Why I'm leaving the gym...

That's right, I'm going...

Nathan Townsend

1/9/20252 min read

Yup, I'm leaving on the 31st of January 2025.

This is my last month in the gym after almost 5 years and over 7000 hours of coaching 😱

As you can see from the photo above, I'm joining the fire service.

It's the only other job I've ever considered.

My job filters have always been quite narrow;

  1. Make a difference to people's lives

  2. It can't be a desk job

I was always aware firefighting was something I'd be interested in doing.

After all, my hobbies included parkour and being shouted at by my kick boxing instructor.

It's not a big leap before you get to firefighting from there.

I'm my opinion, there aren't many jobs as important than that in the field of medicine and first response.

It's a job I'll be able to look back at with nothing but pride.

At the same time, it's a job I know I'll really enjoy while also having all the benefits of being employed haha.

Being self employed, I'm responsible for my own pension, my sick pay, my holiday time. It all comes out of my income.

While I've been healthy so far, what happens if I break my leg? Do I come into the gym with crutches?

What if (God willing) I have kids in a few years?

The last thing I want is to be working sporadic hours every week haha.

It's something that has been at the back of my mind for a while now. The longevity of this career path.

I got into coaching because it's something I was really passionate about, and it still is.

I came into the gym fresh from university.

Anxious about starting my own business I immediately hired a business coach.

Over the years, I'm lucky enough to say that I've been very successful in this career.

I've managed to earn good money, buy investments and set myself up for the future, all while working with some incredible people!

A large part of that success is due to those who helped me along my journey, including my business coach and my fellow fitness coaches.

To be able to leave the gym after my biggest financial year because I want to, rather than because I couldn't make my business work is a blessing.

So a massive thank you to all of my clients, past and present, for making this job a dream to wake up to!

And while my focus has shifted to serving my community in a different way, I still plan to keep on coaching.

After all, I still love this job!

In fact, I'm quite excited about continuing my coaching.

Mainly because it's not something that I have to keep doing at a certain level in order to pay the bills.

I've got a job now.

It's something that I get to do because I truly enjoy doing it.

Here's to a great new year!