Fitness. Mindset. ADHD.

If you’re reading this, you are either curious about ADHD, have ADHD, love someone who has ADHD, or train someone with ADHD. I fit into all of these categories, and want to do my best to cater to them all with my still limited knowledge… so buckle in, even I don’t know quite where this blog is heading yet!

ADHD impacts all areas of life. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder, after all. It’s not a result of too many sweets, too many video games, or bad parenting. It’s genetic, and those genes impact protein production in your brain. So if you have it (and it wasn’t caused by a traumatic brain injury), someone you love probably has it too.

FUN FACT! Micheal Phelps and Simone Biles both have ADHD. ADHD does not mean you can’t reach your goals, it just means you might need a slightly different approach.

Exercise is great for everyone, and those of us with ADHD are no different. The first thing we tend to need is understanding and camaraderie, that’s why I’ll start with sharing my exercise story…

I started intentionally exercising not long after I discovered pole fitness. I went to my first pole class when I was 16 and I was immediately hooked. It was fun, it was empowering. It was love at first spin.

Me in my early poling days!

I embraced my classes and got stronger, bendier, and more confident with each passing moment on the chrome. In the early days, I was progressing well and reaching my goals. Until my goals required off-pole conditioning, consistency, and more than turning up to class on time.

I took before photos. I wrote plans. I bought plans. I had training buddies. I qualified as a pole instructor and personal trainer. I started again, and again… and again.

For my whole 12 years in the fitness world, the ONLY thing I was consistently able to show up for was teaching classes. I could show up for my students, but I couldn’t apply that consistency to my own training for love nor money.

For over 12 years, my own solo training efforts never made it past 2-3 sessions.

I beat myself up, felt like a fraud. I would wing performances and competitions. I’d doubt my credibility as an instructor. If I couldn’t show up for myself, who would listen to me?

In September 2020, I took the leap into fitness full-time. I thought finally I’d master my own fitness routine.

Within 3 months I was the heaviest and least fit I have been in my entire adult life.

Yes, there was a pandemic… but I had a puppy to walk, clients to train, personal goals that I knew how to reach, and I just… didn’t. I had know-how, space, and time.

I wanted to work out… but I didn’t.

For months, the imposter syndrome was heavier than the weights I was ignoring at the side of the room. I felt embarrassed about marketing myself as a fitness coach, in spite of my knowledge, proven results, and excellent client feedback.

I beat myself up for my lack of discipline, but in hindsight, I was grappling with undiagnosed ADHD.

When the penny dropped in early 2021, it felt like my whole world made sense. Once I set a date for my assessment my brain became nothing short of a clusterfuck.

Anything that could be even remotely explained by ADHD was turned up to maximum volume. I spent £100 on pizza in 2 weeks because I couldn’t organise a food shop. I canceled my regular Sunday morning class for the first time since it started because my emotions were everywhere!

The day after my assessment I went to the gym, and as I logged on to the Couch to 5k app I heard Sarah Millican say “You’ve made it to week three”.

Week three.

I’d never made it to week three before. I had to pause the app, and steady myself. In 29 years I had never made it this far no matter how much I wanted to, and now I knew why. Standing on a treadmill in a gym crying probably isn’t an uncommon occurrence early in the morning, and today was my turn.

It wasn’t ignorance, laziness, or anything else.

It was ADHD. Unmanaged, unconfirmed, and unknown to me and everyone around me. All the tips and tricks in the universe hadn’t succeeded… because they didn’t take into account the way my brain works.

When I got the date for my assessment I researched ways of maintaining a routine with ADHD and started trying out different methods. That is how I finally got to week 3 of an exercise routine that was started and maintained by and for me… Something I wasn’t sure would ever happen.

I’ve spent my whole life problem solving, learning, studying, and trying techniques and tips galore, but I was asking the wrong questions.

I was working on tactics that didn’t take my brain into account, but now I know what to Google when things aren’t working.

Reaching fitness goals is possible with ADHD (Phelps and Biles, anyone?).

Working on your mindset is possible with ADHD, even if the results might look a little different.

Knowing is the first step to working with ADHD, and I cannot wait to see where I end up now I know what I’m working with. I can lean into novelty, I can lean into distraction, and I can work with my strengths as they are.

I’ve got this, and so have you.

Me poling this week. Safe to say pole is still going strong.