Hi! I’m Marla Battles. I’ve been a Certified Personal Trainer for over 34 years. I’m also a retired natural pro bodybuilder, bodybuilding judge, and a former promoter. I’m 55 years old, married and have two great kids, ages 31 and 26. I’ve worked in many gyms over the years but have been a self-employed personal trainer for many years now. I’ve definitely been around the block a few times when it comes to all things gym related and so I’ve decided to share my experiences, insights and knowledge with anyone who cares to tune in. There’s always been a lot of nonsense floating around out there in regard to exercise and nutrition, otherwise known as “bro-science”. Some things have merit, others are just ridiculous, but for the average gym-goer, it’s sometimes hard to tell the difference. What diet should you be on, what exercises will give you the body you want? Well, good luck trying to figure all that out on the internet because there are literally THOUSANDS of options! And there are plenty that claim to be able to change your life and give you the body of your dreams with little to no change to your current life routine. I’ve been doing this a very long time and there’s only one truth you need to know. Real change can only come with real work.
So, what I want to do is try to help you cut through the nonsense and start taking positive steps forward on your journey to better health and fitness. I think all of this information overload has created a bigger problem and I see it all the time. There’s a fear of carbs, of fats, gluten, of pretty much just food in general. It seems there’s no end to it all. And exercise? Should you run, lift, do yoga, pilates, crossfit, all of it??? YIKES! No wonder why so many eventually just throw in the towel. There are too many voices talking and not enough focus on what’s important, and that’s that you are an individual. There’s no one just like you on the planet. So what works for someone else may not work for you in the same way, or at all! The good news is that it’s not really as complicated as everyone makes it seem. We need to get back to what’s important and stop trying to look like someone else. We need to stop listening to the lies, quick fixes and ridiculous claims of a perfect body without exercise. And we need to stop looking at magazine covers, reading the headlines and believing them! It’s time to get real. Now, keep in mind, I’m not a doctor and I’m not a nutritionist. What I am is someone who has a vast amount of experience dealing with pretty much everything relating to the gym. And in 30 plus years I’ve personally experienced a lot of ups and downs and I’m more than happy to share those with you so you know that whatever you’re feeling, you’re not alone.
On a fun note, I’ll probably throw in a little bit of extra stuff too. Fashion, (in and out of the gym), pet info (I have 3 dogs) and whatever else crosses my mind on any given day.
I hope you enjoy what I write and I encourage you to comment, ask questions, whatever. And in advance, thanks for visiting the site often and if you find what I write interesting and entertaining, let others know about it, too!
Happy Training!
Marla