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We love to celebrate local businesses we truly believe in. The BC team are so taken with the individual cube training concept that is VAMOS that we all signed up. Heading the charge is the long-suffering wife of Publisher John, Amanda Vickery, who has agreed to let us follow her VAMOS journey. As she embarks on the beginnings of a new, healthy self, Amanda talks about her goals, worries, experiences, and lifts. We'll check back in three months to see how she's going. Go Amanda!
Name: Amanda Vickery
Age: 50
Fitness Goals: Trim down, get strong, and be able to get back into the section of my wardrobe that hasn't been worn for far too long. I’m very ready to wave goodbye to my "Mummy Tummy" and hello to some toned triceps. But my biggest goal is overall fitness. It's something that's easy to let slide, and I'm determined to make it a priority.
Exercise History: I grew up dancing. I went to Uni to study it, taught it, and it was my life for a long time. After three kids and a hip injury, I’ve hopped around trying to find something I love. Running, HIIT training, and boot camps—but nothing has stuck. I’m looking for something with longevity that I can do for a long time without getting bored or burning out. And I'm hoping VAMOS is it!
Why VAMOS? It's the individual workout cubes that got me. Exercise is an awkward and ugly process when you're getting back into it. I was drawn to the idea of having some privacy to do my thing. It has been a total game changer. I’ve found myself really throwing myself into the program without a minute of self-consciousness.
What do you like about the location? It's super convenient. It's in Roseberry Street in Balgowlah, right underneath Aldi and close by to some great cafés. I’ve managed to tie my exercise routine in with social catchups and my weekly food shop. And the best thing is there's always parking. I’m someone who is always in a rush, so that's important.
What's your bugbear with traditional gyms? Other people! At VAMOS, your program is tailored just for you so you don't have to compare yourself, or your progress, to anyone else's. A tablet gives you clear instructions to follow, giving incremental gains so you can track your progress. Plus, a personal trainer is nearby to demonstrate unfamiliar exercises. I love being on my own journey, earpods in.
What are your areas of concern? I’m at the age where you have to start considering bone strength, with the dreaded perimenopause rearing its ugly head. I need to be doing what I can to keep the old bones strong! Injury is always a worry, and I’m far too busy to get injured! As a busy mum looking after the family and getting my three kids to their sports activities, I need to stay on the move. I’ve felt totally supported in that regard, with personal instructors always checking my form.
Tell us about your first session at VAMOS. On my initial chat with the team at VAMOS, there was a Body Composition Scan where I discovered an alarming amount of information about myself! From my visceral fat, skeletal muscle mass, and my abdominal circumference (eek). From there, we discussed my goals and came up with a training plan to target the areas that needed it. I was shown my cube, which was fully kitted out with racks, weights, and mats. It is like a complete gym in one space.
What program are you on, and how is it going? My program is all done by tablet, which I find incredibly easy to follow. I love that it asks me how I am feeling before the workout begins. Some days are just harder than others! It's a six-week program, and I’ll have another body scan at the end. I’m very excited (and nervous) to see the results. I’m quietly confident that I'm on track for my goals because my clothes are feeling looser, which is never a bad thing! I’ll definitely be continuing on after the six weeks. This style of exercise suits me better than anything else I've tried. I’m loving it. •
