Harj Bahia - Matt

Matt’s training has changed my perspective on personal training, health and wellbeing. He is encouraging, creative, continuously pushing me to perform all exercises with greater intensity and to eat well during the rest periods. New programs challenge and maintain training freshness with all muscle groups being worked to failure whilst mastering the form and posture of the routine.

The hour flies by with cardio blast or some evil complex at the end to ensure that I am burning fat through my sleep! I thought that I had a good workout routine before, but Matt has taken it to a much higher level. His knowledge, professionalism and credentials are so very impressive, but it’s the personal attention over 2 years where I have dropped from 25% body fat to 15% & reduced my waistline from 41 inches to 34 inches whilst adding strength and flexibility.

Three times a week I work out harder & with a greater determination alongside a trainer than I would ever do on my own. Anyone who really wants to change the way they look and feel about themselves I recommend you speak to Matt, I only wish I had done it years earlier!

Thanks Matt & the MK Team!

Georgina Jones - Matt

I am 13 years old, and have had glandular fever for the past 10 months. I found Matt so helpful with my nutrition that I think that without him, I wouldn’t be doing as well as I am now. When I first turned to MK, he asked me what my daily meal plan was like. It was awful! Chocolate spread sandwiches, haribos, and much too little fluid, Matt gave me tips and a food diary to fill in. He transformed my eating habits and if I ever felt in need of some help I would just speak to him.

He also explained so clearly the importance of having the correct vitamin and mineral balance in the body. I think that this encouraged my system to get better by taking specific supplements, especially vitamin C which is so significant for glandular fever sufferers. We also now have a water filter in our house.

I am a healthier eater than I was before and am still taking supplements. I would just like to thank Matt for his kindness and approachable personality; he is the petrol for my car on the road to recovery.

Karin Majevadia - Matt

I started training with Matt about 2 years ago - this was driven primarily by the five years’ constant backache I had had since my first daughter was born. I had tried the osteopath, the chiropractor and the physio but nothing had worked. I could not stand or sit for very long and my back ached constantly. Matt was certain he could help me.

I followed all his exercises but remained unconvinced that I would progress faster if I followed his dietary advice too. Surely changing my eating would not make that much of a difference? The first year was hard and twice I nearly gave up as things did not seem to be improving. Matt however was adamant that he saw no reason why things should not improve and he suggested I follow the dietary advice to see if that made a difference.

So November 2005 I decided I would finally listen to what he was saying and the rest is history as they say! I have changed nearly everything in my diet but now my back ache has totally gone, I have dropped one dress size and at the age of (almost) 40, I am probably healthier, fitter and stronger than I have been in my whole life. It can be hard work, especially the eating, but I am much more confident and absolutely love going to the gym. I just hate the fact that Matt always seems to be right!!!

Jane Bennett - Sally

I lead a very busy life and over the years have joined several health clubs and like most people ended up not going and then leaving!

As a last resort I have used the facilities opened by MK Training and found that they have motivated me to want to attend and also found that the after effects of the sessions have given me greater energy and sense of purpose.

Sally has been marvelous - good company and shown what I consider to be a genuine interest in me as a person.

Debbie is also great and brought a very disciplined approach to my exercises which is definitely what 1 need. They have been so kind and helpful to me.

MK is a great outfit one to be highly recommended. I shall be continuing my sessions for a long time to come.

Jeremy Bird - Sally

I have great pleasure in writing about my experiences at Sally’s Pilates classes. Having suffered with back difficulties 1 needed exercise that provided support for the lower back, whilst not leaving impact on joints.

This class, led by an enthusiastic experts was just the tonic. Sally manages to create a super atmosphere. I leave the room feeling suitably exhausted and having enjoyed a hefty dose of excellent humour.

She is aware of the needs of the individuals and caters for us all by demonstrating various levels of exercise.

I wish Sally every success in her future ventures.

