Can a fitness-phobe be converted in just 4 weeks?

Barry's has a set workout format. The sessions are one hour long. You do 15 minutes on the treadmill, 15 minutes floor work and then repeat. Classes run throughout the week with different instructors taking different slots and, as Jay explained to me, "everyone who wants to work in fitness, wants to be a Barry's instructor." It's the holy grail, the "it" class to attend and also just happens to be one of the toughest workouts there are.

In my weekly personal training session with Jay, it was less about straight-up sweating and more about learning how to use gym equipment. We took measurements, worked out which weights I could lift, worked out what weight I should be able to lift, how people do those things called sit-ups and what foods actually "fuel" the body (brown rice, chicken and greens FYI).

Essentially, the sweating would be in the classes and the education would be in the gym.

The first two weeks of Barry's were a struggle, absolutely. I ached, I sweated, I ached, I swore and I ached some more. But, even when my muscles were still aching the next day - no word of a lie - I began to find myself, actually, properly, looking forward to the next session. By the end of the second week, I was running at a higher level on the treadmill and I was lifting heavier weights.

Week three was definitely the hardest of them all. It wasn't so much that it was physically hard, it was just far more mentally challenging. As my body got used to the routine, it was hard to keep pushing myself to increase the speed, incline and weights. This was when having an instructor motivating the class - "you only have 60 seconds left!" - proved totally invaluable.

By week four, I'd got into my "swing" (not something I ever thought I'd say). I was now able to do the hour-long routine without feeling like I was dying a slow death and I was even able to keep up with others in my class.

Of course, after one month, I'm not about to run a marathon, I'm not yet in peak condition (sadly my muscles have a long way to go before they can be justifiably classed as lean) but am I able to do things that I couldn't do last month? Yes. Am I now regularly exercising? Yes. Am I fitter? Well, yes.

Over the last four week, one of the biggest things I've learned - and probably the most important thing to remember - is that trying to teach yourself to like exercise and stick to it is a process. Some days it's going to seem a real slog and you're going to hate it, other days you'll think "that was totally fine!" The number one thing you can do to help yourself is to find something that you enjoy. I cannot stress this enough. If running outside isn't your thing, start swimming. If Barry's is too intense for you, look into a gym membership or a yoga class.

Once you've found your thing, commit to doing it at least twice a week. Get a friend to do it with you and sign a contract so that you feel inclined to stick to it. Setting yourself up with an exercise plan is key. If you do this for a month, I promise you'll feel better and yes, like me, you'll be fitter. You'll be fitter in just 28 days.

Find out about Barry's Bootcamp classes here.

Jay Copley is a @PUMATraining Trainer. Follow him on Instagram here. #NoMatterWhat

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