[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][us_image image=”11127″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Robyn came in swinging, and ready to take a spot in our line up of strong girls of BBB from the get-go, it was a no-brainer that she deserved our final 2019 member of the month. Having only been with BBB for a short while you would be forgiven for overlooking her, only because she’s about 2 foot 1, but as soon as the whistle blows Robyn is ready to give anyone a run for their money.
Since leaving the dark side, of a gym that shall remain unnamed, and coming into the light of BBB. Robyn has been proving herself in workouts and within the BBB community, to be a friend and all-round legend, while giving the girls someone new to compete with. While setting up the highchair for her, I was able to ask why she does the BBB method of strength and conditioning? “To fix the head noise. Nothing clears my mind quite like absolutely belting myself on the daily.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]She adds why she chose to train at Bodybybrando, “The training sure keeps us on our toes (sometimes literally), so there’s never a dull moment. There are always gains to be made, and the diversity of skill and strength development is broader than Brett’s shoulders.
BUT even better is the community. Seeing those smiling faces at 6:30 every morning, everyone pushing each other, cheering your mates (rivals?) on, and the gentle bullying… shows how much we love and care about one another “
Whilst offended about the backhanded compliment about my shoulders, I smiled at Robyns quick wit and adaption to the BBB fam. She truly has become a pivotal part of the 0630 am crew, so much so that other BBB members have given her an abundance of BBB shirts to wear. Whether this is to force her to stop wearing other gym tanks, I don’t know and will remain tight-lipped about it. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][us_image image=”11128″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]So, as Rob now sits comfortably in her high-chair, and we are both eye-level. I finally ask one question that truly resonates some great answers from our past MOTM’s. This question is what were the challenges she faced before joining, pushing Rob into thinking about any stubborn fat, plateaued strength, mobility or nutrition?
“Mobility has always been a challenge, but to be honest the biggest issue I’ve always faced in training (and life) are my very own, millennial-style personality flaws. Stubborn? You betcha. Competitive? To an unhealthy degree. Patience? Never heard of her. BBB has either helped me turn these flaws into the drive to perform better, or FORCED me to shift them altogether. ” Robyn continues, adding what made her take the leap to join. “HANDSTANDS. I was really into gymnastics as a kid, so seeing anything that would help me regain some of those skills was super exciting. Luckily Brando is a big giant show-off, and his hEkTiK sKilLz were plastered all over social media. I couldn’t resist.
Also, Hugo*.”
*Hugo is the gym’s cutest BBB pup[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Clinking our mugs full of rooibos tea together, we laugh about the small world we live in, noting that apart from an array of mutual acquaintances we share, we also have mutual fear of partnering up. So I ask Robyn what else she was first afraid of when joining BBB.
“Within the first couple of minutes of my very first session, I could tell that there were a few fairly large personalities. I have to admit, being a bit shy with new people, (and not quite fitting in with the 6:30 am ~demographic~… *cough*) I was a bit intimidated!
Intimidation turned to straight fear when the first words out of Codie’s mouth were every introvert’s worst nightmare: “Partner up”. Luckily BBB is full of legends, and I wasn’t left partnerless a single day that entire first week… despite being new, awkward and little.”
I press on asking her what goals she had when joining up “Again, improving on those gymnastic skills! You can lift anywhere, but we really take the time to develop some skills that may fall by the wayside at other gyms… On that note, the first trainer to get me to do a muscle-up will receive a dozen of Sydney’s finest cookies. Or my firstborn child. Your choice.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]So apart from coming up with ways to get Robyn her first muscle-up and my first child, I suggest a stroll through the gardens of BBB. As we walk I further my questioning, needing to go deeper to get the real juicy answers my readers crave. I ask Robyn where she is now with her training and what she can now do?
“Mobility and Olympic lifts are (very slowly) coming along! Building confidence with new styles of movement, and growing my wardrobe (all donations are appreciated) will hopefully continue – but I may always be a poorly dressed, unco little nugget, and I’m okay with that.
Real talk: the biggest change in terms of what I CAN do now has been training with my shirt off. My physique hasn’t changed much since joining, but it’s pretty safe to say that nobody in the 6:30 crew is looking at me. It’s given me the opportunity to reduce the number of fucks given and just focus on lifting.”
I notion that we take a lean against the tree our members often run around during workouts, and I ask what key things we (BBB trainers) did to help Robyn on her journey. “Having a ready-made, welcoming community of like-minded people with a sense of humour is where I wanna be. From the trainers, never letting your egos get in the way helps me overcome my own. Nobody is ever ‘too good’ to work on progressions and drills, and all of you practice what you preach.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][us_image image=”11129″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][us_image image=”11130″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]A passerby comments on how much we look like Arnold and DeVito from “Twins”, we just smile and wave unsure as to who is Arnold and who is DeVito. Concluding that I am definitely Arnold, due only to my height, I ask Robyn one last question about any challenges she faces.
“Oh god please don’t make me get on the air bike. I mean, none of the conditioning machines are great. But the air bike is particularly cruel for someone with the lung capacity of a deflated balloon and legs the length of an anti-vaxer’s kid’s lifespan.”
Now that our interview comes to an end, we make a deal that shall I get Robyn her first muscle up, she will give me her firstborn. With a high-five, we part knowing that Robyn is apart of the incredible team of our female members. Fit, strong and ready to give the boys a run for their money.
Written by
Brett Winchester[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]