My Fitness Journey with Emma Harrison and TeamFIT

AD. Working with a personal trainer has always felt like something that would never really click with me. I had this opinion for various reasons, the biggest one being that I lack motivation and self discipline. I'm ridiculously flaky when it comes to exercise and don’t own any gym equipment. I never really pursued it, because I knew it was something I wouldn't stick at. That was until I met Emma Harrison and started training with her and TeamFIT.

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My Fitness Journey Pre-Emma

I've always been relatively slim, and with this comes the expectation that I live a healthy lifestyle and partake in regular exercise. When in actual fact, this couldn't be further from the truth. I could probably count on both hands the amount of times I exercised last year. And when it comes to food, what I was putting into my body was absolute rubbish. I'm 100% that mum that eats the kids leftovers and calls it a meal.

I've never been a gym goer, but something I've always enjoyed is being outdoors. I love hiking and getting the miles in walking over the moors and my local country park. I'd even say I enjoyed running somewhat. My only trouble is, is that I'd never stick to it. I would go through stages of running three times a week for a couple of months and then I'd miss a week, which of course would turn into a month, and then into two, and you get the rest.

Why I chose to work with Emma Harrison and TeamFIT

Emma actually approached me towards the end of summer last year enquiring about a mutual collaboration. However at this point I had too much going on, too many tabs were open and I knew would't be able to out my all into the TeamFIT training program.

January 2024 however was the turning point for me. The new year brings new opportunities, new mindset changes and I knew I was ready to invest in myself.

Working with Emma Harrison and TeamFIT

Emma has been nothing short of a dream! I don't know about you but I always had this perception that PT's are really scary and will push you to your absolute limits. Well Emma's not like that. She pushes you so you're able to get the most out of your exercise and meal plans, but nothing is ever forced. Working with Emma feels more like working with a friend, which for me, flaky fliss over here, is a massive benefit. We seem to be very aligned mentally with the same mindset that every movement and healthy lifestyle choice is a step in the right direction. She's just wonderful and has a brilliantly refreshing outlook on life.

My initial assessment

On the 5th January 2024 I had my initial call with Emma. It was during this Google Meet call that we discussed my previous (or lack of) fitness experiences as well as my day to day lifestyle. Chatting to Emma this way meant she was able to get a vibe for what is actually achievable for me and the best way to go around things. The initial assessment was a 30 minute call which ended with some goal setting.

Goal setting

For me personally, I know I'm not a gym girlie, I don't want to lift a certain amount of weight. Likewise I don't really want to lose any weight. But what I do want to do is live a healthier lifestyle for my children and I want to be able to run a sub 30 minute 5K. I've not been able to do this since I was in my early twenties, so this was number one on my goals list. I really want to give a big middle finger to feeling old and passed it. I want to be thirty (33), flirty and thriving!

The workout plan

During the first week of training, also known as the establish phase, Emma had me doing 20 minute stretches three times a week. These mellow movements were a great way to not only get my body back into moving, but my mind into creating time for myself too.

From the second week to present day I've also been incorporating two runs into my week too. This started off as a brisk 5 minute walk followed by alternative 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking for twenty minutes. Over the last eight weeks the walking has decreased and the running increased and now we're at a solid 28 minutes of running.

Working with Emma Harrison in this way has been incredible for me. Building up my running has been so beneficial in the sense that I'm actually sticking to it and heck, I'm actually enjoying the process! Usually, I'd go in all guns blazing and then give up when things got too difficult. But working with Emma and teamFIT has been a massive motivator for me to give up my flaky ways.

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Nutritional guidance

Calorie counting has always triggered me somewhat. I've done fad diets before (stupidly, because I've never needed to lose weight) and I've always gotten too in my head about weight loss. It's actually made me quite resentful of food in previous years.

Maybe it's because I'm older (and wiser of course) or maybe it's working with Emma, but this time around, I see calories as good. I'm able to see calories as an energy source and that I need to eat the right amount of calories and the right types of foods in order for me to stay strong and on track with my program.

Each day I input what I've eaten for breakfast, dinner and tea, along with any other snacks, drinks or matcha tea I might have throughout the day. The system then works everything out for me, giving me a percentage of how much protein, carbs and fats I've taken on.

I love science and have found this particular aspect to my fitness journey really interesting. Something I really didn't expect considering my previous experiences!

