MTAN: Matthew Small

Meet Matthew Small from Planet Belmont!

Have you always been involved in fitness or exercise? 
Not since back injury at age 16.

What exercise have you done previously?
Football (Rugby League).

What brought you to Planet fitness?
Breaking my hip and being told to give up beer and lose weight.

Did you have a goal when you first joined?
To be able to walk again and do my best to avoid an early hip replacement.

Have you reached a goal or have you achieved what you originally set out to do?
More than I ever expected. Now jogging without pain and losing 42kg (130kg to 88 kg – Now 95kg).

What was your perception of gyms/health clubs before you joined? Has it changed after joining Planet Fitness?
Gym! Wasn’t in my vocabulary.

What are your fitness goals for the future?
To be a good role model for my 6 year old boy, which I wasn’t before.

Biggest obstacles you have had to overcome on your fitness journey?
Beer drinking.
Split femoral head with decompression.
Left arm ulnar nerve release.

Do you have sources if inspiration? If so, what are they?
I have a 3 year old boy with a rare metabolic disease called MPS1 Hurlers who has gone through and will continue to go through more pain than any one will endure, so it makes me laugh at pain and be persistent. He’s got no choice, so I make that my choice!

What is your weekly fitness regime?
I’ve only been here for 12 months and haven’t settled into anything in particular, still learning. Started off doing a bit of everything, now focusing on particular muscle groups.