Karen Heath - Sean

Two years ago I was approaching 50 and really didn’t like what I could see in the mirror. My best intentions about going to the gym had wandered long ago, even though I was still paying for my membership.

Sessions with Sean are never easy as he always pushes me to my limit, but that limit has changed dramatically since that first session. Never boring, constantly changing and a complete antidote to my stressful and all consuming job, I really look forward to sessions and have never been tempted to duck out just because “I don't feel like it today”.

I now quite like what I see in the mirror, I have bags more energy and my eating habits are (almost) completely changed- so what more is there to say….

Tracey Sherring - Sean

I began training with MK Personal Training 18 months ago. I had been unable to run for 3 years due to a knee injury and had seen numerous physiotherapists, doctors and surgeons, none of whom had been able to get me back on my feet.

As a result of the injury my weight crept up because I was unable to exercise regularly. I approached MK with the primary goal of helping me to be injury free in order to enable me to train consistently and get back to my former levels of fitness.

Sean has done a brilliant job over the last 18 months. He has written me training programs that are challenging but fun and varied enough to keep me motivated. Sean is always upbeat and positive and is not afraid to push me when needed to make sure that I am always giving 100%. As a result I am now injury free, running again and as an added bonus I have dropped 3 dress sizes!

Whatever your goals I would recommend MK Personal Training Academy.

Tim Bowe - Phil

I joined MK Life Fit with the aim of improving my general fitness and reducing my body fat. Almost immediately I was struck by the personal and professional approach adopted by all of the staff and in particular my trainer Phil. I learned how exercise is an important part of your day-to-day life and how, when coupled with a proper diet, any fitness goals can be met with a little determination and alot of effort.

Phil has an infectious enthusiasm for his work. He takes as much delight in my personal development as I do and, through a constantly changing training programme, has created a bespoke method of training which suits my developing goals. The result is that I never get bored of training with him and feel as though I have a dedicated friendly professional assisting me throughout my personal development. He is easy to talk to and offers gentle, yet firm, encouragement when tackling the more difficult aspects of my training programme. He listens to my training needs and responds proactively in taking me forward towards new and exciting challenges (even when I do not quite realise I am ready to move on!).

Phil is a credit to MK Life Fit. I have noticed fast positive improvement in my health and body shape and have reached goals more quickly than I would have at first imagined. Phil has helped me achieve this. His approach and dedication make him a credit to MK Life Fit.

Rachel Fordham - Phil

I came to MK after a long period of time without exercising. I had been slim and active in my twenties, but over the years had gradually gained weight.

For the past 8 years I had been focusing all my attention on work and building up our new business, and used this as what I call now ‘an excuse’ for being physically very lazy.

I joined MK in July 2010, my goals were to lose 4 stone, cure my back problem and feel good about myself.

In order to keep myself motivated I decided that the best way would be to have a personal trainer 3 times a week, as I knew I would not be self motivated enough if left to train by myself. My personal trainer Phil is fantastic, really motivating, and I can genuinely say I love going, it is hard work but good fun too. My program has changed numerous times in the last 12 weeks, and every now and again we try something different, just recently we added some boxing to the program too.

One of the biggest benefits of training with MK is the private gym facility, when you are out of shape and trying new exercises it is so nice to train in a private gym, I feel much more confident with this set up. Obviously exercise is only a part of losing weight/inches! I followed the MKlifefit detox program for the first 2 weeks, cutting out alcohol & caffeine, eating lots of fresh healthy protein, vegetables & fruit (there are some great recipes in the book) and drinking gallons of water.

12 weeks into the program and I feel like a different person, inside as well as out. I have lost over a stone in weight and 16 inches! My skin is glowing, I have more energy and most importantly I am still on track and very much determined to reach my goal!

Thank you MK (& Phil) for changing my life!

Alison Spicer - Andy

I began training with the Matt Kendrick Personal trainers abut 12 - months ago; I have always found them to be friendly, approachable and above all very professional and knowledgeable.

