Perception of Yourself

Caitlyn Davey • July 8, 2025

So I have probably just had the most terrible week mentally I have had in years and years, I don't struggle with mental health as a whole but this week my mental health has struggled. I hope that makes sense? Sometimes we can be sad, emotional, demotivated, deflated, tired among other things, well just because really. There doesn’t always need to be a deep and meaningful reason behind it. But I am just glad I am coming out of the other side, and I don’t live there long term. It’s been a rough week, part of this week has been believing am I good enough? I know damn well I am good enough at my job but that subjective feeling sometimes kicks in and our mind is a very powerful tool. Much more powerful than anything else. I have lost a little fitness since my holiday and gained a little body fat, are people looking at me differently? My mind might say yes, but I can near enough guarantee no one is thinking either of these things. It’s just my perception of what people are thinking of me. Quote time (If I could only speak in quotes for the rest of my life I would) “I am not who you think I am; I am not who I think I am; I am who I think you think I am.”– Charles Cooley This is amazing and so very very true. Your perception of yourself is what you believe others think of you, that is a criticism of yourself and not others. The number of times I have had this conversation is insane, but I remember thinking the EXACT same thing before I started the gym for the first time “I am going to be a lot weaker than everybody else”“I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of people”“People will think I am so weak and unfit” I can nearly categorically tell you that is only in your head, as harsh as this sounds. No one gives a flying fuck about what you can do. People are too focused on themselves. Another one is people believing they should be a certain size, the perception of the size they believe they should be because of the size others are or what others deem to be the ‘ideal size’  I remember a time when I became a qualified PT I would hide some of the foods I was eating in public because I was worried that people would judge me. But I was taught to not eat badly in my course because PT’s don’t eat badly. What a crock of shit. So I was lead to believe I had to uphold this perception of myself because that is what others wanted me to be like. What I have actually learnt is people like real people, they like to know you suffer and struggle too.Everyone regardless of your role on this planet may be a CEO of a fortune 500 Company or a backpacker working for a free place to sleep, we are all just humans trying to do a little bit better. I have dealt with multimillionaire clients from big companies that put on this crazy powerful persona because they believe that is what people need to see or want to see, yet they are the most emotional and broken people on the planet because they are lying to themselves each and every day. The world is changing I want to believe and I hope. So how can we stop thinking about what others think of us? Firstly I believe we need to be kinder to ourselves, be truer to ourselves and understand the people that we truly are. Task – Judge others less, as you do not want to be judged. You will be surprised at the outcome. So change your perception of things, and you will change your reality.

