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The Last Diet Podcast 🎙️
The Last Diet Podcast is for people who want to rebuild a strong, athletic body that supports their life — not consumes it.
We talk training, nutrition, structure, and identity for people in their 30s–50s who’ve been fit before and want a clear, sustainable way to perform well again in work, family, and life.
No extremes. No gimmicks. Just standards, structure, and long-term performance.
Welcome to the Last Dight Podcast, the last podcast you'll ever need to create the last diet you ever need. I'm your host, Mike Finnegan. Let's dive in. Right. Team, team, team.
Speaker 1:We are back with another podcast. We're back with another hero of a client. My main man, she and Foley, is on the other end of the of the of the the call. As always, guys, we're gonna just chat through change your earnings there. And, hopefully, we can give you some insights in terms of, like, where he's been, where he's come from, and any tips he can he can give to you as well to to his journey.
Speaker 1:So before we get stuck into Shane, how are things?
Speaker 2:Oh, it's good. My call is good. Can't complain. Can't complain at all.
Speaker 1:Just home from a busy a busy day of work as we're as we were saying.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So we're we're both out here in Vancouver, guys. Shane plays football with me. And I look forward to talking about this journey, right, because I can't remember how many months exactly it's been. Shane must be it must be eight months or more now. When you reached out first, was very much a case of just trying to kind of get a bit of structure and get back into get back in shape.
Speaker 1:But I'd love just before we start, maybe just give a brief introduction to yourself, just your a small bit of a background, and then we can kinda get stuck into the the nitty gritty.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Perfect. Name is Shane. I'm from, this place called Drumohare in Litrum. Yep.
Speaker 2:You know, '27. What I do for work, I'm currently building swimming pools at the minute but before that, I was a chemical engineer but that's just the way it goes.
Speaker 1:Not many many Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah, I'm gonna play a bit of game of football, a bit of soccer. Recently got into a bit of running.
Speaker 1:Nice. We'll through that. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah. That's that's basically it.
Speaker 1:Nice. Nice. Nice. Nice. Yeah.
Speaker 1:We'll definitely get you we'll get into all that because there's a lot to kinda delve into. So I suppose just just I always kinda give people just a bit of background, Shane, in terms of, like, the where you are and, like, how it was impacting yourself. So, like, before starting, right, what what was the most frustrating thing for you around your your fitness or your just general routine with holding?
Speaker 2:I suppose the most frustrating thing would have been like, I could never get, I could never get into a routine or I could never could never get any structure into my into my board nutrition and and, workouts. And like it was always I've I've I've maybe I'd start I'd start with I'd go up with the mindset. Oh yeah, I'm going to I'm going to hit it now. I'm going to. This is it.
Speaker 2:And it just never happened. I'm like, oh, two weeks and then I call it quits. It's just yeah, that's where I started and then I remember I think I just reached out to you one day and said, look, I'd like a bit of guidance. And yeah, fair play. Yeah, it's it's it's going well at the minute but
Speaker 1:Yeah, we'll delve into that for sure. Like talk me through things, Shayne, because I remember like our first few conversations, the big thing that stood out to me was that like you really felt like there was more in you. You really felt like you were capable of achieving more. But as you said, it just seemed like you couldn't find something that would stick for you. Like, why do you think that was a quite had you tried anything in the past?
Speaker 1:Is there anything like that? I don't know. That held you back from actually staying consistent with it.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I definitely I definitely put a lot of it down to, I suppose, was supposed to drink drinking is is the main thing. Like, I've I've been I've accustomed to a couple of times the weekend now. And I still am but I've I've I've definitely I've definitely changed my my approach to it. I'd say like III used to maybe I've gone out two nights in the weekend where I've tried to cut that back to maybe one.
Speaker 2:Obviously, there's there's there's the odd occasion where there's still two but my my approach to it is definitely better. I've I've I've I've found that I've been able to prepare prepare prior to my nights out which is which is definitely benefited getting back into my routine during the week. And it's it's it's it's been it's been really the the stepping stone into into where I am today at the minute.
