About Si
I’m Si, founder of Smyth Fitness in Loughborough. I’ve been coaching for over 13 years, and it all started with my best mate paying for a PT course I couldn’t afford.
I haven’t always been in shape.
I was helping other people lose weight while making excuses about my own.
At my heaviest, I weighed around 107 to 110kg.
I was competing in powerlifting, and I used it as an excuse to overeat. As long as I was getting stronger and recovering between sessions, I could convince myself everything was fine.
But being strong didn’t mean I was looking after myself.
My body fat and visceral fat readings were high, and so was my resting heart rate. My relationship with food wasn’t good either.
The strange thing is, I didn’t really see it. I could look at photographs of myself and brush it off.
At my heaviest, I weighed around 107 to 110kg.
My story
I was helping other people lose weight while making excuses about my own.
Me before and after losing the weight.
This was the photo that made me face it.
Then I saw that photo of me sitting on the sofa. For some reason, that one hit differently. I hadn’t realised how much weight I’d put on. That same day, my Apple Watch showed my resting heart rate at around 110 beats a minute. Those two things gave me the kick up the arse I needed. The hardest part to admit? I was running Smyth Fitness at the time. Helping other people lose weight was my job, yet I wasn’t following the advice I was giving them. I felt embarrassed. I thought I should know better. But knowing what to do and actually doing it are two different things. I knew plenty about training. I still had things I needed to face up to with my own eating.
MY COMPETITIVE BACKGROUND
FROM COMPETITIVE POWERLIFTING TO COACHING EVERYDAY PEOPLE
I spent years competing in powerlifting, training four days a week, sometimes for three to four hours a session. Technique, recovery and competition prep all mattered.
My personal best lifts were:
Powerlifting taught me a lot more than how to lift heavy. I've spent years learning how to teach exercises, help people get stronger, build sensible programmes and adjust training when someone needs it.
That's how I coach now. I'll show you how to do each exercise properly, help you get stronger and change things to suit your ability, any niggles and your goals.
But here's the important part.
Most people don't need to train like a competitive powerlifter to get fantastic results.
I take what I learned from competing and use it to help real people with busy lives.
You don't need to spend hours in the gym every day. You need the right programme, good technique, consistency and someone who knows how to guide you.
235kg
Squat
160kg
Bench Press
250kg
Deadlift
These days, I’ve found a better balance.
Since then, I’ve lost the weight and kept strength and fitness as a big part of my life. I still enjoy meals out, a curry and a beer at the weekend. I’ve found a balance I’m happier with.
That experience is part of how I coach today.
If you’re carrying extra weight, making excuses or wondering how you let it get this far, you can talk honestly with me. I’ve made excuses myself.
You don’t need to feel embarrassed about where you’re starting. Tell me what you’re struggling with, and we’ll work out a way forward together.
Me after losing the weight.
Let’s talk about your coaching
That’s what I bring to my coaching: training, practical nutrition and ongoing support that fit around work, weekends and everything else you’ve got going on.
If that sounds like what you’re after, let’s have a chat about where you are now and what you’d like to change.
How I can help you
For years, my own training was mostly about how much I could lift. I still love getting stronger, but these days I care just as much about feeling fit and having energy left for the rest of my life.
That’s what I bring to my online coaching. I help men over 40 lose weight, build strength and get their energy back with training, nutrition and support that fit around work, weekends and everything else they’ve got going on.
If that sounds like what you’re after, let’s have a chat about where you are now and what you’d like to change.