"I have been using the gym for sometime now and I felt that I got to a point where I was not really benefiting from the amount of time I was spending training. I was intent on trying to improve my fitness levels and reduce my waistline so after having a chat with Freddie I decided to have some one to one sessions.
Once Freddie knew what I wanted to achieve he put together a training schedule and within a matter of weeks I noticed a change; my fitness levels increased, my waistline got smaller and my posture improved.
Freddie also put together a programme of exercises aimed at improving my golf. We have done a lot of core exercises targeting flexibility, strength and power. This has made a real difference to both the accuracy and distance and ball is traveling, and has seen a gradual reduction in the scores I am shooting. My driving range on average was between 250-270 yards, this has now increased to 270-300+ yards and I was shooting 90 – 95 per round which has now dropped to 85 – 90.
I would recommend to anyone to train with Freddie as he will listen to what you want to achieve and set you on the right path, he also takes a genuine interest in the goals of his clients."
When I teamed up with Freddie my goals were simple but ambitious – not to be as fat, slow, old or as ugly as I currently was. I’d hit middle age, middle age was hitting back, and landing some low punches. I was still playing five a side football with some mates but when anybody dropped out the replacements always seemed to be younger. I’d also returned to vets rugby but as there were few other vets teams we were playing 20-somethings who thought breathing was for wimps. And I’d broken my shoulder a few months before and been told I shouldn’t be doing anything serious and certainly not lifting anything above chest height. I was an old crock on borrowed time.
It was important that I got the right trainer and the right training relationship. I knew I had when in my first session in response to a remark I’d made Freddie said “never mention your age to me again, it isn’t an excuse”. Freddie’s motto is “up close and personal” not a great sales line for a sadist but it works. He concentrates closely on his individual client both mentally and physically. I know my session are tailored to me and that he’s taking as much notice of my mental attitude as my physical progress This is important to me. I don’t want someone to stroke my ego, I want to make progress and I know that that needs effort and technique. Freddie had both in spades and as a top competitor in his day he had steel to back it up.
Over the first few weeks the pain of being inept and wheezy gave way to understanding and development. I’d moved from incompetent unconscious to conscious incompetent then on to conscious semi-competent. I was less fat, more developed and more agile. There were muscles I hadn’t ever worked before and areas where I wasn’t as flexible as I thought I was. We worked on these and the results were quick and exhilarating. Things began to happen in matches and I’d think “was that me”. Then they began to happen too regularly to be a coincidence then, finally, a magic moment. Freddie had said that being properly prepared would lead to moments of seeing everything in slow motion. In the first match of the season I scored our first try from a tap and go, and couldn’t figure out why nobody else was moving or making much effort to stop me and why there were so many gaps that I could weave through. When I put the ball down the sound and speed came back to real life with a crash of bodies and expletives following me over the line – all too late. I told Freddie about this and he just smiled.
So have I met my targets. Well I’m competing for a place on the firsts rather than clinging to the coat tails of the vets. My five a side team just won a tournament. My rugby team won a European tournament. I get a lot of slow motion moments. I can do things in the gym that I thought only the pros could do and I’m not ashamed to take my top off. But no I haven’t reached my goals because they’ve moved and will continue to move whenever I get near them.
"I’ve been training with Freddie once a week since October 2007 and have found the investment of time and money one of the best decisions I have made in recent years. Having a professional trainer has enabled me to improve my shape, posture and running ability far more than I ever achieved from exercise without a trainer.
Freddie has ensured I get far more out of my gym visits and made me more disciplined in my approach to gym based exercise. I wasted years training to my strengths (because it was easy) and ignoring my weaknesses (because it was difficult). Strength training on my legs has improved my running ability considerably. I ran the Hastings Half Marathon in March and found the added strength in my legs made the run that little bit easier and recovery quicker.
I’ve really learnt to appreciate the importance of strength training if you want to improve as a runner and plan to do a lot more before my next marathon. I’ve still got plenty of fitness goals, but I’m confident I’ll achieve these more successfully with the help of a professional trainer like Freddie, whose experience has proved invaluable.
I’m happy to recommend his services as a fitness trainer – I’ve found him to be knowledgeable, friendly and trustworthy".
"I started using Freddie as a Personal Trainer to lose weight and to get in shape for the upcoming ski season. Skiing is a real passion of mine however I always leave the preparation until the last minute. I signed up with Freddie after a brief chat with him at Gym Box.
He has a great personality and I felt he would motivate me to make the extra effort required to get in shape! Freddie gave me a great workout routine which mixed strength training with endurance training and kept me interested and motivated. My skiing improved dramatically as a result of my increased strength and the weight loss I achieved.
I would highly recommend Freddie if you need to jump start a fitness regime. He has a great personality and pushes you when you really need pushing to get the best results. ".
