Greg: Hi, this is Greg from the DVCC Northampton; I am joined today by Michelle Butler. How are you, Michelle?
Michelle: Fine, thank you.
Greg: Good. So Michelle, could you just tell me how long you’ve been at the DVCC now?
Michelle: I think some 7 months now; I joined in late January.
Greg: So just after we opened. What are some of the results you’ve had since you joined the DVCC?
Michelle: *Loss of weight; confidence and obviously *lost dress sizes, which has built my confidence up.
Greg: The weight *loss I think, in terms of fat, you’ve actually *lost around 11 lbs I believe, is that correct?
Michelle: I think so; the last I’ve been told, yes.
Greg: Which equates to 5% of your body fat, which is awesome.
So in terms of dress sizes, where have you gone with that?
Michelle: Depending on where you buy your clothes from, I was ranging between maybe a tight 12 and a 14; so now I’ve gone down to a loose 12 and, in some instances, a 10, depending upon where you buy your clothes from. So for me, when I got my first size 10 pair of jeans, I was jumping for joy!
Greg: Good! And when was the last time you were a size 10?
Michelle: Probably… before the children, maybe – so I’m talking … my daughter’s just turned 30, so a long while ago!
Greg: A fair while – nice! Can you recall what initially brought you to the DVCC?
Michelle: Initial training, where I used to train before, they closed down without any warning; so I had been scouting around for other places to go to. I bought various Groupon vouchers for all sorts of boot camps and gyms, and then the DVCC I sort of followed. I’d got a junk mail and went through the junk and DVCC came up, I read it and it was from the twins. And I was going to go but it was from Bedford. I was tempted to go but it was too far and I didn’t want it to become a chore rather than enjoyment, so I left it. Then I saw an advert, I believe, and then I came down.
Greg: What specific problem did you want to solve when you first came to see us, Michelle?
Michelle: Weight *loss. I got too comfortable with how I was; and again, building up that bit more confidence because I started to feel sluggish, dipping etc.
Greg: So energy as well, you mentioned feeling sluggish. What were your main obstacles that had prevented you from solving this before?
Michelle: Motivation, desire; I’d been a member of the gym for quite a long time and I was going and doing gym, swim, gym, swim and it was a case of feeling like you’re just a number, you didn’t get that personal greeting, personal feeling. Whereas I’ve come here, I’m very much a family orientated person and so here it’s like an extension to your family so it’s nice. When I walk through the door, I am Michelle, it is Paddy, it is Charlie, Marcus … yes, so it’s an extension of your family.
Greg: It’s a nice community.
Michelle: It is, yes, a nice feeling.
Greg: Good. You mentioned lacking motivation and desire, did that carry through with nutrition as well?
Michelle: Yes, massively. For me personally, when I thought ok I did that extra, like I would go to the gym and then maybe I’d go running, so it would be like ok I’ve done that little bit extra, I’ve done the run, I can go home now and eat more, as opposed to what we should have eaten. So I would have that big bar of chocolate or big bag of crisps.
Greg: You would tell yourself it was ok because you’d exercised.
Michelle: Yes, because with nutrition, I think it’s a case of being re-educated, and since I’ve been here that’s what I’ve become, re-educated.
Greg: I think learning is a big thing.
Michelle: Yes it is; and I think as years go on, like for myself, you forget things and it’s ok to still carry on as normal I guess, like it’s ok to have bread and butter or whatever. I know, personally, those things aren’t good for me, but you still carry on doing it.
Greg: With your previous exercise you tried, you mentioned the boot camp and a few other things, did they ever have any nutrition tied in with them?
Michelle: The one that I was with the longest, it did but it never transpired. It should have come as a package like it does here, but we just would turn up for training and that was it, we were never given that nutrition plan or where we were promised the email or the 1:1, we never got that. Whereas with here we do, so the nutrition thing has helped massively.
Greg: Good. When you first came to see us, what convinced you that the Real You transformation process would be different?
Michelle: I think because I’ve read up on it and I saw other people’s blogs, for me that was like, wow! And for some people, in such a short space of time how they’ve transformed themselves with the weight *loss, the muscle gain and the toning.
Even now, when I’ve not been here for perhaps a holiday or for whatever other reasons, you come in and you see the people that you’ve been training with from January, and it’s like, wow, you look really good. For me, that’s a massive buzz. Whether I *lose a pound or not, it’s great, but when I see other people that have struggled, that I think is fantastic.
Greg: Yes, it’s really good. How has your *life changed Michelle, since you started the Real You transformation process?
Michelle: I’m happier because I now feel comfortable; there’s still a little bit I want to *lose and obviously I want my body to be toned more, but happier and more confident because I’m going out and thinking yes I can actually get into a size 12 and I’m not just looking, looking. Yes, so with shopping, the pocket is empty more!
Greg: Are you a keen shopper?
Michelle: Not normally, no, I’m not a shopper, I don’t like shopping. But obviously now that I’m seeing something wow, I’m not thinking about other things, I’m thinking I need to have that!
Greg: So you enjoy it more?
Michelle: Yes, definitely.
Greg: Is there an example of anything that has happened after transformation that you thought wouldn’t be possible before?
Michelle: One that was very small; I wanted to get into a Sari for my niece’s wedding and that happened, which was back in May. I didn’t want all the bits & bobs hanging out. That was one of my goals, but again built up it was a massive confidence booster because I was able to go.
And I didn’t have that fear factor of, when the lady dressed me, thinking I don’t want her to see my body; I was quite comfortable with her dressing me - that was a massive thing.
I haven’t done any challenges this year; my fitness levels have gone up as well, so I’m pleased with that.
Greg: On what you mentioned just a second ago about the fitting for the wedding, I would imagine if you’d have felt the other way that would have been quite a stressful experience.
Michelle: It would have been and I would not have even entertained wearing what I chose to wear; it wouldn’t have gone that way at all. Like normal, I would have worn something that doesn’t show curves or whatever – a black sack!
Greg: Any final words for me, Michelle?
Michelle: The time that I’ve been here I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. I would recommend it – I have tried to bring friends in; it’s just that for some of them, obviously, they’ve got other commitments at the moment.
But as long as I’m able to I will continue to come to DVCC. Like I said before, it’s like a family extension, so yes it’s great.
Greg: It is, good; thank you very much Michelle. If you’ve been listening to this spotlight interview and would like to find out more about how the DVCC can help you make a *life changing transformation, just like Michelle, then please book an appointment for a DVCC Right Fit phone call at www.theDVCC.com/signup.
Thank you.
