Success Story

Pauline Fitzsimons

You know all those clothes you have in your wardrobe that don’t fit you but you keep in case you may one day think you may fit back into them, well I have just thrown all those out because even they are too big for me !! Learn how I went from Size 22 to Size 10 in just 6 months.

before and after Pauline I was the classic working Mum, demanding job and two young children to deal with. When I wasn’t working I was trying to make it up to the kids because of the guilt that every working Mum feels, so making some personal time wasn’t an option in my mind’s eye. A routine health screening at work brought to light that I was beginning to develop serious health problems, high cholesterol with the prospect of diabetes with high blood pressure on the way if I did not take corrective action. The realisation that in fact neglecting my personal welfare was indeed being Selfish to my kids and not Selfless, as I had lead myself to believe.

The road to redemption did not start immediately. I knew I needed help but was unsure where to start. After years of trying and failing the Quick Fix diets, I knew the only way to go was Healthy Eating & Exercise but I wasn’t sure I had the nerve to face the gym, thinking surely that’s where all the slim people go, but then maybe that’s why they are slim !! So I started to swim 4 times a week and eat a little better, after 3 months I had lost 7lbs and realised quickly that at this rate of progress I was unlikely to ever succeed and that I needed to revise my idea of what exactly Health Eating & Exercise meant.

My good friends Frank & Julie had recommended I try a Personal Trainer, and I had noticed Damien’s poster up in gym so I decided first to mail him and see as a trainer if he dealt with obesity. Shortly afterwards we met up for a chat and Damien assured me that anyone can succeed if they just follow his directions with hard work & commitment (initially only 3 hours per week!!), he would guarantee success and so I began……

Month 1

I guess the first month is always the hardest. I had never done any weight training before in my life and aside from a couple lengths of breaststroke my cardio levels were not up to much. So I started my weight training on 17th February. While I was unable to walk the next day after the experience, it was not as bad as I expected. Damien ensured everything was set up for me and made sure I focussed on the exercises I was trying to perform. I was too busy sweating and concentrating to notice if anyone else was watching, or laughing at me in the gym!!!

For the next few weeks I completed the weight circuit twice a week with Damien and he gradually showed me how to use the equipment and fill in my program as I gained the confidence to go up to the weights room on my own. In this time I also did some interval training on the treadmill and made one critical change to my diet, protein & nuts for breakfast. As Damien says it takes 21 days to from a habit, and by the end of Month 1, I now had two good habits - I trained three times a week and had a good breakfast everyday.

Month 2 (mid Mar to April)

weights By this stage I was confident to go up to the gym and complete my program on my own. I still found it difficult but was determined to persist. Damien continued to work with me on my diet, replacing refined processed food with fresh meat, fish, salad, vegetables & fruit, eliminating soda & alcohol and increasing the quantity of water. I still trained with Damien once a week and these were always the hardest sessions. Damien pushes you really hard and ensures you perform to the maximum of your ability, never letting you stand still and inspiring you to achieve more. Each week Damien measured my body fat % and reviewed my food diary for the week to make sure I stayed on track and to chart my progress.

Near the end of March, Damien changed my program. This took me out of my comfort zone as I had become familiar and comfortable with the old program and so was my body so it was time for a change. . People I knew had started to notice the changes in me and I felt so much better. Now was my first big challenge, I was due to go on holidays to Florida for two weeks. Damien designed a program I could complete in the villa without any weights. I still remember this vividly - I had naively believed this would easier. I was unable to sit comfortably on the flight to Orlando as my ass and legs hurt so much! So the holidays, did I blow it? Well the answer is no, not quite! I didn’t do brilliantly but I came home 4lbs lighter and I had worked out 5 times. I arrived home on Saturday and got straight back up to the gym on Sunday. By mid April, I had lost over 2 stone and my energy levels were much higher

Month 3 (mid Apr to May)

In month 2 I had been very anxious about the food and found it quite difficult to manage if I had to eat out. I often left long gaps between meals until I got home and could cook for myself. Eating out for every meal except breakfast for 2 whole weeks taught me how to make the best food choices from any menu, and how to mix and match menu items so I always had enough of the right foods to eat.

As for the training I now had 2 new programs that I alternated between each time I trained. It added a variety to the training and at this stage Damien also increased the workload. I now weight trained 4 times per week with 1 cardio session on the treadmill when I could fit it in. To recover from holidays, Damien asked to follow a stricter diet for 2 weeks - Boot camp. By mid May, I was 3 stone down and still feeling great. Julie & Frank came back from their travels and were amazed by the changes in me. I had a bottle of champagne to celebrate with them; I was very happy with what I had achieved but even happier as I was now 100% confident I could achieve my final target. I have not had a drink since! I haven’t decided to be teetotaller and maybe I will have a drink on my birthday!

Month 4,5 & 6 (mid May to Aug)

Month 4 onwards, things got a lot easier, as my new found good habits became engraved on my lifestyle. I now train 4 to 5 times per week, and I eat a healthy diet. Friends no longer comment when I refuse the offer of a drink. To add variety to my cardio, Damien added boxing and rowing interval training, in addition to introducing 2 new weight training programs every 3 weeks. I really love the boxing and I row with a buddy once a week at work, which motivates me to do that. The weight training I love, admittedly it is tough at the time, but then you feel so great afterwards and the results you are achieving motivate you to keep on target. I think back to last February and I could barely squat, I needed support to stand back up, now I can do it with 35kgs on my back. It is hard to believe the progress you can make and I now 6 stone or 90lbs lighter to prove it!

It will never get easy because as you improve Damien will change your program so that both you and your body remain challenged. Some people ask me what will happen to my body when I stop and I reply ‘why I would stop?’ This is a healthy lifestyle choice, and health is for life. Was it hard work? Well the answer to that is yes, but then a lot of the worthwhile things we achieve in life are hard work. The ability to work hard is in all of us, what you need to do is get your priorities right. Examine your life and look at the obstacles that are preventing you opting for a healthier lifestyle, resolve these issues and most of all believe in yourself, the ability to be successful is in us all.

So the journey continues

I started out on this journey because of health concerns, looking great has been a wonderful bonus, but whatever the motivation, the most wonderful thing is how much energy I now have. My 41st birthday is rapidly approaching but am I worried, no. I feel better now than I did in my 20s so I plan to put into practice that life truly begins in your 40s and it is never too late to change!!! I still have further to go to get to my target, but I am confident I will get there.

Every journey needs a guide and I couldn’t have done it without Damien. He is a talented professional whose commitment, motivation & knowledge will impress you, as well as change your life. He is tough, driven, and energetic but has a great sense of humour and will give you the courage and inspiration to achieve your goals and exceed your own expectations. If you have the determination, Damien will show you the way. You will be amazed by what you can achieve.