The Angry Vegan
Vegan Personal Trainer and Strength Coach
Strength Training with Liam – Old-School Lifting, Real-World Strength
Welcome to The Angry Vegan Personal Training, where I, Liam O’Brien, take the usual personal training nonsense and chuck it straight in the bin.
No gimmicks, no six-pack shortcuts, no ‘get ripped in 30 days’ rubbish - just proper, old-school strength training that actually works.
I’ve been coaching for nearly 20 years, and I can tell you this: real strength isn’t built on flashy gym gear, high-tech gadgets, or TikTok workouts. It’s built on showing up, putting in the work, and picking up heavy things. And no, that doesn’t mean strutting around the gym flexing in the mirror - it means training with purpose, getting stronger for life, and building a body that still works in years to come, not just for a summer holiday photo.
Built Under the Bar – What Years of Lifting Have Taught Me
I haven’t just dabbled in strength sports - I’ve lived them. I competed at European level in kettlebell sport, coached and captained the biggest and most successful kettlebell team in the UK, and earned my fair share of bruises in strongman and powerlifting competitions. Not just “had a go” - actually held my own.
And when I wasn’t shifting heavy iron, I was running marathons across deserts - literally. The Sahara Desert Marathon is one of the hardest endurance races in the world, and I finished mid-table - not bad for a bloke who is clearly built more for lifting to running.
Now, if that all sounds impressive, let’s balance it out with my spectacularly short-lived triathlon career. Turns out, swimming like a brick and cycling like a toddler who’s just had his stabilisers taken off isn’t a great foundation for success.
So, I stuck to what I do best - coaching people to get stronger, move better, and train in a way that actually works.
These experiences taught me one thing: getting strong isn’t about lifting the heaviest weight once, it’s about building a body that stays strong for life. That’s what I coach. No gimmicks, no shortcuts - just real, structured training designed to keep you lifting, moving, and improving year after year.
Why Old-School Lifting? Because It Works.
The fitness industry churns out new fads faster than I can finish a cup of tea, but one thing has always been true - old-school strength training gets results. Lifting heavy, getting stronger, and staying consistent beats whatever overpriced gimmick is currently being peddled on Instagram.
Think of it like a trusty old Land Rover - not the flashiest thing on the road, but built to last, with strength and reliability you can actually count on. Whether you’re training in our private gym in Huddersfield or following my online coaching from home, this no-nonsense approach is what actually works.
Tackling Low Testosterone: Why Strength Training Is Your Best Friend
One of the things nobody warns you about when you hit 35? Testosterone starts packing its bags. Muscle mass drops, energy levels dip, and if you’re not careful, your waistline expands while your motivation shrinks.
But here’s the good news: strength training is one of the most effective ways to naturally boost testosterone levels. Studies, including those from the British Journal of Sports Medicine, show that lifting heavy and training consistently can increase testosterone production, improve mental clarity, and keep you from feeling like an extra in a Werther’s Original advert.
At The Angry Vegan, we don’t just train for aesthetics - we train for longevity. Whether in the gym or online, our programmes are designed to keep you strong, energetic, and hormonally balanced, so you’re not just surviving your forties, fifties, and beyond - you’re thriving.
And Let’s Not Forget the Ladies
Strength training isn’t just for blokes. If you’re a woman navigating menopause and beyond, lifting weights is one of the best tools you’ve got to stay strong, lean, and full of energy. It’s not about getting ‘bulky’ (that old myth needs putting in the bin) but about preserving muscle, protecting bone density, and managing hormonal fluctuations.
Fran, my coach in patience and my partner in strength, specialises in coaching women through this stage, helping them stay strong, confident, and in control of their bodies. Whether you train in our Huddersfield gym or through our online coaching, the right programme can transform how you feel, move, and live.
Tailored Training: Built for You, Not Pulled Off Google
Every lifter who trains with me has a different starting point and a different goal. Whether you’re walking into the gym for the first time or you’ve already got a decent deadlift but want to push further, my job is to make sure your training is designed for you - not plucked off the internet and copy-pasted into an app.
For beginners, it’s about building confidence, mastering the basics, and creating habits that last. For the more experienced, it’s about fine-tuning technique, pushing boundaries, and making sure progress never stalls. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all operation - it’s a training plan that fits you like a well-worn lifting belt.
Personalised, Not Pre-Packaged
✔️ Battle-Hardened Methods: Nearly 20 years of coaching means I don’t mess around with gimmicks. This is training that works.
✔️ Your Journey, My Map: Your goals are unique, so your training should be too. Bespoke, structured, and built for long-term success.
✔️ Aging with Strength: This isn’t about being the strongest man in the care home - it’s about staying strong and maintaining your quality off life.
Be Part of Something Bigger
Strength training is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. When you train with The Angry Vegan, whether in person or online, you’re joining a community of like-minded people who train hard, push themselves, and actually give a damn about progress. No gimmicks, no egos - just people getting stronger together.
So, if you’re ready for proper coaching, real results, and maybe the occasional sarcastic remark, I’ve got the weights ready.