Frances Carlisle

What was your relationship to exercise before you started strength training at Fitology Hub?

I didn't really have any kind of relationship with exercise! I never enjoyed it and would always find any excuse I could not to do PE at school. I was always the last to be picked because I can't throw or catch a ball - it was miserable! Before I joined Fitology Hub, I hated even the thought of exercise and, apart from 20 minutes of yoga at home, I didn't do any. I didn't like the idea of exercising in a class, or in a gym, or with men there. All of it seemed so horrifying and off-putting!

Then a neighbour told me about Fitology Hub and how much she loved it. She told me about the camaraderie of this place and how different it was from anywhere else she'd tried before and I thought... "Hmmm, that doesn't sound completely horrific!"

How has strength training impacted your life?

I'd been reading about strength training being very important in mid-life and so I was very aware that I could benefit from it, but I felt very nervous of injuring myself. I knew I couldn't go to a regular gym and I didn't feel confident about following a pre-recorded video at home. How would I know I was doing it correctly? You can have all the instructions in the world, but if no one is there with you to correct any mistakes you're making, you're just going to keep making them and end up hurting yourself.

I used to be very scared to even try to lift anything. What if I could lift it but not carry it?! What if I dropped it on my foot?! At Fitology Hub, I trust that I'm being looked after. Everything from stance and proper foot alignment is considered and adjusted if needed, so I can just focus on enjoying what I'm doing without having to worry.

My coach, Cassie, gives me so much confidence to give things a go. I enjoy the way she pushes me in a non-pushy way and will say things like, "Why don't you just give it a try? If you can't manage it, it doesn't matter. I'm here with you." Having that safety and back-up has given me a lot of trust in my body.

When I first started strength training at Fitology Hub, I found I was a lot stronger than I thought I was, but my strength was very lopsided. I'm a photographer, so I've spent years carrying a heavy camera predominantly on one side and then carrying children on that same side. Cassie has really focused on helping to correct that imbalance and it has made a huge difference. I feel so much stronger now! I can hang off a bar and pull myself up. I can carry my 8-year-old around easily and even use him as a practice weight at home! Strength training is so functional and I really notice when I'm doing things like carrying big sacks of compost or helping my husband lift heavy furniture on to the roof rack.

How has being a member of Fitology Hub impacted your life?

I really look forward to coming to sessions and I love my 4:1 group. We are all in a similar boat with the challenges in our day-to-day lives and it's a great support to know I can chat things through with other women who really understand and who have become my friends. And Cassie is just lovely! She's really funny and always brings the chat, but she's also really kind. I feel really comfortable with her and I really trust her and I never feel judged if I don't understand something or I need it repeated. She just gets me and knows how to encourage me in the just the right way and the sessions are always fun with enough novelty so it doesn't get boring. I started strength training for the positive health benefits in the longer term, but I couldn't keep it up if I didn't enjoy it. The fact that I keep coming back to sessions, week after week and have no intention of stopping, really proves that I do!