Client Testimonials

If you would like to speak with any of my clients to discuss their experiences with me at Fitness in the Village, including the clients below, I am confident that they would be only too happy to oblige. With their permission of course, I would happily arrange contact for you.

Chris is very professional, warm and made me feel completely at ease.
He did a fantastic sports massage and helped to release my tight shoulders, lower back & arms. Looking forward to my next session for regular maintenance.
The studio is also very welcoming.

Harriet

Having suffered from neck and back pain for years I thought I'd try a prevention over cure strategy and started going to Chris for regular deep tissue massages. These have been amazing and really helped improve my movement and relieve any pain. I feel a different person afterwards. He has a great skill of being able to quickly find a potential problem and ease any muscle tightness, however, be warned, he takes no prisoners!

Victoria

I have been with Chris for 2 years. I began as a very unfit and overweight individual signing up to his fat loss programme and training sessions. Two years on I am 2½ stone lighter, very fit, slim and toned. It’s not always about the weight I have also lost inches everywhere, my shape has completely changed.
Nowadays I find it easy to maintain my weight, my eating habits changed, it’s not a diet. It is just an easy lifestyle you adopt once you have the right information, which is what you acquire from being with Chris.
Chris is very knowledgeable; he is a great source of advice and support in all aspects of nutrition and training even outside of the sessions.
Chris is very in touch with your individual needs, listening to you and your body. He tailors each session to you personally and makes it both enjoyable and challenging. He knows how far he can push to maintain and improve your strength and fitness, whilst looking after your health & wellbeing. He is skilful in understanding issues of disability, medical conditions and contraindications and is very adept at tailoring training sessions to accommodate them, without compromising personal targets and improvement to your health and fitness, within a safe controlled environment. He works in partnership with you and your body to help you achieve your goals and overcome challenges, inspiring and motivating you, encouraging you every step of the way, you never feel you’re doing it alone.
I have learned much from Chris during my time with him and continue to benefit from his wealth of knowledge, experience & advice. I could not have achieved what I have without him, his expertise and unfaltering support.
I highly recommend Chris, you are sure to receive a personal, professional service from someone who is extremely proficient and knowledgeable in the profession.

Barbara (age 50)

I became determined to maintain my health into retirement. So several years ago, I was given a present of a consultation with Chris. He did a thorough assessment and identified medical issues that he dealt with promptly and appropriately. Since then, a very successful partnership with Chris has resulted in significant weight loss and a marked improvement in my fitness. Being unable to get disciplined enough to do this by myself, regular sessions have ensured that my aim has been achieved. The recent introduction of regular massages has also aided problems, derived from computer work and too much driving, with neck and shoulder problems. I can really say that he has greatly improved my quality of life - and sessions have been fun. I have also gained a friend who is not afraid to keep me on my toes and tell me the truth.

Pat

Having slowly gaining about 2 stone after stopping smoking 3 years previous and not partaking in any exercise for a long time, I was starting to suffer with other problems, high cholesterol, back and knee problems and general lethargy. I wanted to improve my all over health and wellbeing, I wanted to lose weight, tone up and get my energy back. I met Chris and he instilled so much confidence in what I could achieve. The nutritional plan is all about eating the right foods, eating to make your body work more efficiently by balancing your hormones and being more aware of the food you eat. Chris is always on the other end of an e-mail or phone to give help and advice; I was always asking him questions about different foods. It really is a fat loss programme. I lost a stone in 8 weeks but it’s not all about the weight, I lost inches off my waist and hips, I learned a lot about food, the effect it has on the body and changed my bad habits for good ones. I have been having training sessions with Chris for three months and have loved every one of them. They are tailored to suit you and there is no clock watching. Chris just seems to instinctively know what gets results and is very conscious about your own personal health. Chris is always there to support you, he really cares. His ethos is one of a partnership; we are in it together to get the results, you don’t feel alone and you are constantly encouraged and praised. However, he will let you know if you aren’t trying, or doing enough and he will push you in sessions if he needs to, but never to the detriment of your health. I have reaped huge benefits from meeting Chris. I am happy to report, I am so much fitter, thinner and toned. My overall health has vastly improved- no more aches and pains. Chris has strengthened my core which in turn helped my back problems, the nutritional plan helped me lose fat and has become part of my everyday life. I have more energy now and have regained my confidence. If you are thinking about meeting with Chris, don’t wait for a moment longer, just go for it, you won’t look back, only forward to a better you and healthy life.

