5 things I wish I knew 5 years ago.

Believe it or not, I didn't always know everything. Roughly 5 years ago, I was one of those who had a gym membership and never used it. Just looked at that 40 odd pounds coming out of my account every month and thought "hmmm, probably should cancel that... Nahhh I'll start properly next week".

In the rare occasion I did go, I didn't have a clue what I was doing and I mostly spent my time sheepishly moving from one 'easy looking' machine to another, trying to swerve the personal trainers and their judgmental stare.

Fast forward to the present day where I'm a fully fledged PT, confident in dozens of different training strategies and have even mastered the ability to trick people into reading a blog that consists of my muddled thoughts and vaguely fitness related content.

If I had some advice for '5 years ago me' (other than to re think some of the questionable hairstyles and flaming Sambucas) it would be to think of the gym as something to enjoy not to suffer through.

So here are my 5 tips for my 5 year younger self:

• No one cares what you're doing. Although you feel like everyone is watching what you're doing and laughing at you. They're not (Apart from that one time you fell over a medicine ball ).

• No, that Velcro strap around your arm that holds your iPod isn't cool. I know you think it is and that it makes you blend in with the gym bros but it really doesn't.

• Traps are the best! Stop wasting your time doing stupid abs exercises in the hope of getting a six pack. Do some rows and some shrugs, having a toned back looks great and you'll think you're actually hench.

• EAT! Seriously, why are you trying to starve yourself? You're not going to put on any muscle if you eat like a squirrel.

• Stop comparing yourself to the movie stars and the body builders. You're being unrealistic and it's making you feel crap. Train for yourself and no one else, if you want to make a change, do it for the right reasons.

Have a think about what you were like in the gym 5 years ago. What's changed for you?

Much love,

Joe.