I had brain surgery in December 1999 which has resulted in me finding it difficult to lie completely flat or have my head pass the horizontal. I also went through a rough patch with mild depression which meant I wasn’t eating well or looking after myself. In addition I had problems with my back in previous years. I realised my situation wasn’t good and I needed to do something about it. My surgery also woke me up and made me realise life is short and that I needed to make the most of what I’ve got.
A few years passed and I was out one Saturday night. After numerous beers I ended up in Caroline Street in Cardiff – or ‘chip alley’ as it’s known locally. Waiting for my mate to buy his chips with cheese and mayonnaise (thankfully I was drunk but not stupid) I noticed a guy who seemed to be making some fitness manoeuvres with his mate. I approached and in a drunken stooper mentioned I wanted to get fitter. Little did I realise I was talking to a Physical Trainer and before I knew it I was handed his card and we went our separate ways. Later that week I decided to take action and rang Ollie to find out more about what he did, where he did it and how much it cost (which was my main concern). We arranged for an initial trial session and I liked what I saw in terms of the gym facilities, the exercises I did and most importantly for me, how easy it was to get on with Ollie. The trial session soon became once a month, then once a fortnight and then one or sometimes twice per week. I was pleasantly surprised how very reasonable his rates were.
Ollie put a training schedule together for me on the basis of me regaining some general fitness. He would often surprise me with his training sessions but that helped to keep everything fresh and interesting. We would use the studio now and again and he would put me through a circuit training regime. Then we would occasionally use the peloton bikes – a killer!
Ollie was always cognisant of my health issues, taking into account the problems with my neck and back, which could have become difficult for bench presses or squats and the like, but he would always ask if it was ok and if it wasn’t he would change the exercise to suit.
My fitness levels soon rose and I then changed my goals to become more toned, and Ollie was always keen for me to have a balanced training regime involving cardio, machines and free weights.
In 2007 I decided to present myself with a challenge – a trek to Everest Base Camp. My training increased and I set-off in November. Unfortunately I did not make it all the way as I had to turn back only two nights away from base camp due to altitude sickness but this was nothing to do with my fitness levels as it can affect anyone regardless of their fitness. However, going back down with altitude sickness was the toughest thing I have ever put my body through and I suspect the base level of fitness I had gained through Ollie helped me enormously to successfully get through it.
I moved out to Auckland, New Zealand in April 2008 and in November 2008 I completed my first ever half-marathon. Again, although I was no longer seeing Ollie, I put my success down to what I had learnt from Ollie in terms of training and determination to reach a goal.
Ollie is a very personable guy. I would often have a laugh with him between sets but I would always come away from the gym feeling like I had achieved something. In that respect it made my training that much more fun and I would look forward to my sessions.
Over the years I have got to know Ollie and I like to think of him as a mate now, although I would always differentiate between Ollie the mate and Ollie the PT. I will return to the UK one day and when I do I look forward to training with him once again. Good on yer O!
Lee is an example to be set by all. No matter what challengs life throws at you, you've just got to get on with it and not just sit back. His determination not only to increase his fitness, but improve on his day to day health has made him a more positive individual with not only setting goals but going out there and doing them, and doing them well!! His achievements not only in the gym, but hard work on the road I believe gave him the confidence to do well in the Auckland Half Marathon and I am pretty sure without altitude sickness he would of made it easily to Everest base camp.
Ollie.
Paula Gillam, Thornhill, Cardiff 
At school I was rubbish at anything sport related and PE to me was frankly a nightmare. Somehow, years later, I managed to start dragging myself to the gym and even though I felt really self-conscious and lacked confidence (particularly anywhere near weights!) I managed to get myself to a basic level of fitness. The problem though, was that I was getting bored, I was doing the same things week in and week out and I really wanted to improve my overall fitness, muscle tone and my 5k times but just didn’t know how.