Barbara (age 48)

I contacted 'Fitness in the Village' after a worryingly high reading at the GP of my husband’s blood pressure. Chris made time to meet with us the following day, and within less than a week our individually tailored plans were prepared, our cupboards made ready, and we were weighed and measured. Thus started a total overhaul of our lifestyle – we exercised, we ate much more healthily than we have ever eaten (and believe me – we thought we ate healthily before!) – and eight weeks down the line we have lost a combined total of over 3 stone. This complete change in attitude towards food, alcohol and exercise has been nothing but a huge success so far, and with the superb support, guidance and help when we have wavered, in the form of telephone calls, face to face meet-ups, emails and texts from Chris, we cannot recommend him more highly.

J&J, Aldbourne (age- in our 30’s)

I started with the healthy eating plan, after struggling to lose weight, feeling sluggish most of the time and having hot flushes most nights. I knew I needed motivating and I always avoided diets as such. As I have got older food I love seems to have upset me more, like wine and cakes, etc. I started the plan after my birthday, November, last year, I found that I was not hungry at all with the snacks and meals and I was always able to have the 'day off' if I was in need!
I stuck to the plan truthfully until Christmas dinner of course, but even then I was in control of the food so it worked out fine. Going out for meals is a challenge, so when faced with a menu I make the best choice I can. I was able to feel a difference and see the change in my body shape, I have shed almost 19lbs and I feel a lot better for it.
I attend Chris` gym once a week and send him the diary of my food intake, both of these things keep me on track. Just knowing there is someone watching me seems to help.
Although the down side is that Chris is making me work harder in the gym now I am lighter!

Sandy (age 58)

Having not entered a gym since I left school and never used a treadmill in my life, I was dubiousabout the idea of a personal trainer, but something drastic needed to be done to prevent a general decline into unfitness!
Chris was highly recommended to me by no less than four people, and carried out a reassuringly thorough assessment and took care to establish what I hoped to achieve before I commenced two sessions a week.
I felt tangibly stronger and healthier almost immediately, and people commented positively on the difference it made within three weeks. Chris tailors each session individually and somehow manages to motivate without being ruthless! I am delighted I took the plunge, and would recommend Chris to anyone.

Amanda (age 49)

After a long absence from any kind of physical training I made the decision that I needed help! Having met Chris I was confident that his experience and personal integrity would support me in improving my health. I have not been disappointed. The tailored workouts are tough enough to make me push myself, but not so tough I can't do them. The results are that I have improved both my cardio vascular fitness and strength and my body shape is more defined. We have also had some laughs along the way.

Sarah

When I first went to see Chris last summer, I was 46 and hadn’t taken any serious exercise for years. His brief was simply to whip me into a shape that would look OK in a bikini. I’m not sporty, can’t do pilates/yoga and have various shoulder and back problems. Chris has managed to achieve my aims and more – I’m now fitter, thinner and have pretty impressive muscle tone – and all without too much effort on my part other than turning up a couple of times a week. Sessions are relaxed and fun but Chris cracks the whip when necessary. It has also made me much more careful with my diet and health generally. Chris is an excellent and experienced trainer – in fact something of a genius on the fitness front. He knows what he’s doing and gets results. If you’re a serious fitness fanatic or have never been to a gym before, I would urge you to go along and have a chat.

Sue (age 47)

I have only been coming to Chris for a very short time. Already I can see the physical and feel the mental benefits. Each session is different so there is no chance of becoming bored. Most gratifying is that each session has increasing amounts of time and number of different aerobic activities. It just gets to be more and more fun. It is a privilege to be on the receiving end of tailored expertise delivered with an ample helping of enthusiasm, knowledge and wealth of experience.

Deborah

My Wife and I have been going to Fitness in the Village for around one year. After a thorough induction, and only after Chris had acquainted himself with our medical histories did we begin. It really is personal training with all sessions customised to the needs of each individual. Our fitness levels have increased dramatically. We cannot recommend Chris highly enough and am sure anyone of any fitness level would benefit from his caring and professional approach.

Harry

I was very overweight, got breathless when walking uphill and had lost interest in doing many of the everyday things I normally did. Sitting in my chair one day, I decided to ring Fitness in the Village and arranged an initial visit. At the age of 67yrs, and having never done any exercise in my life before, I was very apprehensive about what was involved, but Chris was so friendly and encouraging on that first visit that I decided to sign up for a 6-week period and have never regretted it. In five months I have lost 22lbs, don’t get breathless anymore and feel much more alert and enthusiastic. In addition, I can now get into many of my clothes which had just sat in the wardrobe collecting dust. If you feel like I did, just pick up the phone and ring – you will not regret it.

