Your channel has been my biggest motivation and guide to get fitter. The lack of bullshit and abundance of clear thinking is incredibly helpful. I’m around the same age as you and just started out last year. I’m doing parkruns and just started longer trail runs. My speed and endurance are not very impressive but I’m so much better than I was a year ago. Sincere thanks for increasing the likelihood that I’ll get to meet my grandkids.
Your videos have probably been my biggest motivation to get healthier, down 15kg in 4 months, and all of your videos have been watched. Have a good one Mark, thanks.
@@ian_strachs Basically I'm just eating clean, removing all unnecessary fats like butter, cooking oil, and smaller portions. I can handle a big caloric deficit and I'm lucky with that, been around 1800 for those months. I also eat low calorie snacks (stuff like strawberries, low calorie icecream (think halo top, I LOVE icecream), icepops, sugarfree soft drinks), also with stuff that you cannot overeat on like most greens and fruits I just eat whenever I feel a bit hungry. And exercise naturally. The smallest and easiest change with the biggest effect was drinking a load of water with every meal to slow digestion and fill up the stomach. @CED99 Thanks mate! I hope you stay healthy too, truly.
"keep it simple, keep it consistant" as a 40 year old guy I found this simple line so helpful. I'm an all or nothing type of person and end up having a 1 week blast at working out like a madman only to crash and end up at maccies or the pub. Thanks Mark this is the best/most logical fitness channel on UA-cam.
Man I needed this. Late at night, 3 wines down, prepping lunch boxes for 4 kids, been over a year since I could run after a bad knee injury. I will do a park run before this year is out. Thank you
Look up knees over toes. Start walking backwards, then sled pulls backwards. Then walk forward on forefoot only, no heels. Very slow. You can do it. I just get 20 min a day to do things for my self. Running or lifting some weights. Or bands. or stretching. Anything, literally anything. Breath holds. Nose breathing for the whole day. Wim hoff sessions if you like. Or cold shower. Just mental exercise can be a great thing. I have 2 kids and workout once they are a sleep. Love me some wine, but more so beer.
Cleared to run now, which is a nice milestone. Been doing a couple hundred metres in 30m blocks. My ankles hate me after so long being inactive. Next goal is 500m. (appreciate I'm talking to myself here but this is a form of accountability)
@@eightyninerwh Light pole to light pole. Mark lewis style. Keep it up. Take a break when needed. Breathwork can keep you at a constant place. Nose breath only is one way. or nose in mouth out. zone 2. maybe get a heart rate monitor. keep it at max minus 40
"Not every hurdle is as high as you think it is" Followed by 'My life isn't great, do I want to compound it with poor health and fitness (to paraphrase slightly)' Mark, you've definitely given a great account of yourself and the problems a lot of people face. So cheers for the inspiration and entertainment 🙌
I used the “I don’t have time” excuse for over a decade and it led me to catastrophic health issues. Over the past year I’ve been working out early in the morning before everyone else is awake (4 am) and for me it has been the best way to start reversing my health problems. My reasoning for this approach is simple and irrefutable… if you make exercise the first thing you do every day you will miss 0% of your workouts. I know this isn’t for everyone, but I’ve found this is the best way to make sure that nothing gets in the way of my progress. Thanks for the motivation
I'd love to be like that but I'm not really a morning person! I was a rower for a few years which meant getting up about 5:45 most days of the week but if you join a club and commit to the training plan you have to as you can't let others down. But without that I prefer lunchtimes and evenings!
@@FlatToRentUK I wasn't a morning person for most of my life so far, even after being in the military for several years- soon as I was out the first two changes I made were not shaving and not getting out of bed before 7am. Now a few years on from that, my partner has a job they have to get up at 4:30am which I initially ignored but last year I joined in and find the 1.5 hours after they leave and I have to start work is my most productive time of day. 45 minute work-out or a solid hour of getting all those small chores done that weigh your mood down if you wait til the weekend or when you are tired after a day's work, traffic, and errands. That still leaves 30-45 minutes to take a long shower, have a nice tea, read the news, scroll some social media, etc and not be running late or ignoring higher priorities.
Mark, Since starting to watch your videos in January I decided I was going to train for triathlons and be an above average Olympic triathlete by the end of 2023. I did it! Today I placed 32nd out of 152 participants. Thank you for your achievable perspective.
@Mark, I think you underestimate the positive impact you are making out their in the world. I for one have been inspired by you to go from couch potato to my first Hyrox in January. Thank you my inspiration, guide and roll model.
So true. When life out of control sometimes the only thing I feel I can control is fitness and nutrition. Having that handhold then gives me the foundation to recreate the rest of my life.
Wish this was me. When life feels out of my control (usually feel trapped in some way - job, relationship, etc) the thing I feel I can control is that I can eat what I want - i.e. unhealthy crap - & then who knows how many days, weeks, or months the 'bender' will last and any fitness I may have had goes with it! Then I'm back to starting again at some point - normally when I start feeling ill.
@@MrWibbledo you really decide to eat that crap? Sounds more like dealing with strong emotions by eating. Binge eating is the most common eating disorder, it is a kind of addiction mechanism. UA-cam offers a lot of helpful content about it. Face bad feelings, just let them be there in stillness for 5 minutes, sitting down. That heals them better than 45 minutes of eating. Good luck! You can learn and heal! ❤
People love to put hurdles in place because it then gives them justification to not do something. You’ve given people the answer to their questions and solutions to these hurdles, put people will still find ways to self sabotage.
I Can honestly say that your channel has changed my life. It's by far the best fitness inspirational channel out here in my humble opinion. Iv'e gone from broken gym bro to aspiring 54 year old athlete. First 5km OCR booked for end of the month, Hyrox Birmingham next year and looking to my first ultra. I am loving the journey again. keep up the great work.
Always found your videos motivating Mark, and I love your light hearted sense of humour. You’ve been an inspiration to me for a while. One thing I learned in my journey from flab to fit in my early 40s is - focus on small daily wins to win big 👍 Thanks for all the great advice you give.
