A 60-minute workout class is powerful. In that hour, you build strength, you flood your body with endorphins, and you ignite your metabolism. We’ve talked a lot about how to make that hour the most effective it can be.
But what about the other 23 hours of the day?
The truth is, real, lasting transformation doesn’t just happen inside the gym. It happens in the hundreds of small, simple choices you make from the moment you wake up. It happens when your workout becomes the engine for a new, active lifestyle, not just a single, isolated event.
You’re not just building “fitness”; you’re building healthy habits. And the best part is that our own town provides the perfect backdrop for this.
At Fit and Joy, we don’t just see ourselves as a gym. We see ourselves as a proud part of the Monasterevin community, and we want to show you how to use our beautiful local area to supercharge your results.
1. Embrace Your Local “Outdoor Gym”
We are incredibly lucky to have one of the most beautiful natural resources in the country right on our doorstep: the Grand Canal Blueway.
This is your new “Cardio Day 2.” You don’t need to pound a treadmill for hours. Instead, how about a 30-minute brisk walk along the canal after dinner? How about a weekend cycle with the family?
This is how you stay active Monasterevin-style. It’s not a chore; it’s a joy. Using our local amenities—whether it’s a walk on the Blueway, kicking a ball with the kids in a local park, or just enjoying the fresh air—is a key part of your new lifestyle. It’s free, it’s accessible, and it connects you with your community.
2. Discover the Power of “NEAT”
This is the “secret weapon” I teach all my clients. It’s an acronym called NEAT, which stands for Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis.
In simple, human terms, it’s all the movement you do that isn’t formal exercise.
Think about it:
· Taking the stairs.
· Parking at the far end of the supermarket car park.
· Doing vigorous housework.
· Fidgeting at your desk.
· Getting up to change the channel instead of using the remote.
· Playing with your kids or dog on the floor.
This “invisible” activity is a game-changer. For some people, it can add up to hundreds of extra calories burned every single day. It keeps your metabolism “simmering” long after your workout is over. A Fit and Joy member isn’t just active for one hour; they learn to see the entire day as an opportunity to move.
3. Eat Mindfully in Your Community
Building healthy habits doesn’t mean you have to hide at home and eat out of Tupperware for the rest of your life. It means being mindful when you’re out.
Going for a coffee with friends at a local cafe? Amazing. Maybe just swap that high-calorie, sugary latte for an Americano or a flat white. Meeting for a pub lunch? Enjoy it. Just look for the grilled option, ask for the sauce on the side, or swap the chips for a side salad.
It’s not about deprivation; it’s about making conscious choices. You can (and should!) still participate in every social event. You’re just doing it with a new awareness, supporting your goals and the local businesses you love at the same time.
4. Find Your “Third Place”
Sociologists talk about the “Third Place.” It’s not your home (your first place) and it’s not your work (your second place). Your “Third Place” is the community hub where you go to connect, to de-stress, to find belonging, and to be your authentic self.
It’s the pub, the church, the community centre.
For so many of our members, Fit and Joy has become their Third Place.
This is the most important part of our philosophy. We are not a cold, corporate gym where you swipe a card, wear headphones, and ignore everyone. We are a community. We are a place where you are greeted by name. We are a place where other members high-five you, not because you’re an elite athlete, but simply because you showed up.
This is where you’ll find the accountability you’ve always missed. This is where you’ll make friends who are on the exact same journey. This is the support system that gets you through the tough days.
Your Invitation to the Community
That class at Fit and Joy is the spark, the engine. The walks along the canal, the “NEAT” you do all day, and the mindful food choices are the fuel.
But it’s the community that holds it all together.
You’re not just joining a gym. You’re becoming part of a movement. You’re joining a group of supportive, local people who are all deciding to become the best versions of themselves.
We are so much more than just a workout. We are the Fit and Joy community, and we can’t wait for you to join us.
Ready to find your “Third Place”? Visit fitandjoy.ie today to learn about our community and book your first session.