I have a serious knee injury and was unable to exercise, however my personal trainer was able to adapt routines to meet my needs and help with rehabilitation. The progress I have made since an operation has been commented upon by a Consultant, as being amazing improvement.

The Personal Trainers are able to motivate and still keep exercise interesting and fun. They are friendly and helpful and it has been a pleasure to get to know them.

I have always works hard at the gym, however with a Matt Kendrick trainer I give 110% and the improvement in all areas has been incredible.

I would recommend the Matt Kendrick Academy to anyone and would like to thank them for helping me to stay fit and alive and feel good abut myself.

Nigel Dwyer - Andy

I am pleased to be requested to write a short appraisal of my time with MK Personal Training, specifically with Andy, my personal trainer.

My case is probably a little different from that of the more usual fit strong young people who benefit from the care provided by this personal training set up, and perhaps a few words of explanation would help.

I am a septuagenarian and about five years ago after a period of illness I found myself obese and physically extremely unfit. I joined David Lloyd at Monkspath & under the care of two of their trainers a couple of years later I was quite strong, mobile and over weight rather than obese.

I then suffered a series of medical problems including a severe debilitating abdominal illness, a surgical shoulder reconstruction and a total knee replacement. The latter two of these needed more skillful rehabilitative skills than the straightforward training I had been accustomed to.

The physiotherapist under whose care I was, suggested I use MK. Each of these medical problems separately and severely diminished my tolerance for physical exercise but Andy with his extraordinary patience and skill managed to steer me through these difficulties, so that now I am now as physically capable as most people of my age.

Peter Bromwell - Debbie

I am 63 years of age and have been using MK for nearly 2 years. Thanks to Debbie Ganderton I have never felt fitter and healthier. Debbie changes my fitness programs on a regular basis and totally understands my needs. I am never bored at the gym, in fact the exact opposite, I am totally motivated.

I visit Debbie at least once a month for massage and in the rare event of any strains or sprains she has solved the problems very quickly.

Thank you Debbie & MK!

Colin Davies - Debbie

When the doctor confirmed I had developed Parkinson’s disease I asked him ‘how should I adjust my life-style’. His reply was ‘join a fitness club and keep mobile’.

I straightaway joined a fitness club close to my home, in the expectation that someone would understand my requirements. Unfortunately I did not receive the care and attention expected. By happenstance a fellow dinner party guest listening to my disappointment suggested I should drop a line to MK Personal Training Academy.

It was the finest advice I ever received. Nowadays thanks to your staff, with a special mention to Debbie, my life has become sweet once again.

The design of the new exercise area is just fabulous. I wish the MK Academy continued success of which I plan to be a part.

Tim Kearton-Gee - Barrie

I joined MK about 2 years ago looking to improve the general mobility and grip of my nerve damaged left hand. I have found training with Barrie to be truly fantastic and he has helped me a lot in my recovery. The weakness in my arm means there are times when my arm will just fail, resulting in dropped weights and other such hazards.

However, Barrie has already been incredibly supportive and encouraging when such physical weakness impairs my training, allowing me to re focus and try again.

Although my hand will never totally heal, I believe there has been significant improvement over the past 2 years and this is due to the training and help I receive from MK, and from Barrie in particular.

Russell Griffiths - Barrie

Testimonial

I have been trained by Barrie for the past three years & what a difference he has made! I feel fitter than I did in my twenties. This is entirely due to the encouragement I have been given, both with my fitness training and nutritional advice. My improved well being has enabled me to work harder and enjoy active sports such as skiing and mountain biking to the full. Baz has become a great friend, and I would have no hesitation recommending him to anyone. His dedication, sense of humour, and relaxed manner makes him a credit to the MK Lifefit.

Gabriella Fifer - Lizzie

I have been having one to one training sessions with Lizzie  and coming to MK was the best decision I have ever made.

