I'm not someone who exercises. In fact, I've long believed people who declare they love exercise to be liars.
As a pre-teen obsessed with 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', I went to karate classes and got my black belt but this was more about a dogged desire to be like the titular heroine than it was getting fit and being good at a sport. As I got older, my regular exercise lessened dramatically and became simply walking to and from work, and climbing the five flights of stairs up to my tiny Toxteth flat.
In the pandemic, like many workers, our newsroom shut up shop and we all worked from home which meant I was no longer trekking to St Paul's Square on a daily basis, nor was I even attempting those heinous stairs regularly. I gained quite a bit of weight, saw a nosedive in what little fitness I had, and struggled to fit into most of my clothes.
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A move to a little terraced house a bit further out saw me become reliant on buses - so even less walking than usual - and only one flight of stairs to contend with. So, when I was invited to try a week of classes at swanky new gym, Barry's, I snapped their hand off.
I thought a week of exercise would be challenging but may kickstart a much-needed improvement in my fitness. I didn't think I'd all of a sudden become a fitness fanatic, nor did I expect to feel any major changes in my body - but I was partly wrong.
I won't be sharing before or after photos of my body as I think that puts the emphasis too much on looks, when health and fitness isn't solely about what you look like. As an eating disorder survivor, it's taken me a long time to get to a point where I don't place all my self worth on my weight and dress size, and I won't be risking any potentially nasty comments on my appearance putting me back there. Still, I will share exactly how I got on at Barry's:
Day One: Full body (upper focus)
We ventured into the aptly named Red Room and started on the 'dreadmill', and for a naïve spell, I thought, "Oh, maybe I'm a little fitter than I realised?" Then the demands were ramped up, with speed levels increasing and decreasing to really get the heart rate pumping and I quickly looked like an aggressive tropical rain cloud had wrung itself out directly above my head.
The trainer was incredibly encouraging and supportive though, and I surprised myself by feeling determined to push my body to try and keep up with the rest of the class. My positive attitude died a death when he told us: "Okay guys, we're almost done with the warm up." WARM UP? That was only the warm up?!
We then moved to the floor where we were advised to pick up two medium weights and a slightly heavier one. The trainer reeled off the recommended weights for beginners, intermediates and those advanced folks with much more experience. Naturally, I opted for the beginners' set and even struggled simply lifting them off the rack to take to my bench. By the end of the floor routine, I was shaking and could feel muscles I didn't even know existed.
Then, we went back to the treadmill - only this time, it most certainly wasn't a warm up. Another intense run followed before we finished on the floor for more weight training. I finished the session drenched in sweat and a little shell-shocked.
Day Two: Total body
I was surprised that I didn't chicken out and completely swerve venturing back to Barry's Red Room of Pain. I stepped onto the treadmill and was flanked by two lithe goddesses, my imposter syndrome quickly setting in.
As soon as the booming music kicked in and the instructor's voice blared out from a Britney Spears-esque microphone headset, all thoughts of other people vanished from my mind and I felt oddly focused on the routine. It was definitely tough, there's no doubt about it, but I found it easier to get into the rhythm of it.
The floor stage of the session was significantly harder than the treadmill - don't let this fool you, the treadmill is certainly no walk in the park - and I nearly dropped a weight on my face when trying to lift my feeble arms above my head. After it was over, I was slick with sweat though I did experience all those delightful endorphins exercise buffs are always banging on about.
Day Three: Arms and abs
On the advice of the delightful and friendly staff behind the counter, I chose lighter weights for this session, especially as a week-long course is particularly challenging on the body. It was still, as expected, incredibly tough.
My abs, which certainly haven't had any work for a long time, were practically screaming after just a few minutes on the floor. With each exercise, I was grunting and crying out with zero control - never again will I sit on my sofa watching Wimbledon, scoffing on crisps while judging the tennis players who can't hit a ball without letting out a piercing wail. Us athletes can't help it, okay?
Day Four: Full body (lower focus)
The end was in sight! I upped the speed level on the treadmill, following the trainer's intermediate guidelines to challenge myself a little more.
Finishing on the floor for more weights and pain, I kept waiting for the impossibly muscular and talented trainer, Franklin Opara, to say the four syllables that bring me so much joy: "And reeeee-cov-er." There's no greater feeling than getting to relax after a tough workout. There's a sentence I never anticipated myself writing.
Day Five: Chest, back and abs
Today, I made a grave error. I forgot about the bus strikes. Embroiled in work, I finished later than expected so wolfed down something to eat then got ready to head out to the gym. I'm a good 15 minute walk away from the nearest bus stop and as I was about to leave, my boyfriend said I was "cutting it fine".
Looking at my watch in horror, I saw the class started in 10 minutes and there was no chance of me being able to catch a reduced service bus in time. I sat on the sofa watching 'The Royle Family', feeling annoyed at myself.
Day Six: Abs and ass
This one was HARD. The Red Room was the busiest I'd ever seen it and the week's activities were really catching up on me. Barry's serves up a wide range of delicious protein shakes which had been repairing my muscles all week and keeping the dreaded aches and pains at bay, but I felt absolutely everything today.
It also didn't help that my body was contorted into a variety of positions it's never been in before, with heavier weights and exercise bands adding new levels of torture - sorry, I mean, resistance, to boot. At one point, my entire lower half was shaking profusely and I couldn't take my eyes off the clock above the treadmills, anxiously willing the seconds to tick away.
Day Seven: Total body
In contrast, there was only me and two other people in the gym on the final day - which meant there was no hiding from Franklin Opara's watchful gaze. He pushed me harder than I'd been pushed all week, but never beyond my limits.
There's 15 speed levels on the treadmill and while this may sound unimpressive to many people, getting to level 10 for a sprint was a particularly proud moment. As always, I left drenched in sweat, with my head swimming with endorphins. I can't believe I actually did it!
Final thoughts
I don't know how Barry's have done it, but I'm a convert. I feel fitter and healthier - and I've been sleeping better. As someone who's battled insomnia their whole life, this is something I'm not willing to give up, no matter how tough the classes may be.
I still have a LONG way to go and I still struggle with a lot of elements of the routine - more so on the floor - but I can feel myself improving. I've never felt faster results!
My thighs are already more toned and I can zip the button up on my jeans again. I also don't get out of breath as quickly, and it's only been a week?!
I don't want to lose the fitness I'm slowly building and I love having the classes as part of my routine. It is expensive but I feel less anxious, I'm getting to bed earlier and my body feels stronger - to me, that's worth spending a little more on. Well done Barry's, you've converted the unconvertable!
To book classes at Barry's Liverpool, click here. To find another Barry's venue, click here.
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