Success Stories Archive - Ignite Performance

My name is Lorraine Beattie, and in November 2012 I plucked up the courage to go speak to Graeme Downie, and to be honest, that was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!
At that point I had managed to go from a size 24 down to a size 16, however, I was gaining weight rapidly again, I had no idea what I was doing.

From that point onwards my whole lifestyle has changed. The support, guidance, knowledge and motivation that Graemehas given me, is second to none! I have learned do much about nutrition and exercise, as well as learning about how my body works and how to actually listen to my body! Graeme truly inspires and encourages me to be the best I can be, and challenges me continually!

Today I’m a size 10, and my body fat has gone from 34% down to a healthy 16%! I’m so grateful to Graeme, I love my personal training sessions, they are the best parts of my day!! I learn something new every time.
I’m looking forward to my new challenges and with Graeme’s support and guidance I know I will smash them!

I could never thank Graeme enough and I can honestly say, if your looking for a personal trainer, or a training programme, Graeme Downie is definitely the man you want to go see!! You’ll never regret it!

Thank you Graeme!!

Lorraine Beattie

“I started training with Chris as I had the ultimate goal of getting myself into the best shape possible for a holiday. Chris started me straightaway on a bespoke nutrition and training programme that I found easy to adapt to. Through his motivation and training techniques I dropped over 15% Body fat and have never felt fitter and healthier, all only in weeks too! Thanks Chris- enjoyed every minute of it!”

Colin Wardrobe

“Before I started with Chris I worked out six days per week, sometimes several times per day and got nowhere! I was at the end of the road. At the start there were lots of tears and hard work, but with the support from Chris I got through it. As we went through and as I understood the nutrition better the inch loss got better, started feeling confident again first for many years. Today I am a totally different person, healthy, fit, strong and most important I feel good about my body and me!

Trixie Kieltie

My name is Lorraine Gillies, I am 17 years old and in March this year I was very selfconsiuous about my weight and size. I am 5ft 3″ and weighed 11st 2lbs. Through a heathy, sustainable diet, regular exercise and incredible support and guidance from Graeme I have lost 2 stone 2 lbs in 5 months and gone from a dress size 12 to size 8!. I no longer see what I eat as a diet and thoroughly enjoy exercising. I hope that what I have written will give you the inspiration you need, ‘Call Graeme!

Lorraine Gillies

Jennifer Forsyth

“When I started with Chris I was at the heaviest weight I had ever been and self -esteem was pretty low. I thought nothing of beers and takeout’s at the weekends whilst exercise was alien to me. Thanks to Chris I have now lost 70 lbs, 23% body fat and 8 inches off my waist alone! I have a complete new lease of life. I eat properly, train every week and feel confident again within myself. Chris’s programmes changed my life!!”

John Johnston

I have been the recipient of personal training with Graeme Downie since February 2012. Prior to this I had been a member of other gyms and slimming clubs and had seen limited success at achieving my personal fitness goals and was thoroughly dissatisfied. I didn’t receive the service I needed and hence struggled with sustaining regular healthy weight loss and failed to fulfil personal fitness targets.

I subsequently met with Graeme and was struck by how professional he is. I was able to discuss my goals and weight issues in privacy and was met by his supportive attitude, his understanding, calm helpful manner and his non judgemental demeanour. I found this to be a major asset, as historically I was reluctant to be as open about my weight issues for fear of ridicule and embarrassment. Graeme’s approach is first class and has afforded me to be able to develop as a trainee and be guided and led by him without pressure.

He introduced me to a nutritional change which supports all our efforts in the gym; amazing changes which have actually transformed my life and how I feel physiologically. Graeme’s knowledge is phenomenal in terms of the nutritional recommendations he offers and he is resourceful and up-to-date with books, websites and articles that he advises. Similarly I am able to regularly ask queries and questions about anything concerning my personal targets and he consistently offers an open forum and allows time for this. Always ready to motivate, he often realigns my focus and respectfully pushes me towards the next level.

