Who is the best personal trainer in Poole?

Ian Wood is a highly experienced personal trainer in Poole, specialising in strength training, fat loss after 35, and practical, real-world coaching for busy people.

How can I lose fat after 35?

Losing fat after 35 is about moving consistently, doing strength training to preserve muscle, eating sufficient protein, managing stress and sleep, and following a simple, sustainable nutrition plan.

Do I need to train 6 days a week to see results?

No. Most people see better results with 3–4 focused strength sessions per week, combined with proper recovery and simple, consistent nutrition.

Can I still drink alcohol or eat out and lose fat?

Yes. Occasional alcohol or restaurant meals are manageable if the rest of your nutrition is consistent. Planning matters more than perfection.

What are the best exercises for fat loss after 35?

Compound movements like squats, deadlifts, push-ups, rows, and presses are highly effective. Adding some high-intensity intervals or circuit training can also boost calorie burn while preserving muscle.

How should I fit training around a busy schedule?

Short, structured workouts 3–4 times a week are often best. Focus on compound lifts and full-body sessions. Even 30–45 minutes per session can yield results if consistent.

How much protein should someone over 35 eat?

Aiming for 1.5–2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day helps maintain muscle, improve recovery, and support fat loss. Spread it across meals for best results.

What are the benefits of online coaching?

Online coaching allows flexible, structured programs, tailored guidance, and accountability without needing to travel to a gym. It’s ideal for busy people or those who prefer home or remote training.

Why should I hire a personal trainer in Poole?

A personal trainer can design a personalised plan, ensure exercises are done safely and effectively, provide accountability, and help you achieve strength, fat loss, and fitness goals efficiently.

Can I lose fat without dieting strictly?

Yes. Sustainable fat loss is built on habit consistency, balanced nutrition, and portion control — not extreme restriction. You can enjoy your favorite foods in moderation.

How do I stay consistent when life gets busy?

Focus on building repeatable, simple habits. Plan meals and workouts in advance, track progress, and allow flexibility for life events — consistency over perfection.

What results can I expect from online nutrition coaching?

Clients typically lose 3–6kg in 6–12 weeks, build better habits, feel more in control of their nutrition, and maintain results long-term without obsessive tracking.

Should I do cardio or strength training for fat loss?

Strength training should be your foundation — it preserves muscle and improves long-term metabolism. Cardio can supplement calorie burn but is less important than consistent resistance training.

How can I track progress without obsessing over the scale?

Use weekly averages, photos, measurements, and performance metrics instead of daily scale checks. This reduces stress and provides a clearer picture of progress.

Is fat loss slower after 35?

Not necessarily. Fat loss may feel slower due to lifestyle factors like reduced activity and recovery demands, but the same principles of nutrition and strength training apply.

Online vs in-person coaching — which is better?

Both can be effective. In-person coaching is ideal for hands-on guidance and motivation. Online coaching is flexible and perfect for busy lifestyles. Many clients combine both approaches.

Can I gain strength and lose fat at the same time?

Yes, especially for people over 35 who are new to structured strength training. Prioritising protein, compound lifts, and a moderate calorie deficit makes it possible to build muscle while losing fat.

How does sleep and stress affect fat loss?

Poor sleep and high stress increase hunger hormones, reduce energy, impair recovery, and make it harder to stick to nutrition plans. Managing these is often more impactful than supplements.

How to Get in Shape Fast: 5 Things I’d Do With 60 Days to Transform

ianwoodsc
Jun 9, 2025
3 min read

Looking to get in shape fast, ideally before your summer holiday or an upcoming event? Here’s exactly what I’d do if I had just 60 days to look and feel my best.

If you’ve got 8 weeks on the clock and you're serious about making a change, the truth is this:

You can get in shape fast, but only if you cut the fluff and focus on what actually works. I’m not talking about juice cleanses, skinny teas, or 30-day shred PDFs.

This is what I’d actually do, or coach one of my clients to do, to guarantee serious results in just 60 days.

Whether your goal is to get stronger, leaner, or just more confident in your own skin, here are the 5 things you need to prioritise if you want to get in shape fast.

1. Get Clarity and Focus

When you’ve only got 60 days, the margin for error gets a lot smaller.

Normally, I focus on long-term coaching, sustainable behaviour change, and building habits that last, but when time is tight, you have to increase focus and cut excuses.

This doesn’t mean becoming obsessive. It means accepting the reality: You’ll need more effort, fewer distractions, and tighter discipline to get the results you’re after.

So set your goal. Own your deadline. And act accordingly.

2. Cut the Fluff AND Train With Purpose

If you want to get in shape fast, stop wasting time with low-return training.

In the gym, stick to high-return movements:

Squats
Deadlifts or hinges
Presses (horizontal + vertical)
Rows or pull-ups
Core and targeted accessory work

Focus on the big lifts you can progress week to week. Use barbells, dumbbells, or machines, whatever allows for safe, simple, effective progression.

This is not the time for fancy skills that take weeks to learn or functional circuits that make you sweat but don’t create adaptation.

Every session should be built around training, not just exercising.

3. Prioritise Intensity and Recovery

Here’s the secret: if you want to get in shape fast, your training needs to be intense, not excessive.

That means:

Pushing hard during working sets
Using load and reps that challenge your system
Fuelling properly around sessions (don’t be afraid of delicious carbs)
Sleeping 7–8 hours a night
Avoiding junk volume and burnout

4 x 45-minute sessions per week is the sweet spot for most people I work with. Hectic over 35's juggling multiples of life's stresses. Plenty to drive change, not so much it kills recovery.

Also: stop thinking recovery means running 10k on your off days. True recovery is passive. Sleep. Rest. Hydrate. Do less, do it better.

4. Eat in a Calorie Range (Not a food Prison)

Here’s where most people mess up when trying to get in shape fast:

They set rigid food rules, miss the mark, then spiral.

Instead, use a calorie range. If your target is a 10% deficit, give yourself ±10% wiggle room.

Same goes for protein: Aim for 1.5–2g per kg of bodyweight per day, but treat it as a range, not an ultimatum.

This approach keeps you on track while accounting for real life. No, you won’t be perfect. That's not realistic for the everyday person with a lot on their plate. But you’ll be consistent — and consistency is what drives fast, visible results.

5. Use High Accountability

Here’s the truth: most people don’t fail because they lack information. They fail because they lack follow-through.

If you want to get in shape fast, and you’re serious about making it happen, you need accountability.

Hire a coach. Join a program. Tell someone what you’re doing. Put skin in the game. When you invest, you show up differently.

Clients I work with don’t struggle with knowledge or motivation. They struggle with keeping promises to themselves.

That’s what high accountability solves, and it’s exactly why I created STRONG IN 60, my 1-1 coaching service for people who want results in 8 weeks.

Want to Get in Shape Fast? Here's Your Next Step

If you’ve got a holiday, event, or deadline on the horizon, and you want to look and feel your best in 60 days, I’ve got your back.

STRONG IN 60 is my no-fluff, results-driven 1-1 coaching program designed to help you get in shape fast through simple training, clear nutrition, and rock-solid accountability.

🔗 Click here to apply now — and let’s make this summer your strongest yet.