Josh: Hi, this is Josh Stapleton and I’m sat here with Amanda Banks, who has been a client at DVCC Bedford for a while now. Amanda has achieved some amazing results and I just want to sit down and talk with Amanda a little bit about her journey at the DVCC and how she feels now.
So, once Amanda has finished trying to put me off here, I shall come over to her! Amanda, could you please introduce yourself and tell the wonderful people listening what you’ve achieved in your time here?
Amanda: My name is Amanda, I joined the DVCC in September/October of 2014; I was slightly nervous to say the least, I thought there was no way I’d be able to do that type of exercise.
But basically I wasn’t getting anywhere with my regular spin classes, a little bit of body pump, and I was fairly bored actually. Josh convinced me to have a session – and really I haven’t looked back; I absolutely love it! I never wake up thinking I don’t want to go today; it’s the complete opposite actually. I look forward to coming; I’ve met some great friends here, as well as the workouts who have been great. I’ve lost over a stone of body fat and I just feel great! I love it, I feel great.
Josh: Let’s go back to before; I know you did exercise – so what was a day in the life of Amanda Banks, pre DVCC?
Amanda: I would probably go about 3 or 4 times a week to the gym; I’d do probably 2, maybe 3 spin classes and maybe one body pump – maybe a Pilates. I just felt that it wasn’t really very stimulating, to be honest with you. Yes, I was getting my heart rate going and sweating, but I just didn’t get anything from it.
Josh: What were you looking to get from it?
Amanda: Well, I wanted to see my body change, and that is the one thing I can honestly say that I’ve seen a massive change in my body, which of course then affects your mental well being. I just feel great; I feel more energised, I am sleeping better, definitely, with the supplements and with what I’m doing here with the exercising. So yes, I feel great.
Josh: Personally speaking, I didn’t know it was possible for you to have more energy. For the people out there listening I actually knew Amanda before the DVCC and she was always very energetic; so now she’s verging on unbearable! I’m kidding!
Have you tried doing anything nutritionally, any diets before the DVCC?
I’m 50, I’ve been doing exercise for the last 30 years and, for me, this is by far the best I’ve ever felt!
Amanda: I’ve tried every diet: the cabbage diet, the 5-2 diet, only hard boiled eggs diet – I’ve just basically done it all actually. Slimming World, Weight Watchers; I’ve been there, done it.
But this is just very easy; this is just very, very easy to follow and I just feel quite clean on this diet. It’s not really a diet, it’s just become part of my life really, I suppose.
Josh: That’s great to hear. I know you touched on the supplements that you take, what are they and how have you found they’ve benefited you?
Amanda: Magnesium has definitely benefited me with my sleep, because sleep has always been a bit of a struggle, especially because I’ve got a 3-year old. I don’t think I could stop taking the magnesium; that is really helping me sleep.
And I take the fish oil, I take 6 of those a day, and I do the DVCC protein shake.
Josh: You have actually got some pretty good recipes for the protein, I think. Would you mind telling us one?
Amanda: One that somebody told me here about, Kerry told me basically you use the chocolate protein shake and you put it in your nutri-bullet with some ice cubes, some water and an avocado. Then you blend that together and basically it goes like a McDonald’s chocolate milk shake and it is divine, absolutely divine; it’s just my favourite thing to do with that, I have to say.
Josh: Obviously you’re reliably informed what a McDonald’s milk shake tastes like!
Amanda: I’ve never had a McDonald’s milk shake! My daughter tasted it and said it tastes very similar.!
Josh: What has been your favourite part of being a client at the DVCC?
Amanda: I love the people; what can I say. I’m sorry I know it should be all about the exercise, but I love the people! Truly, I think the team – the trainers – are all absolutely fantastic, professional, have a sense of humour, and they also understand everybody’s individual needs which I think is really what I love more than anything about this particular setup. It’s that everybody has their own individual needs and they are totally accommodated, which means everyone gets maximum results from their workouts here.
Josh: I’m glad to hear you say that. Did you have any fears or worries before joining the DVCC?
Amanda: Yes.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT EXERCISING IF YOU ARE OVER 50Josh: Such as?
Amanda: That I wouldn’t be able to do it!
Josh: And now, months down the line, have you found that they came true, or… ?
Amanda: No, I love it. And actually, as you told me, before long you get stronger, and it’s quite quickly actually, if you come fairly regularly. The results, I am lifting twice the weights that I was lifting when I first started, and I just feel great; I feel a lot stronger, healthier, in better shape.
Josh: And I’m personally looking very forward to when you’re lifting 4 times more, which won’t be long if I have anything to do with it!
To close, if you were to recommend the DVCC to your best friends, what would you say?
Amanda: I’d have to totally be honest with you, so many people have said “You look great, what are you doing?” So actually, in itself that’s recommendation, and that is definitely what’s been happening. And you know because you’ve got a new member because of that.
I would say come, just see what it’s about; I just know that once they have a taste, they will be like me and become quite addicted, I’m absolutely sure of it.
I think the people that come here as well, for me, is a really massive part of it and I know that my friends, obviously because we’re quite similar, would be of the same ilk and would love it here.
Josh: So for all those people who are currently doing spin classes a few times a week, maybe a body pump or two and aren’t getting what they want from that, what would you say to them?
Amanda: I would say come to the DVCC, give it a try and I can guarantee, I just know. I’m 50, I’ve been doing exercise for the last 30 years and, for me, this is by far the best I’ve ever felt, the most positive I’ve ever felt and I truly love coming here. That’s it, simple.
