Marie Davidson

Where were you before starting coaching?

Before I started PT I basically wasn’t doing anything at all! I’d put on quite a lot of weight since going back to Uni and then starting my career a few years ago, and as a result I really wasn’t happy about how I looked or the size of clothes I had to buy! I’d dipped in and out of exercise over the years but hadn’t stuck to anything, and when lockdown hit it just emphasised my unhealthy eating habits and lack of movement and one day I decided enough was enough!

Why did you choose to work with your trainer?

I was really apprehensive about seeking out a PT as I had some preconceived ideas of what it might be like. I was concerned that there would be a requirement for me to completely change my life to fit around exercise and eating in a certain way, which I couldn't see would be realistic for me on an ongoing basis. However from my initial consultation onwards, working with Johnathan has really challenged this, as well as my ideas about what I can achieve in the gym. The ethos that Train has about exercise but also about supporting mental well-being makes them stand out in my opinion. They provide a more realistic and sustainable long term solutions, rather than a ‘quick fix’. My initial aim was to simply get thinner, but I feel I’ve gained more than that.

What have you achieved so far working with your trainer?

I have lost weight, which is obviously great as this was my initial aim and has boosted my self esteem. But I also find that my weekly sessions are a time that I do something just for me, which is rare but really makes a positive difference to my week. I really look forward to my sessions, which I didn’t think I’d ever say! I’ve also surprised myself in terms of strength training and doing exercises that I would never have thought about previously, it has been good to challenge my perceptions of what my body can do. I’m definitely much more active than I was before I started, which has been really important especially through lockdown from a physical and mental health perspective. I also feel Johnathan has increased my understanding of the mechanics of the body in relation to the exercises we’re doing which has been really interesting!

By working with my trainer I learned how to

I have learned how to enjoy exercises that I never even thought I would try. I have made significant progress towards achieving the weight loss results I wanted initially, and now I feel a lot better about myself, and am enthusiastic to keep going!

Why should someone work with Train MBS? What makes Train different from your perspective?

I don’t have much to compare it to, but to me Train has a different attitude to PT that makes it more accessible to everyone, as I feel that a lot of gyms/PTs can appear to be intimidating for someone like me who is not going to go to the gym 7 days per week. Johnathan has been very supportive and is available for advice when I’ve needed it, even outside of my weekly sessions. He also manages to create a really friendly atmosphere to train in, which makes it a much more enjoyable experience.

If someone is on the fence / nervous / or has fears about starting PT - Why should they take the leap?

As someone who never thought they would start PT but who loves it now and can really see the positive impact it’s having, I would honestly say just go for it, it’s not as scary or intense as you think if you don’t want it to be! With the support from Train, you can make it work around the rest of your life and you can to do things you had maybe never considered with regards to exercise. It has been the one constant that has got me out of the house during this lockdown and I’m so so glad I decided to contact Johnathan!