Melissa Ramsden Testimonial
Why did you start training with a personal trainer?
I first started training with Val at the end of August after losing my grandma I had decided I wanted to get fit and sort my lifestyle out!

What was the reason you to chose Val to train with?
I had looked on a personal trainers official website.. he looked the most qualified, and fit person! Who also sounded as if he could work me to the best of my ability.

What were your expectations before you started training?
I expected to lose weight fast and be a total bikini bodied beach babe in 3 weeks! Ha! …. In reality I wanted to lose 2 stone at least and get back to my old healthy weight.

In reality had it met your expectation?
Val has changed my life for the better.. He taught me how to lose weight the healthy way and maintain keeping the weight off!

How did you feel before your first session?
I felt unhealthy, fat, my self esteem had dramatically dropped.. I wasn’t my usual bubbly self and it was starting to affect my way of thinking…

What lifestyle changes have you made, ie, nutrition, activity, family, work…?
I now eat breakfast and put as much green veg on my main meals as possible! Not to mention my secret drink of water! I still do regular exercise, my favourite is boxing so I will usually punch, kick knee the air for a good 20 mins, then add a few crunches and sit ups to tone my abs. I have tried to encourage my family to eat and exercise like me however they aren’t as keen… I should get Val to sort them out!

What exercise do you most enjoy?
Definitely Kick Boxing! Easy way to de-stress and lose good weight!

Did the coaching you received help you stay motivated?
100% my weight has NOT returned!!!

What are you tips to people that thinking about training with Val?
Definitely go for it, he is worth every penny and a very kind man! He will push you to your breaking points many a time but you will enjoy his training and realise you need this guy to motivate you, encourage you and change you.

What is the best part of training?
Seeing the results for yourself! Knowing you can put your whole lifestyle in the hands of Val and it will be sorted! The first two weeks of the training is intense but Val’s introduction to a healthy living lifestyle was unbeatable!

What other clients say in brief:

“I trained with Val for 6 months from February to the beginning of July twice a week ostensibly to get ready for my sisters wedding. He gave me a complete plan including meals and came to my house to train twice a week. Probably the most telling sign of commitment from Val for me though was his willingness to come to my house for 5AM in order to train me which meant he was getting up at 3.30AM twice a week! I don’t know many trainers who would be prepared to do that and I know everyone thought both he and I were nuts, but he is determined to fit around your life wherever possible which meant that was the only option.
The sessions were hard but within my ability and enjoyable. He is a fun guy to train with and really wants you to get the most out of your training and push you to achieve without being scary or aggressive with it. I would love to train with Val again, and frankly if I wasn’t relocating abroad would still be doing it now. A morning session whilst hard always set me up for the day and really helped me tone up – I noticed the difference. I also lost nearly a stone which I intend to keep off. Val is not the cheapest trainer but he is worth every penny and more – pay peanuts, get monkeys….
Thanks Val, I’ll miss the burpees….”
Bryony Stentiford

“When I had my very first session with Val I was a little apprehensive as it was something I’d never done before – personal training. To me this was for either the very rich, the self obsessed or a bit of both. How wrong was I! Valentine made me realise that exercise isn’t a dirty word that in fact it can be fun and by the way you get some really good results too. So twice a week I would meet with Val for one hour and we had fun, it’s his ability to help you keep focussed, motivated, interested that made it all feel so worthwhile. It was affordable and I lost weight, became fitter, felt happier. Not bad eh? Call me if you would like to hear for real that Val is a very special person and can truly help you get the results you want – oh and you’ll have some fun too.”
Leyla Mann (Rocket Research)

“I have been training with Val for over a year now – this is truly significant for someone who does not generally enjoy exercise. Val tailors my sessions so that I can achieve results doing activities that I enjoy and at a time that is convenient to me. He is always motivational (no mean feat at 6am in the rain) and he inspires me to push myself that bit further. I would happily recommend Val to any of my friends.”
Dan Dixon (Optician)

“I have been training with Val since August and have noticed a difference in my strength, a significant loss in weight and a real improvement in my motivation to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. Val’s workouts are (dare I say it?) fun and varied and he is never preachy or military-style in his delivery. He’s happy to give dietary advice outside of sessions (by e-mail or FB) and understands that people need the right mental attitude to succeed; to this end he encourages realistic goal setting and gives a lot of positive feedback. Don’t be tempted to sign up at “Globo Gym” or somewhere similar, Val gives a far more personal service (that’s not supposed to sound dodgy); he remembers your hobbies and interests and makes you feel valued as a client. I have employed cheaper personal trainers, but at the moment I feel his services have been worth every penny.”
Caroyln Kendall (School Teacher)