Progress and challenges

I've been training with Emma Harrison for the last eight weeks now and the difference between now and the beginning of the year is crazy! There's been many highs and a couple of lows... But such is life! Working with Emma has helped me realise that whilst you may have an off week or a few days where you feel a bit iffy, that's totally valid. Progress doesn't necessarily have to be linear to be progress still!

Running has obviously been a success of mine over the last couple of months. I began the year not really being able to run a full kilometer without being out of breath. Now I'm comfortably running a 5K. The next challenge for me is upping my pace and getting that 5K in under 30 minutes.

My mindset change over the last eight weeks has been brilliant too. It might sound stupid, but swapping my coffees for water has had a massive impact on my days. As has fueling my body with the right foods. Progressing to living a healthier happier lifestyle is nothing short of a miracle!

Challenge wise I've had a few blippy moments. I had half a week off during February as I was struck down with a virus (thanks kids). But, weirdly I feel like I came back stronger. Allowing my body not only to rest, but to recover was incredible for progress.

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Measuring progress with TeamFIT

Working with Emma and TeamFIT I have weekly check ins to determine my progress. On a Sunday I'll weigh myself, take progress photos, check my measurements and fill in a weekly check in form to send to Emma. The form is really in depth and focuses on how you've found that week and what you can do going forward. On there you'll also find questions about sleep, stress, where you are in menstruation etc. It's so much more than just a fitness debrief! Emma gets into the real nitty gritty of what's been going on.

After this has been sent over you'll receive a video reply on the Monday. Emma will go through your answers, address any concerns you might have and put a plan together going forward. It's a really personal touch which for me always bring such a positive start to the week.

Benefits of working with Emma Harrison and TeamFIT

There's too many benefits to working with Emma Harrison. I feel like even writing this post, there's probably so much that I've missed, but I'd like to think I've portrayed Emma and her positive vibes correctly. Here's some things that I've benefited from working with Emma.

• Putting myself first. As a mum to two small children, I'm very rarely first on the list. I put everybody before myself and never really give myself time to shine. Working with TeamFIT however has shifted my mindset in the sense that looking after myself is looking after my children. I want them to see their Mam having a bit of 'girl power' doing great things for herself!
• A healthier lifestyle. Emma has a checklist of daily non-negotiables. This includes drinking 2.5 litres of water a day, walking 8000 steps and having a portion of fruit or veg with every meal. This tick box system has been amazing for me. It's really made me think about what I'm putting into my body and how much I'm moving. Plus the nerd in me, absolutely loves ticking things off the list!
• A friendly PT. I class Emma as a friend. She's not my PT, she's a friend who's PTing me. And that's absolutely props to her and her mentoring skills. As I mentioned previously I've always been a bit put off by scary personal trainers, but Emma's just a dream to work with.
• She's always at the end of a DM. Emma works tirelessly and is available to chat between 7am-7pm most days. What I really appreciate about Emma and her way of working is that she'll always finish off with 'any questions, just shout' which is really inviting if you ever do have concerns.
• She's always scientific. I don't know about you, but I love reasonings for things. Emma's always got a reason and there's always a scientific explanation behind the way our bodies react to certain things. She absolutely knows her stuff, which leaves me with so much confidence going forward!
• Goal smashing. So far I've smashed my goals whilst working with Emma. Not to toot my own trumpet or anything (but I will). And that's down to Emma's guidance. She's changed my brain, I'm sure of it! Never before would I have stuck at something for so long.

You can work with Emma Harrison too

Working with Emma Harrison couldn't be easier. Whatever your goal, whether it's fat loss, to run a certain distance or to input healthier lifestyle choices, she's literally a DM away. Emma's instagram is popping right now with inspiration and motivation for making you feel badass again. If you fancy finding out how coaching can work for you, you can easily make a TeamFIT discovery call to get the ball rolling. You won't regret it, I'm sure!

Emma also has a free guide which gives you tips and tricks on how to lose weight without losing your mind. Have a little nosey to get a feel for Emma and her coaching style. *Spoiler alert* She kicks the BS most fitness influencers feed you!

To conclude

Emma has been brilliant for me. I feel like I've been able to break the mould of being a busy mum. I've been putting myself first and I've not felt an ounce of mum guilt... Which is always amazing! To say that she's changed my life feels like quite a bold statement to make. But she actually has! Would I be running twice a week, working out three times a week and making healthier lifestyle habits without Emma... Not a chance!

Do go and check out Emma's details to see if she's the type of coach for you! She's been amazing for me, and I'm sure she will be for you too!

You can reach Emma Harrison here:

• Website https://emmaharrison.fit/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/emmaharrison.fit/