I was eating “perfectly healthy” and still gaining weight…

May 20, 2026 | Coach Adam's Journals

Coach Adam Fitness Freedom AthletesI hope you enjoy this post. If you want my help to build lean muscle & transform your body using a TRX suspension trainer anywhere – checkout my Programs here.

Author: Coach Adam | Founder of Fitness Freedom Athletes

Ever have one of those moments where you realise you’ve been doing something completely wrong… for years?

Yeah, that was me around 2013.

At the time, I was eating what I thought was the “perfect” diet.

Oats for breakfast. Brown rice and chicken for lunch. Sweet potato and salmon for dinner. Loads of veggies.

Hitting my protein targets. Staying away from “bad” foods.

I mean, any nutritionist would’ve given me a gold star, right?

Except my body wasn’t responding.

My energy was all over the place and my body composisiton would not change.

Inevitably this would lead me to crash diet, restircting mega hard until my will power was depelted…

Then I’d binge. And round and round I’d go.

The worst part?

I was a fitness coach.

I was supposed to have this stuff figured out.

Then I hired a high-level physique athlete coach (cost me a fortune, but I was fed up and confused).

That conversation changed everything.

Here’s what he explained to me:

It’s not about WHAT you eat….

It’s about how effectively your body USES what you eat.

And that comes down to something called insulin sensitivity.

Think of it like this:

When you eat carbs, your body releases insulin.

Insulin is like a key that unlocks your muscle cells so they can absorb nutrients and grow.

But the more often you spike insulin throughout the day, the more your cells become “resistant” to it.

The key stops working as well.

When that happens, your muscle and functional cells can’t absorb nutrients properly.

So where does all that food go instead?

Straight into your fat cells.

Because fat cells don’t become insulin resistant.

They’re always open for business.

So you can be eating “perfectly clean” and still gaining fat, feeling tired, and struggling to build muscle.

This was my problem.

I was eating healthy carbs at breakfast (oats). Healthy carbs at lunch (brown rice). Healthy carbs at dinner (sweet potato).

And for snacks.

My body was constantly swimming in insulin.

My cells had become resistant to it.

No wonder I felt like crap.

My coach explained this too:

“When your insulin sensitivity improves, your body gets better at burning fat for energy. 

You’re not constantly craving carbs because your body can actually access its own fat stores.”

This understanding completly transformed my understanding of nutrition.

And in turn, my body, my energy, and my entire fitness approach.

This isn’t about going low-carb or keto or any extreme diet.

It’s just about timing your carbs so your body can actually use them properly.

I still eat carbs.

I love carbs.

I just don’t eat them at every single meal anymore.

Look, I know this probably sounds too simple.

Timing your carb intake fixes years of struggling with fat loss and energy issues?

But yeah.

For a lot of people, that’s exactly what happens.

Because the fitness influencer industry has us believing we need to try the latest diet fad…

Because it SELLS BETTER.

Simple and boring doesn’t.

Nobody talks about insulin sensitivity.

Nobody mentions that timing matters as much as food quality.

But when combined with muscle-centric suspension training…

It’s how people build lean muscle, burn stubborn fat, and maintain high energy levels without complicated meal plans or giving up foods they love.

But don’t take my word for it, just look at these 300+ people’s success stories from it.

Sure, they learned the ‘muscle-centric suspension training technique’…

But they also learned how imporve their insulin sensitivity and metabolic flexibility to dramatically boost their results.

It’s not about eliminating foods. Just timing them smarter.

Here’s to your Fitness Freedom 

Coach Adam
Founder, Fitness Freedom Athletes

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About The Author

About The Author

Coach Adam (aka TRX Traveller) Founder Fitness Freedom Athletes

I Spent 8+ Years As A Personal Trainer Hating The Ego-Driven Gym Culture…

Every day I saw busy adults struggle to make sessions, feel intimidated by the environment, and regard the gym as ‘a chore’ not enjoyment.

I knew there had to be a better way.

So, in 2016, I left the gym world for good and built Fitness Freedom Athletes around one idea:

You can build serious lean muscle and transform your body using just a suspension trainer anywhere. No gym. No complicated equipment. No ‘diet fads’.

As a father of two and fitness coach who believes training should enhance your life (not consume it), I’m passionate about sharing this with you.

Here’s to your Fitness Freedom!

Start here by choosing your Program

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Coach Adam Fitness Freedom Athletes

About Fitness Freedom Athletes

Hello, my friend... I'm Coach Adam (aka TRX Traveller)

I Spent 8+ Years As A Personal Trainer Hating The Ego-Driven Gym Culture…

Every day I saw busy adults struggle to make sessions, feel intimidated by the environment, and regard the gym as 'a chore' not enjoyment.

