Michelle
"I was first told about Pride buy a friend who had joined the gym couple days before, she said the people were very friendly and that I should go and have a look around, which I did a couple of days later and joined in August 2005.
I found all the staff very friendly and open to approach, if I had any problems they would not hesitate to try to help me.
I booked in with one of the trainers Johnny for a chat and fitness test. During my chat I was asked if I had a goal and what I would like to get out of coming to the gym. My goal was that my partner and I had been accepted for our first IVF treatment in the summer of 2006, but I had to lose 3 and a half stone before they would start our treatment. If im honest I did not think I would ever get to my goal? But I promised myself, Johnny and the team that I would give it 100%.
I started to go two times a week with Johnny, which was hard work, however the atmosphere was great and I started to enjoy going. Everybody was so friendly and none judgmental on your size, or in general. There are many different age groups that go to the gym, everybody was talkative and friendly and the staff know you by your first name, which is nice and makes you feel welcome and that your not just a face or number like many places do.
Over the years when living and working over seas, I have joined many gyms but never really stuck at them as I always felt an outsider and I thought people were judgmental, which made me feel uncomfortable, so when I joined Pride Health & Fitness I was open minded to see from my past experiences how they were, I have to give Andy and his team 100% credit for making people feel very welcome.
After 6 months of attending the gym and changing my life around regarding commitment and diet and my whole outlook changed. My weight started to drop off and my fitness level was getting a lot better. I decided that I felt very comfortable and that I would step up to going the gym to 3-4 times a week, twice with Johnny the trainer who has always been supportive even on my bad day's and twice on my own. My confidence is so much better I now actually like myself inside and out. I can now look at myself in a full length mirror, before I could not bare to do that, It has taken a lot of hard work, but thanks to Andy and his team I now can see light at the end of the tunnel for my future goal & plans.
It has been very much hard work to get where I am today, but without the support of my trainer Johnny and the Pride Health & Fitness team, my goal would have been alot further away.
To date I am only 10lb off my goal weight and have lost over 35lb and feeling fantactic. I will continue going to the gym as it has changed my life around to a better way of thinking, to food, fitness and life. Together it has made me a happier and healthy person and again I can't thank Andy and his team enough for that."
