Instagram story viewer> @pollockcoaching> Posts

Stephen Pollock

@pollockcoaching

1.8K

followers

2582

following

Ex-military | Dad | Coach
Went from 118kg to 68kg.
Now I help people change their lives.

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

If you’re new around here, you probably know me as the bloke who talks about training, fat loss and getting your shit together.

But there’s a bit more to me than that.

I joined the Army at 16, spent 6 years serving, and did a tour of Afghanistan in 2011. I’ve worked a load of different jobs, became a Dad, got into coaching and eventually made fitness my career.

I’ve also been the 118kg version of myself.

The burnt-out, sleep-deprived bloke who knew he needed to change but didn’t really know where to start.

Fast forward a few years and I’ve lost nearly 50kg, done photoshoots, competed in HYROX, run marathons and ultras, and built my around helping other people do the same sort of thing.

But I think the biggest thing I’ve learnt is that getting in shape is only one part of it.

Your plan has to work around your job. Your kids. Your holidays. Meals out. Bad weeks. Normal life.

That’s how I coach.

Online and in person, helping people lose fat, build muscle, get fitter and actually learn how to maintain it.

So if you’re new here, that’s me.

Dad. Coach. Former 118kg bloke.

And still trying to see what I’m capable of. by @pollockcoaching

9

0

18 days ago

When Helen started, life had completely knocked her sideways. Our son had spent the first month of his life in NICU, our daughter had been diagnosed with autism, and she’d been diagnosed with PND and PTSD. Her confidence had disappeared and even walking into a gym felt daunting.

She’d lost herself a bit.

She was trying to make changes, but couldn’t seem to get any consistency. She’d start, life would get in the way, she’d stop and feel like she was back at square one.

Then one day she caught herself in the mirror and thought, “Do you know what, enough is enough.”

That was the point where she decided she was going to take action.

So we started.

Over time, the weight came down, her confidence started coming back and eventually she went from 90kg to 52kg.

She did her first photoshoot, something that probably felt miles away when we started.

But that wasn’t the end of the journey.

Over the last four years we’ve gone through different phases. Fat loss, maintaining, eating more, getting stronger and building muscle.

She learnt how to maintain the weight she’d lost instead of constantly trying to lose more.

Then she decided she wanted to see what else she could do.

So she started training for HYROX.

The woman who was once nervous about walking into a gym has now completed multiple HYROX events and is training harder than ever.

And now she’s taken another step forward.

Helen has started her own journey as a PT at 315, helping other people who are starting where she once was.

That’s probably the part of the whole journey that means the most to me.

Because she’s been through it.

She knows what it feels like to lose your confidence, not feel comfortable in yourself and feel like you’ve lost a bit of who you are.

Now she gets to help someone else through it.

When I look back, I don’t just see 90kg becoming 52kg.

I see the photoshoot, the years of maintaining and building, getting stronger, the HYROX races and now becoming a coach herself.

That’s a pretty big change from the woman who looked in the mirror one day and decided enough was enough.

And honestly, I couldn’t be prouder of her. by @pollockcoaching

21

1

a month ago

Four years ago I was 118kg and I hated what I saw in the mirror.

I’d walk past it, catch my reflection and feel ashamed of myself. I knew I needed to lose weight, but I’d been trying for years and kept finding myself back in exactly the same place.

I’d start another diet, be good for three days, then have a shit day, get hungry or decide I deserved a treat. Before I knew it, I’d be in the snack cupboard smashing Snickers, biscuits, chocolate, sweets, whatever I could get my hands on.

Then came the guilt and the same promise I’d made a hundred times before.

“I’ll just start again”

And the time would come around and I’d start all over again.

That was me for a long time.

So if you’re reading this and you’re stuck in that same cycle, I genuinely understand it, because I’ve lived it.

I wasn’t someone who just woke up one day and suddenly had it all figured out. I needed help, a proper plan and someone to keep me accountable when I would fall back into bad habits.

And that’s why to this day I still have a coach myself.

I took that first step, and slowly 118kg became 100kg, then 90kg, then 80kg, until eventually I was 74kg and doing my first photoshoot.

My last shoot, I was 68kg.

If you’d gone back to the 2022 version of me and told him that was where I’d end up, he’d probably have laughed at you.

Because when you’re the person looking at yourself from the other side of that mirror, you can’t imagine ever becoming that person.

And that’s probably why I relate to the people I coach so much. I understand the frustration, the guilt, the failed diets, the Monday promises and wondering if you’re ever actually going to do anything about.

You don’t need to believe you can lose 50kg.

You don’t need to know exactly where this ends.

You just need to take the first step.

Because that’s where everything changed for me. by @pollockcoaching

10

2

a month ago

First Hybrid Rock Star Session In A While.

Hyrox Birmingham at the end of this month so now the marathon is finished it is time to switch focus to this for the next few weeks.

