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"Roughly three years ago I was at my wits end. The end product of an extra 4 stones in weight and a stressful caesarean section was a beautiful son, a brother for Jack. I didn’t much care what I looked like just that my family were healthy, I had got what I wanted in life and I or my appearance didn't matter. Then about 5 weeks after the birth I fell badly on the stairs damaging my back, but being the busy mum of a lively young toddler and a new baby I chose to ignore the pain and swelling and put my head in the sand and pretended it didn’t happen from that day on pain was a feature of every day life and I just got used to it. During the times when pain was unbearable I visited numerous chiropractors and osteopaths who would help on a short-term basis, I soon realised that the extra weight was not helping so I decided to do something about it. Unable to exercise at the time because of pain I started on a food combining diet and managed to lose the excess 4 stone but couldn't understand why the pain was still there.
Eventually my husband persuaded me to visit my doctor who, after various investigations diagnosed a painful rheumatoid arthritis condition caused by the fall, which was not helping the original injury. So armed with anti depressants to relax the spasm and the strongest painkillers she could muster, off I went thinking that was the answer to my prayers. Yes, of course the tablets helped but they made me feel constantly tired, irritable and if it’s possible even more depressed. My precious family was suffering badly with my moods, days were just there to get through and evening were spent in tears from the effort of getting through the day.
My doctor finally decided it was time for me to exercise, horrified I dragged myself down to the gym and that's where I met Alan. Having been so fed up with doctors and pain I had to get my husband to call him first, I couldn't face being told there was nothing he could do. I then spoke to him myself, I think my first words to him were -If you can deal with a complete wreck I'm the person you need to see'. That first phone call changed my life I set up an initial consultation session with Alan and didn't feel obligated at all. He was very honest with me and didn't pretend that it was going to be easy, he told me I was in for the long haul and there would be many down times along the way.
My first real session with him was a disaster on my part, I couldn't even push the pedal on the bike so a fitness test went right out of the window. Alan spent the first hour assessing my mobility, which quite frankly was nil. I was in tears, mostly of frustration that I’d allowed myself to get in this state, suddenly seeing all the fit looking people around me, I realised that what I looked like did matter and despite losing all the weight I still had those baby hips and pouchy belly. We finally found an exercise that I could do, I managed to put my chin down onto my neck, wow I thought we are on our way.
Alan then introduced me to magnetic therapy, which I had heard of but never tried, he lent me some wrist supports and a magnetic seat mat and I have never looked back. My magnets go everywhere with me, in my shoes, in my trainers and as for my mat it is permanently glued to under my arm particularly in the gym. I felt it helped with pain relief and some days I could just not do without it, within 6 months of using the magnets I was off the anti depressants and felt a whole lot better.
Despite my best effort not to care about weight, like all women I was now obsessing about my appearance more than concentrating on getting my back better. Alan had already said that the weight thing would come after my back was relieved of some pain. To say I’ve been hard work is probably the understatement of the year! After I got my priorities right we were on our way. There have been many, many tears and loads of sessions just spent on physio, physical and mental. Alan has been a constant support throughout the whole process and three years down the line I am finally having some pain free times. Yes I have worked hard and I have never given up but that is all due to the care and support that Alan has given me throughout that time.
We are now concentrating on maintaining my fitness levels and altering my eating habits so that I can keep my fat percentage and weight low. Physically I have never felt so good, my 42" hips have all but disappeared and I now discover that I do have some abs left after childbirth it was just a matter of finding them! I realise now that I am never going to be an athlete and that my life will always contain some pain but I am much better off than some people and I will strive to keep fit and healthy for the good of me and my family. My advise to anyone who is in a similar position to me is never, ever give up, trust in Alan’s expertise and support and listen, he really does know what he's talking about !
On a personal note I would like to thank Alan for being there for me over these years, despite having called him all the names under the sun when times were rough he never gave up on me and mores the point he never let me give up on myself. He is not just a trainer now but also a personal friend and I would have no hesitation in recommending him to anyone. "
Mrs Clair Evans - 39 - Aylesbury
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"I was 36, had a stressful job which I now hated, a constant bad back and neck and felt permanently low and tired so when it came to custard tarts, roast potatoes, chocolate cake - in fact any cake or puddings (the more calories the better), there was never the need to ask if I wanted seconds or even thirds! You see it didn’t matter, the calories didn’t matter, they made me feel good and I went to the gym so it was ok wasn’t it? The fact that I went to the gym half-heartedly and under duress, once or twice a week max meant I could eat anything – or so I thought, but when I saw an exasperated Alan every Monday and saw my weight and body fat increase, going from 9½ stone to 11¼ stone, a size 14 and body fat up to 34% I couldn’t understand why.
Exactly a year ago and at an all time low and often in tears, my lesson with Alan was not on the equipment, but explaining about food, it’s concepts and a 14 day meal plan of home cooking given which we talked about and dissected at length instead of eating curries and Tesco’s finest. Something clicked inside, an understanding, and I followed it to the rule, later introducing Jamie Oliver's "Low Fat Meals in Minutes", and for the next 4 months I saw my weight diminish and enjoyed the comments.
"For the past couple of years both Alan and my chiropractor had said that my back and neck was all due to stress at work and no longer being in a job I enjoyed, but more of a chore. I had been signed off more times than I care to remember with my bad back and depression and my weekly sessions at the gym turned into Alan massaging my back out of spasm. Feeling more confident In March 2005 I weighed up being penniless, happy and healthy v. money, stress and work. No contest. I packed in my job to temp and since then my back has got stronger and stronger and I’ve become stronger. The gym became more regular, enjoyable even, but I was still always tired.