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February 16, 2026
If you live in Wynnum or Capalaba, you’re not short of fitness options. There are 24-hour gyms. Bootcamps. HIIT studios. Yoga classes. Running clubs along the waterfront. But despite more access than ever, many people still feel stuck. Tired. Plateaued. Unsure whether what they’re doing is actually working. For many adults across Brisbane’s bayside suburbs, the missing piece isn’t more cardio or more intensity. It’s structured strength training. What Strength Training Actually Does (Beyond “Toning”) Strength training isn’t just about lifting heavy weights or looking muscular. It is one of the most well-supported interventions in exercise science for improving: • Lean muscle mass • Bone density • Insulin sensitivity • Resting metabolic rate • Functional capacity • Injury resilience When you lift weights progressively, your body adapts. Muscle fibres increase in size. Neural drive improves. Connective tissue strengthens. Bone responds to load. This isn’t aesthetic. It’s physiological. For adults in their 30s, 40s and 50s — especially busy professionals and parents — maintaining and building muscle becomes increasingly important. From around age 30 onwards, we gradually lose muscle mass if we don’t train against resistance. Strength training slows — and can even reverse — that decline. Why Many People Plateau in Traditional Gyms Joining a gym in Wynnum or Capalaba is easy. Progress is harder. Many people follow random workouts. They jump between machines. They try classes without a long-term plan. They train hard, but without structure. The body adapts quickly to repeated stimulus. If load, volume or intensity don’t increase over time, adaptation stalls. This principle is called progressive overload — and it is fundamental to strength development. Without it, workouts feel hard but don’t necessarily lead to measurable progress. That’s why tracking lifts, planning training blocks, and adjusting volume matter. Effort is important. Structure is essential. Strength vs “Burning Calories” A common goal across the Wynnum and Capalaba community is fat loss. Many people default to high-intensity cardio to “burn more calories”. While cardiovascular training improves heart health and work capacity, resistance training changes body composition in a different way. Muscle tissue is metabolically active. The more lean mass you maintain, the more energy your body requires at rest. Strength training also improves glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity, which influences how your body uses carbohydrates. In simple terms: Cardio burns calories during the session. Strength training improves how your body uses energy long term. The most effective approach often combines both — but strength should not be overlooked. The Importance of Coaching in Strength Training Not all training environments are equal. There is a difference between access to equipment and access to coaching. Research in motor learning consistently shows that technique improves faster and more safely when feedback is specific and timely. Good coaching reduces injury risk, improves force production and builds confidence under load. For beginners, this means learning correct movement patterns. For experienced lifters, this means refining efficiency and progressing safely. In both Wynnum and Capalaba, more people are moving away from “do it yourself” gym models and towards coached environments that prioritise progression and accountability. Because consistency — not intensity — predicts long-term success. Strength Training for Real Life The real benefit of strength training isn’t what happens in the gym. It’s what happens outside it. Carrying children. Lifting groceries. Walking the stairs without fatigue. Reducing back pain. Improving posture after long desk hours. Strength improves quality of life. For people living and working in Brisbane’s bayside suburbs — balancing work, school runs and community commitments — training needs to support life, not compete with it. Two to four well-programmed sessions per week is enough to create significant improvements in strength and body composition when done consistently. You do not need to train every day. You need to train intelligently. What To Look For in a Strength Training Gym in Wynnum or Capalaba If you’re considering starting strength training locally, look for: • Structured programming rather than random workouts • Progressive overload built into sessions • Coaches who adjust for injury, mobility and experience • A community that supports consistency • A clear pathway for beginners Strength training should feel challenging — but sustainable. It should build confidence, not intimidation. A Quiet Shift in Fitness Across Wynnum and Capalaba, there is a noticeable shift. People are moving away from extreme short-term “transformations” and towards long-term strength development. They want: Energy that lasts. Bodies that feel capable. Training that fits into real life. Strength training isn’t a trend. It is one of the most researched, effective and sustainable forms of exercise available. If you’ve tried everything else and still feel stuck, it might not be motivation you’re missing. It might be structure. And structure changes everything.
January 19, 2026
If you’ve been thinking about getting back into training — or starting properly — this is your chance. From February 2–8 , you can train free for a full week at Rebuild Capalaba with unlimited access to our group sessions. No pressure. No judgement. No gimmicks. Just well-coached training, intelligent programming, and a community built around progress — not perfection. What Free Week Includes • Unlimited group training for 7 days • Coaching-led strength, conditioning, and cardio sessions • Scaled options to suit all experience levels • A supportive, ego-free training environment Whether you’re returning after a break, testing something new, or simply curious about what training should feel like — Free Week lets you experience it properly, without committing upfront. Free Week runs Feb 2–8. Spots are limited. Book your week and see how it fits into your life.
November 24, 2025
Try a Session. Meet the Coaches. See What You’re Capable Of If you’ve been thinking about starting, restarting, or finding a gym that actually supports you — Taster Day is your opportunity. This is a free, one-day event designed for real people. No pressure. No expectations. Just great coaching, a welcoming community, and a chance to see whether Rebuild is the right fit for you. December 6, 7:30am at Rebuild Health and Fitness - 10 North Road Wynnum West. This session is FREE for people to join.
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