This session was 3 rounds of.

1km run into a 15 mins AMRAP ( As Many Rounds As Possible.)

25m sled Push at race weight
25m Walking Lunges at race weight
20 burpees

Legs felt heavy after Sunday which I thought they would. But let’s go. by @pollockcoaching

3

0

12 hours ago

When Helen started this journey, life had completely knocked her sideways.

Our son had spent his first month in NICU, our daughter had been diagnosed with autism, and Helen was dealing with PND and PTSD. Her confidence had disappeared, and she’d lost herself a bit.

She’d try to make changes, but life would get in the way and she’d feel like she was back at square one.

Until one day she caught herself in the mirror and thought, “Do you know what? Enough is enough.”

That was the turning point.

Over time, she went from 90kg to 52kg, got her confidence back and completed her first photoshoot. But that was only the beginning.

Over the last four years, we’ve gone through fat loss, maintenance, eating more, building muscle and getting stronger. She’s learnt how to maintain her results rather than constantly chasing a lower number on the scales.

Then she decided to see what else she could do.

She’s now completed multiple HYROX events and has started her own journey as a PT at 315, helping others who might be where she once was.

And that’s the part I’m most proud of.

The woman who once struggled to walk into a gym is now helping other people build their confidence and change their lives.

When I look back, I don’t just see 90kg becoming 52kg. I see four years of hard work, learning, setbacks, progress and finding a new version of herself.

As her coach, I’ve always been proud of the work she’s put in. But as her husband, seeing the confidence she’s rebuilt and watching her now help others means so much more.

Helen, I couldn’t be prouder of you. ❤️ by @pollockcoaching

33

1

16 hours ago

Come spend the day with me

Busy day of PT clients and online check-ins, so a bit of everything as usual.

Legs are finally starting to feel normal again after Chester Marathon 🤣

I’ve not really advertised my in-person PT lately as I’ve been pretty much full, but I’ve got a couple of spaces opening up at the end of October.

If you’re looking for a PT and want to have a chat about working together, drop me a message and we can have a chat about what you’re looking for. by @pollockcoaching

5

0

2 days ago

3:46:29 at Chester Marathon. 💪

33 minutes off my previous marathon PB, and another one in the bag.

One thing I wanted to do with this build was continue lifting and keep my strength training in alongside the running.

I’ve spent years building my physique and getting stronger, and I didn’t want to throw that away just because I was training for a marathon.

Especially when I’ve also got another photoshoot to prepare for next May.

So it’s about finding that balance between building my running, keeping my strength, maintaining my physique and making sure I’m moving towards all my goals without trying to do everything at 100% all the time.

And that’s the thing. You can work towards more than one goal, but you need to be smart about how you approach it. Your training has to have some structure, you need to manage recovery, and you have to understand that different goals sometimes need different priorities.

Chester was a good lesson for me.

The middle miles were going really well. I was running some decent paces, feeling good and getting into a rhythm. Then mile 22 came around, the pace started dropping and those final miles became a proper battle.

I’ve got plenty to learn from that. I need to build more endurance, get my long runs stronger and improve my ability to hold pace when fatigue kicks in.

But that’s what it’s all about. You get the result, look at what went well, look at what needs improving and get back to work.

Now the next goal is set.

Manchester Marathon in April. Sub-3:30.

Alongside that, I’ve got a physique to build and another shoot to work towards next May.

The plan is to keep lifting, keep building my running and be smart about how I bring everything together.

I don’t need to be at my best at everything all at once. I need to put the right work in at the right time and give each goal the attention it deserves.

That’s the process. That’s what I’m working towards. by @pollockcoaching

10

2

3 days ago

Sarah hated how she looked. She had no confidence, avoided cameras and would often make jokes about herself to hide how she really felt.

She was trying to get healthier. Going to the gym, jumping from machine to machine, eating well during the week, then falling back into old habits at the weekend.

She was putting the effort in but getting nowhere.

Then her GP diagnosed her with Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

That was the wake up call.

When Sarah joined us, we knew this had to be about more than just losing weight. She needed to understand how to train properly, get her nutrition consistent and break the cycle of being good all week before feeling like she’d undone everything by the weekend.

So that’s what we worked on.

Fast forward, and she’s lost over 3½ stone, reversed her Type 2 diabetes and improved her blood pressure and cholesterol.

But one of the biggest changes has been her confidence.

The woman who once avoided photographs stepped in front of the camera for her first photoshoot, then came back for her second last year.

And this is the bit I’m most proud of.

Sarah didn’t just get the results for the photoshoot. She’s maintained them since.

After her first shoot, we gradually increased her food, worked on finding balance and helped her learn how to maintain her results without constantly feeling like she needed to diet.

Because getting someone in shape for a photoshoot is one thing. Helping them maintain those results when normal life kicks back in is where the real work matters.

