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 Stay Fit On Holiday Without Ruining Your Trip

7 hours ago
6 min read

This week I am going on a well deserved (at least in my opinion anyway) holiday.

And whilst I've worked in the industry for over 20 years and fitness is a huge hart of my life and business, I still want to holiday like a pretty normal person.

I'm absolutely not about that perfect influencer lifestyle.

I want to switch off. I want to relax. I want to get a genuine break from the routine I'm usually in.

And most importantly, I want to come back feeling great, refreshed, and ready to go again.

So in this post I'm going to share with you exactly what I'm going to do to achieve that, while still keeping my health and fitness a priority, without ruining the whole point of the holiday in the first place.

Why Most "Stay Fit On Holiday" Advice Fails.

When going on holiday most of us get this aversion to breaking the routine that's been working really well for us, and have the fear of regressing right back to the start of our journey from simply taking one week off.

So we search for "Best Hotel Room Workouts", pack a set of resistance bands in our luggage, and set an early alarm to sneak a workout in before out partner gets up.

We also try to eat like a saint whilst we're surround by foods and eateries we may never have the chance to visit again and feel we need to walk an additional 10,000 steps a day to offset any level of indulgence.

This is all nonsense.

It's too rigid. It's too all-or-nothing. It defies the point of a holiday.

And the moment the plan goes against what real life is going to present you is the same moment those resistance bands never surface from the bottom of your luggage.

Your outcome then becomes very "chuck-it in the fuck-it-bucket" centric.

My 4 Mindset Shifts For Staying In Shape on Holiday

The biggest part of your holiday fitness struggle is that your mindset is simply in the wrong place.

You're seeing it the wrong way, creating challenges that don't really exist, and not focussing on the outcomes that you actually want.

Holidays are about breaking the cycle. Refreshing yourself mentally and physically. Coming back looking and feeling a million bucks.

These are 4 simple mindset shifts I've made over the years that allow me to stay in great shape during and post-holiday, without ruining the trip for myself or anyone around me.

I Set a Positive Expectation

I have come to learn that a week on holiday is absolutely not the time to be pushing your best case fat loss or fitness.

I have no goal so specific and time-bound that it cannot wait a week, even with fitness being my career and what feeds me and my family.

So I take some pressure off myself, and set my expectation to be more around maintenance, to make sure I feel positive about that being the absolute best thing for me.

And remember that maintenance doesn't mean returning at exactly the same scale weight that your saw on the morning you left for the airport.

It is totally normal for your weight to fluctuate 1-5lbs on any given day, let alone a holiday day.

Give yourself some breathing space and some grace like I do, and understand that if there is weight gain post holiday, it is very likely normal fluctuation from changes in hydration, food types, environment and temperature rather than purely fat gain or fat loss.

But the biggest thing to remember here is the real positive of doing this...

It gives you a break from the intensity of pushing towards your main goal.

You cannot operate at full intensity 24/7, 48/7, 7/11, I-95 (if anyone gets the reference email me and you can have a free spot on the next intake of Start With 6), so having breaks at the best time (when you're away exploring the world), helps you return ready to re-find that intensity rather than grinding through it endlessly.

I Focus on what my enjoyment is

Many people will go on holiday and not be 100% clear on what it is they actually enjoy.

Scratch that, most people go through their entire lives and not be 100% clear on what they actually enjoy.

I bet if you sat down right now and mapped out you absolute most ideal and best day, it wouldn’t involve the following:

Eating like a glutton until you feel like your belly is going to burst at breakfast
Proceeding to then not move a muscle all day guaranteeing your feel stagnant AF
Binge drinking all evening and slurring my words
Starting you next holiday day with the hangover from hell

It’ll probably look a lot more like:

Have a slow morning and take your time over a delicious breakfast and the perfect cup of coffee.
Get out and explore a new area on foot, taking in the fresh air and enjoying the sun.
Coming back to the hotel from some downtime next to the pool with a book and a beer.
Heading out into the square for a great local delicacy and a glass of the local wine.
Take your time the next morning and start a new adventure.

The second option is SO easy to fit into your bigger picture goals and is more enjoyable. The first near impossible and you won’t come back feeling your best.

In the absence of clarity on what it is that you actually enjoy, volume of food and drink will fill the void.

Be clear on what it is you genuinely really enjoy.

3. I Move For Love Of It

Kate and I will very often book a hotel partly because of the gym or fitness facility it has on offer.

Not because we feel like we have to and need to, but because we’re on the same page and it’s a part of our absolute best day.

We’re lucky that we both share the passion and love for fitness and activity, but that’s the only reason it is there.

At the end of the day, if you’re accustomed to training in a well equipped gym like I am, no hotel gym is going to match up to what you can do.

So I’m never going to replicate my standard lower body workout using whatever fixed barbell are on offer and some leg extension on the worlds grindiest multi-gym (we’ve all know the one).

But we move because we love it. Because we get to do it. Not because we feel we have to do it.

It give’s us endorphins and a dopamine hit. It gives us energy and enjoyment.

I know if I don’t do some form of exercise for 2-3 days, I just start feeling worse for it.

Slow, lethargic, sluggish, flat.

I don’t want that, you probably don’t either.

4. I’m Confident In My Regular Routine

I’m just coming off the back of a fat loss phase where I’ve lost 5kg.

So I know I’m currently in a good routine for improving body composition.

I’ve done it using the same methods I coach on Start With 6 and as a result I don’t find it too intense or something I can’t wait to get away from.

So I’m very confident I’ll actually look forward to getting back into it when I return from holiday.

I eat 3 main meals a day that I know I enjoy a leave me feeling good.

I strength train in a rewarding way which goes way beyond simple body composition changes because it gives me achievement, fulfilment, and incremental goals that I love pursuing.

And with a couple of small admin efforts like booking a online food delivery in the airport on the way home and having a weeks training planned for as soon as I get back, returning to that routine is pretty seamless.

So I know that this one week of holiday is just one week where I’m deviating from my routine.

One week is not enough to derail my progress. One week is not enough for me to regain that 5kg, especially when I’m conscious of the previous 3 points.

So I know I can go away with confidence and relax because I know that in the big picture, I am still 100% in control even when I’m taking a week off.

You can be exactly the same. You can find this level of confidence and control over your training, nutrition and lifestyle.

This is EXACTLY What I Teach In Start With 6.

I’ve designed Start With 6 to help you lose your first 5kg, but not just in a calorie cutting and macro obsessive way.

It’s a set of systems designed to help you build the habits and routines that will ultimately prove to be life-proof enough to allow you to go on holiday without any fear of guilt about switching off.

This doesn’t need to include strict diets.

This doesn’t need to require obsession over every minute detail.

This doesn’t need to be a constant repeat of the same all-or-nothing cycles that leave you losing the same 2-3 kilos over and over and never getting any further.

This is a much better and much simpler way to stay fit on holiday and finally feel in control.

And it just Starts With 6.