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After each major point you made, my reflex was to reach for the thumbs-up button, forgetting that I had already clicked on it. Thanks for the ongoing motivation and entertainment.
Thank you! This has hit close to home! I have been making myself better for the last 15 years! With being a fat lard and being single, meeting my current wife and now a father I hear all the time ‘your fit! It’s easy for you!’ It’s taken a lot of time effort and sacrifices to be the way I am! They don’t see what we have to do! Yes I have problems controlling what I eat and drink but I train hard and I’m above average! Keep it up mate! Thank you!
I found your channel earlier this year and I binged your content like a rabid dog. I still repeat watch some videos again now and then for more inspiration. You keep it real, and I pounce to your videos whenever I see a notification. Some of the points you make hit the nail on the head for me and give me a wake up call - such a my excuses for 'not having time'... Thank you very much for helping me turn a corner and begin to make solid, positive changes in my life. *From a 2+2=4 viewer*
Just sat and watched this on the TV at 3 am after the dogs deciding I didn't need sleep tonight (neurotic rescues lol) and I had to come on here and just say thank you . Not just for this video, but for your channel . My fitness has taken a huge knock back and my weight a big jump up over the past couple of years and I'm in the process of reclaiming them . I have a new supportive partner and as well as training together we both get so much from watching your videos. Thank you for working so hard as a creator to provide both meaningful , humorous, insightful and fantastically put together content . Very much appreciated by so many .
This is such an important message. We all have those voices in our head and the excuses feel so real. We've just got to keep on ignoring them. Thanks for another great video, Mark 🙏
Mark you deserve 10 million subscribers man!! Thank you for what you do! I’m back on the journey to becoming healthy. This video is what I needed to stay the course.
While your videos are chock-full of that English dry humour and wit (which a 58 y.o. Canadian is honour-bound to enjoy 😉 ), they're also chock-full of common sense. Keep it up, i'm not in that group of 1800 whiners. You inspire, without having to resort to yelling, being clumsy, or any other gimmicks! Refreshing! 👍👍
Mark Lewis and Chris Broad (yes the abroad in Japan brit) and their fitness journeys have inspired me to get my gear in in my mid 30s. Obese atm, and want to get fitter by the time I'm in my 40s.
You’re speaking truth…thank you for this. Your willingness to be transparent and open about your life experiences really has helped shape where I am now.
This is probably the best chat you have done ✅ the biggest thing I did was start bushwalking or Rucking. I grab my phone, pack earbuds water and 10kg weight. I never got into running but I can walk 10 km twice a week I started with just trainers and a few uni textbooks in my pack now I have a set of all tech boots and some poles. The idea is just find a green lane and go until the end of the iron maiden album rest and walk back to the car
Great video Mark. It's always good to listen to your straight talking to wake us up to the reality that it's up to us how we function. Good to laugh at ourselves too.
I keep running on an off, just because I like running and exploring but eventually get frustrated that I want to run further but my mileage progresses slowly and I get bored of the area I can venture into before I get better and can go further. I usually miss running though, and your videos have consistently been the little push to make me put on my shoes again and go for a new run. Today I went the furthest I've ever been at 12k, my first 10k too, and I walked a good bit of it. But man it was cool to venture into uncharted territories. Thanks for helping :)
I have realised that I am only watching this now. And I am experiencing a large amount of change. Only two days before this video went up. I was two day in a new job, a position of authority and not about to realise just how hard my mental state was about to go down. By October I was in a state of depression which lasted until the end of November. During which I’d id not want to do anything em simply sit on the sofa and waiting to go to work. I bring this up because of what you’d said about “not having time” and yet the thought came to me. In between my depressed state, I was happily wasting any time I had, watching stuff that was simply a distraction which could have been better used to do something about it. Instead, a consequence of allowing my depressed state to exist was this. I did not do a lot of hobbies, i was unsocial and declined all easy opportunity that came my way that was an easy clause for me to get off the sofa. Upon seeing this video. I am going to make use of my time and opportunities. Regardless of what the previous day was. I am showing an example that mental attitude is a driving force which if sustained. Can make a lasting improvement. If I remover. I will update this and say how it’s going. To you mark. Thank you for your brilliant life shearing experience. And the jokes. 😏👌🤩
Positive self talk is important. Big yourself up, minimise barriers. Doesn't matter what it is, we are all more likely to start, and then complete a task, if we feel bigger than our chores, tasks, obsticals or anything that we want or have to do.
I love this. I must be so naive though, because I can’t believe that you have to explain yourself because of those kind of comments. I can so relate though. At the end of the day the only one who is truly going to help you, is yourself. I’m a mother of 7 and chose to get off the couch rather than become the one the put on a stone a baby. Because 7st extra would have made my life so miserable. But I would be rich if I got a dollar for every time someone said “it’s alright for you, you’re already slim”. No. I was slim and healthy because I did something about it and it wasn’t easy. It’s still not easy , but my health is s priority. I didn’t get the support either, but that’s more because family and friends didn’t understand. I had to motivate myself, still do. And that can be a mission in itself. But , again, like you I see the effect on my kids (now years down the road) also taking health seriously Keep up the good work and fight the good fight 😂
Picking up on your advice bit - been watching your stuff for a couple of years now, and the only over arching advice I've ever noticed has been 'get up, move about a bit'. I'm blessed with time (now the kids have grown up), space in my garage, and the money to buy some reasonable quality gym kit to go in it. My primary hurdle is my interest plateaus after a few months so I have to find something new to do. Kinda envious of people who can find challenge from doing the same thing forever.
That was brutally honest and open-hearted. If this doesn't get one from the couch, nothing will. I'm watching this on the couch, but after a modest training on my rowing machine trying to find a fitness routine rhythm. Thanks for the inspiration 😂
Excellent video Mark, it hits all the right notes. My journey was a bit of motivation from friends and colleagues and then all the rest was from me, focussing on enhancing the good in my life, family, divorce, diet, belief and that helps to remove the bad. As you infer, perfect is an excuse or target that people use to explain to themselves what they see as a failing, remmebering where you started makes where you are all the better and more rewarding. Keep it up, one thing I have done each year I enter a new decade is reset all PBs and then use that as a motivator of how good can I get in this decade versus why can't I keep up with how I was in my 30s. Simple answer is you are a totally different person each month/each year so embrace that.
