When did your phys journey start?
When I joined at 17, I was underweight and needed to put on half a stone so I started training with my brother. I walked into the gym and fell in love with it. I quickly realised how much easier soldiering is when you’re fit.
So what’s your weekly routine?
Unit phys Monday to Thursday. On Friday and Saturday I do two hours of road cycling and Saturday or Sunday I race motocross. But I also train with weights every night for an hour and a half. There’s nothing to do on camp after work – I don’t want to sit in my room playing video games, so I go to the gym.
What are your go-to gym tunes?
Stuff like Linkin Park. I put my headphones on and I’ll be in the zone. I usually won’t talk to anyone. Training is me time.
What about your diet?
I wake up at 0630 and have three scrambled eggs on a piece of toast. Then after morning PT I’ll have a protein shake and a banana. At 1030 I have chicken and rice and at lunch I have mince and rice. Then after training in the & Q A evening I eat a steak. And before bed I have a bowl of yoghurt and granola.
Any cheat days?
Every four or five weeks I’ll have a pizza or a Nando’s. I feel so much better when I eat clean – crap food makes me sluggish. Luckily I’m not that into cakes and stuff.
That sounds tough…
Not really. People in work think I’m weird eating the same all the time but it doesn’t bother me. I look at it as fuel, not food. And I prep most of my food on a Sunday so I don’t have to think about it.
Do you track your weight and PBs?
No. I don’t want to chase a number on a scale – I just go off how I look and feel. Logging PBs gave me anxiety and took the fun out of training so I stopped.
Have you ever taken any time away from phys?
Not really – only when I’ve been injured. I had to suck it up and watch films all day, which was mentally hard. Even in Afghanistan I would train around our patrols.
What’s your favourite form of exercise other than the gym?
Motocross – that’s like an all-body workout when you race. And road cycling – it’s great fitness and low impact.
And your least favourite?
I don’t enjoy running whatsoever. I do it in work obviously, but the army took the joy out of it for me.
Do you drink?
No, and I don’t smoke. I once did PT with a hangover and threw up on the run. That really put me off. I enjoy having a laugh – I’m not boring – but I don’t enjoy the taste of alcohol.
Any advice for others?
All it is is consistency. People want quick results but after two weeks they lose interest and chin it off. There are 24 hours in a day – if you can’t put one aside to train there’s something wrong.