Sarah has continued putting those habits into practice, looking after her health and proving to herself that this isn’t just another short-term transformation.

Three years ago, she struggled to see what was possible for herself. Look at her now.

This is why coaching is about so much more than the scales. It’s about changing your relationship with food, building confidence, improving your health and learning how to maintain what you’ve worked so hard for.

If you’re stuck in that same cycle of trying, stopping and starting again, drop me a message saying “CHANGE”.

Let’s put some proper structure behind you. by @pollockcoaching

9

0

4 days ago

Another week in the bag, finished off today with the Chester Marathon. 🏃‍♂️

Massive well done to Rabs as well, who smashed his race today and took 30 minutes off his PB! What an effort, my man. 👏

Helen is settling into life as a PT, putting everyone through their paces, and I think it’s fair to say she’s enjoying herself 🤣

The PTs have been smashing it this week too, putting the work in and laying the foundations for the rest of the year. The aim is to head into 2027 with a clear plan of attack and knowing exactly what we’re working towards.

This Friday, we’ve got our team photoshoot in Nottingham and I honestly can’t wait to see everyone get their moment to show off the work they’ve put in over the last few months. There’s been a lot of time, effort and consistency gone into getting to this point, and it’s always good to see that come together.

On a completely different note, does a Five Guys count as part of a carb load? Asking for a friend… 🤣🍔

And finally, watched A Few Good Men last night. Forgot just how good that film is!

Another busy week done. by @pollockcoaching

39

2

4 days ago

When Ashleigh first messaged me, she was five months post C-section, had a wedding coming up in September and just wanted to feel like herself again.

She was trying to find her feet as a new mum, running on very little sleep and struggling with her confidence. She knew she wanted to make a change, but knowing where to start when you’re already exhausted is a different story.

And that’s something I think gets overlooked. It’s not always that you don’t know what you need to do. Sometimes you’re just trying to juggle so much that looking after yourself feels like another job on an already full list.

We could have given Ashleigh a strict diet and a training plan and told her to crack on, but what good is that if it doesn’t fit around her life?

Instead, we built a plan around where she was at. We worked on her nutrition, found ways to make training manageable and used our check-ins to keep her accountable, make adjustments and help her keep moving forward when life got in the way.

There were hen parties, holidays and social events along the way. She didn’t need to avoid them, feel guilty afterwards or wait until Monday to get back on track. We just worked around them and kept things moving.

Five months later, Ashleigh had lost 8kg and was feeling more confident in herself again.

But one thing she said really stuck with me:

“When I look back at how upset and frustrated I was, I can’t believe the difference. Five months post C-section and I finally feel like myself again.”

That’s what matters. Not just the number on the scales, but how you feel about yourself and having the confidence to do things without constantly feeling frustrated with where you’re at.

You don’t need a perfect routine, more hours in the day or to wait until life gets easier. You need an approach that works with the life you’ve actually got, with the support and accountability to help you stick to it.

If you’re reading this and feeling a bit like Ashleigh did back in May, you don’t have to keep putting yourself at the bottom of the list.

Drop me a message and let’s have a chat about how we can help you feel like yourself again. by @pollockcoaching

4

0

6 days ago

One day out from Chester Marathon, and today probably looks a lot less exciting than people think marathon prep does.

There’s no big training session, no last-minute fitness to gain and definitely no need to overcomplicate things.

I’ve spent the last 6 weeks building up the running, fitting sessions around work and family, and now it’s about making sure I turn up tomorrow ready to go.

I’ve increased my carbs over the last couple of days, so today I’m keeping that going, spreading my food across the day, staying on top of my fluids and electrolytes, and getting my gels and kit sorted.

It’s not about eating everything in sight or drinking gallons of water. There’s a plan behind it, and I want to get to the start line fuelled up and feeling good.

Then tomorrow, it’s about sticking to my pacing plan, taking my gels when I need them and not getting carried away in those first few miles.

Because feeling good at mile 3 is one thing. How you feel at mile 20 is another.

I’ve got a time in mind, but I know there’s a lot that can happen over 26.2 miles.

For now, the work is done. Get organised, get some food in, put my feet up and get ready for tomorrow.

Chester Marathon tomorrow. Let’s see what these legs have got. 🏃‍♂️ by @pollockcoaching

8

0

6 days ago

3 days out from Chester.

Training is pretty much done now, so the main focus is just getting everything lined up for Sunday.

I’m increasing my carbs over the next couple of days, around 7–10g per kg of bodyweight, which for me is roughly 525–750g a day.

I’ll be getting those in through pretty normal foods cereal, toast, bagels, rice, pasta, potatoes, fruit etc.

Alongside that, I’m keeping on top of fluids and electrolytes and trying to get as much decent sleep as I can.

Nothing complicated really. Just making sure I’m properly fuelled and recovered before I get to the start line.

Three days to go. by @pollockcoaching

8

1

8 days ago