Welcome to my client testimonials page!
Below you will see just a few of my many client successes over the last 4 years.
You could be the next success story!
My most recent success!
I have only been training with Simon for a few months. I am a basketball player and I needed a kick start to my basketball season down in England and only had 3 weeks to achieve as much as I could in order to prepare me for the season. My main goal was to be basketball fit. I had not long recovered from an operation and my fitness level (for me) had dropped quite considerably. I didn’t want to embarrass myself in my first training session with a new team. I knew Simon would be good for me as I had been taking his Body Combat and Body Pump classes for over a year and knew he had a good attitude to his training and was dedicated to his work.
Our initial session was very basic, as Simon needed to assess my fitness level and my capability levels. Very quickly Simon developed my sessions, given the time constraints, and before I knew it my training was hard and testing my limits; that was what I wanted. He knew I wanted to be pushed hard. No session was the same but now and again Simon would use some (or at least) similar exercises and each time, I felt myself improving. I was quite surprised at my progression given the little time we had to train but I was having 3 sessions a week and I was feeling much fitter very early on. Consequently my confidence was growing.
Simon introduced some exercised with the basketball and we also went to Meadowbank to one of the courts to concentrate on basketball specific drills (I also managed to kick his ass when we played one-on-one!)
Unfortunately our 4 weeks of training ended and I moved down south to begin my new life. My first few training sessions with my new team were great. I felt fit and as a result had an increased confidence (something I tend to lack on the basketball court). However, I have recently called Simon for his expertise as I feel my fitness has begun to deteriorate since my move. I have started a new job and that on top of my busy basketball schedule (which requires a lot of travelling on my part) has played a part in the demise of my fitness. I know you probably think it’s strange for me to say that due to the fact I am being very active with my basketball but when your body is so used to playing a particular sport, you have to do more than run around the court to maintain (and increase) your fitness and performance levels. I have had very little time to join a gym let alone use one on a regular basis.
I contacted Simon very quickly following my move down South and he very quickly drew up 2 new programmes for me. My goals are still basketball orientated but I now want long-term assistance. I still feel I need to improve my game, and for me that’s where Simon comes in. He can help with my agility, speed, strength and endurance. Once I feel those areas of my game have improved I know my confidence will also increase. I have a position to work hard for at training and on top of that, I still have my place in the Scotland squad to keep. My attitude to basketball is if you don’t train hard to prove you should be there then you might as well be at home; most coaches out there think the same. I am really enjoying playing down South and thanks to Simon I am playing better than I have done in a while. I know I can play better and look forward to seeing positive results once I have Simon’s new programmes underway.
If you think geography has a negative impact on my training then think again. Due to Simon’s on-line facility, Simon uploads my programmes on to his Website and has given me a login name and password. This way, I can access my programmes on-line as well as email Simon for advice. He has also been more than willing to offer his advice, expertise and support over the phone (of which I have taken full advantage). He goes out of his way for me to ensure I am getting the most out of my programme and makes it as varied as possible to keep me motivated.
I’m looking forward to seeing the effects of my new programme and the positive impact it will have on my game. I am so glad I can still proudly call him my trainer, despite being 700 miles away. I have been so impressed with his attitude to his clients and the industry as a whole that I have been recommending his on-line facility to work colleagues and friends down here. His passion, knowledge and patience makes him the best trainer I have had; believe me, they are hard to find!
Thanks Si – I look forward to my next programme!
Emily Leonard
Age: 27
Height: 5ft 6
Sport: Basketball
I've been training with Simon since March 2005.
I joined Greens Health and Fitness in November 2004.
On joining the gym I wanted to achieve weight loss, toning, lose body fat and improve my fitness levels.
For the first few months of joining the gym I was training on my own and felt that I wasn’t achieving any of my goals as best as I could so I decided a good way forward would be to try personal training.
On approaching Simon I found him very easy to talk to about the idea of personal training and I found Simon and what my aims were and found that he had a very friendly and helpful attitude with a great idea of how to achieve my goals.
I began training with Simon in March 2005 and straight away I felt a huge difference in my motivation and enthusiasm and I really started to enjoy working out. Mainly because of all the new exercises I was covering in my sessions with Simon.
During each of my sessions, Simon covered a variety of exercises including boxing, working with the ball, using all the machines and I started to run outside.
Simon on the whole has really helped improve my knowledge about exercising and healthy eating.
Since my Personal training started I have managed to drop down a size in clothes and my fitness level has improved greatly to the extent that I am now managing to take part in 5K and 10K runs. I would strongly recommend PT to other individuals who needed the motivation I needed and I would highly recommend Simon, as I couldn’t have achieved it without him.
Lynsey, 26
I have been training with Simon on and off for over two years. My initial goals were to lose weight and improve my fitness (like all of us I guess!) I had stopped playing rugby several years earlier and my weight had gone sky high and my level of fitness was very poor. I had drifted in and out of the gym for a while with no real focus and to be honest was getting no where!