Ollie was able to work out right from the 1st consultation what I wanted to achieve and within a few weeks I could already see the difference. I’ve been training with Ollie for over 4 years now. He really knows how to get the best out of me and seems to know exactly how to motivate me at any particular moment in time. As someone who never used to be fond of weights, he makes sessions so varied that they are really enjoyable and are finished before you know it. He often gets me to re-evaluate my goals so that there is always something I’m working towards. Sometimes I’ll think “I can’t do that” when he shows me something he wants me to try and then when I am able to, it gives me a real sense of achievement and boosts my confidence. Ollie definitely takes a holistic view of your training and keeps things fresh, looking at not just your diet but the other things going on in your life that could be affecting you, and he’ll explain how these things may be having an impact.
The most important thing for me has been the results from training with Ollie. I’m so much fitter, more toned and my 5k times have kept improving. I never thought I would be someone who would enjoy running. Ollie even talked me into doing 10k’s and training for a half marathon (though I haven’t done the half marathon yet). I was really surprised how much it matters to Ollie that you reach your goals, he really wants you to do well and that makes you want to work harder. He’s been massively supportive of me with my running goals so I just hope that this testimonial does him justice. Thanks Ol. X
One of Paula`s first goals was to get more confident about her fitness. So we threw down the challenge. Her main focus at the time was to improve her 5km times. When we first met her time for 5km was a credible 27 minutes. The challenge within a couple of weeks was to cut this by a further 2 minutes. That amount of time over that distance is a huge chunk off, like a top 100m sprinter taking of 0.2 seconds of their personal best! But she did, getting her time down to 24 mins 52 secs in the race for life. From there the times kept on dropping.
23 mins 10 secs in the Big Fun Run, and again another personal Best in the Race For Life in 22 mins 52 secs, also crossing the line in 4th place!! I know the event is not a race, but with well over 2000 participants that is a massive achievement.
We then put in another challenge to do the Cardiff 10km and Cancer Research 10km where here times where 49 mins 07 secs and
49 mins 32 secs respectively. Again this was a massive achievment as our training was based on shorter distances.
With all that training Paula wanted to progress more. The Strength, Endurance and Flexibility was there, we just needed to fine tune her results by increasing on core strength. Here we introduced more fit ball work where she took to the training very well and improved on her new goals rapidly. I see Paula on a regular basis each week, this helps me get her to her goals a lot quicker and she enjoys the pain and punishment she is put through in her training. Well maybe not, but she gets her head down and gets on with it, this is what makes her a great person not only to train, but to get along with and have a good laugh at the same time.
In May 2010 Paula will be Climbing Mount Kilamanjaro!! An altitude of 5,895 metres or 19,341 feet
Good work Gillam, keep it up.
Bethan Roderick, Cardiff.
Bethan has developed from a shy gym user to a confident individual that is not afraid to set hard challenges as her goals. With a few sessions under her belt and seeing real change in her body shape and fitness, I faced Bethan with a challenge to participate not nly in the Race for Life and cancer research 5km runs, but the Cardiff 10km too, having both agreed that running was not Bethans strongest component of fitness. Once these were completed with ``ease`` we set the bar high and planned to do the Cardiff Half Marathon. Bethan Had dropped from a Dress Size 16 to an 8/10, which then enabled her to physically cope more with demands that a Half Marthon and the training required surrounding it. Having completed the Marathon in a very respectable time, Bethan increased her hunger to improve on her goals. In June 2010, she completed the Brecon to cardiff Cycle ride, a total of 56 Miles. This is no easy distance to complete, even fo th most competant cyclists. For all her efforts, Bethan ha managed to raise lots f Money for Several Charities. Bethan is an example that we can all work on our weaknesses and achieve what may seem like an impossible goal. During the different Phases of Bethans trining we have put together several Nutritional plans to help with weight loss and performance in fitness.
| Measurements | Before | After | Lost |
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| Biceps | 31cm | 27cm | 4cm (13%) |
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| Chest | 81cm | 74cm | 7cm (9%) |
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| Waist | 90cm | 72cm | 18cm (20%) |
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| Hips | 102cm | 95cm | 7cm (7%) |
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| Tighs | 62cm | 55cm | 7cm (12%) |
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Table showing Bethan`s Measurement Progress