"I used Freddie as my personal trainer on a weekly basis over a 12 month period.
During that time I enjoyed his workout routine very much indeed. he is an excellent trainer and put together a specific training programme for me to improve my Golf.
During my specific training period my game of Golf improved tremendously as a result of Freddie concentrating on specific exercises relative to the game of Golf. I also had a specialised session of exercises with Freddie to improve my strength and stamina for skiing. Again, Freddie's expertise were invaluable and kept me skiing on the slopes without any ill effect.
I would recommend Freddie as a first class personal trainer and an expert in his field."
"I signed up with Freddie as I felt I’d hit a plateau with my training. Although training often, and fairly hard, I wasn’t seeing results on the rugby pitch (or in the mirror!).
Immediately I found I was training harder, and working the weights and cardio in a new and more challenging way. It hadn’t been through lack of effort previously but due to the increased motivation that Freddie provides along with the knowledge of exercise variations and sport specific exercises, straight away I felt I was becoming fitter and stronger.
Within 3 weeks I noticed the change both in my personal training, and in the team context. In real terms (SAQ tests, straight line speed, reps of body weight exercises etc.) there was definite improvement. There were also improvements in body fat. I did not change my diet so I was obviously working harder, building muscle and metabolizing more.
Freddie also offers some very effective, if occasionally painful massage. I have had problems with my shoulders on and off for several years and they are probably underdeveloped as a result. The massage allowed me (and gave me the confidence) to work them harder in sessions and the various exercises Freddie gave me to strengthen them are benefiting all other upper body exercises"
"I have always enjoyed sport.
Up until my late teens I played football at a high standard and enjoyed the competitiveness and physical sides of the game.
Other commitments came in to my life ( drinking, late nights, and a bit of work) , which meant that I wasn’t participating in as much sports as I would have liked so I joined a gym.
I quickly got the buzz again for working out so decided that I wanted results quicker and better to what I could do on my own so decided to look for a personal trainer.
I spoke to Freddie a few times and booked in my first session that same week.
And I have never looked back!!
I was immediately impressed with his professionalism and his portfolio of other clients that he had trained was impressive to say the least. Following his guided program and being pushed to limits far beyond to what I would do on my own, I quickly began to see changes in my physic and felt good. People that I hadn’t seen for a while would also recognise & comment on my more toned look & a few of them also ended up being trained by Freddie.
By continuing to follow his advice & training methods, I have now developed a toned, muscular body that I am proud of & can also say that Freddie is not just my trainer anymore but also a friend."
"Although I’ve been a member of Gymbox since January 2005, I didn’t meet Freddie until 2007. After he’d observed me training, and inquiring about my sporting interests, he recommended that I undergo personal training with him.
I took a 10-week course of training to have me leaner, fitter and ready for a tough season in amateur and semi-professional league football. A tough task, as I’m now in my mid/late 30s!
Freddie’s training regime was gruelling, but worked my body to its strengths, also targeting areas of weakness and previous injury. I am now noticeably leaner and fitter, with my overall muscular strength greatly improved.
This season, at the age of 37, I’ve been appointed captain of my club and am looking forward to playing on until I hit 40.
Thanks Freddie!
"Previous to training, I’d been trying for 6 months to lose weight and get fit by playing squash, cycling to work and watching what I ate. I had some limited success but it just wasn’t happening fast enough, nor to the degree I desired. When I was recommended to hire Freddie as my personal trainer, I’d been told of his ability to transform people in a short space of time, which what was I was primarily interested in. I was quickly very impressed with his studious approach, careful monitoring of my progress and his ability to constantly force me to challenge myself.
The results were quite literally, astounding. Whereas before it had taken me 6 months to lose 6kg, under Freddie I then shifted another 20kg of bodyfat in under 3 months. People at work would stop and stare and ask me what the hell was going on. My chest, arms, back, shoulders and abs are stronger and I looked better than ever before in my life. My waist size dropped over 6 inches. My energy levels went thru the roof, I slept better, looked better, felt younger, faster, more confident and a happier person. My social and love life have improved no end!! Several of my friends have since been inspired to commit to getting fit, citing me as inspiration.
In terms of my squash, I have been promoted as league champion 4 times consecutively and won my first cup competition – my improved fitness, agility and strength enable me to beat with ease people who before would leave me a shattered, broken wreck on court.
My cycling has also shown great improvement, with my increased strength and cardio, along with the drop in overall weight, meaning I am now much faster, can climb hills with relative ease and cycle for much longer distances. In fact, I am planning to participate in the London-Paris bike ride this coming summer for charity. I now also plan to begin recreational jogging, something I have always hated before.
I cannot begin to express just how impressive the results have been under Freddie and I would unequivocally recommend him to anyone who is looking to change their body – and in turn, their life!