Each session reviews the progress I have made since the previous session and covers any issues I have encountered. Lizzie encourages and motivates me with exercises tailored to my ability and specific needs. I am given clear goals to work towards and guidance to help me work on my own. I don’t need any expensive equipment and I can do my workout before I leave home in the morning! I really look forward to my sessions and love that I can see and feel progress.

Before my sessions with Lizzie I was constantly in pain and could not walk far. I now have pain free days and I am so much more mobile. It just keeps getting better and better! 

David Garnett - Lizzie

I didn’t realize that, aged 55, I would be paying a young lady to inflict pain and suffering but it’s worth it! I always used to find excuses not to go to the gym because I was ignorant of what I really needed to do or convinced myself that turning up and sweating was enough.

Lizzie has significantly helped me think about the key areas I need to concentrate on during exercise and in general, presentation such as posture (sorry Lizzie, it’s still an uphill battle here). There are stupid things that this approach helps that you never consider important such as walking up 14 flights of stairs 3 or 4 times a day or clearing snow from the drive without feeling tired and out of breath.

In my day to day work, I travel a lot so it is essential that I keep a constant check on my personal health, diet and fitness. The programs and support I receive from Lizzie and the whole MK team are now part of my routine and is essential to me feeling good and ensuring I maintain this. The goals I have set myself now seem much more achievable and getting there is down to me, but the personal attention and focus I receive is the key enabler.

Nick Baker - Lizzie

I would strongly recommend the benefits of one to one yoga sessions. I find it really helpful as you become the total focus of the class. Lizzie is a very friendly trainer and I find her knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

I have benefited tremendously from my yoga sessions. It has helped my posture, increased my flexibility and my sense of well being.

Phil Henrick - Ed

My trainer, Ed, has got me very focused on my goal to lose 3 stone this year. Not only do I get an individually designed training program based on my ability and goals, but I also get sound dietary and supplement advice.

The supplements Ed has recommended to me, particularly the alkalizing salts and the greens, have increased my energy levels and my whole wellbeing. Indeed, after a week’s holiday without either, combined with a ‘holiday’ diet I realized the impact they are having on how I feel on a day-to-day basis. I would recommend both supplements.

I am now just short of losing my first stone in weight and feel fitter, leaner and more energized. More importantly, I still feel motivated to continue with the changes I have made to my diet and training schedule and this is down to Ed & his commitment to and understanding of my goals. I know at times this year will be tough and that it will be tempting to slip back into old habits, but I know that MK will give me all the correct advice and encouragement I need to achieve my goals.

Keith George - Andy 

I began looking for a structural training environment about two years ago. At the time I was 52 years old with one total hip replacement, and the need for a second operation on the other hip rapidly approaching.

My concern was to get fitter and retain more mobility leading into surgery and to also improve my cardio-vascular efficiency after experiencing a heart attack a few years earlier.

Andy, my trainer understood my needs and motivation and provided me with a variety of programs which worked around my constraints and helped me move towards higher levels of fitness to enable me to cope with the surgery last year.

There were a lot of very positive benefits but the initial element was the confidence, which the Academy gave me and the encouragement to sustain my efforts, which have been very worthwhile.

Umair Hussain - Andy

I’ve been training with Andy for only 6 weeks and have already seen amazing improvements both visually and physically. My energy levels have increased so much, helping my productivity at work, and the MK Lifefit supplements have really improved my health. I really look forward to my training now. I’ve been surprised with the improvements in such a short amount of time and it’s given me a different perspective on fitness and diet.

Jean Goulding

I am 64 years old and have not weighed 12½ stone since I was 12 years old. I have struggled with my weight all my life leading to various health problems including diabetes and arthritis. I was 21 stone at my heaviest and never really imagined that I would get anywhere near a healthy weight.

MK has changed my life, the team are more like a family, providing far more than personal training and nutrition expertise, they have even taken me round the supermarket and taught me the skills I need in my own kitchen. Incredibly, as a direct result of MK’s advice and guidance, I have lost 4 stone in the past 5 months, my diabetes of 10 years has been completely reversed and I am no longer on medication.