“Val is a motivator, an inspirer, someone who takes the development of body *and* mind very seriously. Don’t expect a sugar-coated, quick-fix approach to health and fitness, or some spray-tanned narcissist who loves his own muscles more than he’ll ever care about his clients. Val is grounded, down-to-earth, leads by example and teaches with compassion so that you’ll want to do the hard miles he recommends. Highly recommended.”
Luke Johnson (Web Developer, Endurance Cyclist)

“I have only been training with Val for a couple of months, however I would definitely recommend his services to anyone who wants to start making positive changes to their lifestyle. I thoroughly enjoy each session. They are tough and push your boundaries, but you come away with a sense of achievement. It is not what I expected from a personal trainer, I was pleasantly surprised. I don’t feel self consious like I thought I would. Val is very professional in his approach and puts you at ease. The sessions are competitively priced, and become cheaper the more sessions that you attend. I didn’t think that I would be able to afford a personal trainer, but prices are in line with what you would expect to pay for a monthly gym membership. The only difference is, you have a more structured programme and a motivational trainer encouraging you every step of the way. The sessions are never boring and are different every time. Highly recommended.”
Laura Schofield (School Teacher)

“I’ve been training with Val at RawFit since the beginning of this year and cannot recommend him highly enough. The RawFit classes have a really good atmosphere – you need to work hard but that’s how you get results. Val pushes you beyond what you think you are capable of and you finish each session with a real sense of accomplishment. He is a great motivator and always happy to share advice and tips on everything from technique to healthy eating. In 9 months, my body fat has reduced dramatically and my fitness levels have improved tremendously. I’m much more toned and I feel stronger, fitter and healthier as a result of working with Val. I originally contacted Val to improve my kettlebell technique. I now work out three times a week with him and have been introduced to so many different ways to work the body. Every session is different so you never get bored and your body is constantly being challenged. It’s not easy but Val’s encouragement and the camaraderie of the group make it very enjoyable. Val is very professional and approachable. An excellent trainer.”
Lisa Brown (Graphic Designer, Web Developer, Photographer)

“I’ve been training with Val for coming up to 2yrs. I started off with 1-on-1 sesssion to kick start myself into regular exercise. My day to day job is fairly stressful and I was struggling with work/life/health balance. Working with Val has sorted all this out, I feel healthier, my Asthma that has been fairly severe since childhood has dramatically diminished (i was actually able to scuba dive and gain my PADI open water, which would have been unconcievable 2yrs ago) and i have overall more energy overall. Now i do the group sessions twice a week and love it, good atmosphere, friendly people and ever innovative ways to work out without falling into stereotype exercise routines. Val is available whenever you need advice on diet, new techniques or new challenges. Friendly, personable and a good instructor.”
Matthew Ward (CEO, Squash Player)

“I’ve trained with Val off and on for a number of years, the reason being I moved away but still try to get over as often as possible. I trained with many PT’s in the past and Val is by far the most knowledgeable and most fun by far. Every session is so different and he is so positive in all aspects of his life which is so uplifting on those cold wet mornings. Give him a shout and you won’t regret it!”
Nathan Tipple (Triathlete, Ironman Athlete)

“I have trained with Val now for just over 1 year and I have seen a huge difference with my over all health, fitness, energy and my physical appearance. I have never felt as strong or as confident as I do now, however you have to be prepared to work hard and give 100% to each session. Each week is different to the last and each week the intensity gets harder and harder so be prepared to hurt. Val doesn’t just teach you skills to sculpt your body from the outside but how to look after it from the inside too through a healthy & balanced attitude towards food. 5 Star Trainer”
Katie Smith (Recruitment Consultancy)

“I love the results that I got while training with Valentine. His training was unconventional and helped with my martial arts training. He is skillful in his knowledge of strength and conditioning along with people skills. No longer living in Leeds but would definitely recommend anyone with serious training goals. He got me ripped.”
Mike Lam (Martial Artist & Fashion Guru)

“Really good all over workout – can really feel the difference. Relaxed, friendly atmosphere of the classes makes you feel less self conscious. Would thoroughly recommend.”
Heather Lamb (Primary School Teacher)

“The best Personal Trainer in Leeds AND recommended to all my friends ! Val is amazing, his focus and ethics are spot on, and his encouragement was amazing. He drove me up to, and beyond what I thought was physically possible, and help shape my body the way I wanted it. If you’re considering getting a Personal Trainer (PT), then I would suggest booking Val in – you’ll start seeing results quick!”
Daniel Latto (NLP Master)