Up Close and Personal |
 |
Paul Bennett, 45 got his health back with the help of a Virgin Active Personal Trainer and made a true friend along the way.
"I moved back from the States about a year ago following a health crisis. I discovered I was diabetic and needed to lose around 85 lbs (about 6 stone) but there's a difference between losing weight and being healthy. I’ve been to gyms for years but never found an opportunity to make it part of who I am.
I was already a Virgin Active member and saw this smiley Personal Trainer wandering around looking like he was having fun, which is what I wanted. The first thing Marius Mielniczuk said was, ‘What do you need?’ It's quite exposing putting yourself on stage in this way, you have to trust. When Marius and I started chatting he talked to me like a normal person, about how it was going to feel and giving it a go.
|
"It’s about doing a few things really well."
It’s gone very fast since January and I've reached my goal weight, but more importantly I’ve reached my psychological goal: I used to be one of those guys who hated going to the gym and now I love it. I feel like Marius has really invested his own time, he texts me and we have a dialogue, a real conversation. He's as upset as I am if I mess up.
I train about 2-3 times a week with Marius and go to the gym every other day. We talk about how I’m feeling and if I’m ready to take it up a notch. I have a very varied routine, use all of the machines and I swim. I used to do stupid things thinking I was super fit and now I know it’s all about doing a few things really well.
"I was on medication for diabetes and now I don’t take anything."
I've lost the 85lbs and feel great. I've never had a body before I just had a thing I walked around in. Marius is genuinely proud of what I’ve done. I’ve become physically excited about training. I travel all over the world and still work out. It’s a myth a demanding job makes training difficult.
"Virgin Active isn’t boot camp. They listen and understand it’s a partnership."
It’s easy to find a personal trainer who can count and make you do push ups but it’s hard to find a trainer you can be friends with. I’ve introduced my partner to Marius and we all train together twice a week. Marius has become part of our family."
|
|