Jasper Carrott

I have been training with Matt and the guys at MK Personal Training Academy for the past 2 years and am feeling a lot better for it.

At MK Personal Training I have been treated as an individual, concentrating on my weaknesses and after a full assessment I gained a good understanding of what it was I needed and with the constant encouragement and teaching from the MK team, I am feeling fitter, stronger and healthier than I can remember.

Nigel Burton

I would like to thank you for all the hard work you and your staff have put in to help me achieve my goals.

The massage along with the training sessions have been a great help to me and along with the nutritional advice have helped me to rejuvenate myself and improve my fitness and general health.

Thanks for all the help.

Claire Williamson

I am delighted to have this opportunity to record my appreciation for the outstanding service provided by M.K. Personal Training Academy, to develop some of the brightest young prospects in British Tennis. I am quite convinced that without the bespoke, tailored and cutting edge fitness and diet programs supplied by M.K.P.T.A., the progress of the young tennis players involved (including wheelchair players), would be reduced significantly.

Tennis has long been a passion of mine and I am proud to have been acknowledged as one of the top coaches in the Country, working with world-ranked wheel chair players and managing the under 18 and under 14 girls’ Warwickshire teams.

In my position as Head Coach at Blossomfield Tennis Club in Solihull, I have had the opportunity to coach many promising young junior players. The Club has been recognized by the LTA as producing some exceptional individuals who have the potential to become nationally ranked players and, because of this, we have received a financial contribution to help further their development.

It has been particularly rewarding for me to have the opportunity to develop the 7 – 12 year group and to have been seen as one of the top female coaches in Warwickshire for this age group. Taking on these young children, who are at a crucial stage in the development of their skills, presents a great responsibility. This is where I made a decision to seek help from and involve M K Personal Training Academy, to great effect.

I have always known that my best players need so much more than to just learn tennis skills to succeed so, to this end, I have, over the past few years, looked to see how best to advance their fitness and general wellbeing. This has been largely achieved by involving and working with M K Personal Training Academy. They are very professional in their approach to fitness and diet and successfully set out to combine programs tailored to each individual child’s or adult’s needs.

Pilates is just one area in which they have supported tennis players. In fact, Blossomfield is the only Tennis Club in the County to offer Pilates. Over the past year I have been approached by the families of Jathan Malik (no. 1 in the UK – under 12’s) and Alice Hopkins (in the top 10 – under12’s). These two players had heard about the extra support provided to my own players and were keen to be referred to the Academy where they have since benefited greatly from a Pilates programs.

In addition, Kay Forshaw, a top-ranking wheelchair player has been on their specially tailored fitness and nutrition programs and went on to reach the Paralympics quarter finals in Athens last year. (As a result of my successful involvement with Kay, in 2004, I was nominated Warwickshire Coach of the Year and was invited to 10, Downing Street along with other top coaches around the Country.)

Jordanne Whilley, (also a very promising wheelchair player at the age of 14) is about to start at the Academy. Jordanne is a potential medalist at the London Olympics and is at present working tirelessly towards being included in the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Lloyd Glasspool (13) and John McVoy (11) are two more of my best players to benefit from the Academy. Both boys are part of a High Performance Tennis Centre. Lloyd Glasspool is Warwickshire’s top-ranked junior in his age group and is now starting to move his way up the National Ranking.

To summarize, I am in no doubt that the close links forged with M K Personal Training Academy have resulted in players maximizing their fitness through monitored diet and physical training sessions tuned specifically to each individual. Certainly, with the expertise of the Academy, the above players will stand a much greater chance of reaching peak fitness, avoiding serious injuries and therefore achieving their goals.

The presence of such expertise and skills in the Borough of Solihull is something of which we should all be proud. The potential for M.K. Personal Training Academy to grow, and in the process create more jobs and wealth within Solihull is very significant. It is a local asset which we should fully support.