Shane Kokas - Fitness Page

Most of us are taught that comparing ourselves to others, is the trap to avoid.

But comparing yourself to a younger, leaner, stronger version of you can be just as destructive and it's sneakier, because it can feel like self-improvement.

“What if comparing myself today, to my past self, actually makes me feel worse?” It’s a great question. This came up during a discussion on focusing less on others and more on ourselves, because the “Comparison Trap" is

Back at it — slowly.
I keep being reminded that “people don’t just bounce back from life support”. 😅

We’re here building strong bodies that have something to fight with (because we now know… life changes fast). Thanks again for all the love and support. ♥️

Now that I have some capacity to do this without breaking down, feeling completely overwhelmed with love, crying over every nice gesture and support — I want to update my community.

Over 2 weeks ago I was admitted to hospital with COVID & pneumonia, following 14 days in hospital with full respiratory failure.

My oxygen levels dropped to 50% in a shockingly short time. I’m lucky to have no organ failure or brain damage. The medical team still doesn’t understand that part.

I was rushed into the ICU where they made the call to put me on life support. They gave it a 50% chance of me surviving the upcoming procedure but I wasn’t surviving without it. So, I fought.

One of the things I’ll never forget is losing access to my voice. Not being able to communicate a single thought, feeling, need, fear or even laughter. Completely silent inside a body that was fighting. I will never take my voice for granted again.

There’s a character I grew up with — Buffy Summers, who dies and has to claw her way out of her own grave to return to the living. I always appreciated that image.

Coming back isn’t clean.
It’s exhausting and heavy and disconnecting.
But I’m here. And that means something.

My body fought back because it had something to fight with. Years of strength training gave me a foundation when it mattered the most.

You can do “everything right” and still face something terrifying. But the strength you build every day — every rep, it shows up when you need it most. It did for me.

If you’re going through something right now.
If you don’t think you’re strong enough, if it feels too much… I don’t know really what to say, but I know it probably won’t be easy.
It will probably hurt.
And I do know it would be a damn shame not to try to dig yourself out.

I didn’t fight this hard to come back to an ordinary life. Something spectacular is coming. Remember, we have a short time here.

Thank you to my partner, Matt, who drove me back to the hospital that night and saved my life, along with the incredible team at Sturgeon Hospital, thank you.

Hope to see you all again real soon IRL & on the gym floor.
XO

Garry started training with me in 2012. He was 57, dealing with a condition affecting his balance and wasn’t sure what his body was still capable of.

He just turned 71.
14 years later he’s still showing up, still getting stronger and still offsetting his conditions symptoms.

He moves better and is more independent than most people half his age.

This is what consistency actually looks like.

Hey there! Happy Saturday!

Letting ya know, I put together a free guide for anyone who’s been thinking about getting started — but isn’t sure where to begin.

5 things I tell almost every new client over 55 before we start training together. The things that make the first few weeks safer, less overwhelming, and honestly a lot more enjoyable.

If you’ve been on the fence or you know someone who has — this is a good place to start.

Free download: https://lnkd.in/gyRPqJWj