Practically I find the workouts fresh and exciting, no two workouts are the same and each one pushes me further to my goal. Graeme’s skill and expertise in the techniques and variety of exercises employed is excellent; this has allowed me to gain confidence in the gym. Through the uniquely-tailored workouts that Graeme devises, I have begun to believe in my own capabilities and this has created a momentum that I most definitely would not have achieved if I had not started training with him. I am stronger, fitter, happier and healthier now than I have ever been in my life. I have radically changed my lifestyle, routine, diet and exercise regime and I am reaping the rewards for it on a daily basis.

If you’re ready to work to the best of your ability, give 100% and embrace change, I highly recommend training with Graeme. You will not regret it. You will be rewarded by a strong, lithe physique and in my case a significant weight loss. The results will be rapid, definitive and life-changing. He takes care of you and has your goals at the heart of every session. I simply cannot recommend Graeme highly enough.

Helen Goad

I was introduced to Graeme through a friend and words cannot describe how grateful I am that he took me under his wing. For ten years I struggled with my weight, having tried every diet and diet class available! Almost topping the scales at 15 and a half stone i realised I was turning 30 soon and needed to make a change. Life was passing me by and even though i seemed happy on the outside, i felt like a failure.

My chance meeting with Graeme came at the right time, and i can say, wholeheartedly, that he has totally changed my life! As soon as we met he made me feel at ease and when he told me that he was 100% committed to my success as long as I was -i knew that he meant every word and I could not let him down!

It has been tough at times, but Graeme was always there to provide the support I needed, and at times, went above and beyond to keep me focussed and help me along the way.

Since then i have gone on to achieve things I could only have dreamed for. I am no longer classed as morbidly obese-having lost 6 stones, I am no longer on any medication and have a clean bill of health, I ran a 5k for charity two days before my 30th, got the confidence to go for that promotion and now, most amazingly-I have the opportunity to take my success and try and inspire others to start their own journey.

When you meet Graeme, his passion, knowledge and thirst for your success is contagious and I guarantee that if you make the only promise that he asks of you-to be committed to your goals-then you will not regret it.

Good luck for those of you who dare to make the first step-It’s success from there on in! You can do it too!

Janine Jamil

The first step is always the most daunting step. From a very young age I noticed that I was eating the same as the other 8 year olds – the usual tower worth of chocolate bars and crisps pyramid, however my dimensions seemed to be constantly expanding, which was obviously inevitable but what bothered me the most was that the other children didn’t seem to change. I was always active and loved sport but my fitness constantly held me back.

Before meeting Graeme, I was doing the right thing by going to the gym often but doing everything wrong. Who knew that doing the same exercise for 2 years straight was just a waste of time. So, after realising that I can’t go any longer being 16 stone at 16 years, it was time for change. It was deeply shocking to learn about all the manipulation and lies we are vulnerable to about food. By thinking that all the “healthy food” wasn’t completely clean and nutritious portrays my naivety.

Over the time you spend with Graeme he teaches you about the way your body functions and what is good and bad for it. Basically, he makes the experience not only life-changing but fun, which a lot of people find surprising. Graeme’s passion and dedication rubs off on you and soon you’ll begin to see that the hard work and motivation is really working, when the number on the scales reduces and stamina increases. I’m glad I accepted that I wasn’t getting anywhere and my weight was just holding me back from greater opportunities.

Coming to the conclusion that I needed a trainer was tough, but by far one of the greatest I’ve made. Hearing “you look amazing” and “you’ve done so well” as the days go by is like music to your ears because that’s when you know that all the adjustments and changes to your lifestyle is worth it. Now, I can go on and live a healthy life being 2 dress sizes smaller with no set backs because there is no going back for me now. So, one sentence to some it all up … “When it doubt, Get Graeme!”

Anouchka Valaydon

After many of months going to the gym, doing endless fitness classes and programs and seeing no progress, I decided to contact Graeme. He arranged a consultation where he outlined what i was doing wrong, and gave me a clear picture of what changes needed to be made to succeed. This was the first step in my journey and it was the best decision I have ever made.

Graeme is a great personal trainer and a great guy. He is always there for you supporting you, giving advice, answering my many of hundred questions and just giving his 100% effort to help me get the results you can see from my photos.

After losing 40 lb my life has changed completely, eating healthier and training to benefit my body. If it wasn’t for Graeme I wouldn’t of managed to achieve what i have achieved to the present date. He is excellent at what he does and if you feel unhappy within yourself well Graeme is the one to help you make the necessary changes to your nutrition, training and lifestyle to get the results you want.

