Before Samantha Sheehy joined us, she definitely wouldn’t have described herself as a gym person.
In fact, she puts it a little differently…
“Before coming to the gym I was totally allergic. I thought burpees were a disease”
Exercise wasn’t something Samantha particularly enjoyed, and one of her biggest concerns before getting started was simple: what if she just didn’t like it?
Fast-forward to today and things couldn’t be more different.
She’s stronger, fitter and more confident — but perhaps the biggest achievement of all is that she actually enjoys exercise and has stuck with it.
The Challenge
For Samantha, getting started wasn’t about chasing an extreme transformation or suddenly becoming obsessed with the gym.
The first hurdle was simply finding somewhere she could actually enjoy exercising.
She wasn’t naturally drawn to the gym environment and was nervous about what it would be like when she first walked through the doors.
Would she enjoy the sessions?
Would she feel comfortable?
Would she actually want to keep coming back?
Those concerns could easily have stopped her from starting at all.
Why She Nearly Didn't Start
Samantha’s biggest concern was that she simply wouldn’t like it.
And when she first started, she admits she was a little nervous.
But those nerves didn’t last long.
“Everyone was so friendly that I felt at ease straight away. The coaches made it fun, never intimidating and treated me more like a friend than a client.”
Instead of walking into an intimidating gym environment, Samantha found herself surrounded by friendly coaches and people who made her feel welcome from the beginning.
The Turning Point
What Samantha discovered was that getting fitter didn’t have to feel miserable.
The sessions could be challenging while still being fun.
The coaches could push her without making her feel intimidated.
And exercise could become something she genuinely looked forward to rather than something she felt she should be doing.
For Samantha, the people have made a huge difference.
“100% the people! The coaches are brilliant. Make every class feel like a bit of craic than hard work"
And it hasn’t just been about what happens during a workout.
The friendships, laughs and even the nights out have become part of the experience too.
The Results
Since starting, Samantha has achieved more than she ever expected.
Her biggest wins include:
Actually enjoying exercise and sticking with it
Becoming stronger and fitter
Feeling more confident
Making great friends
Having plenty of laughs along the way
Discovering that burpees won’t actually kill her
But the biggest transformation might be how Samantha now feels about exercise itself.
“More than I ever thought I would! Actually enjoying exercise and sticking with it. Who knew I’ve gotten stronger, fitter and figured out that burpees won’t actually kill me "
It’s had an impact outside the gym too.
Samantha says she feels stronger, fitter and more confident, while also gaining friendships and a social side she hadn’t necessarily expected when she first joined.
What This Means for You
If you’ve always thought the gym just isn’t for you, Samantha’s story shows that your past experience with exercise doesn’t have to dictate what happens next.
You don’t need to already be fit.
You don’t need to love working out.
And you certainly don’t need to know your way around a gym before you start.
Sometimes, finding the right environment, the right coaches and the right people can completely change how you feel about exercise.
Samantha went from joking that she was “totally allergic” to the gym to becoming stronger, fitter, more confident and — most surprisingly — someone who genuinely enjoys training.
Not bad for someone who once thought burpees were a disease.
Ready to See What You Can Achieve?
If Samantha’s starting point sounds familiar, you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
Come and experience a friendly, supportive approach to fitness where you can get stronger, improve your fitness, build confidence and have a bit of craic along the way.
Get in touch with us today to take your first step.