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my biggest motivation from you is how you looked like before you started getting fit I was 142kg at the start of this year, now around 124 and starting getting fit, not just "less fat" it's incredibly cool to see someone who went from overweight to properly fit handing out motivation, because even if you don't want to give advice in many videos, it's the motivation for others that you hand out everywhere
Sound, logical information delivered by a person who has been there. Thanks Mark. Your explanation ticks similar boxes in my world, and adds another nod of recognition that I'm doing something right.
Mark YOU ARE SPOT ON HERE! Many who lose and keep off a large amount of weight end up with an eating disorder in a sense.. not in the "needs to see a doctor" way but its a definite issue that plagues you. Especially if like me you comfort eat. Thise hurdles never go away they just get managed. The worst being the time one! I lost 9 stone in 2 years. Started at 23 stone and 36 years of age. I Went from out of breath up the stairs to running a half marathon every weekend. But I still have binges followed by massive guilt a touch too often..😂 i still have a fight almost every cold morning as to whether i need to run today... and some days im afraid the duvet still wins. I've a long way to go. But if i can do it honestly ANYONE can. Your videos were a massive inspiration for me so thankyou too.
Mark, you are spot on, Im 57 and getting back into my running and some cross-training, most people just need to get their arse of the sofa 4/5 times a week to change their life, your message is clear, and best of all its funny, your crack is good. Keep it up
0:00: 📺 The speaker discusses the misconceptions about their fitness journey and addresses the criticism they receive for their advice. 3:47: 📢 The speaker acknowledges that self-improvement journeys are filled with hurdles and obstacles, and encourages listeners to not be discouraged by them. 5:30: ⏰ Finding time for fitness is challenging, but possible even with a busy schedule. 7:40: ! The speaker emphasizes that wealth is not necessary for achieving improved health and fitness. 10:42: 🏋♂ The speaker shares their experience of training alone and finding motivation within themselves. 12:54: 🏋 The author discusses their perspective on embracing discomfort and the role of fancy equipment in fitness. 15:26: 🔑 Motivation to overcome challenges and improve life. Recap by Tammy AI
Yours is one of the first channels I started following when I began my own fitness journey last year. I’m still here watching 👍. Good luck on Saturday. I should’ve been there with you but injury post Leeds marathon meant I’ve deferred till next year. Looking forward to seeing how you both get on!
As you know people only want to hear what they want to know. They clearly do not hear what you are truly saying. I am like you there are times food just keep calling me. Gained 10 pounds back. Above average people just try again. So I am back at it. Thanks for your hilarious messages.
I was running and doing mainly bodyweight resistance training for years before I ever entered a gym. Even now, some times I can afford gym, some times I can't. But my personal commitment to fitness, fwiw, is not predicated on gym membership alone. I have running shoes, and a bike as well. Truly I am blessed. 😊
Following you for the last year or so but still incredibly motivating. Starting new training cycle to try my sub 20’ parkrun meaning that I’ll be watching your videos like crazy
Realistic and honest. Thank you. I have had toys to "do my sports better" and they got in the way. Keeping it simple. Got away from working out, and back on the "long course" of reclaiming my healthy body. I am being patient when I follow the plan, and forgiving of myself when I break from it knowing I am going back on it immediately. I am 65 suffering from "trying too hard and injuring myself" syndrome. I am impatient to get back to long walks and my knee tells me no. Similarly, my sprained wrist tells me to go slowly with weight lifting (a cement parking block jumped up and attacked me, throwing me to the ground and spraining my wrist) (Reality: I was putting a receipt in my wallet and didn't see it). I will be back to long walks and hikes, and full body workouts with weights....in time. Your video helps me be patient. ....and watch out for cement parking blocks, they are vicious!
Lost 15kg i 5 months now. I started working on my mind first. 1. Sleep 7 hours everyday. NEVER SKIP YOUR SLEEP ROUTINE 2. Make your bed. 3. Sort socks. 4. Hold your breath for 1.5 min everyday. 2min once you can hold it for 2min. 5. No alcohol. 6. 45 min Morning walk everyday. That's the fundamentals.
So glad I took that path… what you are saying resonates a lot and I must say thanks for being bluntly honest about the journey ups and downs. Keep it going mate 👊
Such a great video, when I started my fitness journey at 50 I was 124kg and now at 57 I’m 80kg and go up and down a kg or so. For me getting fitter was all about structure and portion control for food, but the real struggle is keeping the weight off
Just to add for anyone just starting their journey. It takes time. It is easier to start off making small changes that are not hardships, eg drop from 5 biscuits to 2 with your evening cuppa and jog 1-2 times a week is likely to get you a better start than telling yourself you are only going to eat lettuce and do 2 hours of cardio daily. Make it a pleasurable lifestyle change rather than an extreme diet and exercise fad. Don’t expect to lose half a stone in the first week. When I’m in a making progress kinda mood I’ll either judge myself by performance and how I look in the mirror rather than jumping on the scales daily. Even when tracking my weight I’ll only weigh in every month or so to allow time for progress to be seen.
Awesome shoot of motivation here ! About crazy choices that you can make, as soon as I started to work, I noticed that I hated comuting in bus or train... So, I ride my bike everyday of the year whatever the weather and I beleive it's part of me being quite fit for someone who works in an office or home. Anyway, I love your aproach and how you can review your history honestly. Thanks !
I was well over 250lbs for more than 20 years. Got to 315 started getting majorly sick. Changed my diet, started working out, and have lost 95lbs 10 months in. Eat better get up and move you can do it.