Speaker 1:Nice. So like you would have said that in the past, would have been very much like, you obviously enjoy fitness and you obviously were, like, big in the football and and and sport in general. Yeah. But would you have said that, like, it was just that inconsistency around the weekends with the drinking and then obviously eating the fouls and stuff like that? It just it just
Speaker 2:stops you
Speaker 1:from actually getting physically fit enough to to do well.
Speaker 2:A 100%. Like, you'd yeah. It'll be like, I'd maybe go out on Friday, maybe Saturday, and then you'd be just looking up. I'd come around Monday then. I have no interest in in going to the gym or or doing anything but I've now found that I've I've I've drive myself to go out and make make sure I get get out and get to the gym.
Speaker 2:And as I mentioned there, my meal meal preps done before the weekend. Which which is which is a huge boost. That's that's one of them that's one of the biggest contributing factors I find at the minute to to to where I am currently. But yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah. It's it is it is definitely it is definitely important, obviously, that the planning setting that we we'll definitely delve into that as well because I know there's a lot of people listening to this probably now and they're just, like, thinking, yeah, that's that's very much me. I just can't get consistency, and a lot of it can be done through weekends, whether that is drinking or just just in general, just the the eating changes. Just before we go into, like, how we did this and and what you're currently achieving, what what do you think, like, was the driver, genuine driver? I know it's bit of deeper one, but, like, what was the general driver of actually reaching out?
Speaker 1:Like like, what was the kind of internal feeling in you to know that that to know that you had more in you and that you you actually wanted to kind of do better than what you were doing?
Speaker 2:Definitely was the main driver was it's kind of a more so a lifestyle change. Like, I was just looking at myself, what I was doing. I was going out, then I'd be eating a takeaway. I wanted to get out of that kind of that rut, which I have definitely come out of it. And like that, that was it.
Speaker 2:It's just my own health really going forward. Was like, geez, I need to need to change something. And also I wanted to get into some sort of shape to to benefit me playing football, both soccer Gaelic. That's that was that was my main driving drive that was the main driver to it. Like, that was Mhmm.
Speaker 2:That's that's that's that's all it was down to, really.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So, basically, you just knew you knew you had more in you, and you just wanted to see it, like, what you could actually achieve it.
Speaker 2:A 100%.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Nice. Nice. Nice. So let's let's actually talk about that.
Speaker 1:So, like, what do you think specifically clicked over the last, I think it's eight months, over the last eight months that's that's made you I don't know. I just feel like this is I won't say it was easy because it's obviously you've done a lot of work. Like, you've done crazy about the work, but it has been enjoyable. It is like, is there anything that clicked specifically that's made it easier?
Speaker 2:I suppose the the like the new growing love for the gym is definitely one thing that's that's made this click like I've I've I would have never been a big big man to go to the gym and like I might have gone sporadically but I never would have been ever consistent with the gym and it's just I suppose a new new newfound love for it and I was like like I could see the changes going like month to month and I was like it was a driving factor to it where I was like, fuck. I didn't wanna I'm gonna stick at this. But, yeah, that was definitely that was definitely the big big driving factor to it.
Speaker 1:And can I ask you on that? Right? Look. We'll we'll talk to the results in a second. But, like, had you ever had that feeling before?
Speaker 1:Like, have ever seen the results kind of come true before when you were doing these things?
Speaker 2:No. No. I'd never seen it previously. Never never seen any of these results previously. Like, I I suppose I never really give it a chance to to to to to see it.
Speaker 2:Like, I I've I came into this journey with you and it was like first first thing off, like, I think you you sat me down. You're like, like, it's it's it's a journey. Like, it's not these these things aren't gonna happen overnight, which which is which I kind of previous, I would have always been like, jeez, I'll go out of nowhere and get into shape in a month. It's like whereas now I know I know that's not that's not the case. Like, it's it's just complete like, you have to completely change your mindset about your your nutrition, your training, everything.
