“The best and most unexpected result has been learning to do the Olympic Lifts in my 50’s. Jackie coached me to clean and jerk, and snatch – I’ve really enjoyed learning a new skill and my body is feeling the increased strength and improved posture benefits too.”

Before I started working with Jackie, I was just going at the gym, doing workouts without any real purpose, or direction. Turning up was enough right?

I had the usual reservations about working with a trainer, such as feeling like I’d be out of my depth, concern about being not being able to make any real gains because I was older, and being unsure it was good value (which it totally is!).

Looking back, Jackie started with the basics, making sure learnt proper form, how to actually lift weights, and coached me on what I should eat and when. She has brought structure and discipline and pushed me way further than I expected. Chin ups! We have kept it interesting; workouts have never got dull or repetitive. And when we got to a place where she laughs at my bad or wrong lifts, cos’ I’ve messed up, I’m in good hands, having fun.

The best and most unexpected result has been learning to do the Olympic Lifts in my 50’s. I didn’t even know what it was when we started, or thought I would have the mobility in my joints and learning the technique to be able to do it properly can be quite challenging at times! But within 18 months Jackie coached me to clean and jerk, and snatch – I’ve really enjoyed learning a new skill and my body is feeling the increased strength and improved posture benefits too.

“The best result from working with Jackie? Well, now we are in our early 50s and 60s respectively, people are often surprised to hear our age – and often assume we are several years younger than our true age. That’s a good sign that we are doing well, and a lot of that is down to Jackie’s input over the long term. Thanks Jackie!!”

We first started working with Jackie in 2006, when we were starting to think about the joys of middle age. We cared about how we looked and felt, and above all wanted to maintain our physical and mental health over the long term. However, despite being aware of diet and exercise, our habits weren’t great and they certainly weren’t that well informed.

Over the past 18 years or so, Jackie has helped us get into much better condition – and she has helped us sustain that too. Of course, our physical condition has fluctuated during that time, but Jackie has helped us stay the course. When we started working with her, we weren’t sure what to expect, and also knew that we didn’t want exercise and diet to dominate our lives. She has helped us learn how to think about our health holistically: to consume more healthy food and drink, and while also recognising that we can have a blow-out on occasion too.

And she has provided no end of support with our physical fitness, too. Before the pandemic, we were training with her in person (usually) twice a week, and now we do so via FaceTime instead. As the pandemic was looming early in 2020, she was quick to advise us on a few essential pieces of training equipment that we’d need at home, and she has helped us make best use of those. Whether we are with her in person or virtually, she’s always good at sensing how hard to push us: we train hard, of course, but she also knows how to avoid pushing us over the edge!

Now that Jackie is permanently based in NZ and we are in London, we really enjoy the flexibility and convenience of continuing to training remotely with her. Making good use of FaceTime and our iPad, it feels like Jackie is in the room with us while we work out. As an added bonus, we now don’t need to travel to and from the gym – and we can refresh afterward in our own bathroom.

We are amazed at what Jackie helps us achieve with our fitness in our living room with our regular equipment or hotel room when we travel for work, using easily transportable resistance bands. This means there is no excuse to miss a session, and now we’ve got into this habit we wouldn’t do it any other way!

With the weekly coaching calls we have with Jackie, this is a great moment to reflect on how life is progressing – and the role of diet, exercise and lifestyle in our ups and downs. She’s a great source of advice, and a great sounding board too. Perhaps most importantly, she’s an energising, fun and engaging person to spend time with: you always feel better after time with Jackie!

The best result from working with Jackie? Well, now we are in our early 50s and early 60s respectively, people are often surprised to hear our age – and often assume we are several years younger than our true age. That’s a good sign that we are doing well, and a lot of that is down to Jackie’s input over the long term. Thanks Jackie!!

“Since working with Jackie I feel a lot fitter and look good for my age. I was the ‘patient’ at a recent cardiovascular conference, my role was to receive an echocardiogram – this involved taking my top off in front of the other delegates. I got a quite a few compliments that night at dinner!”

Before starting with Jackie I had reached a stage in my training where I was bored and had reached a plateau. I had little motivation and felt like I was treading water. With my 46 birthday looming I was conscious that I needed to do something to keep in shape and avoid middle age spread.

I had some trepidation of working with someone new but I had chatted with Jackie quite a bit round the gym for a couple years. She was always friendly, approachable and listened, which made me feel comfortable.

Working with Jackie has been easy and tough! The easy bit is because she is very personable, listens and is supportive. Jackie’s programs are flexible and she listens to what is going on for me so we can adapt depending on my energy levels or time. The tough part is because the programs Jackie develops are about getting results: so she makes me work – which can be sometimes mentally and physically challenging. However I really feel great after and have a sense of achievement.

