the class itinerary .

Your mindset will change quickly.

Nutrition

When you start the Transformation you’re given a nutrition guide with calorie targets. I had to drop from 2,700 cal per day to 1,800 and fast for 15 hours. The thought of that was horrendous at first.

The first few days you hit your calorie target in your allotted eating time and you don’t feel hungry, in fact you feel better -healthier . Then you realise your macros were out so you tweak it again and feel better again for it  – and My Fitness Pal app does it all for you, it’s easy.

Then the end of week 2 hits and you hit a wall – you’re sick of nuts and fruit and it’s Friday so you have a rum and coke (or four!). And you have a ham sandwich with mayo ( still only in wholemeal bread ) “but it was bread” , and you feel guilty , but you tell coach Ray about it and he laughs and says the end of week 2 is the hardest, everyone will cave in and cheat, but you’re through it now and it gets easier ( “now get down and give me 10 press ups !“) .

And he’s right, it gets easier – I’m not hungry and I’ve broken my habit of bread, crisps and biscuits . I’m enjoying my overnight oats and homemade stir-fry’s (it helps that my misses is a good cook though).

I do treat myself to the odd rum and sandwich but never over-indulge. I still need a naughty flat white coffee some days to get over not sleeping because of the kids , but I just push myself harder in the class to make up for it.

The nutrition plan is a guide not gospel, just do your best with it and you will see results in weight loss , body shape , bad habits and cravings.

Training

The classes are brilliant, the coaches are great and fun (not drill sergeants) and your fellow transformers are the same as you: people with busy lives , with body’s of all shapes and sizes, with injuries, with time restraints and bad habits. We all turned up on the first class nervous , shy, not saying much to each other .

But now we all encourage each other through the tough classes, exchange meal ideas and recipes, tell each other about the cheat days we’ve had and the food and drink we shouldn’t have eaten (because we’re all human and cave in sometimes ). You see everyone getting better and fitter and it encourages you to try harder and improve .

Every class is different , you will do exercises and strength movements you never thought you’d be able to do.

Yeah, you will still hate burpees and wall balls and you will still ache every day after class, and make funny noises and groans when walking upstairs . But it’s all well worth it to change your body and mindset about food , posture , form , hard work and dedication.

Do it , you won’t regret it