Speaker 2:Like, it's it's And that's what I've done and starting to reap the rewards from it now at the minute.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely. I just happened because I think everyone can resonate with that. It's like just wanting to get there. It's like, I just want to the rock, I'll keep up everything. Like, give up the drink.
Speaker 1:I'll give up the I'll give up the the takeaways. I'll give up the food, and I'll I'll go hard at it. But as you know, it just it doesn't it's not enjoyable, but it just doesn't doesn't work. Like, what what do you feel has changed in terms of your relationship with this? Like, you know, you talked about the the drinking stuff there and the food.
Speaker 1:Like, what what do you feel has been the big kind of change with your relationship with that that's helped you?
Speaker 2:Who's changed? Just a bit blank here now. No. I'm just I'm just
Speaker 1:actually intrigued because I feel especially when it comes to the drinking, I know, again, like, it it can it can be so easy to it can be so easy to give up everything. And I know we haven't done that. Like I said, you said you still had a good few you still had a good few sessions. So I get a better way of kinda maybe asking the question is, like, how have you balanced it? Like, how have you managed to still have your takeaways, still have your your drink while getting the results that you have?
Speaker 2:Yeah. Well, look, I would have been fairly excessive on, let's say, takeaways. Like, after a night, I would I would have been I would have been three takeaways a a day. Like, it was fucking breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Whereas whereas I've just I've I've literally clawed it back to one where it's like and I don't feel guilty about having that one takeaway which is which is probably which is a massive factor to it as well not feeling guilty about these things like you you you have to you have to be able to treat yourself too like even with the drinking too like there was no way I would have ever been able to cut out the drinking.
Speaker 2:Like, it just it just wouldn't be my character now. But clawing it back that that that little bit has has has given me that like, I I just I know I I get more energy during the week. It's it's it's it's a big it's a big it's a big difference you can find in your own body. Even just clawing it back that little bit, like, it's it's it's it's crazy what it can do to you.
Speaker 1:Mhmm. I love it. Yeah. So, basically, you just kinda pull away from that kind of all or nothing mindset where like it's either I'm drinking or else I'm off it totally like where like I know I like the crack with the GEA culture as well. We always go through this.
Speaker 1:So the drinking bans and championships. It's like we'll go hard. I don't know. We'll train hard, and we'll we'll eat nothing so bad. It's like it just it just creates such a a poor relationship with the whole kind of lifestyle change that that comes that comes with.
Speaker 1:Definitely. Definitely. Definitely. So, like, let's let's kind of lock into what you are happiest with. Like, over the last eight months, like, what would you say you're proudest of and what what what would you say are your biggest achievements are?
Speaker 2:I suppose a lot of it was losing the initial weight that I lost. I lost weight fairly quickly at the start. I remember, and I remember just being extremely kind of proud of that. But I suppose, one of the biggest fears now is I actually feel a bit of self confidence in my own body. Like, it's it's it's it's a big, big, big plus.
Speaker 2:Like, it's and it's a big driving factor when you start feeling that self confidence to keep keep keep going, keep keep the keep the foot down and and just lock in like it's it's it was it was as simple as that really for me. I love
Speaker 1:it. Yeah. So that's all class, man. I I love that. I I really do like because, yeah, you know, the wind scales is is one thing, but, like, to have self confidence, like you said, and being able to actually see the results from doing the work and loving the work as well.
Speaker 1:It's class class when you put in when you put all the things together. And this is why, Shane, I love telling this story with you because you've done this in the right way. Like you have got the results from doing the hard work, but you've also allowed yourself that flexibility to enjoy your social life still. You've enjoyed your nights out still. You enjoy your takeaways still.
Speaker 1:But you weren't afraid of the hard work either. And that to me is everything because it's like the hard work doesn't necessarily mean it has to be torture. Like it's as you say, you're enjoying it because it's fitting into your life and you're seeing the results from it. But it's just finding that sweet balance because most people generally that want to get in shape actually enjoy exercise to some degree. But it's just when you're not seeing the results, that's when it can really, really hit you.
