I first met Nancy when she became the class instructor for a BodyPump class that I regularly attend, back in late 2014. Her enthusiasm, energy and quick wit made the class fun, so I added one of her spin classes to my weekly schedule.

In the summer of 2015, I took the opportunity of a three session trial of personal training sessions with Nancy. I’d read an article Nancy had posted on Facebook about her journey from fat to fit, which resonated with me so I decided to try PT with her. I’d been trying to lose weight for years, and even more intently following my retirement. I always preferred being in the back of classes, in my tracksuit bottoms and loose fitting tee shirts. I had lost some weight, but not much and I didn’t push myself to my limits in classes, for risk of not being able to complete the exercise, of failing.

I was nervous going to my first session, but Nancy soon put me at ease, even through the process of weighing and measuring me. I shed 18kg of body fat within a matter of months, through Nancy’s guidance and encouragement. Personal sessions with Nancy are fun, as are all her group classes. She has a wicked, quick wit. Under Nancy’s guidance, I have been able to maintain my target weight, even if occasionally it has risen after a holiday or time away from my normal class schedule. She has encouraged me to be stronger and fitter.

Nancy is an intelligent lady, whose academic background serves her well with personal training. I like the data and science on occasion, so Nancy’s ability to provide me with the more scientific approach, is ideal. She understands what makes me tick, so she knows when to put the proverbial ‘arm around the shoulder’ or the ‘kick up the rear’. In 2015, she gently and persistently persuaded me to weigh and record what I was eating and drinking, despite my three months of resistance. How can you create a calorie deficit, without knowing how many calories you are consuming? It is basic, but I took my time to accept the life change. I now weigh and record my food and drink, as a matter of routine. I expect I shall be doing so until I’m put in to a home and can not! Nancy has helped me make life style changes, rather than to consider I am on a diet. She provides personal nutritional advice, and her weekly tips on social media serve to keep me focused and to keep on track. Sometimes they are simply messages which inspire her readers to be better people. I can’t think of any other trainer that would be posting such messages before dawn on New Year’s Day.

I enjoy the one to one sessions, with the variety of different exercises and being pushed to do weights and repetitions that I would not normally do myself. Nancy is good at ensuring my technique is correct, so that I get the most from each exercise and do not risk injury. She has the ability to notice small things, even in full classes. It must be from the years of observing monkeys! I would never have believed the three initial sessions would have led me to four years and more under Nancy’s guidance and supervision. She has been and continues to be an inspiration to me on many levels. She is very positive, enthusiastic and her classes remain fun and a must for my weekly schedule. My journey from fat to fitness would never have happened without Nancy. She has been an excellent Personal Trainer for me. I simply can not recommend her highly enough. She is brilliant.

Cathy Dawson, Face to Face PT 2015 – present

I have known Nancy for a very very long time. We used to go to the same classes at our gym before Nancy became an amazing Fitness Instructor. She is full of energy and ready to help anyone who asks for it. I used to do lots of classes and sometimes 3 in a row thinking this was the way to loose weight and shed the fat! After years of trying different exercises and gym workouts, I spoke to Nancy about her online PT sessions and that my aim was to change my body shape and loose body fat.

Nancy sent me various options that I could consider. I decided to opt for the 3 months online PT sessions. There was one thing that Nancy insisted I would have to do in order to get the results I was hoping for and that was to log my food and drink onto the My fitness Plan app. I was a bit worried about this as I am not that technical but Nancy assured me that I would be fine and that she would help me get started and answer any questions I had along the way. She told me that the only thing I needed to do was count calories!! This would enable me to loose body fat and weight.

On my first PT session, I was weighed and various measurements were taken and also body fat percentage worked out! But on top of that Nancy took a photo of how I looked at the start so that we could compare the results after 3 months! I was really quite shocked at how I actually looked as I did not think that I was carrying as much fat as I was!

I am only 4ft 10 inches and did not like my sticky out bum and big thighs!!  I was excited about doing this programme but did find it a bit of a struggle logging the food in, writing up the recipes etc but in time it got easier and I quickly learned how much calories things actually were! I also tried to limit my alcohol intake to 2 nights a week as recommended by Nancy as I knew that I could not give it up altogether! I tried to switch from wine to gin and low calorie tonic water wherever possible but sometimes you do need a glass of wine!!

Nancy set my daily calorie at 1400.  She also asked me to try and get my steps to at least 9000 daily which sometimes was a struggle as I work in an office. In order to try and get the steps up, I bought a skipping rope to help get my steps up!

After the first month of online sessions and advice from Nancy, she did all my measurements and body fat percentage and I had lost cm and body fat.

I had a Wedding to attend and Christmas was also around the corner whilst I was training which which made it hard for me to log in food etc so Nancy just asked me to be mindful of what I was eating and drinking which I did and I still managed to loose weight and body fat.

The time came for my final results and I was absolutely shocked to learn that I had lost 8 kg of weight and 8.2 kg of body fat which was 10.8%. I had lost cm off various places and by bum did not stick out any more. My thighs were also thinner and I felt really good.

I would just like to thank Nancy from the bottom of my heart for what she has helped me to achieve!!

Sangita Patel, combined face to face and online PT, 3.5 months 2019 – 2020