Since working with Jackie I feel a lot fitter and look good for my age. I was the ‘patient’ at a recent cardiovascular conference, my role was to receive an echocardiogram – this involved taking my top off in front of the other delegates. I got a quite a few compliments that night at dinner!

“One of the best results I have had working with Jackie, is my increase in co-ordination and flexibility, which initially stopped me from even being able to hold bars properly or have the correct form for certain exercises. Now with Jackie’s help I can complete heavy lifts and a wide range of exercises I was unable to do beforehand.”

Before working with Jackie I did little to no exercise, I had limited mobility in my shoulders, and co-ordination issues due to my dyspraxia. I had reservations about going to the gym and having a personal trainer due to fear of being unable to perform certain exercises due to this. However, the process of working with Jackie over the last few years has helped me with my strength, mobility and coordination which has helped to massively boost my confidence.

Learning correct lifting techniques over initial sessions in person gave me confidence with my form and ability to try new exercises in the gym. Then starting sessions virtually helped not just keep me fit during the pandemic in “Lockdown London” but has helped increase flexibility in attending sessions and enabled me to get guidance as well as complete sessions even when on opposite side of the planet.

I would say one of the best results I have had working with Jackie, is my increase in co-ordination and flexibility, which initially stopped me from even being able to hold bars properly or have the correct form for certain exercises. Now with Jackie’s help I can complete heavy lifts and a wide range of exercises I was unable to do beforehand and it has been a massive help to me working with her.

While training virtually with Jackie recently, she took this screenshot of me hitting a personal best of a 145kg Trap Deadlift!

“Since working with Jackie, the best result for me has been that I have been able to reduce my medication within the 12 week program after a visit to my GP who immediately recognised the long term benefit of the program.”

First of all I am so happy to say that the program has changed any ideas I had related to diet/exercise as even though I believed that a combination of the two would be of benefit to my objective to lose weight but it never seemed to work effectively for me and I would return to old eating habits eventually. I have, with Jackie’s help, been able to work hard at the program which is not just for the short term but for life.

The last twelve weeks have been a revelation for me I am now empowered with the knowledge of being able to make informed choices of what to eat and more importantly I have the confidence to try a wider variety of foods/exercise which before the program I either had not tried or did not understand how to utilise effectively.

I had no reservations about working with Jackie or any professional who could help me achieve my weight loss goals. I had become a little cynical about the diet and weight loss industry which promoted many short term solutions. Having followed some of these unsuccessfully over the years, I had reached a point where I felt the need to be coached and guided about what I was doing, as long term; my general health was not improving.

Working with Jackie has been great because from the very beginning she made me feel quite comfortable about talking about food, exercise and health matters and you took the time to get to know me as a person too. Thank you.

Since working with Jackie, the best result for me has been that I have been able to reduce my medication within the 12 week program after a visit to my GP who immediately recognised the long term benefit of the program.

“The best thing I have taken from Jackie is understanding myself and the methods to manage my goals and life. Then… I now love push-ups. Technique technique technique!”

I had been taking PT session for 8 month’s, 6 months before meeting Jackie. I was in a cycle of eating, drinking and sleeping and looking to get back into shape. My focus was core strength improvement and getting back to my optimal 32inch waist.

The most important thing for me in a personal trainer is being able to be open, honest, truthful and to have judgement-free and personal experience. The first phone call with Jackie was easy and we immediately talked honestly and freely, very refreshing! My friends have asked “why a female trainer?” To be honest, I wondered this myself but I can now say that it has been the best choice I could have made. In comparing my experience with male trainers, a female trainer will focus on technique vs brawn first (until you are ready to hit the heavier weights) and that there is a much more attention to diet and lifestyle to help me reach my goals.

Jackie is constructive, supportive and understanding. I’m stronger, slimmer and more conscious of my diet and lifestyle – it has been transformative. The best thing I have taken from Jackie is understanding myself and the methods to manage my goals and life. Then… I now love push-ups. Technique technique technique.

(Update edit since Jackie moved to NZ) Jackie is innovative. She uses her self-development to continuously improve her approach to your training. She listens to your needs, and she never skips a beat in suggesting something new that will help you out.

Her move from the UK to New Zealand was seamless and during lockdown she moved from gym to home video home training in a heartbeat. Continuing our three times a week sessions she trained me at home with cost-effective solutions that really helped maintain and develop core strength. It was like a workout at the gym. Jackie has the ability to keep you engaged, to follow you on the camera, and constantly keep you ‘stretched’ (see the pun) to your maximum capability. And she doesn’t just do that her holistic approach helps mind, body and soul. She is a solid investment in you!!

“Jackie helped me to believe what was possible. For 25 years I’d been doing everything wrong, eating bad food and wasting my time at the gym.

Jackie gave me the belief and direction to finally kick-start my weight loss and also have fun while doing it. After just four months I had lost four stone and have never looked or felt better. Thank you to Jackie, the tough evergreen Kiwi!”

“Introducing me to running and getting fit for my first ever ski trip (no falls), were the best results from working with Jackie. I can now do a 10k without much effort and have discovered the joys of a crisp morning run along the Thames!”

When I first met Jackie I was working full time in a stressful job plus studying part time. Which apart from giving me little spare time meant I was spending a lot of my time desk-bound or commuting. I was putting on weight and eating badly – snacking and convenience food – and feeling pretty exhausted. I had joined the gym – but had not actually been! A classic attempt at getting fit without actually doing anything!

I had never liked the gym and although I needed an intervention I wasn’t sure how it would work, would I totally hate it or give myself some hideous weight lifting related injury? So I decided I needed a personal trainer to give me motivation and targets. I chose Jackie as she has a nutrition background as well as fitness. I didn’t really want to build myself up, ‘just’ get healthier and fitter.

Jackie has been amazing to work with. She makes the process fun (although she is very firm as well!) and really adapted to my needs, but pushed me as well. Usually getting me to push myself without me realising it – she is clever like that! The only time I won on anything was when I refused to do kettle bells again! However Jackie helped me enjoy everything else, she gave me achievable targets which built up gradually and was very motivational – I actually enjoyed my gym sessions! More importantly she was amazing with helping me change my diet. Three years ago I would not have dreamed of having eggs and avocado for breakfast or actually enjoy a green smoothie #liquidkale but now I do!

Introducing me to running and getting fit for my first ever ski trip (no falls), were the best results from working with Jackie. I can now do a 10k without much effort and have discovered the joys of a crisp morning run along the Thames!

“Before I started with Jackie, it really felt like my problems with energy & fatigue would be forever in-built and incurable. But, with the benefit of Jackie’s clarity of approach, penetrating insight, and personal support, I no longer fear those problems.”

Instead, I feel and recognise that Jackie has given me powerful and effective means of overcoming my issues, and in such a short time Jackie has helped me come a long way in doing so.

I found the entire experience of the Fresh Start program very beneficial. The program resulted in noticeable changes in my health and energy, so in this light I found working with Jackie highly effective. I was happy with the speed at which program progressed, not too fast yet not too laborious either. I was given a lot of high-quality and interesting supplementary material to support me and lost 1 stone in a 2 week period which was a great bonus too!

Jackie was very helpful, and compassionate and helped me feel more confident about how to deal with my nutrition on day-to-day basis. She also taught me the skills to make the right choices in terms of food and I am very grateful for her support, without which I would not have been able to get through a very challenging period. If ever I have further problems, Jackie and her services would be the first I contact.”

“The best result for me was getting my wardrobe back! I didn’t have to go out and buy a whole new set of suits and clothes! My confidence is brimming, I love how I feel and look, thanks to Jackie, I’m actually just about “beach-ready” this year – something I never expected!”

When I started working with Jackie, I was coming out of a particularly dark time in my life. My confidence and self-esteem were shot to pieces. I’d put on a huge amount of weight and couldn’t fit into any of my clothes. Even though I’d joined the gym it didn’t feel like I was making any headway, and I was worried I was going to just fall by the wayside again and have to replace my entire (expensive!) wardrobe of clothes. One conversation with Jackie was enough to convince me. Her sensitivity, expertise and encouragement have been a huge boost over the three months we’ve been working together, and the results speak for themselves. I lost 12kg in a couple of months, and now I can get into my clothes again!

Jackie was like a whirling dervish, and her energy and enthusiasm were just what I needed. She developed three different programmes tailor-made to maximise the effectiveness of the time I spent in the gym, which we did together, and which really pushed me. I loved it! Her personality and positivity are infectious, and I really began to believe in what I was doing, to feel proud when I walked into the gym, and to look forward to sessions with her. I noticed the difference almost immediately, and not only in terms of my fitness. My general wellbeing really began to improve. I felt happier, slept better, even felt more attractive (to myself) as a person. I think Jackie sensed this, and continued to encourage and inspire me. She completely overhauled areas of my life such as nutrition, designing tailor-made programmes of recipes I have to say I found delicious. She also made sure I had sound advice on all aspects of my diet and health. I’ve never had a Personal Trainer before, but working with Jackie has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

The best result for me was getting my wardrobe back! I didn’t have to go out and buy a whole new set of suits and clothes! My confidence is brimming, I love how I feel and look – thanks to Jackie’s enthusiasm and focus, I’m actually just about “beach-ready” this year – something I never expected!