FAQs

What sort of exercise will I be expected to do?

That really depends on you and your preferences and lifestyle. I recommend everyone do some form of strength and cardio (fitness) training, however there is a huge variety of ways that these can be delivered to make them fun and engaging for each person. No two people will have a plan that looks identical with 1:1 coaching.

If you think running on an indoor treadmill sounds like hell, then that's not going to be in your programme! Everything you are prescribed is with the intention of making it as fun and achievable as possible. You are involved every step of the way. 

I don't want to eat boring foods. What can I expect from nutrition advice?

I will categorically never dictate to you what you should and should not eat. Nutrition advice is about looking at what you are already doing and finding areas where you could improve your nutrient intake, where it's lacking, and get enjoyment out of food, but you ultimately decide what goes into your diet based on my professional guidance around healthy eating guidelines. There's no food rules here; we work together to find what your preferences are, anything you find difficult and we develop strategies based on those. 

How do I get pricing?

By joining  an 1:1 online coaching application call with me to see if you and I are a good fit for each other!

If you are serious about achieving your goals and you are done with the back and forth relationship you have had with on and off diets and attempts to build an exercise routine, and want to build a strong body and mindset, then I want to chat with you! 

I need to make sure I can help and support you in the way that you need and am that confident that I am the right person to help you succeed; I would not take your money if I wasn't the right fit for you or our values didn't align, because that is in neither of our best interests.

If these things align, we will discuss pricing and make sure you are happy before you make any decisions. I do have options to make sure you get the level of support you need and have a degree of flexibility to make coaching affordable on an ongoing basis. 

I have a specific sporting goal, can you help me with that?

Yes! Whether you are aiming to do your first OCR mud run, working up to a 10K run, doing a power lifting SBD comp or just building as muscle and strength as you can in the gym I can build an exerise programme and give more specific targets to help you strike the right balance to get the best out of efforts and hit your goals.  

Why might online coaching be a good choice for me? 

What a lot of people find hard is building systems that keep them moving forward and keeping themselves accountable. Online coaching offers regular check ins and ongoing support throughout the week when you need it most, on top of your programme and nutrition advice, to keep you motivated and accountable. We discuss your successes and challenges each week in depth and I give tailored feedback to help you keep up the momentum and drive. 

Will you write me a meal plan if I ask for one? 

No, but I may work with you to help you create you own flexible meal plan or menu if you feel the structure will help you, but we will discuss this first to see if this is what you really need.

I don't believe in giving prescriptive meal plans, nor am I, or any nutrition advisor, qualified to do this; you would need a dietician for this. I can provide examples of balanced meals and help you adapt recipes to fit your preferences and gear them towards your goals and we can discuss what meals you may enjoy so you can plan your shopping and make sure you have what you need to eat well. 

Some people will eat more regularly and a more diverse range of nutrients if they plan in advance and eat similar meals week to week, but I will always encourage options and a degree of flexibility if you decide to plan, because our minds change, and even the best made plans don't always pan out. Some people may feel restricted if they plan too tightly and won't benefit from learning a flexible approach where they can build knowledge, confidence and trust in their own decisions. If you meal or menu plan, I will uphold and advocate for the principles of flexibility. 

Do you recommend supplements?

Not specifically, no. I will provide the benefits and drawbacks of any you are interested in or may benefit from so you can make an informed decision, but I will not prescriptively tell you to take or buy any supplement. It is outside of the scope of the role of a personal trainer, online coach or nutrition advisor to do this. If you think you have a deficiency or symptoms that suggest you do, you should consult your GP. You should be able to get all the vitamins and minerals you need from food, with perhaps the exception of vitamin D, which the government recommends "...that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter." See:  Vitamin D - NHS for more information. 

Some supplements will aid with sporting performance and to help us meet our nutritional requirements under certain circumstances. I will happily look at the labels of any products you are interested in and provide feedback so you can make an informed decision.

Additionally, I am happy to share what products I personally enjoy, such as protein powder or creatine, but please understand that this will never be advice to buy or choose that product and should not be seen as such. I will make it clear that this is my preference based on brand reputation and my own tastes and I am not affiliated with, nor do I make any money from supplements or supplement brands.