Who are we

We are a privately owned online physical training and services organization. We are obsessively committed to helping you to achieve your health and fitness goals.

We’ve taken our knowledge, skills and aptitudes from decades of work in corporate executive roles and management in global organisations and applied it to fitness.

The results? Effective, data driven, principle based training, linked to advanced technology stacks and seamlessly delivered to the palm of your hand every day.

Our Promise

We will endeavor to provide the highest quality service we can to you. We will never sell your information, cross sell you products or basically take advantage of your trust in us. We will keep your best interests and goals at heart. . We are a small group of very strong and driven people, we will never fail to be true to our values.

Group Training Methodology

“Our methodology and culture was forged in the same manner as sports teams, military units and fight camps to create epicenters of excellence, camaraderie and ultimately Health & Fitness Success. We’re big on results, not excuses. That comes down to the standards we drive and the expectations we have for each other to hold those standards”
— Stephen Mooney

Coach & Founder

Stephen Mooney
Founder & Head Coach, Hard Way Fitness

In 2012, I was sick, weak, and burnt out. My body ached, my career stalled, and I had no energy to fight back. There was no big breakthrough — just years of trial, error, and starting over.

Hard Way Fitness began as a personal mission: to build strength, discipline, and self-respect when everything else felt like it was falling apart. No shortcuts. No fluff. Just doing the work — every day, no matter what. I’d tried all the hacks and none worked, they just made me worse.

Hard Way Fitness grew into something bigger. A way to help others find their edge — from the boardroom to the gym. Every failure, every mistake shaped the business I run today.

We are seeking members who want to develop the discipline and drive to do the work in an environment that holds them accountable to maintain and drive our standards.

Qualifications:
– Personal Training, Strength & Conditioning – Setanta College
– Masters in Finance & Strategic Management First Class Honours – UCD Ireland
– BA (Hons) Business Management & Web Design First Class Honours – DBS Ireland

UCD University College Dublin | DBS Dublin Business School

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Our Clients Results Tell the Story

  • "Hard Way Fitness took a difficult set of requirements, that limited a lot of common training methods, and found ways and means to still get the job done. Everything I needed was in the palm of my hand with the TrainHeroic app and coaches were on hand for feedback and support

    Liam, Retired Engineer Power Generation

  • "Maintaining fitness was difficult considering my desk job. The discipline and routine of this programme ensured I was fit and ready. Staying disciplined over the programme thought me resilience and there was real accountability. It made showing up for training so much easier and effective".

    Eric , Founder Velacor

  • "Big lifts, big numbers, and big gains. Having a programme tailored to me is an Awesome feeling, TrainHeroic shows me how I'm doing and combining the Hardway Fitness has given me a great awareness of my ability and my potential, kept me very motivated to stay on track."

    Jeff, FX Trader

  • Wsparcie, cenne wskazówki i precyzyjnie opracowany plan treningowy od Hard Way Fitness pomogły mi w przygotowaniach do służby wojskowej i osiągnięciu zamierzonych celów. Łatwo było mi pogodzić pełnoetatową pracę, obowiązki rodzinne i przygotowania do dodatkowej roli w wojsku.

    Katarzyna, Wojska Obrony Terytorialnej

  • "Hardway Fitness has changed my training style to a much more efficient and better method. Using the TrainHeroic app made sessions very easy to follow and kept me accountable. I Would highly recommend Hardway Fitness for all levels of skills and experience."

    Susan, Senior Consultant

  • "I've used the Hard Way Fitness for my training needs for several years now, including before, during and after two pregnancies. It's enabled me to train long term, stay injury free and keep fit. Can't recommend the Hard Way Fitness enough for online training and support."

    Agnieszka, Corporate Actions

  • "Stephen from Hard Way Fitness and I did our Strength and Conditioning, Functional Screening and Personal Training Courses together, he is all about the 'Personal' aspect first and foremost making sure programmes fit and work with you, and training second, not to say the Training isn't also top class".

    Michael, Founder Surf'SUP SurfSchool

  • "Stephen at the Hard Way Fitness trained the senior exiles team for a couple of sessions as part of warm-up preparation for training mid-season, feedback was always positive and there was a particular lunging, squatting and push-up sequence the lads won't forget anytime soon.".

    Dublin City Exiles Rugby League Team

  • "Working with the Hard Way Fitness, we focused on using strength training to improve my running abilities, specifically for marathons. The programme and training gave are top class and I was able to improve my time and we worked on some weaker areas too so I felt more confident."

    Louise, Legal Counsel

  • "4 kids means time is of the essence for me when it comes to training. Hard Way Fitness analysed my week and found two spots for me to train and with a little bit of planning I was able to implement it, the accountability helped a lot. The Programme was exactly what I needed".

    Małgorzata, Civil Servant

  • "Stephen and I were in the same army recruit platoons throughout training and beyond. Stephen always displayed very high levels of fitness and resilience thanks to the way he designed and implemented his own training. A lot of people took notice and he supported many of us in achieving the fitness standards"

    Ilze, Emergency Medical Technician

  • Following basic training, I wanted to build on my fitness gains, Hard Way Fitness took what I knew in terms of calisthenics and ramped it up, I also learned technique and proper form for kettlebell training, sandbags and other equipment in a very short space of time. I know now the standard I need to beat.

    Marcin, Polish Army Soldier

  • Stephen & I studied at Setanta College for our PT and S&C qualifications, he was all about the detail but keeping things simply and straightforward for clients, he's a strong communicator and knows how to drive a person to the outcome they want, in the time they have"

    Philip , Founder Philip Byrne Online Coaching

  • With a demanding job and three kids, I needed a training solution that was both effective and realistic. Hard Way Fitness is exactly that. The workouts are thoughtfully structured, easy to follow, and push me just the right amount. Stephen’s approach made strength training accessible and sustainable.

    Kasia, Vice President Global Bank