Nathan: Hi, I’m Nathan from the DVCC and today I’m here with Phil. I’m going to discussing with Phil his time at the DVCC and the results he’s achieved.
So, Phil, if you could just introduce yourself, explain how long you’ve been with the DVCC and your total weight *loss overall.
Phil: Hi, I am Phil and I have been at the DVCC now since January this year and I’ve *lost over 24lbs of body fat.
Nathan: Very well done. Let’s go back to when you first came into the DVCC; can you recall what actually brought you in to see us at the DVCC?
Phil: I wasn’t comfortable in any shape or form with my appearance and weight, but also in just the way I felt. I had lost my confidence, I felt really down in the dumps.
What brought me to the DVCC was I wanted a kick in the pants if I’m honest, and I needed to do something. I felt like I was backed into a corner, I felt like I was at a really low ebb. It was hard just coming in if I’m honest, just walking in the door on the first day and saying “Help”.
Nathan: So that took a lot of courage and confidence to do?
Phil: Yes, because I had almost become like a victim in the fact that, you know what, I’m fat and unhealthy and I just became a bit “Oh, woe is me”. So I needed to do something different.
Nathan: What had you tried before, was there anything that you had tried?
Phil: Over the years, my weight has always been up and down; I would never say I’ve been a fit person. I wouldn’t say I was massively unfit, but I certainly couldn’t do any running or anything like that. Over the years it’s predominantly been different types of diet; I’ve done the classic join a gym in January, never went again after March.
I’ve had a few successes, predominantly when I’ve had a clear goal to aim for, but it’s a constant yoyo type of thing.
Nathan: Ok. What specific problem did you want to solve at the time when you first came to see us, was it reducing body fat?
Phil: There were lots of things I wanted to change but I think the main thing was confidence.
Nathan: Why did you want to change your confidence?
Phil: I had given up, to be honest I had given up. Lots of things that had happened in my life recently and I just felt in quite an emotional and almost quite depressing state; I just felt I had no energy and no goals. I used to have them in the past, even when I was overweight, but I just felt I needed that kick start in my life.
Nathan: How would that affect your day to day life, having lowered confidence, what was it stopping you from doing?
Phil: I stopped going out, I stopped talking to people, I stopped interacting; I became very insular. The best way to describe it is I would bury my head in the sand; sometimes I literally would, I would– not put my head in the sand – but I would literally think I can’t be bothered to get out of bed today and put my head under the duvet. It was really hard; I would avoid situations because I didn’t want people to see me. And again it wasn’t just looks, it was just my general energy levels, everything was really hard for me to do; yes, it was hard.
Nathan: So what were the main obstacles that were preventing you from solving that problem?
Phil: Mindset – I can be quite blind stubborn sometimes as I call it. I’ve done events in the past, where for example I’ve done a 56 mile bike race and done no training beforehand but I’ve done it and then I’ve suffered for weeks afterwards; so I know if I’m in the right mind I know I can achieve lots of stuff. But as I said earlier, I was a victim, I got a bit sorry for myself and that’s a really pathetic place to be. So that was the main thing stopping me.
Nathan: Was there anything else stopping you, in terms of lack of knowledge on nutritional information for example?
Phil: Yes, I was uninformed, so I’m classic – you go to the gym and just get on the treadmill. So I think it was partly that I didn’t know what to do. So when I decided I wanted to do something different, I literally made the decision in my head and said, right – I am just going to go in and say I know nothing I’m going with a massively open mind, if someone says to me I need to do burpees, I’ll just do it. That was a big thing for me; I literally was putting my life in someone else’s hands.
Nathan: So that was a big change in mindset.
Phil: Yes.
Nathan: What had you tried to do previously, to solve your problem?
Phil: As I mentioned, the usual, going to the gym; I’ve done various diets, like Atkins diet. I’ve done stuff like Weight Watchers, Slimming World, etc. But looking back, I would say nothing. Because even the stuff that I did do, which I thought was making a difference, wasn’t. It was just like a short term fix.
Nathan: How long would you say you’ve been trying to fix that problem?
Phil: I think about 10 years; a long time. I didn’t realise how big a problem it was and like I say it’s 10 years I thought I’d like to look better and be healthier; but the confidence peaks – that’s been there a long time.
Even now, what I do like about this is I do have days when I’m really struggling and everyone here is really good at keeping me going. I have an example this week, when I was in a personal training session and I was really not feeling it and you got me through it.
Afterwards I felt amazing and that’s the thing that gets me through it, even when I’m in the hardest training part, I always know that when I leave that door, I always leave with a smile.
Nathan: Good, that’s awesome, that’s something that’s really good.
In terms of your job, you’re a busy guy, working in IT; was there ever concern that you weren’t going to be able to make enough time to get the results that you wanted?
Phil: Definitely. My job is quite demanding; it’s not a 9 to 5 job so things can go wrong out of hours and my teams get called in. But again it was a lifestyle change for me, so went and discussed it with my boss; I said this is my life, this is what I’m doing.
So I fitted it around and there is a level of flexibility with the DVCC with regards to the different classes and different sessions you can do. You’re always open, there have been plenty of times – again this week was a great example, where I was working from home this week and I thought I would go in, and I just turned up. You accommodated me and took me in there and put me through my paces.
And even down to the fact you’ve got different centres. So now, if I’m running late leaving work, I can just call in at the one in Northampton, and it’s fantastic because I walk in there and people know me – how is this possible?!
Nathan: That’s awesome! What convinced you that the Real You transformation process would be different, in terms of getting you results? Thinking back to when you first came in and you spent that hour with me, walking round the centre – what convinced you?
Phil: Probably a couple of things. Firstly, I like the family style approach to it. Just looking around the room now, you’ve got the photographs of people. I really like that because it doesn’t have a gym feel to it.
It’s almost like you’ve got pictures of your mates there and look, I’m dead proud of what my mates have done. So there was that bit and the fact that it didn’t feel like a gimmick; it didn’t feel like “Oh you’re going to do 7 minutes of training and you’re going to get all these results”.
You didn’t tell me it was going to be easy; you went through it and said this is about you putting the effort in and about you working to achieve your goals and we’ll give you a structured plan and we’ll adapt to it and work with you. It didn’t feel like a fad, it didn’t feel like you were there to make a few bucks and then move on.
I have to say it was you who convinced me, and all the guys here, you talk to them – I was saying it again this week – that it’s more than a job for you guys. Not just meaning you spend that much time here, but you believe it, you live it and breathe it every single day – that’s what really sold it for me.
Nathan: Good, I’m glad we’ve had that effect on you.
So how has your *life changed since starting the Real You transformation process?
Phil: We can do it on three levels: on looks perspective; I look better, I can fit into t-shirts that never been able to fit in before. I’ve got some photographs, there’s one at the beginning of the year where I’m in this t-shirt that is literally spray painted on me.
And then throughout the year I’ve started to fit into the t-shirt. I’ve always been a baggy t-shirt person so it hides it all; but more recently I’ve been buying new clothes and been a little bit more adventurous …
Nathan: More fitted?
Phil: Yes, so I’ve started to feel really comfortable, which is good. So that’s from a looks perspective.
From a health perspective, I’ve just done the 3 peaks; I would never, ever have been able to do that.
Nathan: That was one of your goals at the start, wasn’t it?
Phil: Yes, I would never have been able to do that 6 or 12 months ago, there’s no way I could have done it. And simple things like push ups and I’ve started to do pull ups now; I’ve got a training plan for that; so there is stuff that I’ve not been able to do, ever in my life or certainly in the last 20 years.
And then the biggest one for me is confidence; the main reason for me joining here was, like I said, I was at a really low ebb; and it’s given me so much more confidence.
Nathan: Good; and I’m sure that has had an effect across your whole life.
Phil: It has, and my family have noticed it. I’ve got more energy and I’m actually really quite proud.
Nathan: Yes, you should be.
Phil: It’s not just the look and stuff, it’s that I’m achieving stuff and I’m stretching myself.
Nathan: Awesome. Could you give me one example of something which has happened after your transformation that you wouldn’t have thought possible before starting at the DVCC? I suppose the 3 peaks?
Phil: The 3 peaks, yes; but I could name loads! The 3 peaks was a real feat. I don’t know what impressed me more was that (a) I could do it, but (b) not the ease, because that’s hard, but I felt the difference.
So even when I did a practice run a few months back, I did one mountain, but all my training was based here. And it was all around my legs and, as much as I hate to say it, but stuff like burpees and bear crawls made a massive difference.
I have always been the guy who would be struggling and stuff, I was never very active when I was younger; but yes, I smashed it to be honest, I sprinted the last bit!
Nathan: Good from you! That’s awesome and I’m super happy that you’ve done that.
So if you have been listening to this interview, I hope you have found it useful. If you want to find out more about how the DVCC can help you to make a *life changing transformation, like Phil has, please click the link below and book an appointment for a DVCC Right Fit phone call, at www.theDVCC.com/signup.
Phil, it’s been a pleasure to speak to you and I hope your transformation continues; have a good day.
