And for those thinking about getting into exercise and shedding those excess pounds, the message is don’t wait until January.
It’s just a few weeks until the start of January and the most popular time of year for lifestyle changes – many new-year’s resolutions involve getting fit, losing weight and changing eating habits.
But for those thinking about getting into exercise and shedding those excess pounds, the message from one Belfast gym is bring your 2026 resolutions forward a few weeks and don’t wait until January.
Michael McBride, 25, runs Level Up Fitness in north Belfast a small gym with big goals. Open for nearly five years, it’s owned by Michael alongside fellow coach, Finn Healy. himself is a twice Ireland Body Building Champion.
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The business has doubled in size this year alone and the team are now looking at adding a second gym very soon to meet demand.
Michael told us how it all came about: “During the Covid lockdown I was studying sports science at Jordanstown and I quickly realised that it wasn’t for me because I always knew I wanted to be a personal trainer.
“So I decided we were going to open a gym. At the time, I had no idea where I was going and here we are five years later. For the first few years I was very young with no real idea or structure or vision of where I wanted the place to go but this year we’ve really upped the game and doubled. We’re actually nearly at capacity so we are looking for a second premises next year.
“We do have a large variety of clients inside the gym, we do have a large number of menopausal women going through the change of life if you want to call it that. Our youngest client is 13 and we go right up to 75, so it really is the gym for everyone.”
Michael added: “We make it an enjoyable and comfortable environment to train in. We have clients travelling from everywhere, East Belfast, West Belfast, Holywood, Glengormley, Ligoniel etc, We are open for everyone and to anyone.
“We do one-to-one personal training, but it’s inside a small group environment. Every client gets their own personalised training programme for our very own branded app and outside of that we over deliver on accountability because we know that the results don’t happen from the hours you’re inside the gym. Equally the other 23 hours of the day outside the gym are just as important if not more.”
One of the gyn’s clients, Stephen Venables dropped from 21 stone 10 last May to 13 stone 3 this May and now he is working on building muscle while maintaining his massive loss.
He told Belfast Live: “I started on May 6 last year. I had got fed up with myself and decided I needed to do something drastic. I joined a couple of other gyms and it wasn’t quite working for me. From last May to October, I lost 3 stone and I joined the gym here last October so from then until May of this year, I lost 8.5 stone and now we’re at the stage of maintaining and starting to try to build muscle.
“Before that I was very sluggish and inactive and I had health issues, including arthritis in my knee and at one stage I was on crutches, With the strength training and losing weight, I’m now actually able to move a lot freer and don’t need any medication for the arthritis.
“It’s been tough and I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way but I guess when you find the right gym and right level of accountability, then it works and for me that’s what we’ve got here.
“We get a report once a month that tells us how we’re performing, if we’re regressing or progressing. We sit down with the coach and they explain what the report’s telling us and what the next steps are. For the days you really don’t want to be here, they’re phoning and texting you so you don’t get an option, you have to be here!”
He added: “I’m delighted with the weight loss and transformation – silly things like being able to get up and be active, even go to local high street shops and get clothes instead of having to shop online.
“It’s a fantastic and massive confidence boost but also just the amount of energy I’ve got means I don’t look at the gym as a chore. I don’t play golf or anything like that, so now the gym is my hobby. It’s my time to get out of the house and have an hour to myself five times a week and a bit of craic with the guys.”
Luan Hennessy, 45, only started her fitness journey in mid-March: “I had a few health issues – diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and it was just time for a change so I joined the gym at that point and I’ve been coming ever since, five days a week – three sessions of strength and sessions of cardio – alongside healthy eating and just lots of hard work being put in but also being pushed along by Michael and Finn as well.
“I know it’s daunting going to gyms, but coming in here the atmosphere is great and you feel so relaxed. There’s adults of all ages, shapes, sizes, male and female and everyone just gets on, helps each other and pushes everybody along.
“I’ve lost 6.5 stone since March so before I was 21 stone 1 and I’m down to 14 stone 10 now. There’s still a bit to go but it’s just all about retraining your mind and your body and thinking that food is not the enemy. You can enjoy food but still lose weight and become healthy as well.”
She added: “I feel absolutely amazing. I’m able to run around after my own children, not be out of breath going up and down the stairs and generally it’s made my life a lot easier and just so much healthier.
“Before March, I hated the gym and it was like a dirty word to me. There was no way I was going to a gym and then my friend said to me ‘come on, we’ll just join’. She lasted about two weeks but I carried on and I thought ‘no if I don’t go on my own now it’s never gonna happen. Now it’s like we’re all one big family.”
Michael added: “I’m really proud of them both. They’re two A star clients who just show you if you do show up, listen to your coaches and ultimately just enjoy the process, ask for help when you need it, you’ll get there.”
And all three offered advice to those looking to make that fresh start and new beginning right now.
Stephen said: “Don’t wait until 2026. The sooner you get started, the sooner you start changing the bad habits and undoing the damage you’ve done yourself. The hardest thing you’ll do is walk through the door but once you get through the door, you’re looked after and supported from then on.”
Luan told us: “Just do it. Don’t hold back because you’ll be surprised, it is the best thing ever not just physically but mentally as well.”
Michael added: “What we apply here is just starting small. You may look at the likes of me, a coach, and I’m going to tell you to hit 10,000 steps, do 5 sessions a week, but really I think just focus on one thing at a time.
“Just make the habit so simple that it nearly sounds stupid because you’re going to stick to it. It’s just back to being able to sustain it and adhere to it long term for it to last.”
You can follow Level Up Fitness on Facebook and Instagram.
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