My name is Danny, and I am the owner of Danny Barrett Fitness.
From shy, body-conscious, quiet kid at school... to travelling the world, visiting 65 countries and presenting health seminars to thousands of people every weekโฆ this is my story.
I suffered significantly from asthma as a kid - I remember my parents staying up all night with my nebuliser so I could breathe - I had so much medication that my skeleton was constantly two years behind everyone at school. I was incredibly body-conscious and hated the way my clothes didnโt fit.
I always had a passion for sports growing up as a kid - my family is football crazy and my dad took my brother and I to watch either Portsmouth or Gosport every weekend.
It was my passion for sports that pushed me in the direction of studying for a sports studies degree, but it wasnโt until I picked up a set of dumbbells for the first time aged 19 that I knew fitness was what I wanted to do.
Transforming my physique and obtaining that body confidence levelled up all other areas of my life and inspired me to want to help others. After my degree, I studied all my personal training qualifications and landed a personal trainer position with Princess Cruises.
After a few great years on the Coral Princess, it was a huge honour to be transhipped to be fitness director on the Regal Princess - the flagship for Princess Cruises sailing out of Florida around the Caribbean with 4500 new passengers every week. In addition to presenting my seminars, I also taught yoga, spin and various other classes while visiting 6 out of 7 continents (Antarctica still awaits).
I still hold Aruba and Alaska close to the heart as my favourite destinations so far.
When the global pandemic took effect in 2020, I returned to my hometown of Gosport where I started my own business Danny Barrett Fitness, applying everything I had learned throughout my career and specialising in body transformations.
Itโs been a crazy journey and Iโve now been a PT for over a decadeโฆ but here I am, still striving to help every person I meet either in person or online discover their full potential in life through their fitness journey!
Youโve probably heard โdonโt eat after 8 PM or youโll gain fat.โ But is it true? Letโs break it down.
๐ฌ Does eating late cause fat gain?
โ No, meal timing doesnโt override total daily intake.
โ Fat gain happens when you eat more calories than you burnโno matter the time.
โ However, late-night eating CAN lead to weight gain IF it causes overeating.
๐ฅ How to eat late at night without ruining progress:
โ๏ธ Plan your daily intake โ Save calories for later meals if needed.
โ๏ธ Prioritise protein & fibre โ Slows digestion & prevents cravings.
โ๏ธ Avoid ultra-processed snacks โ They spike hunger & make overeating easy.
๐จ What to AVOID?
โ Mindless snacking in front of the TV.
โ High-carb, high-fat meals before bed (can disrupt sleep).
โ Thinking meal timing is more important than total intake.
๐ก Itโs not WHEN you eat, itโs HOW MUCH you eat.
Being in a position to be able to exercise is one of life's greatest gifts.
If you're fortunate enough to be in this position... don't take it for granted.
Tips for a better incline dumbbell pressโฆ
1๏ธโฃ Set the Bench at the Right Angle
* Adjust the bench to a 30โ45ยฐ incline. A steeper angle shifts the emphasis to your shoulders, while a lower angle focuses more on your upper chest.
* Sit with your back firmly against the bench and feet planted on the floor for stability.
2๏ธโฃ Use a Full Range of Motion
* Lower the dumbbells until they are just above chest level, keeping your elbows at a 45ยฐ angle to your body.
* The cue I give my clients is to imagine trying to touch your biceps with the dumbbells - we want to really maximise that deep stretch on the chest at the bottom of the range of motion.
* Press the dumbbells upward in a controlled manner, bringing them together at the top without allowing them to touch.
3๏ธโฃ Focus on Stability and Control
* Keep your chest elevated, shoulder blades retracted and pressed into the bench to prevent excessive shoulder involvement.
Our ancestors used to walk 15-17,000 steps a day.
Today, the average person walks 3000 steps a day.
The easiest way to improve your health is to go for a walk outside in nature.
One of the very best bicep exercisesโฆ Face-Away Cable Curlsโฆ
1๏ธโฃ Set the Cable Correctly
Attach the handle or bar to the lowest setting of a cable stack.
2๏ธโฃStand facing away from the machine with the cable behind you, ensuring constant tension even in the stretched position.
3๏ธโฃPerfect Your Stance
Stand tall with one foot slightly forward for stabilityโฆ Keep your chest up, shoulders back, and core engaged throughout the movement.
4๏ธโฃFocus on the Stretch
Let your arms extend fully without locking your elbows to emphasise the stretched position.
Feel the tension in your biceps as they lengthen before initiating the curl.
5๏ธโฃControlled Movement
Curl the handle slowly while keeping your elbows stationaryโdonโt let them drift forward.
Lower the weight with the same control to maintain tension.
Squeeze at the Top: Pause briefly at the top of the curl and squeeze your biceps hard for maximum contraction.
6๏ธโฃ Tempo Control:
Try a 3:1:1 tempo (3 seconds to lower, 1 second to curl, 1 second to squeeze) to maximize time under tension.
You don't think about brushing your teeth or washing every day.
You do it on autopilot (I hope).
Exercise should be part of your daily hygiene like brushing your teeth and taking a shower.
If you woke up this morning, your family is healthy, you have a roof over your head, drinking water, food on the table, and internet access your life is pretty damn good.
Trade your expectations for appreciation and it's all in the world instantly.