Fiona Cameron

“When I first met Chris I had just turned 35 and been advised by my GP that I was in serious ill health due to my diet and fitness. I was 4 stone overweight with excessively high cholesterol. I contacted CS Health and Fitness and Chris was very confident he could get my life back on track. He gave me great advice on nutrition and exercise and we started training with a mixture of weights and cardio. I didn’t enjoy exercise due to bad experiences in my younger years that put me off. Today I love coming to my sessions restoring an interest that has been lacking for years.

You always have a great laugh with Chris and now I feel great. I have lost four stone to make my target weight, lost around 20% body fat and have went from a size XXL to a small/medium t-shirt. When you employ the services of CS Health and Fitness watch for the “power through it” phrase as this is a favourite of Chris’s and you will be urged it many times! Thanks again for all your help Chris and roll on next season!!!”

Charles Kerr

“I had my little boy 5 years previously and like many mums I know, I could not lose the persistent baby fat I carried. I had a consultation with Chris and impressed with his educated answers I had asked, I decided to start a programme for me. It was excellent from the start. We assessed what I do now and how that was inhibiting me, then we worked on a plan that was designed specifically to me. And it worked! The results came! I didn’t just look good – I felt great too. Chris taught me everything, from what I needed to change to achieve results to how I could work flexibly and maintain them. Today I still train with Chris, even though my goals have changed, as every training session you learn that little bit more. ”

Michelle Cull

I have been training with Graeme since February 2013 and I can’t recommend him highly enough!

I have battled with my weight for many years and tried every diet/weight loss fad imaginable all with varying degrees of success and failure continually yo-yo-ing up and down the scales causing untold damage to my long suffering body however I have never found anything that I have been able to sustain for the long term that is until I met Graeme.

I entered the New Year suddenly realising I’d gained about 2 stone without even really noticing and decided I needed to make a change and learn how to control my size once and for all so having heard and read great things about Graeme it was with much trepidation that I booked in for my initial consultation. I was rather sceptical and not very motivated and thought to myself, ‘here we go again, it’ll never work!’ but meeting Graeme and discussing my goals and how he could help me achieve them, I decided to give it a go, after all, I had nothing to lose (except fat!) and I’m delighted to say I have never looked back and I’ve finally found a nutrition and exercise plan I am confident I will maintain for the rest of my life.

Graeme is a first class personal trainer, with a wealth of knowledge, he has motivated me & supported me every step of the way and shared his knowledge with me allowing me to understand how training and eating properly can help me achieve my goals and most importantly maintain them. My initial goal was to lose weight which I achieved by training with Graeme on a one to one basis, following his nutrition plan and personalised training program when training alone and as my goals change Graeme adapts my programme and nutrition plan to help me achieve these goals and I can honestly say I now look forward to going to the gym and even enjoy it, I no longer think of the eating plan as a ‘diet’ it’s just how I eat now and will continue to do so.

I’ve lost 10% body fat since I started to train with Graeme & I feel great!! Happier, healthier & stronger and I would urge anyone reading this and thinking about giving it try to go for it, take that first step to changing your life for the better with, in my opinion, the best trainer you could possibly choose.

Katrina Talbot

Katrina

I started working with Graeme in July 2014. I’ve played rugby since I was a boy, but work, family, bad habits & a whole host of other excuses meant it had been a fair while since I pulled on my boots. As a result I got into a rut – eating poorly, not exercising and, inevitably, gaining weight. When I started with Graeme I weighed about 18.5 stone. Not the heaviest I’ve ever been, but not far off.

I was immediately impressed by Graeme’s knowledge and practical attitude. There was no question he couldn’t answer (and I’m the type of person to ask plenty) and I felt confident in working with him straight away. I fancied myself as a fairly experienced exerciser and gym user over the years, but Graeme’s workouts completely re-educated me. I realised my technique had always been poor and it was a shock to see how I struggled to lift a fraction of the weight I was used to. However, that improvement in technique yielded massive changes in my outcomes. Every workout with Graeme is different, so your body never gets too comfortable! More importantly it means things never get boring. Graeme constantly re-evaluates my training and nutrition to ensure I’m getting the most out of my time with him.

