Drumry man Andy Gallagher embarks on fitness journey

Andy Gallagher joined PureGym in Clydebank at the end of November - and says he is “overwhelmed” with the progress he has made in just one month.

The 36-year-old has been working with a personal trainer in an effort to get his self-confidence back and to build up his strength so he can take his beloved dog Buster on longer walks.

Andy is hoping to build up strength in his left side (Image: Fred Hunt-Smith)

Andy said: “I’m training every Tuesday and Thursday at the moment as that’s what my body will allow me to do.

“I joined the gym as I didn’t like the way I looked in the mirror at the very start of the Covid pandemic, and I want to strengthen my left side as it’s really weak.

"I’ve also got a Bichon Frise called Buster. Right now I can only take him out for a walk for about 20 minutes around the park which is on my doorstep so I want to be able to get him out for a decent walk. That would be epic.

“I got Buster – who was 10 at the time - in January 2020 and I would not be here today without him.

“My aim is to feel confident again and get myself back into a routine.”

Andy's dog Buster has been keeping him motivated (Image: Andy Gallagher)

Shortly after Andy joined the gym he and his trainer, Fred Hunt-Smith, began working out what would be possible for him.

The 36-year-old has been documenting his progress over the last few weeks and said he was “shocked” when he revisited footage from December.

In December, Andy found it difficult to stand up after sitting on a 24-inch box. He was doing this exercise with no added weight and needed a full reset between each of his reps.

Now, he is able to get up with ease from a lowered 18-inch box with added weight and has slashed the recovery time he takes between reps.

Andy added: “I felt overwhelmed seeing my progress. It doesn’t look like me if that makes sense, it looks like someone completely different.

“Even my doctor said ‘wow, that’s crazy’. If you tell me to go do something I will do my best to do it but when it comes to working out, physio, and activities like that it is hard.

"So just to see the most recent videos is shocking, not in a bad way but in a good way, it’s very overwhelming.”

Prior to joining PureGym, Andy’s last time going to a gym was when he was around 21 years old. He explained that he was “always scared” of going to the gym because of his disability and what others might think.

Cerebal palsy is a lifelong condition that affects movement and coordination. Andy told the Post that there is a period of four days each month where he is restricted in what he is able to do physically, but that support from his PT has kept him going.

He said: “There are four days every month where I physically can’t do anything - I’m numb and I get pins and needles. It’s like being drunk but I’m not.

“My balance is terrible and I feel groggy. I told Fred about these periods and he just motivated me and kept me going.

“He is phenomenal, a real breath of fresh air. I was always scared of going to the gym with cerebal palsy, I thought everybody would be looking at me.

“I went for an induction session and Fred told me ‘we’ll take it step-by-step and see what happens’, and from the first day he made me feel at ease.

“When I walk into the gym now, I’m walking in with a purpose and I’m looking forward to working out which I didn’t think I ever would.

“This is a big thing for me, I used to not make my bed because I didn’t see the point because it’s going to be a mess again later but now I’m waking up every morning and I’m making it and that’s a big development for me.

“It’s helped my mental health as that was terrible a few years ago and as I said if it wasn’t for Buster I wouldn’t be here, honestly."

Personal trainer Fred Hunt-Smith (Image: Fred Hunt-Smith)

Fred has praised his resilience and dedication to his fitness journey.

He added: “I have minimal experience working with people with disabilities,so when Andy first came into the gym neither of us really knew what would be possible. We just had to try things out.

“For someone like Andy, who has cerebal palsy, it’s the basic things that are the most important – such as being able to stand out of his chair at home.

“His progress makes me so happy, because he’s able to make his life a little easier - and it’s really been down to him.

“He’s so consistent it’s unbelievable. He was nervous about coming into the gym and what people would think of him as well as if he’d be able to do anything and I feel like he’s overcome that himself.

“I can only do so much and he’s amazing.”