An East Belfast man has opened up on how turning to exercise "saved him from a downward spiral" and why he believes it's never too late to embrace fitness.
As the New Year dawns, many people will be making resolutions to change their ways and if yours is to feel fitter and healthier, then take a leaf out of Kirk Long's book.
Kirk started his journey to fitness in his 30s and for the past six years, he has focused on helping people change their lifestyle, simply because he was once in the same position.
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"Up until the age of 31 I had only set foot in a gym once as a teenager and had only played a bit of football as a kid. A couple of my mates went to the gym and they would try and get me to go but I'd no interest," he told Belfast Live.
"I was on a slippery slope of drinking far too much, partying every night and messing about. Above all, I liked my food and I lived a life of fried breakfasts every morning and takeaways every night.
"Health and fitness was not in my vocabulary back then until I took a positive step and made a big change. I had a 40 inch waist and I knew something had to change so I decided to get fit.
"I set off on a plane to Thailand where I endured a really tough training regime and strict diet, which completely changed my life forever. I dropped to 12.7% body fat from around 35% body fat and made health and fitness my career."
Fast forward to today and Kirk is now a successful businessman with his own Burn More PT studio on Templemore Avenue in East Belfast and offering a range of in-person and online classes six days a week.
Over the past few years, Kirk, 41, has taken the experience of what he learnt in Thailand and turned it into regular bootcamps, classes and PT sessions, using his wealth of knowledge so others can hit their goals too.
"I want to help other people make the same choices. The Burn More 24 classes and bootcamps help them hit their goals but I'm also here to offer advice on nutrition and everything else that’s involved so they too can drop the inches and become lean," he explained.
"Impossible is nothing - everyone can do it! Of course some find it harder than others but you will get there in the end. It just takes willpower and dedication and as I said, I was a 40 waist before I started training so I know the journey and fully understand how challenging it can be.
"But it's never too late to embrace fitness. Remember I had never lifted a weight until I was in my 30s - now health and fitness is my full time career and my passion.
"For me it's a form of escapism and I suppose the gym is now my addiction. I know it sounds cliché but the gym really saved my life, both mentally and physically.
"Hand on heart it doesn't feel like work to me because I just love it. I'm always buzzing for every class that I do and it feels so rewarding at the end of it."
Kirk added: "I'm so thankful that Burn More has come such a long way in just a few short years and even through lockdowns.
"Our first all over body workout class in only 24 minutes was in the car park of Elite PT Studio with just four people and in the winter months we moved indoors into a small space upstairs.
"Now we operate six days a week, with multiple classes, face to face with an average of 20+ people in each class, online classes over Zoom with the same numbers and also our very popular bootcamps run throughout the year.
"We now have our own PT studio, offering a professionally qualified 1-1 or 1-2 service for all fitness levels and abilities. We are a small private and personal studio and tailor workouts, nutrition advice and guidance to help each individual reach their own goals.
"This wouldn't be possible without the support of all our Burners, sharing by word of mouth and allowing me to post photos and videos of them all on our Facebook page so people can see what classes are about.
"As I get ready to mark seven years of Burn More in May, I'm excited for the next chapter and what it brings."
And for anyone still on the fence about making that big lifestyle change in 2023, Kirk has this advice: "The hardest part is going to a class or gym for the first time and walking in those doors.
"Anxiety and a lack of confidence still puts some people off but nobody ever regrets doing a workout no matter how much you're dreading it beforehand.
"For newcomers, we offer four free classes to use at any time in January, both face to face and online, so you've nothing to lose."
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