I’m pleased to say I’m still seeing results today. Yes I’ve had blips, but there’s never any judgement or being made to feel guilty. Just encouragement, motivation and reminders to focus and get back on track. I’m currently around 3 stones down in weight – a figure I haven’t seen since I was a teenager – about to drop down another waist size and the fittest I’ve ever been. To anyone thinking of starting their fitness and wellbeing journey with Graeme I can’t recommend him highly enough. Professional, knowledgeable, encouraging and a nice guy. What have you got to lose?

Stewart Curtis

“Running a successful business has had its implications on health for me. Before I met Chris I was overweight, had high blood pressure and my moods and stress levels were dangerously high. I knew something needed to change. When I met Chris he was confident he could help me. We started with analysing my nutrition and lifestyle and within weeks I started to feel better and my stress levels decreased. It didn’t take long for the weight to come off and soon after I was out clothes shopping as I had went down from an XXL to a large with a medium to follow. I have lost around 56lbs to date with around 10 inches of fat from my waist never to return! Its not all about that for me. I feel healthy and strong, I have had the medical all clear and some conditions I had suffered from for years have completely gone. Chris is always on hand to coach me new things be it exercise, nutrition or how to achieve total health, I just can’t believe I spent so many years missing out on this!”

Mark Johnston

Growing up, I was always fit and healthy, took part in sports and had a passion for ice hockey. However as the years followed, playing sports fell by the wayside and the only exercise I got was lifting pints of beer to my mouth. It’s no wonder things soon got out of hand and it wasn’t long before I reached 16 and a half stones. Finally, and thankfully I had a good look at myself and knew I could not go on living the way I was-my health was suffering, I had no confidence and I could hardly keep my eyes open to watch ice hockey on the TV never mind play it!

Naively, I joined the gym, honestly believing that because I had a sporty background the weight would fall off me-how wrong I was. I had been going for a couple months, and to be honest, now looking back can see what a waste of time it was-I had no idea what I was doing and had no direction-useless!

Doing another sporadic ‘workout’, I was approached one day by Graeme. He said he had seen me in the gym for quite a while and hit the nail on the head when he said I looked completely lost! From then on, he has been my personal trainer and I have made a friend for life. I went on to have structured exercise programmes, achievable goals and he educated me on nutrition-changing my life forever!

The results I have had with Graeme have been beyond all my hopes and expectations. I have lost over 5 stones, gained the confidence to apply and take a fitness test for the Royal Marines and am playing ice hockey again.

Graeme has changed the shape of my future and I now look on in anticipation as to what I can go on to achieve, instead of looking back in years to come and feeling that I missed the opportunity of a lifetime!

Don’t you miss out either – I know it’s a daunting prospect, but training with Graeme is like you have the support of a thousand men behind you! Go for it!

David Yardley

I’ve been training with Chris for just over 3 years and I’m not stopping!!

I signed up to improve my overall fitness and to lose weight. The result is that I have dropped 3 dress sizes, I’m more confident and my whole attitude towards exercise and nutrition has changed.

None of these things would ever be possible without Chris. Whatever your goals are, he will listen and identify how to help you reach them. He is motivating, supportive and ultimately gets results.

My sessions have become a part of my weekly life and Chris has become one of my friends. I cannot recommend him highly enough.

Jennifer

Jennifer Forsyth

“I knew Chris had a lot of knowledge and his results speak for themselves so I decided to invest in him. The results were incredible, in a very short time I was in the best shape of my life. He taught me how to adapt and control my nutrition and how to divide my training dependant on what my goal is at the time. We worked on a bit more aggressive plan but all the time aiming towards sustaining the short term results long term. I recommend Chris 100%, if you commit to him, you will achieve.”

Ross Cupples

I trained with Graeme over a period of 7 months and lost an incredible amount of weight – 45 pounds to be exact. I had tried to lose weight previously through the usual fad diets (plus no exercise of course because I was too lazy) and obviously, the weight gradually piled back on again once I started eating normally. It came to a point where I had actually moved up 2 dress sizes and thats when I thought enough was enough. I had to stop kidding myself that these silly diets would work and I had to actually change my lifestyle. Thats when I got in touch with Graeme. He tailored a diet and exercise plan that suited my personal needs and soon the weight began to fall off. I mainly used weight training to get the pounds to fall off and like most girls, I was worried that I was going to build these huge muscles and not lose much fat. I couldn’t have thought more wrong!

