Personal Training

March 18, 2006

I won a fitness assessment from Margie at Vibes in a draw in December 2005. I was extremely sceptical about personal training being helpful or cost effective, and whether I would be able to devote enough time to it.
My wine and scenic tour business sees me spending long periods of time driving or sitting in front of a computer. This caused chronic neck and lower back pain. On top of this, I’m a little “heavy” due to lack of exercise, and too many “good” meals.

I chose to go along with an open mind to see what Margie had to say, and felt that if she could tell me anything that made sense, or showed me a way to relieve some of the aches and pains, I would sign up for the minimum course, and see what would happen.
Margie suggested my posture was part of the problem, gave ideas on how to relieve the stress that caused these symptoms, advised me to drink more water and made lots of sense. I signed up for a 10 week course, after which I had lost 1 kg, and my neck aches and lower back problems were greatly improved.

I FELT SO HAPPY about the results I had achieved without focusing properly. I have seen remarkable improvements since because I focused on achieving the goals that I originally set, being weight loss, shape and tone, no aches and pains.

My results to date are:

• Neck aches are very occasional
• Lower back feels stable, strong, and is rarely sore
• 5 kilograms weight loss and 8 inches overall, (one inch from my chest, waist and hips, as well as from around my thighs and arms)
• Skin-folds reveal a 6 % loss of body fat overall
• Gained a true friend

Initially, apart from two sessions per week with Margie, I had done very little. I had still eaten large meals with some modifications, like not frying everything.
Now, I have focused on changing my eating and balancing my lifestyle. Margie has been firm but fair, without being judgmental, and has been constructive in her feedback.
Margie makes me do the things that I know are required, even though I may not like it, without making me feel guilty, or upset. I can see that the exercises and diet changes are working, and I feel fitter, stronger, and pain-free most of the time.

I intend to continue my personal training with Margie. I can see that without her care and attention, I would fall back into bad habits quickly, and the quality of my everyday life would slip away to what it was before.
I am motivated to learn more about the dietary aspects and training that I do at home to speed up the process.
Margie has the ability to help most people. If she can get me off my backside, then she can do so for the majority of humanity. It’s fantastic value for money.

Thanks heaps Margie!

Les Schoffer
Tour Master
Schöffered Wine Tours
www.ecdwinerytours.com.au