Some athletes relish the work in the gym and some hate it.
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Ryan McDermott definitely belongs in the second camp.
He grumbles his way through gym training at least four days a week.
But he is now walking better than ever.
And his message is this: no excuses, people, if I can get out there pumping iron and improving my walking, so can the rest of us.
For 11 weeks now, Ryan, who has cerebral palsy, has been working out regularly at the Ministry of Personal Training in Inverell.
He has gone from being able to barely walk one lap to walking ten, albeit with loud protestations that he’s tired.
He has gone from not being able to do one sit-up to being able to complete three sets of ten.
And he’s pumping iron – using both arms - and punching bags.
Trainer Joey van der Merwe said Ryan, 24, was inspirational and proved everyone could benefit from increased physical exercise.
“He shows there are no excuses, you can’t be a lazy couch potato. Even if it’s just a small class after work, at least get moving,’’ he said.
Ryan’s carer, Willis Pike, said Ryan’s wheelchair was being used less and less.
Ryan was now able to walk much better and could walk up the flight of stairs to the gym.
“Yeah,” Ryan interjects, “but I don’t want to come to the gym anymore.”
Willis smiles back at him and encourages him to lift one more.: