1. Before you started working together, where were you at?
Before I started working with Charlie I was just meandering through my workouts without a clear goal, other than to just hit the weights and do a bit of boxing for my cardio in order to stay in shape. My diet was fairly healthy although like most people I enjoyed the odd treat, whether it be a drink at a pub or a takeaway once or twice a week. I was 96kg and although I wasn’t fat, I was certainly carrying a little bit extra weight around my mid-section. My cardio wasn’t great and it was holding me back from learning the skills of boxing.
2. What originally made you reach out to Charlie?
I went through a difficult period in my life with mental health problems and my physical health suffered as a consequence. I reached out after a conversation with Charlie about how boxing was a great therapy for my mental health and I wanted to improve in that, and every aspect of my life including fitness, diet, confidence and life goals.
3. What did the process actually involve for you?
When I started the process the first thing I noticed was the easy to follow programme gave me structure and focus. I held myself accountable for every decision and plan in place, finally I had discipline with a diet to follow, a training regiment that suited my goals and lifestyle. My mental health and confidence reached levels I never knew to be possible.
4. How did you find the process itself?
The process is clear and easy to follow, from my experience starting off with my capabilities and fitness levels at the time and gradually building up to harder challenges was so rewarding. All the mistakes I was making with my diet had been corrected with a simple easy to follow macro targeted diet.
The icing on the cake if you like was that when I rose to the challenge and pushed myself, not only did I see results in weight loss, physique and physical fitness, but my overall energy in other aspects of my life improved so dramatically such as relationships, confidence, business goals and education. The process had fitness and discipline challenges I had never experienced before but that is what life’s about.
5. What stood out most about Charlie's approach?
The best thing about Charlie’s approach was his understanding of what was required to achieve my goals and the detail and depth in which he supports your progress. In Charlie you don’t just have a coach guiding you, but you have a friend who genuinely has your best interests at heart. Charlie does a great job of methodically catering your goals and training around life’s busy schedules.
6. What changed as a result of the work?
I could write two pages on what has improved but I will concentrate on the most noticeable personally. Before I started the work I could barely run a mile without stopping as soon as the gradient became a little steep, now I do10.5 to 13.5 mile runs every week. I lost 8kg of fat in 12 weeks and maintained my muscle mass, my physique changed so dramatically I am now more defined. My strength has improved, my boxing has improved so much I am actually thinking about competing at the age of 41.
My mental health is bulletproof now which has lead to outside of fitness goals such as enterprise and work to improve exponentially. My sleep has improved so much I wake up every morning with a spring in my step and my energy levels throughout the day are greater. I could go on but I will finish by saying that I had suffered for years with osteoarthritis in my big toe due to a kick boxing injury, now I don’t even know it’s there as all the pain has disappeared due to lower inflammation and less pressure on my joints.
7. Did you achieve what you originally came for?
I overachieved my expectations so much so my mind was blown away, the aim was to get fitter for boxing while also still doing some weights as I enjoy my weight training. I now feel like an actual athlete who can outlast many of the young people in their 20’s in my local boxing gym. After the 12 week programme I was so impressed I started a new programme which is more boxing focussed which I would never have been able to do had I not done the work in the original programme.
8. If someone was considering working with Charlie, what would you tell
them?
DO IT!! This is an investment in yourself… I’m encouraging family members and friends to do this work. All ages will reap the benefits of putting this work in. I was never the most disciplined but I become the most disciplined.
