Survival of The Fittest (Literally)

If you had asked me a couple of years ago what success looked like, I’d have shown

you a packed diary with up to ten sessions a day through a stressed grin. I was very fit, I was paying two rents and In reality and as many told me...it was all a bit insane

​As always I listened, agreed (to appear polite) and ignored because being such a smart arse, that’s what I do.

Luckily the penny finally dropped in 2024 after returning to the UK. Everyone had moved on and were doing things more suitable to their age, yet I was still obsessed with ambitions of a 25 year old. Did I really want or need the hassles of high rents and dealing with staff at my age? Compatibility with others has never been my strong point, so common sense tells you there will be issues and friction.  

So 2025 was all about putting myself first and the plan was pretty clear...halve my availability to 20 sessions a week, focus on my own training and hustle a bit

Not for the first time I was told that I cant do that and commercial suicide blah blah but thankfully I’m not as silly as I look. Less clients, less chance of me going through the motions because I’m too tired to do anything else, better quality sessions...for both of us

The first hustle was Fat Fighters, an updated weight management plan similar to those I used to run with the NHS in UK. I guessed the name may ruffle some feathers but the logic was simple...Malta is the most obese country in Europe, the product is proven to work, so it should sell itself even with a name that the easily offended wont like.

As a person who avoids social things in general, I hadn’t fully understood how times have changed over the years and it was a far larger ruffle than I had anticipated. Back in the day it was common knowledge (and sense), that people were overweight because they ate too much, moved too little and had no willpower...which also aligns with every qualification I have

​Nowadays obesity is seen as a genuine disease, which calls for social sympathy and assuring people they look beautiful, whilst visually it suggests otherwise. I can show empathy because I’ve been there and know it isn’t easy but not sympathy, especially if people don’t even try...I’m simply not able or willing to play that game.

So after one small successful group and a fair bit of abuse from fatties and an ‘Obesity Counsellor’, I realized my time is best spent with the 5% who actually want to work, not the 95% who want a cuddle. That’s why it’s going online later this year...automated for them, concentrated focus and less chance to offend for me.

And it was the same flexible and caring for others approach, displayed in my other hustle My PT Mentor

​After spending the last 18 months trying to understand/advise/help both personal trainers and gym owners, the fact is that the Malta fitness Industry is way behind the majority of Europe. From what I can see, it’s really just a mess of short sightedness, greed and paranoia, which only really benefits the gym owner.

The clearest example...away from my job, I have been training in ‘commercial’ gyms across the Island for over ten years, I can’t remember seeing a PT working with a client in all of that time. Any PT reading from outside Malta will think I’m exaggerating for humour...even more so when you add that most PTs here are primarily used as over qualified receptionists and cleaners.

Unfortunately I’m not exaggerating but unlike the past, I’m no longer playing the "crusader" and trying to educate an industry. I’ve offered my advice, laid out exactly what is inevitably going to happen in Malta and know that I will be fine when it does.

I cant make people listen and am only offering help with good intentions because a more up to date industry, benefits so many more people in so many ways than just money. Similar to trying to sell the benefits of an online presence to local businesses in 2016, where the most common objections were ‘we’ve always done it this way’ and ‘everybody knows us’....the minority that listened and accepted change are still in business today, the majority that didn’t aren’t.

If you’re a gym owner who actually knows how to run a business (or is open to wanting to learn), initial discussions cost you a couple of coffees and an hour of your time.

So with such a positive start to hustling, last year was a tough one right? No...actually it was one of my best years in Malta so far.

Apart from the quality of my PT session improving and loving training myself again, one of the unexpected surprises from 2025, were the enquiries/opportunities from outside the fitness industry for business consulting. It could be argued that it landed me the most ridiculous job that I’ve ever had, which you wouldn’t believe me even if I could tell you!

As much as I don’t like to admit, solving business issues is very much my not so secret guilty pleasure. It’s not really the money that gets me, its the challenge...if you tell me something can’t be done, I will do everything to show you it can...normally with bells and whistles too!

It’s being competitive without the need to be ambitious, which is basically where I am now. So spending a couple of weeks at the start of the year, understanding how a business works and then completely redesigning internal structures and procedures, was a bit of an unexpected thrill for me.  

So what’s the plan for this year? Pretty much the same hopefully!

On the PT side the focus will remain quality over quantity, I would genuinely prefer sit at home and earn nothing, rather than take a session just for money. I’m happy and more than comfortable guaranteeing results for those who show commitment to change but not those who don’t.

MyPT has lots of potential for growth but it just needs to be contained and structured or it could run riot. Discussion have already been had with various training providers and I’m pretty sure services will spread into other sectors throughout the year.

As with last year my own training will be the priority and with new activities comes new networks and fantastic opportunities to make a tit of myself without really trying...I wouldn’t have it any other way! I will be competing in other sports away from boxing this year but would still have one last fight if it was offered...but I’m not stressing over it.

At the end of the day, 2025 taught me that you can’t help people who are not committed to helping themselves, whether that’s in their health or their business. I’m moving into 2026 with a leaner model, a sharper focus, and zero tolerance for the 'wet wipe' culture that society seems to be pushing on us. 

To the minority who listened back in 2016 and the new partners I’m working with now, let’s keep learning and winning. To everyone else? Good luck!