Ken (age 67)

I have been going to see Chris for over a year to gain an all round improvement on my fitness, cardio and physical strength. I have found Chris to be very helpful in providing the right work out for my goals / achievements that I have and also that he is flexible in changing the fitness program to suit your life style if it suddenly changes. I suddenly found myself working more hours and as my job entailed working a shift system, Chris was very helpful in trying to get the right fitness program at the right times along aside my working schedule so that I wasn't physical draining myself yet getting the most out of the program.
Each session that I have done with Chris is all written up and after a while it`s good to look back and realise how much of an improvement I have made over the time.>

James (age 26)

As a previously keen runner and a very-beginner tri-athlete I contacted Chris after moving to the area and struggling to find suitable training venues in terms of price and location. Fifteen months after having my son I was feeling out of shape and unfit, my motivation was rapidly reducing, and prioritising exercise had become an unexpected difficulty. I have loved having PT sessions with Chris, he gets the balance just right of setting a varied and attainable plan whilst ensuring I leave each session having pushed myself. I have felt Chris has been attentive to my personal goals, and it’s great that each session is as long as it needs to be and he doesn’t simply end when an hour is up. Great value for money and in a small number of sessions I can already feel and notice the difference in my strength. It has built my confidence back up to be able to enter and complete the Swindon 5 mile multi-terrain run in October, more than two years since my last race.>

Sarah (age 31)

I have been coming to Chris for a few months now and would say he has helped me a lot.
I had a shoulder injury and with the use of weights it has improved 100%, I am stronger and fitter and would say to anyone, no matter what age or fitness level, give it a go and see the difference.>

Sue (age 55)

Chris is the first personal trainer I have engaged and I am pleased that I did, I find the sessions hard, but I can do them, Chris makes sure you are worked just hard enough. I have noticed quite soon that my core muscles are stronger, bladder control better and a general feeling of fitness. Chris makes sure you do the right stretches and so far I have not suffered any stiffness after any session. When I work out by myself or in a class I find I will skip things or not work as hard as I do with Chris keeping me in line.>

Sandy (age 55)

Having never been fit in my 50 plus years, if you had told me six months ago that I would have been able to jog a mile
and get through one of Chris's personal training sessions with minimal discomfort, I would have laughed out loud.
But - now I can! In shape for my daughter's wedding - the catalyst for my sorting myself out!!
Chris has pushed me - nicely - to do exercises I never thought I could. I feel better - body and head - and have lost about a stone.
The latter is also due to some excellent nutritional advice from him.
All through the programme, his attention to warm up and down has meant that I have never had any ill effects after sessions - which I have thoroughly enjoyed.>

Pat (female)

I started to visited Chris`s gym when I was 65, I was putting on weight and at 65 years old it would be easy to gain weight without exercise and a sensible diet. Chris started me off at a slow pace and advised on a sensible diet.
I did one session a week (a session for me being about one and a half hours), and after about just four weeks I was feeling the benefit of the exercise and new diet. I found Chris to be a dedicated trainer, strict but fair and understands the needs of the over sixties. Chris also picked up on the fact that I had a slight heart problem, for which I am grateful to him. I am back doing light training under Chris`s constant supervision.>

Mick (age 67)

I find Chris from Fitness in the Village, a very helpful trainer who took the time to sit down and ask me what I wanted to gain from the sessions. He plans each week well with a good mixture of cardio work and muscle training, which has helped me to improve my fitness and my strength immensely. His one on one sessions in his gym have helped me to concentrate on what he is teaching me and there is no waiting about for machines which means the time isn't wasted. In all I find Chris to be friendly, polite and very professional and I enjoy each session with him.>

William Burry (age 29)

After having two children and gaining lots of weight in both pregnancies I was finding it hard to lose that extra weight. I was a little unsure of getting fitter with a trainer, I have not used one before as I thought it was just for celeb’s. But I gave it a shot, what did I have to lose ..... weight I hope! The reason I went with Chris, was a recommendation from someone I know that started training with him. On doing my fitness sessions, my weight started to come down and my confidence in general improved and I started to feel better about myself.
The good thing about doing fitness this way, is that Chris will push me to complete a task whether it’s running /treadmill or cycling, it’s the motivation I need for getting fitter>

(Thirty something mother of two)

If you are looking for a small friendly gym, with an easy going
atmosphere and a personal trainer to match, a trainer prepared to listen to your every fitness requirement, giving advice when you need it, offering loads of encouragement every step of the way, then you will find it all here. You can work at your own pace, whether you are just starting on the road to fitness, want to maintain your current fitness level or want to
further your fitness, without hesitation I happily recommend this gym.
Chris has a disposition which would entice even the most reluctant gym goer to give it a go!>

D (age 53 female)

I have worked with Chris for over 6 months and it has been great and I never thought I would say that about fitness. He is very keen and takes a lot of time to make sure your technique is correct and that while you are getting fit, you are not getting hurt. Chris makes you feel very comfortable and is excellent at motivating and encouraging me to carry on. I actually look forward to the sessions and can really see progress.>

Kathleen (Social Worker, Age 45)