I set up my personal training business in 2012, and I’ve been running businesses for around 25 years in total. Today I run two businesses in completely different industries, so I understand the pressure that comes with it: long days, constant decisions, and your own health quietly sliding down the priority list.

That’s a big part of why I mainly work with business women and men. Business genuinely fascinates me, and I’ve always believed in working with other business owners and helping each other succeed. When you look after your health, you have more energy, clearer thinking and more resilience, and that shows up in everything you do, at work and at home.

I also know from experience that looking after your health and fitness gets harder as you move into your 40s and beyond. Energy, recovery, hormones and joints all change, and what worked in your 20s often stops working. I’m in my 40s myself, so I’m not coaching from theory. I’m living it, and I build everything we do at BTC around what works for real people with busy lives.

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to health and fitness. What works for someone else might not suit your lifestyle, your schedule or your body, and that’s fine. My job is to help you find the route that works for you, and then help you stick to it.

At BTC, everything we do is built on four pillars: Mindset, Nutrition, Training and Recovery. When those four work together, you build a foundation that lasts.

Some clients come to us wanting to feel stronger and more confident in their body. Others want to improve their posture, move without aches and pains, sleep better or get their energy back. Whatever brings you through the door, the principle is the same: look after your health first, and how you look and feel will follow.

Why I Don’t Believe in Quick Fixes

I’m in my 40s and I run two businesses, so I know what it’s like trying to put your health first when life is busy. I also know that crash diets and extreme plans might shift something on the scales for a few weeks, but they rarely last. Most people end up right back where they started, or worse.

That’s why our personal training and coaching in Loughborough is built for the long term. We give you time to break old habits and build new ones, to make mistakes and learn from them. We also educate you along the way, so you understand what you’re doing and why. The goal is for you to be able to carry on for life, whether you stay with us or not.

What I’ve Learnt Along the Way

In 14 years as a personal trainer, I’ve tried just about every diet, eating style, training protocol and supplement going. Some worked better than others. The biggest lesson has been learning to listen to my body and knowing when to push hard and when to ease off. That matters more and more as we get older, and it’s something I help every client learn for themselves.

In my 20s, my training was all about aesthetics and how I looked. At 35, I went through a 12-week programme to get into the best shape of my life. The photo on this page is the result.

It worked, but it came at a cost. I was training six days a week, walking 40 minutes every day on top of that, and following a very restrictive diet. By the end, it had put me off training and put me off eating well. It was the opposite of what health and fitness should do for you.

That experience shaped everything BTC stands for. I never want a client to go through something that leaves them worse off in the long run, however good the photos look.

Now that I’m in my 40s, my focus is completely different. I still keep myself in good shape all year round, but I’m not chasing aesthetic goals anymore. What matters to me now is being fit and healthy into my 60s, 70s and 80s. I want to move well and feel good, and be able to go out and run a 10K or a half marathon at a decent pace without any issues.

That’s why I believe in combining strength training with cardiovascular fitness. Strength training is fantastic for your muscles, bones and metabolism, but your heart and lungs need looking after too. Together, they give you the best of both worlds, and that’s the balance we help every client find at BTC.