Great video, humor not too shabby either! I am local to you (Bracknell Forest Runners) but almost started the other way around. In my 20's I did lots of mountain biking, road biking and running competitions and routinely ran 5km sub 20 mins. I then went to University and focused on my career and then family while trying to keep a base level of fitness. Not sure if I am now level-pegging and tracking upwards in time with age or if I am now falling behind the curve but in my mind I am competing against my former 20yr old self (now 42). Recent park run times are around 24 mins, 23 on a good day but the motivational struggle is knowing how fast I used to be with the same pair of legs. Reality is I enjoy it when I have finished (running), feel better for doing so, and therefore I should keep doing it. The battle is prioritising time for fitness and putting my former times behind me and focusing on improving my times from last month, not 2 decades ago! Quick question... how do you know you measure average fitness to know you are 'above average fitness'? VO2 max? age grading? Motivational sign-off... 'The race is long, and in the end it is only against yourself'.
In a world where the extreme is quite literally In front of our faces thanks to social media it's refreshing to see someone in the online fitness world with a message that's actually attainable for people living in the real world and not the world of online fitness influencers on more juice than caprisun selling BCAA's........and their is never a bad time to hear the rocky IV soundtrack
Thank you for the reminder of how I began this journey because I could easily forget how hard and lonely it was as compared to now. Plus, watching you is just great entertainment! 🎉
Great video Mark! I agree time is the biggest thing. Trying to balance everything and fitting training in to 5am or 9pm windows affects sleep mostly and that then affects everything else, chiefly discipline around food and neglegence of the mobility and recovery care you need from training as an older "athelete".
Another great video and I personally over the last few months have managed to lose a bunch of fat and made a huge leap in fitness where I’m now regularly doing 10k trail runs and a big part of that was from the inspiration I took from your videos. One caveat though, and this is something I’ve mentioned on here before, is that I think one attribute you have that a large number of people don’t have is your ability to push yourself past the point of average discomfort.
Only recently found your channel Mark, as I’m sure you will see via the analytics. Anyway, absolute gold. Love the motivation dispersed between the humour. Love watching and not feeling as if I’m being preached to. During lockdown I started to really jump back into running after a 9 year hiatus. At 40 I’m doing 5k around 22 minutes and 10k around 47. Being 5’ 8 and 72kg helps of course. It’s not greased weasel pace but not slow either. I’ve been pretty inconsistent the last year and a bit. After watching a few of your videos it’s make me want to double down and really get fit again.
As a business owner working long hours and a toddler at home, and who fell off the fitness horse, I needed to hear that. I CAN do it, if I choose to. I've just got myself in the position in my head where I think the problem is I can't but I'm reframing it now to that I can.
This is a fantastic channel filled with great insight mixed with superb comedic timing. Keep doing what you're doing with respect to the video style and format!
The 5 easy things in your last video were great points. As someone listening to ur advice, you take what you think applies to you / you can achieve… and move on.
Great video, currently going through a phase in my fitness where I wasn’t sure if I was doing enough to “make it” but watching this helped me realise that the simple things done with consistent effort will get the progress and results I’m looking for and that despite time constraints and life constraints it’s possible to make it work and I am making it work, slowly but that fine - keep going, keep believing in yourself and you will end up where you need to be all in good time 💪
This video not only applies to fitness but life in general, I was a overweight unhappy person with a dead end job. Finding fitness and after many years training I managed to reach some lofty fitness goals of winning an age group at ironman, getting an FTP of 406w at 77kg and now running ultras, also I took a uni degree full time while working full time and changed my career around. I've done all this with kids, wife, paying bills and buying a house etc. Depends on how bad you want it, I want it, next stop UTMB (one day hopefully!)
I find you very entertaining and enjoy watching your videos. Can I suggest that you don't let the hoards of negative people out there sway your content, it seems like that's what happening.
By next year's time I'm going to participate on my very first Spartan Race in Andorra! Thanks to you and your channel that kept and keeps me motivated!
It's brilliant not only that you have managed to turn your life around, but great that you have kept going over such a long period. Sure you are going to fall occasionally, but you just have to pick yourself up again 😉. It's sad to hear that originally you had no support as it is helpful to have friends and colleagues offering encouragement. Keep going mate!👍
My life used to be as big a mess as anybody’s. Hopefully you enjoy hearing all about it 😂
I sure did.😄
would like to hear more! Especially how your life was looking like before and how you turned it around!
thank you, seriously
I was up and at the gym this morning at 0745!
@@TRI5T4Nyou missed the early rush then?
This weekend, aged 57, I did my first sub 30 Park Run. You've been part of the journey. Cheers dude.
Your channel has been my biggest motivation and guide to get fitter. The lack of bullshit and abundance of clear thinking is incredibly helpful. I’m around the same age as you and just started out last year. I’m doing parkruns and just started longer trail runs. My speed and endurance are not very impressive but I’m so much better than I was a year ago. Sincere thanks for increasing the likelihood that I’ll get to meet my grandkids.
🙏
Your videos have probably been my biggest motivation to get healthier, down 15kg in 4 months, and all of your videos have been watched. Have a good one Mark, thanks.
Well done, hope you continue to enjoy your health and fitness 👍
Woah awesome work that's massive! What are you doing to get there?
@@ian_strachs Basically I'm just eating clean, removing all unnecessary fats like butter, cooking oil, and smaller portions. I can handle a big caloric deficit and I'm lucky with that, been around 1800 for those months. I also eat low calorie snacks (stuff like strawberries, low calorie icecream (think halo top, I LOVE icecream), icepops, sugarfree soft drinks), also with stuff that you cannot overeat on like most greens and fruits I just eat whenever I feel a bit hungry. And exercise naturally.
The smallest and easiest change with the biggest effect was drinking a load of water with every meal to slow digestion and fill up the stomach.
@CED99 Thanks mate! I hope you stay healthy too, truly.
Congratulations on the 15kg!
That's so good. I'm still finding it hard to lose my excess body fat. I'm always forgetting to drink water!!
"keep it simple, keep it consistant" as a 40 year old guy I found this simple line so helpful. I'm an all or nothing type of person and end up having a 1 week blast at working out like a madman only to crash and end up at maccies or the pub. Thanks Mark this is the best/most logical fitness channel on UA-cam.
