Carolynn Jones
- Age: 42
- Occupation: HR Business Partner
- Goal: Weight loss & Lifestyle change
- Location: Leeds
- Weekly Sessions: 2
- Trainer: Tom Clough
- What's your best piece of advice for new clients?
I believe I have proved that anyone can benefit from engaging a personal trainer (regardless of age, weight, level of fitness or current lifestyle) and I have no hesitation in recommending Tom and Drive PT.
- Why did you choose Drive PT?
After an internet search of personal trainers in my area, I chose to contact Drive PT as I found the website very professional and informative and I liked the holistic approach to health and well being. My initial meeting with Tom only reinforced my earlier positive views of Drive PT.
However, my main reason for engaging Tom is that I feel we have the personal chemistry needed to sustain a long term personal training relationship. I feel very comfortable talking to him about my lifestyle and the changes I need to make, the things that motivate and de-motivate me, my personality and values and how they impact my approach. At no stage, has Tom been judgmental or disapproving – I was amazed that at our initial meeting he was not fazed by the challenge ahead or by the unrealistic targets I had set myself (in my usual impatient style).
- How did you feel before your first session?
The rapport I built up with Tom during our initial telephone conversation gave me confidence that Drive PT could source a personal trainer I wanted to work with. I had been slightly wary up to this point as prior experience of personal trainers many years ago was not particularly positive and the results were only short-term.
- And how do you feel now?
Tom always ensures that my sessions are challenging and require maximum effort from me but does this in such a way that I enjoy each and every session and look forward to the next one. His ability to motivate extends beyond my sessions and this has resulted in fundamental changes to my lifestyle.
- What's the best part of training?
I have had two sessions a week with Tom for 12 weeks now and can honestly say I enjoy every minute. Tom ensures the sessions are challenging but not impossible and I gain a great sense of achievement from pushing myself further each time we meet. He ensures that my sessions are varied and fun – of paramount importance to me as I get bored very easily.
Tom always takes the time to explain why I am doing what I am doing. From a dietary perspective, the results of the Metabolic Typing questionnaire have enabled me to understand the foods that work for me and make informed choices. As a result my diet has totally changed. As someone who had previously tried virtually all the diets out there (with the exception of Atkins – not good for non-meat eaters!) I thought I would have all the usual cravings (chocolate being the main one) but can honestly say that this has not been the case.
- And what's the worst part?
I can’t think of anything - not at all like me!
- What results have you had to date?
The results to date have been outstanding and way beyond my initial expectations.
Overall, I have more energy, more confidence, feel happier, am more positive and as a result feel very motivated to keep going.
Specifically, I have found it surprising easy to radically change my diet – now eating healthily (and avoiding the processed ready meals I used to enjoy!) with none of the usual cravings I had expected.
In terms of exercise, before engaging Drive PT, I had done nothing for over 10 years - I was a true couch potato. Now, I find it difficult to sit still, am bored watching the TV and look forward to my personal training sessions and the exercise I take in between sessions.
As a result of these changes to my lifestyle I have lost over three stones in weight in the last 12 weeks and it has been far easier than I ever imagined.