I started training with motive8 because I used to park outside the studio every day to pick my wife up from work and used to see the exercise classes and thought “that looks like fun”. When I got engaged I got “the fear” as I wanted to be in shape for our wedding so came down for an chat and induction. My initial goals were just to shed some weight to look better in a suit. From years of being overweight I had resigned to the fact that I was never going to have a six pack or toned physique but I just wanted to look and feel ok on our big day.

A few months before our wedding I had gotten down to a 34” waist trouser something I had not been since I was a teenager and then after conversations with Alex I started to change my goals towards getting the beach body I didn’t think would be possible. I am still working towards that goal but getting closer and closer every few months. I have recently started to reduce the running and cardio I have been doing and have started enjoying lifting weights more than I thought I would.

I am now stronger, fitter and healthier than I have probably ever been as an adult and approaching 30 next month in the best shape of my life.

The thing I enjoy the most about training with motive8 is the atmosphere In the gym. The fact that it is a small studio is not to it's detriment as it actually means that there is always good banter and the gym very much has a family feel to it. My personal training sessions with Alex and the fact that you can talk to all of the other PT’s in the gym has really helped to develop my understanding of health and fitness and I would now say it is a topic that I am actively interested in learning more about which obviously helps me achieve my nutritional and exercise goals.

In 29 years I have always enjoyed sports such as football, tennis and basketball but previous to ,otive8 I had never enjoyed the gym (it always felt like a chore). Now going to work out at Motive8 has become my leisure time and I enjoy (almost) every session.

I joined motive8 when my business moved to Marshalls Mill in 2014 and I needed to change the focus of my training from running after key hole knee surgery.

My initial goal was to maintain and improve my overall fitness, I achieved this by going to the group classes in the evenings. The classes are run by one of the Personal Trainers from motive8 which means that, alongside the banter, the classes are very well planned, focused on key outputs and are really challenging.

It was clear that the Personal Trainers at motive8 are well trained experts and I wanted to step up my overall fitness and more importantly strength, so I thought that a few months of personal training would help. My initial brief was vanity, acquiring a ‘sporting physique’, and to get physically get stronger.

The two months turned into two years! I still have PT but I also I train on my own to the programme Alex has developed for me and still fit in a few classes over the week.

I like to think that I work hard at managing both my diet and working out in the gym, however the guidance from experts has really ensured that I have hit all my initial goals. I have dropped from 19.5% body fat to 7%, so finally have some abs on show, and have added muscle to maintain my bodyweight. I recently smashed my one rep maxes with a 150kg squat and a 170kg deadlift, so I am feeling pretty strong too. Moving forward I want to tailor my training to prepare me to get out in the great outdoors mountain biking and climbing.

Overall, the Personal Trainers at motive8 aren’t your usual run of the mill, they haven’t just done a two week course and been let loose. The personal training team at motive8 all have as a minimum relevant degrees and experience in coaching/training which ensures incredibly high quality advice worth paying for. The people make or break any business, experts at what they do and nice people, motive8 has got that spot on.

Before Steve started our personal training programme ‘Do It In 12’ he had never lifted weights before. His 1 rep max is now 50kg for bench press and 90kg for deadlift – not to shabby for someone who hadn’t lifted a barbell before!
Alongside this Steve has lost over 7% body fat, 14cm from his waist and 63cm in total, these are phenomenal results in just 12 weeks!
Not only has Steve seen these amazing results but he has also learned how exercise and healthy eating can be part of his life forever. After all, a healthy body is for life not just for 12 weeks…..

Wow, Stephen has absolutely smashed his Do It In 12 goals! When Stephen first started personal training with motive8 his BMI would have placed him in the obese category, whilst he would still be classes as 'overweight' on the BMI, a body fat of just over 11.5% clearly shows this is not the case!

Stephen has lost over 10kg, that’s 20 x 500g bags of sugar…wow!) and almost 65cm (25 inches in old money), an absolutely phenomenal result!

Not only this, but Stephen's posture has massively improved, his movement patterns are much better than when he first started training with us, and his strength has significantly improved.

Amazing work, well done Stephen!

When Ruby initially started training with motive8 her goals were to get fit and lose weight for her 50th birthday. Not only did she smash this, losing over 4 stone and over 70 inches, 10 years later Ruby has maintained this weight loss, taken part in various 5k's, 10k's and Tough Mudders!

Despite having a busy, demanding job as a MD of a travel company, Ruby still manages to train four times per week and follow a healthy diet, whilst enjoying the odd glass of champagne!

''I want to thank Jenny and the team at motive8 for all their effort, support and enthusiasm they put into my programme and the motivating fitness community they have created. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done when I Googled for ‘personal training Leeds’ and selected the motive8 North website!''

I started the Do It In 12 Programme with Kate in preparation for my wedding, I knew Do It In 12 was the perfect thing to help me to get into shape and look my best! I’ve made a few vague attempts to lose weight in the last couple of years, but never really stuck at anything. I knew that the structure of Do It In 12 and the constant support off Kate, my personal trainer, would make all the difference – and it did!

