When the fireworks fizzle out on New Year’s Day, most of us start to make mental notes of what we want to achieve in the 365 days ahead.
January 1 is the perfect opportunity to plan career moves, set fitness goals, and draw up our big, ambitious blueprints for the future.
But none of that really went to plan this time around.
2020 well and truly put the cat amongst the pigeons – leaving all our imaginative to-do lists in tatters.
Very few of us have ended up where we imagined – and Meg Harbon is the perfect case in point.
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If you’d told her in February that she’d soon be spending her working days inside a shipping container, she’d have laughed you out the room.
But here we are, riding the second wave of a global pandemic, and this former Pure Gym PT is leading training sessions from the confines of a steel cuboid in Pollard Yard.
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Meg converted the container – titled ‘The Training Yard’ – into a makeshift fitness space when red tape was wrapped around the gyms back in spring; initially launching online sessions before inviting her clients inside when the lockdown lifted.
It’s proven to be a refreshingly unique kind of workout environment.
Free of prying eyes and shiny mirrors, The Training Yard is a spot where anxious clients can train without feeling self-conscious; but also where more experienced gymmers can take their sessions to a whole new level undistracted.
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Meg was one of several local PT’s who launched their own fitness regime when the big gyms closed; but she also dedicated hours to building a document that ultimately turned into Manchester’s lockdown fitness bible.
At 69 pages, ‘Isolated Fitness’ is an absolute unit of a read – providing the kind of insightful, practical home training advice (with step-by-step instructions and images) that didn’t just carry locals through quarantine; but actually got them fitter and stronger.
The book is structured so readers can pick out their favoured exercises and work out the way they like; focusing on particular muscle groups or parts of the body.
And that’s exactly how Meg’s sessions function: She lets clients have a say in shaping their own fitness plans.
Many PTs take a somewhat unforgiving approach to training – with exercises, plans and diets all set in stone. Working out is exactly that: Work.
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But Meg doesn’t quite see it that way.
“If you don’t enjoy it, you won’t do it,” she explains.
“I try to build a plan alongside people so they can achieve their goals, get a sweat on, but actually look forward to their sessions.
“For me, it’s about finding the best plan for the individual – so they can develop a healthy relationship with exercise.
“I want working out to be the best part of their day, not a chore.”
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Meg understands how hard it can be to get into a productive fitness routine.
She spent over a decade working in hospitality, where alcohol, fatty foods and late nights were part and parcel of a standard evening.
It was only when Meg approached her third decade that she started exercising more regularly.
It began slowly, too. A run here. An exercise class there.
But it turned into something more serious when she started seeing results.
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Recognising a transformation in her physical and mental health, Meg opted to turn her hobby into a career.
“It was mainly about changing habits,” Meg says, explaining her transition from night owl to early bird.
“We’re all habitual creatures. It’s just about establishing that routine.”
Patterns are a big part of Meg’s lockdown workout philosophy.
She looks after a wide range of clients all looking to achieve different things (packing on muscle, losing baby weight, trimming belly fat) – but the reason they’ve all seen success is down to their ability to weave workouts into their routine; so it becomes as normal as brushing your teeth or taking a shower.
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“The hardest part for many people is actually doing it,” Meg says.
“Some people who step into the gym… they feel self-conscious. Some women are afraid to pick up weights. Others just feel a bit silly doing a new exercise for the first time.
“But when you’re at home or in the shipping container – it’s just you. You don’t have to worry about feeling stupid.”
People flocked to Meg’s online sessions during lockdown – where she helped her clients plan sessions around whatever equipment they had at home.
Dumbbells were like gold dust right throughout the summer – but Meg found a way around it by encouraging her clients to buy 5L water containers to use as substitute weights instead.
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It’s proof that top training doesn’t have to be expensive to get results.
“Getting a sweat on during the day means you’ll sleep better at night, have more energy the next day, and just be equipped to tackle life’s challenges better,” Meg tells us.
“You’ll find you want to eat better, too, to improve your training.
“It makes such a huge difference – especially in this climate.”
According to Meg, as little as 20 minutes working out every few days can lead to results.
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“Focus purely on exercise and shut out the world – even if it’s just for 20 minutes a couple of times a week.
“It can make such a huge difference.
“Sweat it out and you’ll see how much better you feel.”
Learn more about Charla Fitness – and grab a copy of the Isolated Fitness guide – here.
More info about the Training Yard – Meg’s shipping container exercise spot – is also available online.
Sport
Man United broadcaster FlexUTD responds after suffering ‘awful’ racist abuse on camera
Danny Jones
Manchester United content creator, YouTuber and digital presenter, FlexUTD, has shared a disappointed but defiant response following a racist incident captured during a video after the game this weekend.
Flex – real name Flex Alexander – is a familiar face among Man United fans and a well-known personality across the online English football culture, having previously worked with another popular fan channel in The United Stand before founding his own brand, United View.
Whilst recording his regular post-match analysis outside Old Trafford after the 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday, the social media influencer was interrupted by a woman and fellow United supporter.
After seemingly giving someone a quick shout-out, she then proceeds to wander out of frame before appearing to utter a racial slur off-camera in the form of an offensive twist on the fan base’s famous anti-Glazer chant.
