Thank you Nuffield!

I’ve lost five inches off my waist, have

more energy than ever and feel fantastic!

My first encounter with Nuffield Health Fitness & Wellbeing (Britain’s largest healthcare charity), was

at the Dedicated 2 Weddings Exhibition in October last

year, where their friendly and enthusiastic staff informed future brides and grooms about their services and the long term benefits they provide. Eager to find out more, I decided to set up a meeting with the Nuffield staff who had exhibited at our show - Kirsty London (Sales Executive) and Gordon Greenhorn (Personal Trainer & Wellbeing Advisor).

At the meeting, I gained a valuable insight into what Nuffield is all about and what it embodies - most importantly, looking after your

health as well as your fitness. Unlike other leisure clubs and gyms,

Nuffield’s aim is to improve clients’ wellbeing for the long-term by helping them to actively take control of their health. They do so by offering clients an unrivalled combination of fitness facilities, health services (with ongoing advice from specialists and wellbeing

advisors) and are conveniently based in Aberdeen’s city centre.

All this health and fitness talk made me feel even more bloated than usual and I immediately started to regret the chocolate brownie I had devoured at lunch! However, I was soon to turn a corner when I was made an offer that I could simply not refuse. I was invited to embark on the Nuffield experience on a journey towards a healthier lifestyle.

Getting Started

My first step involved a Health MOT with a qualified Wellbeing Advisor. The examination assessed my health status and measured, among other things, my Body Mass Index, aerobic fitness, blood pressure and cholesterol level.

At the end of the assessment I received a comprehensive written report with recommendations on how I could improve my health and fitness (based on the report findings). It was evident that I needed to drink more water and less caffeinated drinks. My fitness level fell into the ‘average’ category with my WHR (Waist to Hip Ratio) sitting in the ‘high risk’ group, which highlighted I was carrying excess body fat on my midsection (that chocolate brownie wouldn’t have helped!). This was of course a tad worrying, as there is a strong correlation between chronic diseases such as diabetes and surplus fat stored in the midsection. It was then that the theme tune from legendary movie ‘Rocky’ crept into my head and from that moment on – I had the eye of the tiger!

Waiting patiently outside the assessment room for me was Personal

Trainer & Wellbeing Advisor, Gordon Greenhorn, who, impressively, was crowned Scottish Natural Bodybuilding Champion 2009.

42 www.dedicated2weddings.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SIMON CLUBB

Gordon was eager to book me in for my first sessions of PT (personal training) and was very flexible and accommodating by working around my typically hectic schedule.

Gordon requested I keep a week’s diary and record exactly what and when I eat daily, the quantities I consume, the hours of sleep I get each night and the time spent on physical exercise. Details logged in the diary, along with the Health MOT results, enabled Gordon to devise a personalised 12-week action plan to help me on my way to a happier, more fulfilling life lead

by the perfect recipe of healthier eating and regular exercise.

As part of the plan Gordon would regularly educate me on the importance of good nutrition, what to consume more – and less – of and what to avoid. He gave me informative leaflets to swot-up on and also shared some of his very own nutritional recipes, which are both delicious and cost-effective. The physical exercise part involved me participating in at least four 45 minute sessions of assertive exercise per week.

Personal Training Sessions

With a fully equipped fitness area there was never a dull moment with Gordon! No PT session was ever the same as he continuously challenged me with new exercises. This kept the workouts varied, interesting, exciting and above all – fun! I soon discovered that there is certainly no such word as ‘surrender’ in Gordon’s dictionary, there is no giving-up that

easily. Gordon continually motivated and pushed me through and beyond my pain barrier which made me

even more determined to achieve my fitness goals.

My sessions with Gordon involved a variety of technical exercises using various fitness machines and fun apparatus. For instance, as well as attempting to complete the demanding yet fun circuits he setup, I was also running, rowing, jumping and even boxing (watch out Tyson!), which helped increase my cardiovascular fitness. I also took part in weights and resistance training, which involved the use of dumbbells and other free weights, such as medicine balls and elastic exercise bands. This element of the programme also saw me use my own bodyweight for exercises such as press-ups, with each of these exercises aimed at toning and improving my muscle strength.

I had two PT sessions per week and loved every second. Gordon is excellent at his job. He is lively, enthusiastic and extremely encouraging. His passion for fitness, as well as his clients’ wellbeing, is clearly evident. Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64