I knew there had to be a better way.

So, in 2016, I left the gym world for good and built Fitness Freedom Athletes around one idea:

You can build serious lean muscle and transform your body using just a suspension trainer anywhere. No gym. No complicated equipment. No 'diet fads'.

As a father of two and fitness coach who believes training should enhance your life (not consume it), I'm passionate about sharing this with you.

Here's to your Fitness Freedom!

Start here by choosing your Program

The 7 skills to TRX better handbook

Get Your FREE Copy Of The '7 Skills To Build Muscle With A Suspension Trainer Handbook!'

Learn the 7 skills to build lean muscle faster and easier with suspension training. Just tell me where to send it...

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I'm new to TRX Suspension Training, where shall I start?

First up, welcome! Out of all the millions of websites out there thank you for visiting this one. Secondly, your interest and motivation will change your life. It did for me and thousands of fitness freedom athletes in our community of all ages. If you have a suspension trainer (like a TRX)...

The best place to start would be with the Beginner Suspension Trainer Total Body Transformation Program. It’s the most popular Program and will teach you the effective muscle-centric technique to transform your body and begin your life-changing journey.

If you’re seeking a resistance band Program, get stuck into the Band Muscle Pump Program which is for beginners/intermediates to learn the band muscle-centric technique and transform their body with just one resistance band.

What makes your coaching different from other suspension training resources?

Maybe you’ve tried suspension training before and it didn’t work, so you wonder how is this different?

Here’s the truth: You didn’t fail. The technique failed you.

Richard is 50 years old. He’d tried everything for his knee mobility problems. When he started my program, he told me: “I was skeptical because I’d tried suspension trainers before with no results.”

But here’s what changed everything… Richard learned Muscle-Centric Technique instead of the mindless “movement-centric” stuff he’d been doing from YouTube videos.

The difference – Instead of multiple muscles sharing the load (which creates zero growth stimulus), he learned to isolate individual muscles.

The result? In his own words: “I have dropped 12 lbs and gained 90% of my mobility back. The strength I have gained has helped significantly.”

Yes, you may have tried suspension training before. But you’ve never tried my suspension training technique. The one that actually builds lean muscle and transforms bodies.

  • What you tried before: Movement-centric technique (multiple muscles sharing load)
  •  What these Programs teach: Muscle-centric technique (isolated muscle overload)
  • Why it matters: Only isolated muscles get the stimulus needed for real growth

The reframe: Your previous “failure” actually proves you need the RIGHT technique, not the RIGHT equipment.

Do you have any suspension training courses or Workout Programs?

Yes absolutely, I have The Fitness Freedom Suspension Trainer & Resistance Band Programs for all levels and fitness goals. They will teach you the effective 'Muscle-Centric Technique' that will transform your body! And cover everything from nutrition to mindset and performance execution.

PLUS, once you become a Fitness Freedom Athlete, you'll get access to a tun of member only resources and bonuses within the Fitness Freedom Athletes platform.

I got you covered for every challenge and every goal.

What if I'm too out of shape?

Plot twist: Being out of shape is your biggest advantage.

Joe said it perfectly: “Outstanding program. It is perfectly paced for true beginners who are looking for a way to start getting fit with a program that pushes you, but doesn’t ask too much too soon.”

The Programs have two phases specifically designed for this:

Phase 1 (4 weeks): Technique mastery and building your foundation Phase 2 (4 weeks): Transformation and strength building

Matt started overweight and out of shape. Result? “Lost 40+Lbs, getting lean, and showing great definition!”

Ben, another beginner, said: “I’ve been delighted with the Program…. thoughtful and well-rounded!”

  • Beginner advantage #1: No bad habits to unlearn
  • Beginner advantage #2: Fastest initial gains
  • Beginner advantage #3: Most dramatic visible changes

The reframe: Starting “out of shape” means you’ll see the most dramatic transformation.

There are so many 'scammers' online, how can I trust you?

I guess at first, you shouldn’t. Trust is built and earned over time. Check out my reviews and success stories so you can get a better understanding of what I am about and who I help.

Or stalk me on social so you can see that this is my passion and mission in life:

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Where are you based?

I am mainly based in London, UK. But I love travelling, specifically backpacking our beautiful world and experiencing other cultures... So most likely I may be based on the side of a mountain or little beach hut. Perhaps I’ll even meet you in person at some point… That would be just awesome!

Adam Atkinson TRX Traveller Fitness Freedom AthletesAdam Atkinson TRX Traveller Fitness Freedom Athletes

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