Man I needed this. Late at night, 3 wines down, prepping lunch boxes for 4 kids, been over a year since I could run after a bad knee injury. I will do a park run before this year is out. Thank you
You can do it bud.
4 kids is probably why you drink a bottle of wine
Look up knees over toes. Start walking backwards, then sled pulls backwards. Then walk forward on forefoot only, no heels. Very slow. You can do it. I just get 20 min a day to do things for my self. Running or lifting some weights. Or bands. or stretching. Anything, literally anything. Breath holds. Nose breathing for the whole day. Wim hoff sessions if you like. Or cold shower. Just mental exercise can be a great thing. I have 2 kids and workout once they are a sleep. Love me some wine, but more so beer.
Cleared to run now, which is a nice milestone. Been doing a couple hundred metres in 30m blocks. My ankles hate me after so long being inactive. Next goal is 500m. (appreciate I'm talking to myself here but this is a form of accountability)
@@eightyninerwh Light pole to light pole. Mark lewis style. Keep it up. Take a break when needed. Breathwork can keep you at a constant place. Nose breath only is one way. or nose in mouth out. zone 2. maybe get a heart rate monitor. keep it at max minus 40
"Not every hurdle is as high as you think it is"
Followed by 'My life isn't great, do I want to compound it with poor health and fitness (to paraphrase slightly)'
Mark, you've definitely given a great account of yourself and the problems a lot of people face. So cheers for the inspiration and entertainment 🙌
I used the “I don’t have time” excuse for over a decade and it led me to catastrophic health issues. Over the past year I’ve been working out early in the morning before everyone else is awake (4 am) and for me it has been the best way to start reversing my health problems. My reasoning for this approach is simple and irrefutable… if you make exercise the first thing you do every day you will miss 0% of your workouts. I know this isn’t for everyone, but I’ve found this is the best way to make sure that nothing gets in the way of my progress. Thanks for the motivation
I'd love to be like that but I'm not really a morning person! I was a rower for a few years which meant getting up about 5:45 most days of the week but if you join a club and commit to the training plan you have to as you can't let others down. But without that I prefer lunchtimes and evenings!
@@FlatToRentUK I wasn't a morning person for most of my life so far, even after being in the military for several years- soon as I was out the first two changes I made were not shaving and not getting out of bed before 7am. Now a few years on from that, my partner has a job they have to get up at 4:30am which I initially ignored but last year I joined in and find the 1.5 hours after they leave and I have to start work is my most productive time of day. 45 minute work-out or a solid hour of getting all those small chores done that weigh your mood down if you wait til the weekend or when you are tired after a day's work, traffic, and errands. That still leaves 30-45 minutes to take a long shower, have a nice tea, read the news, scroll some social media, etc and not be running late or ignoring higher priorities.
Mark, Since starting to watch your videos in January I decided I was going to train for triathlons and be an above average Olympic triathlete by the end of 2023. I did it! Today I placed 32nd out of 152 participants. Thank you for your achievable perspective.
Top 21% of your male age group? Congratulations 👍🏽
Wow! Congratulations! Was it an Olympic Tri?
@Mark, I think you underestimate the positive impact you are making out their in the world. I for one have been inspired by you to go from couch potato to my first Hyrox in January. Thank you my inspiration, guide and roll model.
Say hi at Hyrox! Manchester?
So true. When life out of control sometimes the only thing I feel I can control is fitness and nutrition. Having that handhold then gives me the foundation to recreate the rest of my life.
Wish this was me. When life feels out of my control (usually feel trapped in some way - job, relationship, etc) the thing I feel I can control is that I can eat what I want - i.e. unhealthy crap - & then who knows how many days, weeks, or months the 'bender' will last and any fitness I may have had goes with it! Then I'm back to starting again at some point - normally when I start feeling ill.
@@MrWibbledo you really decide to eat that crap? Sounds more like dealing with strong emotions by eating. Binge eating is the most common eating disorder, it is a kind of addiction mechanism. UA-cam offers a lot of helpful content about it.
Face bad feelings, just let them be there in stillness for 5 minutes, sitting down. That heals them better than 45 minutes of eating.
Good luck! You can learn and heal! ❤
People love to put hurdles in place because it then gives them justification to not do something. You’ve given people the answer to their questions and solutions to these hurdles, put people will still find ways to self sabotage.
I Can honestly say that your channel has changed my life. It's by far the best fitness inspirational channel out here in my humble opinion. Iv'e gone from broken gym bro to aspiring 54 year old athlete. First 5km OCR booked for end of the month, Hyrox Birmingham next year and looking to my first ultra. I am loving the journey again. keep up the great work.
Say hi at Hyrox 🙏
Mark, you have no idea how much some of us appreciate your advice and pep talks. Seriously, thank you!
Always found your videos motivating Mark, and I love your light hearted sense of humour. You’ve been an inspiration to me for a while. One thing I learned in my journey from flab to fit in my early 40s is - focus on small daily wins to win big 👍 Thanks for all the great advice you give.
After each major point you made, my reflex was to reach for the thumbs-up button, forgetting that I had already clicked on it. Thanks for the ongoing motivation and entertainment.
Thank you! This has hit close to home! I have been making myself better for the last 15 years! With being a fat lard and being single, meeting my current wife and now a father I hear all the time ‘your fit! It’s easy for you!’ It’s taken a lot of time effort and sacrifices to be the way I am! They don’t see what we have to do! Yes I have problems controlling what I eat and drink but I train hard and I’m above average! Keep it up mate! Thank you!
I found your channel earlier this year and I binged your content like a rabid dog. I still repeat watch some videos again now and then for more inspiration.
You keep it real, and I pounce to your videos whenever I see a notification.
Some of the points you make hit the nail on the head for me and give me a wake up call - such a my excuses for 'not having time'...
Thank you very much for helping me turn a corner and begin to make solid, positive changes in my life.
