In 2013, I got a ‘wake-up call’ with a very high cholesterol reading. I was 58, overweight (size 20), unfit and most scarily of all my father had died aged 60 of a heart attack so I felt a sense of fear that triggered me into action. I knew I needed to exercise and lose weight and that I did not want to go onto statins – but having not exercised in many years I did not know what I was able to do without having a heart attack or a stroke. I was also unwilling to go to a gym where there would be fit people as I felt embarrassed by my weight, size and lack of fitness and I was definitely not going to wear lycra to display the flob to everyone!
I started to research personal trainers and spoke with friends who had used them. One had had a ‘boot camp’ type experience of being shouted at in a military style which I knew would not motivate me. I decided I needed to find someone who would push me in a supportive way and could help with diet as well as fitness. I also decided I wanted to train somewhere where there were no other people – so there was no one to see me sweating and my fat bouncing around.
I remembered that when I was being treated at Birmingham Physiotherapists for a frozen shoulder, I had seen an advert in their reception for personal training and contacted them. I went for an initial meeting with Marcus – we talked about my health, my aspirations, my fears, my diet and my work life that was both sedentary and demanding. I liked Marcus and his approach and felt that I could work with him and signed up for an initial 10 sessions working out with him twice a week. The first session I was measured and weighed and health checked, Marcus got me started on a food diary and we began on an exercise programme.
Soon I was really enjoying the sessions with Marcus – I found the exercise helped my stress levels and the weight was consistently going down. I started exercising outside of my training sessions with Marcus and I got some running shoes. I also got some lycra leggings, replacing my baggy joggers, which was a milestone in itself. I steadily dropped down dress sizes over 18 months until I got to my goal size 12 in September 2014 and am a total of 4 ½ stones lighter. I feel so much better, my cholesterol is in a normal range, and I take no medications at all.
Since then I have maintained my weight and exercise. I continue to see Marcus once a week, and exercise at least 3 times a week (mostly). If my weight starts to increase I re-instate the food diary and get things back under control pretty quickly.
