So where do I start? I have been overweight since my thirties, and over the years I just got heavier and heavier struggling to find the time or motivation to exercise. I did the usual, sign up to the gym in January, go only a couple of times a week, and just potter about on the machines. This would also be at one of the national gyms.

Last year, I joined Pure Fitness Gym in Lindley (now Reform Gym) and was doing very similar, just turning up and doing easy exercises on the treadmill or bike etc., but I never really saw any results.

"Barry advised me on a few things that would help me throughout my journey. One was the Myzone belt"

The owner of the Gym, Barry Jacobsz, is a friend of mine and told me about the Transformation Training and Nutrition plan he was rolling out. I was one of the first enrolled on the course, and Barry advised me on a few things that would help me throughout my journey. One was the Myzone belt, and the other was MyFitnessPal to help me track my training and nutrition.

He set me up with a nutritional plan whereby I had marks I had to hit, and a daily calorie goal to maintain. Along with this, I was training 3 times a week on the Revolution training plan, and I completed a 5k run every other day on the treadmill at home.

"The Myzone belt has been a great motivational tool right from the start"

The Myzone belt has been a great motivational tool right from the start. It helped Barry to see how fit, or unfit, I was so that we could then gauge how hard he could push me. I would run the app on my watch or phone, and it was also on the big screen in the gym. In the first 2-3 weeks, Barry would get me to rest in-between sets to gauge where my heart rate was and assess my recovery time. The training I did with Barry was community training with 4-5 other people in the group, which was also very helpful because we could all motivate and support each other.

"I would use my calories burnt on the Myzone screen as a motivator to push myself further and further"

As my fitness improved, I would use my calories burnt on the screen as a motivator to push myself further and further. If I hadn’t pushed myself enough, I would stay and do an extra half hour until I burnt what I needed to burn.

"I love the fact that Myzone tracks my progress historically"

I love the fact that Myzone tracks my progress historically so I can look back over the month to see the days I have and haven’t trained.

I am now almost 8.5 months in and I have lost a total of 47lbs and my body fat has dropped from 38% to 16%. My trouser size has dropped from 40inch to 30inch, and I have lost an amazing 13” off my stomach.

"If I can do it, honestly anyone can"

I am now at 45 stronger, fitter, and healthier than I ever have been before, and the Myzone belt and app have played a big part in this journey. I am sharing my story with hope that it will inspire other people. If I can do it, honestly anyone can.