Kate has been brilliant, I’ve often struggled with dizziness and feeling faint during exercise – and in the past this has made me quit altogether. I did have some dizzy spells in my first few sessions, but due to Kate's encouragement I didn’t give up this time – and I’m very happy to say it hasn’t happened since! Another big challenge was getting over my fear of going to the gym by myself. It sounds silly looking back, but I was so intimidated and nervous that I just didn’t go at all. I’m so much more confident now and actually enjoy going to the gym!

I'm over the moon that I've lost over 5% body fat and over a stone in weight, but there’s so many more little things that I’m really proud of as well. For example, the fact that I can now hold a plank for longer than 30seconds without collapsing is a big achievement! Also that I can train with weights, something that I was clueless about before. My running has hugely improved as well – my 5k PB has dropped from 35:09 to 31:21 and I'm determined to run 5k in under 30 minutes!

I've been training with motive8 for about 6 years now (I think), starting off with the 6pm fitness classes 3 times a week. I only started as I wanted to get fit, get in shape and to hope by 7pm the traffic on the M62 had died down!

After a few years, I felt I was getting stuck in rut, I'd toned up, got stronger, fitter, clothes fitted better...I was even running 5k's! I spoke with Jenny and she listened and she suggested 2 classes a week and plus a weekly personal training session. Soon I was deadlifting, squatting, chest pressing and so on, and using crazy weights! All down to the belief of Kate knowing that I can do it and I did it. I felt immensely proud of myself and sore too but sore in a good way!

Sadly, I was made redundant in March of this year. Everything had to stop. I suddenly became round, out of shape etc. So back at the end of August when I'd settled into my new job I signed up to do Do It In 12 with Kate. Now for me, it wasn't about losing weight, I didn't want this to be the main focus, I just wanted to feel fitter, stronger, better shape and to see if I could still lift all those crazy weights, with Kate's help I successfully did it.

Now I'm training once a week with Kate, doing a circuits class, a 5k run and walking as much as possible each week. I'm ready to set some new goals for 2018 too!

All in all, I enjoy training with Motive8, they push you to achieve what you are after without you realising you are actually doing it!

My daughter, Liz, and son-in-law, Joe, have been training with Jenny at motive8 for some years and I have seen them get fitter and slimmer and look generally healthier and more alive!
Liz brought me buddy sessions with her as a trial for my 66th birthday present in March 2015. Believe me, it is the best present I have ever had. I went along and met Jenny and talked about myself, my lifestyle and my goals and how I could achieve them.
My initial goals were to lose half a stone and get rid of some of the fat around my middle and tone up my fat arms. This had become more important as we bought a house in Spain a few years a go and spent a lot of time there and swimsuits, sleeveless tops and dresses and short are the order of the day and I felt even fatter when exposed.
First day, Jenny weighed and measured me all over and we talked about what my targets were, both short and long term. I worked alongside Liz with lighter weights and easier moves.
One of the hardest things at first was to stop yo-yo dieting and start eating sensibly and more healthily. This often involved eating more than I normally would, but I did not feel hungry. Jenny’s help and recipes on the website has re-educated me on healthy eating. Jenny has also helped me rethink our frequent holidays in Spain and make it part of my healthier living regime. I try to plan my meals for the week and record what I eat in My Fitness Pal, which Jenny then monitors and gives me advice on. It is reassuring to know that someone can give you advice on this, often with just a quick email, that keeps you on track.
Jenny never criticises or shows disappointment, but tries to help you look for the triggers that make you overindulge and ways you might avoid it. Eating out is always more of a challenge but Jenny’s useful tips and advice have made that more manageable too.

Each week our personal training sessions have helped me to get stronger and fitter, I have gradually lifted heavier weights and seen muscles develop that I never knew were there and feel quite proud of them. My workout plan and programme during the week has reinforced this and regular measurements and weigh ins have really motivated me.

When I was at school I hid from PE and games and hated every minute of it, but now I even go out for short runs and have persuaded a couple of me neighbours to join me.

The cost of a personal Trainer was something that had always put me off in the past but working in a pair has reduced that and you get the added bonus of seeing each other develop. Liz’s developing strength has motivated me to try harder too. I hope to continue with motive8 as long as I am fit and able and Liz has even set me a target of a family 10k. I have only managed 4k so far, but who knows?

My Motive8 experience has had a huge positive impact on my life. Before I googled 'Personal Training Leeds’ I was on the slippery slope of putting weight on through lack of exercise, working long hours and bad eating habits (including plenty of corporate lunches) when I decided something needed to change!
At that time despite working long hours I managed to start prioritising my workouts, training 4 times a week. I also changed the focus on my food, and started eating a much healthier, balanced diet and cut down on alcohol. This had a huge impact on my weight, helping my lose over two stone and drop two dress sizes.

In May 2015 I gave birth to my little boy, Jenny trained me throughout my pregnancy keeping me in shape and helping to minimise any excess weight gain! Once I could start exercising again after my pregnancy I was back into my personal training sessions, and gradually lost any post-pregnancy weight, body fat and inches. Due to work and family commitments I couldn't train as often as before, but with Jenny keeping a close eye on my food and setting me specific training plans, I was able to hit my goals.

I love training, I'm no longer afraid of the weights area and am on track for mastering being able to do a full pull up. I still have many corporate events I need to attend but knowing which are the healthy food choices I should make helps to keep me on track and I've now maintained my pre-pregnancy weight and dress size for the last two years.