Andrew Tracey, Mens Health UK Fitness Editor, founder of Farm Fitness and all round training machine sat down with Chris and I before we headed to the gym to indulge in some sweaty pushing and pulling back at the start of the year. 

We’ve orbited in similar circles as Andrew so it felt only a matter of time before we sat down and press record. If you watch him on instagram his means of fitness generally involve a lot of lifting, and commitment to putting in the time, regardless of where he is, what time it is and how busy his day was. 

Inspired by the original Gym Jones, the facility created by Mark Twight to put in the work, we share similar visions as to what the world of fitness can be. A place to learn about your Self if you are prepared to get into the shadows and dark corners of the psyche and inquire into the capacity and potentiality of our capacity and capability. 

I wasn’t expecting Andrew to be so gentle, and it was lovely to hear him talk about being inspired, inspiring and putting into the world his efforts in order for them to inspire others and be improved upon for the greater good. 

We cover his being non sporty as a youngster but possessing as he calls it “Toerag” fitness, accumulated through hours of playing, doing and being to his first job in a proper gym in Harlow Essex, a place full of doormen and bodybuilders, where you were celebrated for the effort you put in regardless of the weight you lift and then onto the downfall of the Personal Trainer, chasing the career which in actual fact spring boarded Andrew to become who he is today with the breadth of knowledge and pure enthusiasm for fitness and becoming more complete. 

Lifting weights isn’t what it is perceived as, strength is important, it teaches us many things and shows us what we can do if we are not afraid to lose in the short term.