Uni Fitness Journey: Lessons at Ultraflex Gym
In the first half of 2018, I was deep into my final year of a strength and conditioning degree at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston.
When I wasn't studying, in class, or having intense training sessions at Ultraflex Gym with my close friend and housemate Myles, I'd be watching reruns of the 90s Dragon Ball episodes, even getting as far as rewatching Dragon Ball Z, the occasional meal at Coco's Soul Food, or having a bi-weekly poker game—the only real social escape I'd have.
Academically, things were great. I attended every class and was highly organised, on track for a 2:1 and flirted with the possibility of a first.
Physically, it was a period of solid consistency with training, too.
Ultraflex Gym was a unique experience for me. It was my first taste of a hardcore bodybuilding gym. I enjoyed the old, cold atmosphere with the constant clang of iron. Yet, despite my fantastic consistency, my progress, or a lack thereof, didn't match how much work I put in.
In hindsight, the reasons are clear: my nutrition could've been better, and my technique on crucial compound exercises was lacking. But the most obvious issue was how I was 'cheating' myself in many of my sets.
Myles, ever eager to help as a spotter, was, unknowingly to both of us, taking on too much of the load during exercises like dumbbell chest presses, shoulder presses and squats. Instead of being there for safety, he ended up sharing the effort, which gave me a false sense of strength.
This realisation brutally hit me one day during a session at PureGym in Preston. I was there with my other housemate, José, on a guest pass without Myles.
Confidently, I approached a stranger for a spot as I attempted to chest press 40kg dumbbells. He sternly told me they were too heavy for me, but I insisted. His prediction rang true; alone, I struggled immensely, barely even getting them up, and his parting words of "I told you" left a lasting impression.
That day, I learned the critical role of a spotter: to ensure safety and not to lift the weight for you. Myles and I had been doing it all wrong.
From then on, I adjusted my approach. I reduced the weights I lifted and ensured that any future spotting was about safety, not assistance.
Though the stranger at PureGym didn't offer guidance and was perhaps cold with how he went about it, his bluntness was a wake-up call. It forced me to reassess and correct my training approach. Also, it acted as a lesson I carry with me today when communicating with my 1-2-1 online fitness members about spotting and safety.
To share my experience and help others avoid similar mistakes, I've created a podcast with over 130 episodes with suggestions on improving workouts and nutrition. Whether you're on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Simplecast, there's abundant knowledge waiting for you.
So, if you're keen to catapult your fitness journey progress:
And make sure to join me there!
Speak soon,
Leo
P.S. As I was looking through my camera roll, I noticed I barely had any pictures of me training at Ultraflex in Preston, aside from two low-quality fuzzy ones