I lost pound upon pound through weight training, all the while becoming nice and toned so dont worry girls, you’ll never end up looking like a man haha! I won’t lie, there were times where I felt like giving up but Graemes fantastic attitude and determination for me to reach my goal weight rubbed off on me and pushed me through. He sticks with you every minute you’re in the gym, pushing you to do the best you can and he is extremely encouraging – that’s probably why I always either maintained or lost weight every week. I never ever put on weight – not even half a pound.

I would never have came as far as I have if it weren’t for Graeme and I honestly cannot recommend him enough. Dont waste any more time like I did and before you know it you, you’ve put on another stone. Send him a message ASAP!

Natalie O’Donnell

“Having struggled with my weight for the last 15 years and been an insulin dependent diabetic for the last 12, I turned to Chris for help. He didn’t just tell me what to do; he taught me why and coached me throughout. Today I am 70 lbs lighter with 31 Centimetres off my waist alone. I use 60% less insulin and I have been given a clean bill of health of my medical team. Nutrition control and weight training are integrated as part of my lifestyle now and I will never stop that. Thanks for all your support Chris!”

Billy Grantham

In July I decided that I wanted to decrease my bodyfat, tone up and become more defined for my holidays. After attempting different things on my own and getting nowhere, a friend recommended that I go to Chris at Ignite Performance.

When I first went to Chris I was 10st 13lbs. over a period of 7 months I reached my targets. I had dropped my weight to 9st 8lbs and lost 14cm from my waist alone, I also had that six pack I so much desired! With Chris’s training, not only did I reach my goal, I also learned loads about dieting and training techniques..

I would highly recommend Chris to anyone, whether to work on technique, reach a desired goal or to become overall more educated in nutrition and training.

With the help of Chris I achieved a goal I never thought possible.

Kirstine Hawksby

“In 2013 I came home from holiday, looked at the photos and hated what I saw. I decided to speak to a personal trainer and found Graeme after doing some research online. During my consultation with Graeme, we discussed fitness, nutrition, motivation and goals. It became clear that I was completely lost and ignorant about it all as I’d been so unsuccessful in all of these aspects, all my life. Exercise was a bad work and I ate so badly I was almost certainly heading for even more health issues than I already had. Graeme simplified my nutrition and sent me off to change the way I ate before even considering training. The changes I needed to make were overwhelming at times but Graeme was there on text and email to support me and answer my endless questions. After 10 weeks I’d lost some weight and plucked up the courage to start training. I’d never stepped foot in a gym in my life and was very nervous. My first sessions were a shock to the system but I was determined and Graeme was there every step of the way. I slowly grew in confidence and wanted to keep going as I began to see results. The first step is the biggest and most important one you’ll ever take, and when you’re training with Graeme, you will not look back.

Training with Graeme over the last two and a half years, I have achieved fitness levels I could only have dreamed of previously. Every session with Graeme is different and he is skilled in knowing exactly what you are capable of. He ensures you are getting the most out of every single workout by teaching and pushing you to perfect your technique. I have also taken up running and taken part in several 5K and 10K events. I constantly learn from Graeme as he is 100% committed to my goals. He often researches areas of health and fitness specific to my needs to help me work towards being the very best version of myself. I no longer yo-yo diet, instead I eat well and even cook now. My relationship with food is no longer unhealthy. Although I didn’t have a lot of weigh or fat to lose in the first place, I am now lean, strong, fit, happy and healthy.

Meeting and training with Graeme has changed my life. Working with him is the best thing I have ever done for myself. He has taught me how to respect and look after my body, how to work hard and how to eat well and sustainably for life. Graeme’s knowledge, commitment and care are second to none, and I would not be the person I am today, either physically or mentally, without him. He is more than a personal trainer, he is a life-coach, a guardian angel and a true friend who wants and knows what’s best for you. If you are ready to commit, Graeme is too. If I can do it, you can too!”

Thanks

Tracey Angus

Success stories