Matthew: Good evening, this is Matthew from the DVCC and I’m here with Rob Semple. I’m just going to ask you a few questions, to hopefully to get an insight into how you’ve got such great results.
So Rob, to start off with if you could just introduce yourself please, how old are you and how long you have been at the DVCC?
Rob: I’m Rob Semple, I’m 45 years old, 46 coming up in August; I started at the DVCC in the middle of February. 10th February was my first training session and I came for the initial thing because I had seen something advertised, liked the idea of it.
I wasn’t in a very good place, had put on an awful lot of weight. I tried gyms – been a member of Virgin gym for I don’t know how long, very rarely used it.
I needed something different and I needed something that would make me go: more of an appointment type system, so I feel I have to be there; and that’s what you offered. And the training is different as well.
Matthew: Fantastic. So Rob, first of all could you please tell us what results you have achieved since being at the DVCC?
Rob: Unbelievable results. I find it very tough, it’s very hard but it’s enjoyable, you guys are great, and the encouragement you get is brilliant. But the results: since February 10th, my first session, till now, I’ve *lost 39.6lbs of body fat.
Matthew: All body fat - which is insane!
Rob: Yes – body weight wise, I was just a tad under 23 *stone, when we joined; I am now 20 *stone dead. So, 3 *stone in total weight.
Matthew: Fantastic. Ok Rob, so what have been any difficulties that you have had, as I’m sure there are literally thousands of people who have found themselves in the same position as you were?
Rob: Motivation was my biggest problem; I’d had some personal upsets etc., got myself in a bit of a rut and I had no motivation in anything – my personal life – full stop, everything.
I’d got myself into a poor old way really. But with this, the eating plan you promote, I found that difficult as well; that said, the results are amazing, and now I find it really easy. I’ve got Irish in me – I thought I would miss my potatoes and bread – but as it is I find I’m quite enjoying it now, to be honest.
And I feel great – I feel great, all round. I’ve got more umph to do all sorts of things: in my personal life, work, and here – brilliant results all round.
Matthew: You seem like you’re in a much better place than you were when you first walked through the doors.
Rob: Definitely; I feel a lot happier, a lot more positive. *Losing weight helps; I’ve just been to a wedding at the weekend and got some lovely compliments there, from people I haven’t seen for a few months; it’s fantastic, absolutely fantastic.
Matthew: Good from you. So tell me about that wedding – you mentioned before that you went for the suit fitting.
Rob: Yes – we went for the original suit fitting, probably 10 weeks ago. We went again 2 weeks before the wedding and I had dropped a trouser size, a jacket size and two sizes on the waistcoat.
I could have dropped 2 sizes on the trousers but I decided not to, because I didn’t want to be uncomfortable on the day. Of course, as it was, that was 2 weeks before the wedding – the wedding was last Saturday – I should have gone for the smaller trousers!
Even with the buttons at the side done up, they were falling down, literally; I couldn’t do anything about it, so with the hook & loop system they had, I had to lock the first hook over the second loop and wear it with a wonky fly and that was the only way I could keep them up! Fantastic really.
Matthew: Must have been a good feeling?
Rob: Brilliant, brilliant.
Matthew: So you mentioned you were a member of another gym before, that you never went to. So you obviously had tried to *lose weight before; what were your struggles?
Rob: I had done previously; I mean, a long while ago I did do, I did something for Cancer research, did a sponsored hike and I *lost an awful lot of weight then.
But that’s gradually crept back on. It’s just the – how can I put it – some of it is monotonous but, as I said, I enjoy the weight side of the gym, but for me, if I haven’t got an appointment and I haven’t got something where I’ve got to be, I find that a lot harder. Here, with yourselves, it’s pretty much a one on one situation; and I feel as though I can’t let you down.
It’s more like an appointment rather than just “I’m going to go to the gym in the evening”. So for me, this is far better, far better.
Matthew: So Rob, what does your lifestyle look like now, compared to before the DVCC?
Rob: Unrecognisable; it really is unrecognisable. As you know I’m getting up in the mornings, better now we’ve started to do some early morning sessions; that’s unheard of for me – literally unheard of.
I feel more positive in every single way, every single way is the only way I can describe it. I’m happier in myself and I’m happier at work; I’m more productive at work; I’m more productive in just actually starting to have a bit of a buzz about my life now, starting to go out and enjoy myself a bit more.
It’s brilliant, brilliant, that’s the best way to describe it; I feel great.