Initially Simon set my targets at a very basic level. Essentially just to get me into the habit of using the gym regularly. I started to see an improvement in my fitness and my weight was coming down, if only modestly at the start. As my fitness improved Simon was able move onto a more structured and demanding weight, diet and exercise programme that saw significant improvements. We also started some running (not very far or very fast I should add!!) to build up my cardio work. I then suffered the first of two serious sporting injuries that have knocked back my progress while training with Simon (the injuries were unrelated to my gym work!!!) I required an operation on one of my knees and was not able to train for several months whilst I received physio treatment. My weight also climbed once again with my lack of mobility and no exercise. When I finally got the all clear to start training again with Simon it was on the condition, from the doc and physio, that restrictions were required because of the lack of stability in my knee and the muscle wastage to my leg following the operation and subsequent recovery period. This proved a very frustrating time for both Simon and me, starting very much from scratch. My leg work was to be very limited and running was a non starter! Simon’s patience during this time was commendable and he kept me going despite my frustration at the slow progress of the rehab work. We got there though!
About nine months ago a family illness through diabetes gave me a real wake up call and I decided I really needed to up the ante on my training routine. I increased the number of my sessions with Simon and he set a new programme aimed at improving the strength in my legs to support my knees. The workouts were to be more dynamic to push my weight loss on faster.
After two months I also started “boot camp” sessions with Simon. By this time I was able to start running again although initially only on the Union Canal and Water of Leith with the softer ground on the pathways. These three sessions a week in Simon’s chain gang (no…we didn’t have to sing!) were hard but they were enjoyable and they worked! Most included a run to start, some circuit training outside and some gym work either with weights or on a bike. My weight dropped seven kilos in six weeks. My fitness was also improving significantly. The runs were getting longer and more enjoyable as they became easier with the improved fitness.
After “boot camp” had ended the other “camp inmate” and I decided we would carry on running the same three mornings each week without Simon. The Union Canal and Collinton Dell became our thrice weekly challenge. Would it be Cargo in Fountainbridge, out beyond Westerhailes or Juniper Green. The nights were closing in and the temperature got colder. We kept up our running but moved onto the roads!
At the beginning of November, four months after the running had started, we completed our first 10k run, starting at the gym one Saturday morning and running along the Water of Leith walkway down to the Shore in Leith. Six months earlier I didn’t think I would ever run again let alone achieve a run like that. Anyway, first 10k bagged!!
Then just over a week later injury number two hit me when I dislocated my right shoulder on the football pitch. An office “friendly” at that! Training had to take a back burner for a month.
Once again Simon has had to take me through the rehab process for my shoulder and gradually get me back to training at the level I was before the injury. I am now back training at much the same level as before the injury and back pounding the streets when most people are still tucked up in bed!
I have set myself new targets and I have entered an off road 10k at the end of March. The forestry around Innerleithen near Peebles should provide quite a challenge! The Rat Race in Edinburgh in July is also a target. This will involve running, cycling, climbing and abseiling so Simon you have got your work cut out to get me ready for that one.
Somewhere in amongst all this I also plan to run a half marathon and raise money for diabetes research so keep an eye out for the sponsorship forms!!
I have Simon to thank for getting me to the point where I can even contemplate having a go at any of these challenges. His patience with my two set backs and his motivational skills throughout have been first class. His technical knowledge taking me through the rehab after injury has also been a great help.
Thank you Simon!!
May 2006 (a big guy!)
Weight 118kg
Waist size 44”
Chest size 50”
January 2007
Weight 98kg (and falling fast!)
Waist size 38”
Chest size 46” (won’t get any smaller but probably don’t want it to!)
Mark Goodenough
After having my baby and being out of the gym for six months I found it hard to get motivated again.
I felt I was going to the gym and achieving nothing.
It was then I approached Simon about the problem and he explained all about the benefits of the Bodytrainer system and how I could have a personal trainer.
As I did not want to throw away money on something that would have minimum benefits I was very sceptical about using a personal trainer.
I booked a session with Simon and he explained a range of exercises that I would never have thought of on my own then took me round, showed me how to do them and also explained the benefits of the exercises and booked me in for another appointment two weeks later.
When I returned to see Simon I had lost 2kg and felt a lot happier with my appearance it was then I decided to book a course of 12 sessions with him. That was 6 weeks ago and now I see him once a fortnight where we talk about my training program and reassess my goals.
I’m off on holiday in 3wks and I’m now 6kg lighter than when I started so I would like to say a huge thank you to Simon for giving me the motivation, self belief and training program I needed and if anyone has any doubts about hiring a personal trainer then sit down and talk to Simon he will explain everything you need to know, I’m certainly glad I did.
Mother & Housewife