After talking to Alan when he reinforced how well I’d done losing the weight, packing in my job he made me realise that I’d turned my life around, but I was still always tired, working, going home lunchtimes to walk the dogs, gym after work, then Tescos, home to walk dogs, cook, iron, eat at 10pm, bed 10.15. He made me realise that if I could turn my food around then I could turn my day around.
I now look forward to getting up at 6.15, getting to the gym for 6.45 and my exercise is done for the day so no excuses (and I was good on those). I also find that I’ve more energy at this time of day so I can work harder. I still work, but it’s enjoyable. My main meal is home cooked the evening before and I eat it at lunchtimes, Neil takes his to work and in the evenings we’ll have a wrap or stuffed pepper.
The outcome of all this: Neil has lost weight and body fat. I’ve gone back down to 9 stone and a size 10/12 and feel happier and slimmer than I have in a long time. So I say a big thanks to Alan, for his perseverance with me because without him I couldn’t have got this far."
Mrs Beki Gosling - 36 - Aylesbury |
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"I have had the pleasure of working with Alan since September 2000. In that time I have been continually impressed with his depth of knowledge, professionalism and enthusiasm. Alan's total approach to well being, combining fitness training with nutrition and sports therapy, has been extremely helpful. His advice and support have kept me going at times when it would have been all too easy to give up.
During our regular sessions, he has always been inventive, coming up with new ideas and exercises to keep me motivated and applied to the task of improving my fitness, and long may it continue !"
Mr Peter Bowden - 56 - Bierton |
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"I would like to thank you for the words of wisdom arid support during our weekly training sessions over the last year and a half. I have found the sessions great fun, challenging and motivating and can honestly say that under your guidance I have achieved results which I would not have thought possible and of which I am (justifiably I think) very proud. Your guidance regarding over training and nutrition was also crucial to my achieving these results and helped me assess my goals. I feel that the sessions were not only tailored to suit my particular needs but you have also been flexible in responding to how I feel on the day and have adapted the sessions accordingly. In addition, the reason I originally came to you was because I wanted to strengthen my back following a cycling accident, and I am very pleased with the progress I have made The excellent massages have no doubt helped this too !" Miss Trish Millward - 40 - Haddenham |
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Mr Robert Ward - 55 - Weston Turville |
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"Alan has been my personal trainer for the past three years and during that time I have come to admire his professional approach to his work, He devises and supervises a series of exercises for me on a weekly basis. As a woman of 87, I feel that he has devised a developing schedule that is most appropriate to both my age and my physical ability. Furthermore be has given me an overall package which involves diet and exercises to be done on a daily basis. This has enabled me to live a very active life, both physically and mentally, and it has done much to enhance my self-confidence.
He adopts a professional approach to every facet of his work. I have found him to be a young man who is utterly reliable and committed to his profession. He is constantly open to new ideas so as to keep abreast of the latest developments in his field.
I feel that anyone who would be privileged to have Alan's services would be fortunate indeed and I do not have the slightest reservation in recommending him."
Mrs Gabrielle Verrall - 87 - Halton
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"Alan has been instrumental in a marked improvement in my fitness level and I would hope that the Spirit Club continue to facilitate Alan's involvement at the Club." Mr Christopher J. Smart - Aylesbury |
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"Dear Alan I wanted to thank you for giving me the motivation and will power to enjoy my ‘gym sessions'. With your help and knowledge I have improved my eating habits and stopped eating processed foods.
The reason I use the Spirit gym is because of the service you provide and I would have no hesitation to change gym to continue to have your help.
Thank you."
Mrs Jane Selvey - 35 - Aston Clinton |
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"I have been a client of Alan Cox's for 6 months, during which time he has provided me with excellent fitness and nutritional advice. When I first joined ‘The Spirit’ gym I was concerned with the original instruction that I received which lead me to consult with Alan. I have subsequently gained enormous benefits from his ongoing instructions.
I regard Alan as a highly professional and conscientious personal trainer and would have no hesitation in recommending his services."
Sara Hawkins - 35 - Aylesbury
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"In an attempt to maximise our effort. we decided to try some sessions with Alan and were delighted with his attitude, personality and the resulting improvement in both of our health levels. Because of his assistance our performance levels have increased far in excess of anything we could have expected and I feel that this is because Alan is highly qualified in all forms of training and diet, which with the greatest respect I feel would not have been available from your staff. On a personal note I am 56 years old and although I have always been reasonably active and fit, never more so than now." Mr Brian Martin - 56 - Aylesbury |
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"I was referred to Alan by a mutual contact as l wanted to find a way of losing weight, getting fit and general well being improvement. When l arrived for my assessment I was just over 16 stone and not moving to well for someone who in the past has always been very active. At 65 years old l wanted to continue with sport and get myself back together again. I was out of breath to easily and had a high blood pressure.
In the past l had usually eaten very little and clearly this was not the healthiest way to proceed. In Alan l found the balance between a sensible diet and exercise leading to sustained weight loss with regular meals eating foods recommended on Alan’s advice.
On the 5th of January this year l began working out regularly with Alan, writing down my food intake for weekly guidance and taking other modest exercise such as walking. I had set myself a target of a 2 stone loss by March 25th around three months.
I am pleased to say that l have lost 2 1/2 stone, considerable improved my fitness levels so I now am enable to do most activities l want to participate in.
I also have developed a new lifestyle with which l am comfortable in my eating and drinking.
With Alan’s advice and guidance over the last 3 months l have been able to make these changes in a relatively short time and in following good sound professional advice in food management and exercise I have a basis now for continued improvement in my lifestyle over the coming years."
Mr Peter Greenwood - 65 - Chesham
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