Speaker 1:Talk me through the the one one huge thing you probably underplayed as well is, like, you obviously did the the half marathon, which is in a in a good really good time as well in the 10 k. And, also, the performances on on the pitch as well has been has been massive. So I I know you lost the weight initially, That was great. And we got really consistent in the gym. But how do you feel it has changed your overall performance levels?
Speaker 1:And just how has that been for you?
Speaker 2:100%. It's definitely changed my performance levels. I would have never ever thought of running a half marathon in my life and I never really thought I would but I I remember starting the program with you and I think a month in I was like I'm gonna I'm gonna set a kind of a my son just to keep me kind of locked in in a way as well. And I was like Jesus if I do this half marathon in under two hours I'd be happy but I even smashed that. Was I think I don't know, one one forty two is what I'd done and then yeah.
Speaker 2:But even performance on the pitch, I can like, I don't know when the last time I felt this good playing football. I'd say maybe seven years ago. Like, I'm going that's nearly going back to when I was a teenager. Like, I've never I I find no one. I'm on the pitch.
Speaker 2:I'm not not blowing. I'm not like, I'm I'm I'm getting around the pitch, and I I I I've I've I've never feel like my tank's empty in that kind of sense. Yeah, that's definitely been a huge plus for me in this journey too.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And I can definitely, definitely confirm that like I obviously play with you. It's just it's it's always to see him and I get so excited about this right because like I have worked with people in the past that are very like it's just way focused and look it's fine. Obviously that's a big part of the journey for someone. But I do love having other milestones and I love that you did that.
Speaker 1:Like you've set yourself challenges and you're like, you know what, I'll see what I can do. I'll see how we can test myself. And the half marathon was obviously like a big one. And it was a little bit out of your comfort zone, whatever. But then to see the trend or the transformation on the field as well, like not even fitness obviously is really good and speed and everything.
Speaker 1:But even just like your your athletic ability on the field is like getting up for the ball and so I was like it's it's really cool because it's obviously a lot of down to your your your physical shape now, but just even confident yourself as well to know that you can achieve things. You can you can you can do this is is is is mad. So just just last thing before we we close our change. I don't want to I don't want to keep keep you going going too long with this. But what do you feel like, have you any, like, specific advice to help people bounce?
Speaker 1:I know a lot of people struggle with this balance that you talked about, right, with the weekends. I know you mentioned maybe a bit of prepping in advance, but with your weekend specifically, because in Vancouver, it is busy, and it it will continue to be busy going into summer. Is there anything that's helped you to just manage it better?
Speaker 2:Definitely. Like, I'll go back to nutrition there again. Like like I said, this is, this is a huge thing. Managing my nutrition was a massive thing for me. Like, there's there's been like, even with work there, I could be working away, and I could be called to work.
Speaker 2:Let's say, on the day to go up maybe up to Whistler, which is two hours away from where I live. So I like, and it could be gone away for a week, but to have a bit of meal prep done, like, on a Sunday or even a Thursday or Friday leading into the weekend where if something does go pear shaped at the weekend or you're called to work on a Monday, you have that in place where you can just fall back on your food. You're still eating the right foods. You're still trying to get your sessions in while you're away, if you don't, I'd never feel guilty about not getting a session in when I'm away, which is a huge thing to not put yourself down for missing sessions or missing or even a cheat day like treating yourself, like there should be no reason to put yourself down for that, which is something I've learned from working with you as well. You'll have them days.
Speaker 2:I suppose for anyone that's listening that is in a similar position as myself, don't shy away about reaching out and seeking a bit of help with these kind of things. It's definitely been life changing for me 100%.
Speaker 1:I love your I actually I ring it back to one of your first trips. You wanted your first trips to the store when you were actually working. And I remember that was you were flying through it, and then that that was your first leg. We call it slip, if you wanna call it that. But I remember having that conversation with you where, like, you're going to you're gonna go through these periods.