Matthew: Fantastic. So Rob, do you have any specific tips, with regard to nutrition or exercise, that you could share with anyone listening, that you feel has helped you personally?
Rob: Exercise wise, yes definitely – no matter how hard it gets, just try as hard as you can. And listen to you guys; I tend to push myself fairly hard anyway, but sometimes you guys say things like, “Come on, we’re going to do the next weight up”, and I look at you like you’ve got two heads!
But I try it and it works; even if it goes to failure. So I’d just say, start. If anyone is in any doubt, try it because I’ve not known any exercise regime like it; and the short, sharp bursts, I think are brilliant, rather than it taking 2 or 3 hours of your evening, it’s brilliant.
And as for the food thing – it’s a tip I need to give myself as well – it’s the preparation side of things. When I do prepare, it’s so much easier.
When I don’t, that’s when I find it hard, because it’s not something you can just walk into a shop and buy. So it’s a lot harder because it tends to be sandwiches, rolls, this that and the other.
Matthew: Of course yes, it’s what is available these days.
Rob: Yes – so that would be my tip food wise – prepare.
Matthew: Good tips, Rob. So what were the obstacles that would have prevented you from starting training before you joined the DVCC, or altogether?
Rob: Just purely motivation. Like I said, I’d had some personal problems and personal losses and I had no get up and go to do anything.
But in fairness, for me personally, I couldn’t have another year like that and that’s what I decided. And when I saw this advert, it just sort of sprung out at me – something different. I’m an ex Rugby player and it was set up by two twins, Rugby player twins and, I don’t know, it just hit a nerve for me, it struck a chord.
I had a little look on the website and on YouTube and what have you, and I just thought, “Give it a go”, and I am glad I did, very glad.
Matthew: Likewise!
So Rob, what excited you most about the Real You transformation process: the training – the nutrition?
Rob: Both – it’s a combination of the two, that’s what I like. I’ve learnt, talking to you guys and talking about the food, nutrition wise: the grass fed beef and things like that, with the antibiotics etc., and the things that are fed into cattle and so on and so forth; but then obviously it comes into us, but you don’t realise it.
And it’s those sorts of things, and you learn about all sorts of things. And your metabolic rate and so on and so forth, and how that kick starts, and your insulin levels – and things that I hadn’t even dreamt of. And all these things – yes it’s fantastic all round.
Matthew: Fantastic Rob. So what would be 3 other benefits you have had since starting training?
Rob: I’m sleeping better; I had a lot of problems with my right knee, this is what made me gave up Rugby. And when I started here, as you know, I had some real problems with it. The last 2 months, training wise, I haven’t had a single problem with it.
So that’s 2 – the third one is just *losing weight, just getting into my clothes again. It’s like having a new wardrobe but it’s my old one!
Matthew: That must be a really good feeling. Good from you, dude; I’m looking forward to you coming in in that motorcycle jacket.
Rob: Yes – August 13th!
Matthew: Absolutely.
Ok Rob, would you recommend the DVCC? If so, why?
Rob: I would recommend it, full stop, yes to everyone. I’m bringing friends down here to try things as we speak. Yes – why? Because it’s a whole package; its not just exercise, it’s not just dieting – as such, as you say, it’s not dieting, it’s an eating habit, a way of eating and it’s the whole package.
And you guys, the way you train, the encouragement you give; there’s a lot of banter, a lot of laughing and joking, but it’s all to push you a little bit further, to push you al little bit harder, but in a good way. It’s the whole package and I would recommend it to anybody.
And although it may seem expensive – which it is, don’t get me wrong, there’s no qualms about that – but for what you get when you break it down, it’s great value – and that’s the truth.
It really is, because probably 50% of the time there are one or two people in our sessions, so it’s probably like a personal trainer. And when you break that down into sessions, we’re getting it half price!
Matthew: Fantastic! Any final words Rob, anything you’d like to add, before we close?
Rob: Just a big thank you to you guys really. I came in here feeling pretty low, pretty down in the dumps. I was bigger than I ever was in my life, by 2 or 3 *stone, and you guys have helped me turn it around and I feel brilliant.
I’ve got a long way to go – don’t get me wrong – I’ve got another 3 or 4 *stone to go; but I feel great in myself, got a better outlook on everything. Just a big thank you really, that’s my last thing to say.
Matthew: Thank you very much Rob, I hope you found this interview helpful. For anybody listening, if you have any questions, please comment below and we will get back to you.
This is Matthew from the DVCC Northampton; thank you very much.