*From a 2+2=4 viewer*
Just sat and watched this on the TV at 3 am after the dogs deciding I didn't need sleep tonight (neurotic rescues lol) and I had to come on here and just say thank you . Not just for this video, but for your channel . My fitness has taken a huge knock back and my weight a big jump up over the past couple of years and I'm in the process of reclaiming them . I have a new supportive partner and as well as training together we both get so much from watching your videos. Thank you for working so hard as a creator to provide both meaningful , humorous, insightful and fantastically put together content . Very much appreciated by so many .
This is such an important message. We all have those voices in our head and the excuses feel so real. We've just got to keep on ignoring them. Thanks for another great video, Mark 🙏
Mark you deserve 10 million subscribers man!! Thank you for what you do! I’m back on the journey to becoming healthy. This video is what I needed to stay the course.
While your videos are chock-full of that English dry humour and wit (which a 58 y.o. Canadian is honour-bound to enjoy 😉 ), they're also chock-full of common sense. Keep it up, i'm not in that group of 1800 whiners.
You inspire, without having to resort to yelling, being clumsy, or any other gimmicks! Refreshing! 👍👍
Another inspirational video Mark. I'm using this when my alarm goes off tomorrow morning at 5.30 for my 90 minute run. Keep pushing!
Mark, I love you. Your wit, openness and humor gets me every time.
Mark Lewis and Chris Broad (yes the abroad in Japan brit) and their fitness journeys have inspired me to get my gear in in my mid 30s. Obese atm, and want to get fitter by the time I'm in my 40s.
You’re speaking truth…thank you for this.
Your willingness to be transparent and open about your life experiences really has helped shape where I am now.
This is probably the best chat you have done ✅ the biggest thing I did was start bushwalking or Rucking. I grab my phone, pack earbuds water and 10kg weight. I never got into running but I can walk 10 km twice a week I started with just trainers and a few uni textbooks in my pack now I have a set of all tech boots and some poles. The idea is just find a green lane and go until the end of the iron maiden album rest and walk back to the car
Great video Mark. It's always good to listen to your straight talking to wake us up to the reality that it's up to us how we function. Good to laugh at ourselves too.
I keep running on an off, just because I like running and exploring but eventually get frustrated that I want to run further but my mileage progresses slowly and I get bored of the area I can venture into before I get better and can go further. I usually miss running though, and your videos have consistently been the little push to make me put on my shoes again and go for a new run.
Today I went the furthest I've ever been at 12k, my first 10k too, and I walked a good bit of it. But man it was cool to venture into uncharted territories.
Thanks for helping :)
I have realised that I am only watching this now. And I am experiencing a large amount of change. Only two days before this video went up. I was two day in a new job, a position of authority and not about to realise just how hard my mental state was about to go down. By October I was in a state of depression which lasted until the end of November. During which I’d id not want to do anything em simply sit on the sofa and waiting to go to work. I bring this up because of what you’d said about “not having time” and yet the thought came to me. In between my depressed state, I was happily wasting any time I had, watching stuff that was simply a distraction which could have been better used to do something about it. Instead, a consequence of allowing my depressed state to exist was this. I did not do a lot of hobbies, i was unsocial and declined all easy opportunity that came my way that was an easy clause for me to get off the sofa.
Upon seeing this video. I am going to make use of my time and opportunities. Regardless of what the previous day was. I am showing an example that mental attitude is a driving force which if sustained. Can make a lasting improvement. If I remover. I will update this and say how it’s going.
To you mark. Thank you for your brilliant life shearing experience. And the jokes. 😏👌🤩
Cheers Mark ! I’m a 40 year old dad of 3 and constantly finding excuses! Good vid - appreciate it
Positive self talk is important. Big yourself up, minimise barriers. Doesn't matter what it is, we are all more likely to start, and then complete a task, if we feel bigger than our chores, tasks, obsticals or anything that we want or have to do.
Might be your best video yet. Love the honesty.
I love this. I must be so naive though, because I can’t believe that you have to explain yourself because of those kind of comments.
I can so relate though. At the end of the day the only one who is truly going to help you, is yourself. I’m a mother of 7 and chose to get off the couch rather than become the one the put on a stone a baby. Because 7st extra would have made my life so miserable. But I would be rich if I got a dollar for every time someone said “it’s alright for you, you’re already slim”. No. I was slim and healthy because I did something about it and it wasn’t easy.
It’s still not easy , but my health is s priority. I didn’t get the support either, but that’s more because family and friends didn’t understand. I had to motivate myself, still do. And that can be a mission in itself. But , again, like you I see the effect on my kids (now years down the road) also taking health seriously
Keep up the good work and fight the good fight 😂
Picking up on your advice bit - been watching your stuff for a couple of years now, and the only over arching advice I've ever noticed has been 'get up, move about a bit'.
I'm blessed with time (now the kids have grown up), space in my garage, and the money to buy some reasonable quality gym kit to go in it. My primary hurdle is my interest plateaus after a few months so I have to find something new to do. Kinda envious of people who can find challenge from doing the same thing forever.
You’re so real Mark. You’re comments are so well balanced. Always great to watch.
That was brutally honest and open-hearted. If this doesn't get one from the couch, nothing will.
I'm watching this on the couch, but after a modest training on my rowing machine trying to find a fitness routine rhythm.
Thanks for the inspiration 😂
Respect Mark, respect. Truth is good.
Excellent video Mark, it hits all the right notes. My journey was a bit of motivation from friends and colleagues and then all the rest was from me, focussing on enhancing the good in my life, family, divorce, diet, belief and that helps to remove the bad. As you infer, perfect is an excuse or target that people use to explain to themselves what they see as a failing, remmebering where you started makes where you are all the better and more rewarding. Keep it up, one thing I have done each year I enter a new decade is reset all PBs and then use that as a motivator of how good can I get in this decade versus why can't I keep up with how I was in my 30s. Simple answer is you are a totally different person each month/each year so embrace that.
my biggest motivation from you is how you looked like before you started getting fit
I was 142kg at the start of this year, now around 124 and starting getting fit, not just "less fat"
it's incredibly cool to see someone who went from overweight to properly fit handing out motivation, because even if you don't want to give advice in many videos, it's the motivation for others that you hand out everywhere
Sound, logical information delivered by a person who has been there.