Speaker 1:Like, you're gonna go through periods where you need to need to learn as you go and you need to understand that you're going to make you're going to make mistakes, you're going to slip. I I still slip. But a big thing I always bring it back to shame was the was the consistency, Like, if you do the right things more often than not and you don't beat yourself up for the slips, you're going to be fine. And like signs on, you know, you lost the weight. You got in the shape.
Speaker 1:You're still working obviously towards bigger goals. But it's just been because your consistency levels have been so high for the majority of this without being getting too caught up on the, you know, on the on the little steps that that that come that come in between as well. So thanks for going through all that. And I knew you I know you've already kind of you've already kind of touched on this, but, like, anyone that is stuck. Right?
Speaker 1:And I don't look. Okay. People can reach out, and they can they can obviously ask for help. But is there any other advice you'd give someone that is stuck that maybe potentially has been like you in the past where you just you just can't get any consistency going at all? Is there any advice you could give them to just even get them started in the right direction?
Speaker 2:Just even even even start start small, like, just just get out and get get get a get a run-in or get a get a gym session in and gradually work in. Like, I remember when I started my nutrition was was still was still terrible for the first month. Like, it was I was still eating bad food, but I was consistently kinda training a bit, which I I I had never done before, but just to just get out and do something something small. It's it's it's it's mad what a what a small bit of consistency can do for the mind. Like, it's it like, and all the rest of it will come after that.
Speaker 2:Like, it's it's just just just get started and and then it'll all follow.
Speaker 1:I love, I love, love, love that. There's two big things you said like that I wanna bring it back to. You said at the start, like, just make, you know, make some changes. Like, it doesn't need to be perfect. Like, you go on from two days to one day drinking.
Speaker 1:So it might seem to someone like that's crazy, but it's it's such a big thing in the grand scheme of things. Because even for yourself, that mentality of I've made a change. I'm improving on this. Like you said, with the food, it wasn't perfect for a while, but you were gradually improving it. You're improving it to the point where now it's it's it's become second nature.
Speaker 1:So that's major.
Speaker 2:I was I was I was making things that I'd I'd never made before, and I think that my my mother was getting a bit worried before. But we're like, where where who's cooking these meals? Was like, mom, I've I've I've changed I've changed my ways a wee bit.
Speaker 1:Thought there was a new woman.
Speaker 2:There was
Speaker 1:a new woman.
Speaker 2:You're like, taking over. Confirmed there's no new woman. Well
Speaker 1:well, you're good you're a you're a fine cook now for any female listening that want to well, what the what the fine chef knows. Okay, guys. I think that's I think that's perfect. I I I really, really enjoyed that. And I just just to finish it up, guys, like, again, Shane's journey is is like it's it's what I want most people to kind of, like, take heart from.
Speaker 1:It's that it's that like not I'm I'm not gonna have to be perfect with this. I'm not going to have to give up everything to to get there. But it's it's really just getting back to the basics of, okay, let's let's go improve these things. Let's work on these things. And overall, the impact that I can have on you, you know, like to to just reach your potential in the things you're doing.
Speaker 1:It's it's it's it's mad, but start small, like it's like she said, start small, start working on the the things that will will help you. And then before, know, you'll be running half marathons and marathons and lording lording with fields.
Speaker 2:I don't know.
Speaker 1:There you go. Okay, guys. We're gonna shut down, Shane. Thanks so much for the for the chat. Really, really appreciate And as always, guys, if anyone's any questions on anything we talked about, let me know.
Speaker 1:Chat you soon. Thanks for tuning in to latest episode of the last diet podcast. If you want to inquire about how you can join the last diet lifestyle and find out more about our coaching, then the show notes below has a link to coaching inquiries. Just fill that out, and we'll be in contact as soon as possible.
Speaker 2:See you
Speaker 1:in the next one.