Our Favourite STRONG Moment

1,000 DAYS OF TRAINING

WRITTEN BY DEBS MAJUMDAR

Waking up before sunrise to work out is common among today’s fitfam, but 42-year-old mum of two Katie Lin takes it one step further – she’s worked out every day for nearly 1,000 days. Yes, you read that right. While we are cautious of the potential to overtrain and wouldn’t recommend going all-out every session, this is one New Year resolution we had to hear more about.

Like many in her situation, Lin found it difficult to shift the weight gained from her two pregnancies. With an additional 45kg on her frame, she was done with feeling tired and self-conscious, and wanted to be a positive role model for her kids by overhauling her health while maintaining her corporate career. Despite competitive swimming in her younger years, coupled with the odd group fitness class in her 30s, stepping into a gym didn’t come easy. Like with any fitness journey, it took a while for momentum to build. In 2017, Lin completed seven straight days with a Personal Trainer, and the endorphins began to flow. So too did her zest, energy and enthusiasm for the gym, not to mention the results that ensued. From there, she figured it took 21 days to create a habit, so why not train for 21 days straight? It takes 90 days to instil a lifestyle, so why not train for 90 days straight? Ninety days turned into 100, and with the weight shedding almost immediately, she set the goal of 365 days of moving her body, every single day. It didn’t come without challenges. For nearly a year, Lin depended on her personal trainer to navigate the intricacies of the gym before she finally felt comfortable enough to train on her own. Through consistency and hard work, a year went by and so did nearly 50kg of excess body fat. But there was no stopping her – she tripled her 365 day goal and set 1,000 days of movement as her next milestone. The journey has not only improved Lin’s overall health and wellbeing, but also her confidence, thanks to smashing her own personal bests (PBs) and completing two Spartan races “just for fun”.

“Fitness is now a lifestyle and it’s completely changed all aspects of my life. I’ve made new life-long friends who share my passion and I have more energy for my work and family than ever before,” says Lin. “I also feel more confident in the clothes I wear and the skin I’m in.” March 2020 will mark 1,000 days of training, but one of the key lessons learned, Lin says, is that it’s not about the destination, but the journey itself. She now typically trains once per week with her trainer, with the remaining six days focused on strength and conditioning work, along with active recovery days. By training or walking at 4am, she easily fits exercise into her busy lifestyle and sets her day up for success. “Katie’s sessions with me are different to those when she trains by herself,” says Lin’s trainer, Jono Castano. “She’s tough as nails, so it’s my job to push her beyond her own boundaries. We focus on high-intensity interval training while also building strength.” In addition to the workouts, Castano also prescribes her daily macro targets, aimed to optimise her workouts and ensure she’s fuelled for life. “Even though I work out daily, it’s not the sole focus nor does it rule my life. It allows me to enjoy the things I love – dessert and champagne,” Lin adds. S

A week in the life of Lin

Monday: lower body and core Tuesday: full body Wednesday: active recovery Thursday: back and arms Friday: chest Saturday: active recovery Sunday: high-intensity interval circuit