Thanks Mark.
Your explanation ticks similar boxes in my world, and adds another nod of recognition that I'm doing something right.
Mark YOU ARE SPOT ON HERE!
Many who lose and keep off a large amount of weight end up with an eating disorder in a sense.. not in the "needs to see a doctor" way but its a definite issue that plagues you. Especially if like me you comfort eat. Thise hurdles never go away they just get managed. The worst being the time one!
I lost 9 stone in 2 years. Started at 23 stone and 36 years of age. I Went from out of breath up the stairs to running a half marathon every weekend. But I still have binges followed by massive guilt a touch too often..😂 i still have a fight almost every cold morning as to whether i need to run today... and some days im afraid the duvet still wins. I've a long way to go. But if i can do it honestly ANYONE can.
Your videos were a massive inspiration for me so thankyou too.
Very practical and down to earth perspective. Thanks for sharing
Mark, you are spot on, Im 57 and getting back into my running and some cross-training, most people just need to get their arse of the sofa 4/5 times a week to change their life, your message is clear, and best of all its funny, your crack is good. Keep it up
0:00: 📺 The speaker discusses the misconceptions about their fitness journey and addresses the criticism they receive for their advice.
3:47: 📢 The speaker acknowledges that self-improvement journeys are filled with hurdles and obstacles, and encourages listeners to not be discouraged by them.
5:30: ⏰ Finding time for fitness is challenging, but possible even with a busy schedule.
7:40: ! The speaker emphasizes that wealth is not necessary for achieving improved health and fitness.
10:42: 🏋♂ The speaker shares their experience of training alone and finding motivation within themselves.
12:54: 🏋 The author discusses their perspective on embracing discomfort and the role of fancy equipment in fitness.
15:26: 🔑 Motivation to overcome challenges and improve life.
Recap by Tammy AI
Yours is one of the first channels I started following when I began my own fitness journey last year. I’m still here watching 👍.
Good luck on Saturday. I should’ve been there with you but injury post Leeds marathon meant I’ve deferred till next year. Looking forward to seeing how you both get on!
mark is the realist man hes a legend
As you know people only want to hear what they want to know. They clearly do not hear what you are truly saying. I am like you there are times food just keep calling me. Gained 10 pounds back. Above average people just try again. So I am back at it. Thanks for your hilarious messages.
I will never forget the day I first went to a doctor to talk about depression. He gave me a fantastic piece of advice - "Get fit."
I was running and doing mainly bodyweight resistance training for years before I ever entered a gym.
Even now, some times I can afford gym, some times I can't. But my personal commitment to fitness, fwiw, is not predicated on gym membership alone.
I have running shoes, and a bike as well. Truly I am blessed. 😊
Best video yet for me. Resonates with me deeply.
Following you for the last year or so but still incredibly motivating. Starting new training cycle to try my sub 20’ parkrun meaning that I’ll be watching your videos like crazy
Thanks Mark! A huge inspiration, all the best from Copenhagen
Realistic and honest. Thank you. I have had toys to "do my sports better" and they got in the way. Keeping it simple.
Got away from working out, and back on the "long course" of reclaiming my healthy body. I am being patient when I follow the plan, and forgiving of myself when I break from it knowing I am going back on it immediately.
I am 65 suffering from "trying too hard and injuring myself" syndrome. I am impatient to get back to long walks and my knee tells me no. Similarly, my sprained wrist tells me to go slowly with weight lifting
(a cement parking block jumped up and attacked me, throwing me to the ground and spraining my wrist)
(Reality: I was putting a receipt in my wallet and didn't see it).
I will be back to long walks and hikes, and full body workouts with weights....in time. Your video helps me be patient.
....and watch out for cement parking blocks, they are vicious!
You're one of my biggest inspirations tbh. Not trying to be the best, just better
I always think the biggest factor is finally REALISING you are somewhere that you never wanted to be, so you run , pull & push away from it. 🙏
You’re very inspirational and admirable! Thank you!
I love your channel because you have never lost where you come from and you don’t do any BS fakeness or trying to sell us anything
Hi Mark. Love your videos. They give me a drive to keep moving. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Your honesty is a blessing, and I think many people can relate, which will inspire people 😊
That last line is so good!
I am impressed you "got out of it". That in itself is "above average" and likely a top 10 achievement. Keep sharing it's invaluable.
You are the most authentic man on UA-cam, keep up the good work 💪
The 'sofa v health' analysis is excellent - you at your best. Better than average advice
Lost 15kg i 5 months now. I started working on my mind first.
1. Sleep 7 hours everyday. NEVER SKIP YOUR SLEEP ROUTINE
2. Make your bed.
3. Sort socks.
4. Hold your breath for 1.5 min everyday. 2min once you can hold it for 2min.
5. No alcohol.
6. 45 min Morning walk everyday.
That's the fundamentals.
So glad I took that path… what you are saying resonates a lot and I must say thanks for being bluntly honest about the journey ups and downs. Keep it going mate 👊
Balancing motivation, compassion, understanding and wit as always. Brilliant video.
Such a great video, when I started my fitness journey at 50 I was 124kg and now at 57 I’m 80kg and go up and down a kg or so. For me getting fitter was all about structure and portion control for food, but the real struggle is keeping the weight off
Just to add for anyone just starting their journey. It takes time.
It is easier to start off making small changes that are not hardships, eg drop from 5 biscuits to 2 with your evening cuppa and jog 1-2 times a week is likely to get you a better start than telling yourself you are only going to eat lettuce and do 2 hours of cardio daily.
Make it a pleasurable lifestyle change rather than an extreme diet and exercise fad.
Don’t expect to lose half a stone in the first week.
When I’m in a making progress kinda mood I’ll either judge myself by performance and how I look in the mirror rather than jumping on the scales daily. Even when tracking my weight I’ll only weigh in every month or so to allow time for progress to be seen.
