health and fitness specialists
Testimonials
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6Vicky
My name is Vicky & I have been a client of Mark Banks at Body Matrix for a while now. I began training with Mark five weeks after the birth of my first baby. During my pregnancy I gained just over three stones in weight & following the birth was still two stones heavier than I ever had been. I was desperate to lose the weight & improve my fitness but with a new baby lacked motivation.
A friend of mine had also been a client of Body Matrix & Suggested I get in touch with them. I took her advice & arranged to meet up with Mark. My first session was professional but relaxed as I discussed my goals realistically with Mark. I was then given a nutrition plan & began having two sessions a week with Mark. The nutrition was easy to follow, healthy eating with no faddy diet gimmicks. The first two weeks in the gym was hard but I soon noticed my stamina begin to improve as I did a combination of gym sessions and classes.
Five months later & two stones lighter, the change in me is unbelievable. I am in better shape then I was before I even got pregnant! Now I love coming to the gym and feel one hundred times fitter and better about myself than I did in September. Others have noticed too & that's when I feel that my hard work has paid off. Mark's expertise & encouragement has really helped me along the way. All I need to do now is buy some new clothes!!!
Thank you Body Matrix
Dawn Hepple
I'm 37 years old, married with two daughters aged 15 and 9 and work full time as a Deputy Exams Manager at the City of Sunderland College.
Mark was recommended to me by a friend of my husband last June. I had managed to lose about three stones with a combination of diet and exercise but had stuck at ten and half stones. I was becoming really despondent as nothing I did seemed to be working to lose that last stone.
The first couple of consultations with Mark were spent dispelling all of the myths about training and especially my diet (or nutrition as Mark calls it). The nutrition was important as this was probably my biggest stumbling block. I was trying to do hard intense workouts without "fuelling" my body properly, or regularly. I kept a food diary for about five days and even though I thought I had been eating really healthily it turned out that I hadn't been at all. He gave me a food plan to follow and at first I'll admit I was sceptical as I was told to eat far more than I had been whilst dieting myself. But I did as I was told and followed it, I still do now, it is a way of life and it really opened my eyes to what I put into my body and my families. Low fat is not always the best, choosing organic whenever possible etc.
Mark then began looking at my exercise schedule. I hadn't been doing any resistance (weight) training, mainly because I didn't know much about it. Mark always takes the time to explain why I'm doing an exercise, which muscles are being worked and what the benefits are.
When I turned up for a session I never knew what we were going to do. This keeps me guessing and on my toes! I can train longer and harder and I set myself targets to keep my body guessing.
I now weight nine and half stones, have gone down to size 10/12 and feel great. The main change has been in my body shape. People are commenting on how well I look all of the time and ask me how I've managed to do it. I always tell them about Mark and can't recommend him enough. The first thing they say is how can you afford that? I have a one hour session, once a week and it cost me no more than two cups of coffee a day would at work.
Mark can tell at a glance how I'm feeling and I always finish a session feeling motivated and happy.
Anon 1
I started working with Mark in October 2005. Before we began the physical sessions we spent time discussing my goals, my history and my eating and exercise habits. These discussions helped Mark to develop a personalised training plan and it also helped me to identify things that I needed to improve specifically in terms of my diet.
Mark designed me a personalised nutrition plan based on good foods which provide me with the energy that I need. It's been easy to incorporate this into my life. At the start I was a big chocolate fan. Mark promised me that my cravings would decrease as time progressed "I was sceptical" about that. Now I'd rather eat fruit or nuts & seeds than a bar of dairy Milk. In fact my whole attitude to food has become more sensible.
The physical sessions are great. The format varies every time so it's been impossible to get bored. I have learned how to do the same exercise I've been doing for years but doing them properly and seeing results. I've also learned a lot of new exercises and I understand much more about how my body works.
I've seen significant results in terms of general fitness and strength. Physically I've lost weight and toned up, especially around my arms and my stomach. The physical benefits are obvious but it's been much more than that for me. Mark keeps me motivated. He gives me feedback and encouragement. When I have a bad day or even a bad week he focuses me to deal with it and move ahead. Previously I was locked in a cycle of start-stop-start-stop. With the help of Body Matrix I've broken this cycle and developed an improved way of life.
Anon 2
I am 32 years old and have two children aged 2 and 4. I have been a member of a gym for at least 10 years, exercising 2-3 times a week.
After the birth of my first child I was lighter and thinner than before I had become pregnant. However, after the birth of my second child I was never particularly happy with my body, too much fat and not enough tone! My friend employed Mark from Body Matrix as her Personal Trainer, she looked good to start with but fantastic after a few sessions. For my birthday I asked my husband for some sessions with Mark. I didn't want to reach 40 and look back at photos thinking, "Why didn't I do something sooner?" I should be in my prime still!!!
I discussed with Mark my initial goals to become "lean" i.e. increase muscle and decrease body fat with a view to losing roughly ½ stone. I wanted to see some initial results within 8 weeks - incorporating 1 session a week with Mark.
Not only have I achieved my goals, I am now a lot fitter and stronger. I can now fit into my favourite pair of jeans that I bought after the birth of my first child! The quality of my sleep is much improved and my posture is better. I feel much more in control of all aspects of my life and what is more, I actually really enjoy the sessions at Body Matrix.
Mark consistently motivates me to achieve far more than I could ever have achieved alone. I firmly believe that the nutritional, motivational and fitness advice that he has given me over the last few months will stay with me forever, changing my lifestyle for the better, for life.
Philip
I began training with Mark 4 months ago although I had been to the gym regularly I did not feel any fitter or stronger. Mark looked at my poor nutrition and without any drastic measures made me realise I must improve the food I was eating. I have lost about a stone in weight but more importantly I am stronger, fitter and have much more energy and even sleep better. I only train once a week with Mark at Body Matrix but it has certainly made a difference to me...Michelle Pearson
Michelle Pearson is a self employed P.C Technician, who has an 18 year old son who is very encouraging and supportive of his mum's lifestyle changes. "Due to personal reasons such as illness's and overeating Michelle steadily gained an immense amount of weight" (Quoted by Michelle). Michelle stopped smoking which was another loss of motivation the turned to Mark Banks at Body Matrix for help. Mark has been Michelle's inspiration and even though the emotional tough times of her father dying, Mark wouldn't let Michelle quit. Over the last 6 months Michelle has managed to lose 5 stone with the help of Mark. Mark composed Michelle a personalised plan for fitness and nutrition.
Michelle has been very happy with her results and hopes to continue this from her current weight of 19.6 stone until she reaches her previous weight of 10.5 stones at a slow controlled and healthy rate.
Michelle has made great improvement, she used to struggle getting out of the car to the front door of Body Matrix. However Michelle now plays squash, works out and swims. Michelle is convinced she wouldn't have been able to make such improvements if it wasn't for the lovely working out conditions and friendly staff at Body Matrix