Four years ago I was in trouble or to be more specific my body was in trouble.

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At the age of 47, it was time to have a little 'chat' with myself. On reflection, I have been there since my teens. I played squash, tennis and golf regularly, though my fitness levels had never been particularly high. I was often tired, lethargic, grumpy and out of breath. I told myself that it was my unsociable shift patterns, working as a long haul Pilot but in my heart I knew, that it was a lack of exercise, over eating and secret smoking that was leading me to an early grave!

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The catalyst to get off ‘Excuse Island’ was the scales tipping over 20 stone and the colour of my Urine was no longer it’s usual dehydrated yellow but now a bloodcurdling red. This was now no longer game changing but life changing. After awaiting test results from my doctor, I received a call from the consultant informing me that I was in the clear and the blood was merely an unexplained prostate bleed.

 

After loosing some weight the wrong way, I decided to join a gym in Tytherington. I was introduced to an instructor by the name of Rick Ackrill. Rick certainly looked the part, like a smaller version of Sly Stallone. It hurt but the experience was uplifting and the time for me making excuses were becoming a distant memory. Rick became my personal trainer, until he decided to move away 2 years ago, along with his family to Spain! 

After several months of feeling sorry for myself, for the loss of a friend, confidante and guru I once again looked to change. I had to change! But I new that ‘Nothing would change unless I did’. I discovered, a local personal trainer in Macclesfield and decided to make the call. That phone call would once again be a defining moment in my life.

 

Steve Nicholls is a Royal Marine Commando. (Although he is no longer serving as a Royal Marine I still consider him as one) and he has completed what is considered to be the hardest and most intensive 32 week training course in the world. He will push you to both your mental and physical limits. He says that “Becoming a Royal Marine made him understand the importance of believing in yourself, having confidence and determination and being fully aware of what the human body can accomplish”.

 

Move forward nearly 2 years and I still see Steve 2-3 times per week. He stays extremely loyal to his clients. I've now lost over 5 1/2 stone and feel fitter than I have ever been in my life. Once introduced to him he will never forget your name. It is a clever personal touch but he genuinely has concern for your well-being and fitness. He also teaches classes for all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities. Lots of laughs with an added bonus of making a new network of ‘excuse-free’ new friends.

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Bad habits are easy to form but hard to live with. Good habits are hard to form but easy to live with.

There are thousands of excuses for failure but never a good reason.