The number 4 is my approach too, and it´s great to hear it from you. ;-) You are a true inspiration to the regular guys. Thank you.
Your channel has been an inspiration this last few years. Honest, funny and down to earth.
And nice watch by the way. Enjoy it 👍
Awesome shoot of motivation here !
About crazy choices that you can make, as soon as I started to work, I noticed that I hated comuting in bus or train... So, I ride my bike everyday of the year whatever the weather and I beleive it's part of me being quite fit for someone who works in an office or home.
Anyway, I love your aproach and how you can review your history honestly.
Thanks !
Your advice does count. Trust me. I used to feel about running like you feel about swimming😂
I was well over 250lbs for more than 20 years. Got to 315 started getting majorly sick. Changed my diet, started working out, and have lost 95lbs 10 months in. Eat better get up and move you can do it.
really great video thank you for sharing some of your story
love how you manage to fit the "this is stupid" clip in every video
you make me laugh out loud
Such a great video . Everyone can relate to this and learn. You made your own luck .
Thank you and well done 👍🏻
“It’s incredible - but not essential.” Genius.
Great video, humor not too shabby either! I am local to you (Bracknell Forest Runners) but almost started the other way around. In my 20's I did lots of mountain biking, road biking and running competitions and routinely ran 5km sub 20 mins. I then went to University and focused on my career and then family while trying to keep a base level of fitness. Not sure if I am now level-pegging and tracking upwards in time with age or if I am now falling behind the curve but in my mind I am competing against my former 20yr old self (now 42). Recent park run times are around 24 mins, 23 on a good day but the motivational struggle is knowing how fast I used to be with the same pair of legs. Reality is I enjoy it when I have finished (running), feel better for doing so, and therefore I should keep doing it. The battle is prioritising time for fitness and putting my former times behind me and focusing on improving my times from last month, not 2 decades ago! Quick question... how do you know you measure average fitness to know you are 'above average fitness'? VO2 max? age grading? Motivational sign-off... 'The race is long, and in the end it is only against yourself'.
In a world where the extreme is quite literally In front of our faces thanks to social media it's refreshing to see someone in the online fitness world with a message that's actually attainable for people living in the real world and not the world of online fitness influencers on more juice than caprisun selling BCAA's........and their is never a bad time to hear the rocky IV soundtrack
Thank you for the reminder of how I began this journey because I could easily forget how hard and lonely it was as compared to now. Plus, watching you is just great entertainment! 🎉
Great video Mark! I agree time is the biggest thing. Trying to balance everything and fitting training in to 5am or 9pm windows affects sleep mostly and that then affects everything else, chiefly discipline around food and neglegence of the mobility and recovery care you need from training as an older "athelete".
Another great video and I personally over the last few months have managed to lose a bunch of fat and made a huge leap in fitness where I’m now regularly doing 10k trail runs and a big part of that was from the inspiration I took from your videos. One caveat though, and this is something I’ve mentioned on here before, is that I think one attribute you have that a large number of people don’t have is your ability to push yourself past the point of average discomfort.
Hi Mark! Hang in there🦾 No need to get riled up because of some negative comments! We are very happy to follow you🤗
I’m always motivated and entertained watching this channel I’m actually on the treadmill as I’m watching
Only recently found your channel Mark, as I’m sure you will see via the analytics. Anyway, absolute gold. Love the motivation dispersed between the humour. Love watching and not feeling as if I’m being preached to.
During lockdown I started to really jump back into running after a 9 year hiatus. At 40 I’m doing 5k around 22 minutes and 10k around 47. Being 5’ 8 and 72kg helps of course. It’s not greased weasel pace but not slow either. I’ve been pretty inconsistent the last year and a bit. After watching a few of your videos it’s make me want to double down and really get fit again.
Welcome 🙏 some nice times already! Sub 20 5km within reach!
Great video, entertaining and motivational!
Thank you Mark Lewis....this has resonated with me so much as I am going through some of it atm. You are truly motivating!
As a business owner working long hours and a toddler at home, and who fell off the fitness horse, I needed to hear that. I CAN do it, if I choose to. I've just got myself in the position in my head where I think the problem is I can't but I'm reframing it now to that I can.
This is a fantastic channel filled with great insight mixed with superb comedic timing. Keep doing what you're doing with respect to the video style and format!
The 5 easy things in your last video were great points. As someone listening to ur advice, you take what you think applies to you / you can achieve… and move on.
Great video, currently going through a phase in my fitness where I wasn’t sure if I was doing enough to “make it” but watching this helped me realise that the simple things done with consistent effort will get the progress and results I’m looking for and that despite time constraints and life constraints it’s possible to make it work and I am making it work, slowly but that fine - keep going, keep believing in yourself and you will end up where you need to be all in good time 💪
Not gonna lie, your "before" picture at 2:55 gives me some "the office" vibes 😆 great video, thanks!
This video not only applies to fitness but life in general, I was a overweight unhappy person with a dead end job. Finding fitness and after many years training I managed to reach some lofty fitness goals of winning an age group at ironman, getting an FTP of 406w at 77kg and now running ultras, also I took a uni degree full time while working full time and changed my career around. I've done all this with kids, wife, paying bills and buying a house etc. Depends on how bad you want it, I want it, next stop UTMB (one day hopefully!)
I find you very entertaining and enjoy watching your videos. Can I suggest that you don't let the hoards of negative people out there sway your content, it seems like that's what happening.
Brilliant video Mark. Really appreciate the honest insight into the difficulties surrounding training and getting fit.
Great motivation and putting things in perspective
By next year's time I'm going to participate on my very first Spartan Race in Andorra! Thanks to you and your channel that kept and keeps me motivated!
It's brilliant not only that you have managed to turn your life around, but great that you have kept going over such a long period. Sure you are going to fall occasionally, but you just have to pick yourself up again 😉. It's sad to hear that originally you had no support as it is helpful to have friends and colleagues offering encouragement. Keep going mate!👍