Lawrence has been working with PUSH511 personal trainer, Andy, for about a year now. He grew up playing soccer and, when he came to PUSH, was regularly cycling and playing rugby and tennis. But he was looking to add a strength and conditioning regimen to get stronger and to help him with nagging knee pain. Lawrence has grown stronger and more confident in the year that he's been consistently showing up for personal training which has allowed him to thrive in the sports he plays outside of the gym.
Read on to see what personal training for Lawrence has looked like:
When did you start personal training with PUSH511? Around September 2022.
What's your fitness background? I’ve always been active but mostly in sports such as rugby and tennis. Now that I’m an old fart I stick more to cycling, hiking, some tennis, and personal training.
What's your favorite movement to do in the gym? The walk back to the car. Haha. I feel like I’m a little more restricted than others due to my injuries so I don’t have some of the cool favourites most CrossFit athletes like. But I do like any cardio and strength combo and I do like good old chest presses.
What's your least favorite movement? Anything triceps-related or that damn upright rower machine.
What do you do for work? Dog and cat veterinarian.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family. I’m married with no kids. We are dog lovers and have had as many as four senior doggo family members, up until recently. We love the outdoors and camp/hike frequently.
Tell us something we don't know about you. My first veterinary job was in Botswana and I was lucky enough to work on some cool wildlife like rhinos, warthogs, lions, and zebras.
How has working out & personal training affected your life outside the gym? It’s made me a little more comfortable in my skin. It’s also helped me through some nagging injuries and allowed me to complete exercise goals outside of the gym (cycling events for example).
What do you enjoy most about PUSH511? My personal trainer! Andy is patient and thorough and provides the right balance between pushing for results and minimizing the risk of further injury.
What tips would you offer someone who is just getting started with working out? Get a trainer, initially anyway. Teaching you the correct form and coming up with a plan for your exercise goals is a lot easier when you have a professional guiding you through and encouraging you.
What's your favorite song to work out to? So many! Grunge sometimes and ACDC - Thunderstruck get me going. Eminem. Yep- I’m old.
What's your favorite restaurant? I love a good Vietnamese soup - pho bac is solid. Love all things spicy too... Dukem restaurant is a winner.
Who's your hero (real or fictional)? Ex-pro rugby players that you’ve probably never heard of. Boris Becker... loved that guy!
What does your frequently used emoji tab look like? Ha! Smiley face, England flag, surprised face, angry face, and fist bump.
Words to live by or favorite quote? “I'm into fitness - fitness pizza in my mouth” haha. No... Unknown source: “The 1st step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you’re not going to stay where you are."
What's your favorite travel spot? Botswana! The Kalahari is magical. The Kruger National Park in South Africa. The Shenandoah Valley. San Fran and the Bay Area. All National Parks!
If you could win an Olympic gold medal for any sport, real or fake, what would it be? Tennis.
What's your hidden talent? I have surprisingly good reflexes. I don’t drop many balls thrown at me.
What are your top five favorite movies?
- Jaws
- The Lost Boys
- The Shawshank Redemption
- IT (the original)
- Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