In the video shared to the official YouTube channel, he is visibly stunned by the racist outburst and members of the crew behind the camera can also be heard asking, “Did you just see what I think you said?”, adding “There’s always one or two.”
The identity of the female United fan is still unknown and although her face remains blurred for legal reasons, Flex himself did come out on social media to ask people to “find this woman” in order for the club to identify her and the authorities to punish her accordingly.
Still taken aback by the racial slur, Flex simply goes on to describe the off-hand abuse as “crazy” before insisting that the moment will be staying the full edit so as not to let the incident go unnoticed.
Ever since the video was released, other Reds, football fans and content creators alike have been sharing their support online.
One person wrote, “It’s 2024 and we’re still seeing people saying racist things and they think they can get away with it. Hope Flex gets justice for this.”, while another tagged the club and added: “Can’t be having these type of fans enter the stadium.”
Flex has since responded online in a separate video, thanking people for their heartfelt messages, but despite assuring that he has a “thick skin”, he quite rightly went on to add that people of colour shouldn’t have to deal with that kind of intolerable behaviour and he is simply “tired”.
Disgraceful. Hope your ok @FlexUTD we are all united together ❤️
Retired striker and former United coach Benni McCarthy also reached out online to offer some kind words, writing: “Hi mate, hope you [are] ok. That was absolutely unnecessary and you shouldn’t have to deal with such behaviour. Stay strong bro and behind you all the way.”
The club themselves are yet to issue a statement regarding the incident but with both current players and former staff responding, it likely won’t be long before the individual is identified and issued with a ban. United had to deal with similar incidents regarding racism and homophobia last season.
It goes without saying that we condemn discrimination in all its forms; our thoughts go out to Flex and everyone else affected by the incident and hope the incident is dealt with swiftly. The beautiful game is for everyone and there’s no room for racism in any walk of life. #KickItOut.
You can watch Flex’s full video addressing the situation, in which he urged people to “stay strong, keep fighting” and “stick together”, down below:
FlexUTD’s full response following the appalling racist incident on 4/11/2024.
Featured Images — United We Stand (via YouTube)/FlexUTD (via X)
Sport
Bruno Fernandes reveals he apologised to Erik ten Hag after Man United sacking
Danny Jones
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has revealed he personally apologised to Erik ten Hag after he was sacked by the club last week following a poor run of results.
The Man United midfielder was made club captain by ten Hag back in July 2023 and was one of the most trusted players throughout his two-and-a-half-year tenure at Old Trafford, barely missing a minute of football besides through a red card suspension.
Fernandes is also one of the most senior figures in the dressing room, not only down to his age but because he has now spent nearly half a decade at United, and so the ‘Portuguese Magnifico’ was seemingly one of the first to hold his hands up after the Dutchman was relieved of his duties.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday, in which club legend turned interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy took charge for his second game, Bruno also reflected on the season so far and how he “feels responsible” for how things ended with ten Hag.
"I spoke with him and I apologised" 📞
Bruno Fernandes says he is 'disappointed' that Erik ten Hag was sacked and Manchester United players need to look in the mirror 🪞 pic.twitter.com/LitOvG6SfM
The 30-year-old was the scorer of the Reds’ only goal on the night after Rasmus Højlund earned them a penalty and scored two in the cup tie against Leicester but was visibly disappointed with the level of performance following the result and after missing a crucial chance which could have won the game.
“Obviously, it’s a different week because Erik [ten Hag] is gone and it’s not good for anyone at the club when a manager goes because it means the positions and where the team is not the best; the results are not the best and manager is the one that pays”, said Fernandes.
“Whenever you see a manager go you have to take a little bit of the blame on yourself because you need to look at the mirror first […] everyone as an individual has to look at themselves first. […] I spoke to the manager and apologised […] I’m really disappointed that he is gone but what remains with me is to give everything and try to help in any way possible…”
“We are not scoring goals and I feel a lot of [responsibility] because I normally give a lot of goals and assists and it was not coming so I feel disappointed, but I always give 100% and he is aware of that.”
Regardless of his lengthy answer, whether or not Bruno said sorry to ten Hag is not enough for some, as the ever-harsh critic and former midfielder stalwart himself Roy Keane summed up his response by simply adding, “Too little, too late.”
"I wouldn't have much time or patience for that, for a player to say sorry we let you down…too little, too late"
Whether or not Bruno having apologised to ten Hag is enough to keep other pundits, fans and the new manager on-side during a crucial few weeks where the club is set for another significant period of change, only time will tell.
With fellow compatriot Rúben Amorim – who led Bruno’s former club Sporting CP to their first league title in 19 years, not to mention a second championship last season and a first-place spot so far this campaign – now confirmed as the new head coach, the United number eight will be looking to recover the output fans have seen from him in previous years.
Set to start the job on Monday, 11 November, van Nistelrooy will remain as interim manager for the next two games: the Europa League match against PAOK and another home fixture against Leicester after having beaten them 5-2 in the EFL Cup during his first game in charge.
As for Amorim, he revealed that he wanted to see out the rest of 2024/25 with Sporting before taking the United job but that INEOS wanted him to start ASAP, describing the offer as a “now or never” opportunity. You can watch the highlights from the first Premier League match under Ruud down below: