Testimonials
Here at Craig O'Toole Personal Training we believe that regardless of your age or current fitness levels anybody can make positive changes to their lifestyle and improve their health and well-being. Below are a few of the many people who have benefited from our extensive knowledge and passion for fitness.
If after reading some of the comments below you are inspired to make a change then please feel free to contact us anytime to arrange your FREE consultation, or just for a quick chat.
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“My husband and I initially contacted Craig 6 weeks before a beach
(i.e. bikini) and water-sports holiday, for an intensive blast of exercise. 18
months later and we still can’t seem to shake our “Craig”
habit!!
He is a fantastic trainer because he is so interested in what he
is doing. He has tailored our sessions to meet both our requirements – I want
core stability, Matt wants boxing and dead lifts!! In fact Matt has benefited
hugely from the core stability work, and I love the boxing! He constantly
up-dates and varies our exercise routine. There is not a chance of getting bored
or, sadly, of the exercises getting too easy!
He has an amazing breadth of knowledge which he shares
enthusiastically. He is always able to answer our many questions fully and
informatively, with literature back-up when needed. He has provided information
and advice which has led us both to improve greatly our general program of
exercise – through tips on technique, nutrition, equipment…you name it! I
thought a trainer would provide motivation – with Craig you get a full on
education! (And I’m a Physio!) We both feel we achieve more from our time
exercising throughout the week because of Craig’s
input.
The fact that Craig can come to the house is great for us as we
have 3 young children. It means we can exercise together without the expense of
a babysitter. And its great to spend time together doing something so positive
and having such a good time. Though I think Craig was nervous about the 2 of us
with boxing gloves!!
I would be confident to recommend Craig to anyone (and do!) as he
has the knowledge to ensure you exercise safely and effectively, and the
motivational skills to ensure you work to your full potential. And its good
fun!”
Michelle, 38 and Mathew, 37, Pinner
Core Stability - Side Plank Core Stability - Jacknife
Outdoor Circuit Training
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“When I first met Craig I was fat and fed up and unable to do very little if any exercise at all. I discovered I had arthritis of the spine and could on some days barely manage to even walk to the post box.
Craig introduced me to an exercise and diet programme that was
easy to follow and simple to do, but most importantly did not involve anything
that was weight bearing on my Spine. As the weeks went by I grew stronger and
stronger and my core muscles were strengthened. Within a very short time to my
disbelief, and I think also to Craig’s, he was teaching me to box, yes BOX as in
PACK A PUNCH. Never a session went by when I wasn’t left breathless with a
bright red face - not a good look, and not even enough breath to thank him
before he left - but it made me feel fantastic!
Craig certainly knows his stuff! All the boring muscle names and why some muscles hurt and others don't. Craig is a fantastic Personal Trainer and my husband and I would be first in line to recommend him. My husband used to say it was the best money he spent every week.
I also started running with a friend, only short distances at first, slowly building it up week by week, I can now run 4 miles in 30 minutes and look slimmer and feel so much fitter for it, and its all down to Craig.”
Joanne, 38, Watford
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“Craig's training programmes are tailored to your individual needs and abilities. He has a fantastic ability of understanding how your body works and highlights and works on your problem areas.
Craig continually challenges you both physically and mentally to enable you to gain your optimum fitness level. I am delighted with my improved body shape and energy levels."
Anita, 41, Chorleywood
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"I felt that I just had to drop you a line to thank you for
your input into the “new me”. Your attention to detail and careful but
increasingly strong motivation is helping even an old codger like me to show
vast improvement!
I hope you get all the success you deserve, and if you
need me to provide any recommendations I would have no hesitation."
Brian, 66, Northwood
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A LONG STANDING BACK SUFFERER:
"For
10 years I have been visiting Osteopaths and Chiropractors to try and resolve
the problems with my lower back. This was mainly a short term fix with a
recurrence of my back problems within a few weeks of my visit. My next move was
to find a personal trainer which I did in 2006 but with terrible consequences.
The trainer did not have a clue as to how to guide me or give me the basic
advice and knowledge that I needed to move forward with trying to help my back
problem. This unfortunately lead to me aggravating my back problem further to
the point where I was unable to move or even walk without pain, as I had been
told to do exercises that were way beyond my fitness level and with no
consideration for my history of back problems.
From
a recommendation last November (2007) I found Craig O’Toole; his care and
attention to the detail in my training programme with him was brilliant and he
has restored my faith in personal trainers. From day one he has given me the
best advice and put in place for me the basic foundations so that I could slowly
progress in strengthening my core muscles. This gave my back the support that it
needed so as to resolve the issues that I had been having with constant
severe back pain. I have now been working with Craig for 6 months and
my progress has been incredible over such as short time scale. I am feeling much
stronger and fitter and my back pain has massively reduced which has helped me
in my daily life both at work and at home. My back is now much stronger and my
posture has improved beyond recognition – my wife says I look about 2 inches
taller!! I now have the confidence to do things I would not of dreamed
about doing before, like kicking a football about with my sons in the
garden, which I could not have done without severe pain just 6 months
ago.
Craig
has made a real difference to my life and I would recommend him to anyone who
might be suffering with any form of back problems. The key is patience and
strengthening the right muscles and with the knowledge and advice that Craig has
given me he has put me on the right path for a better way of
life."
Gary, 48, Stanmore
An increased sense of confidence
Having a kickabout with the boys
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"My wife bought me a set of personal training sessions with Craig for my birthday. These sessions helped me get back into exercise after a very long sabbatical! Since starting with Craig, I have lost more than 10 kg in weight and now exercise three times a week. The difference to my well-being has been phenomenal. I’m healthier, more energetic and again enjoy playing lots of sport."
Matthew, 35, Bushey
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"Craig did a fantastic job in helping me prepare for my first 'Tough Guy' event. I already had a regular exercise program but felt that I wasn't working hard enough to survive the races special challenges. Not only did craig improve my fitness levels so that I saw dramatic results in all areas of my training, but he did it with great humour and patience.
He also took the time to give me advice on nutrition, sports clothing, injury prevention (and treatment) and race day preparation - I learnt so much!.
The thought of freezing cold lakes, barbed wire crawls and fire pits still gave me a few race day jitters, but I was thrilled to complete the course - and in a good time. I couldn't of done it without craig's expertise and ability to motivate me to find that last ounce of effort I didn't believe existed. Just knowing that I am capable of so much has made a huge difference to my confidence and attitude to future challenges........thank you Craig."
Charlotte (Tough Guy), 34, Abbots Langley
Before - Clean and smart After - When's the next one?
During - Still smiling!
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“I
contacted Craig after seeing his catchy advertisement in Optima magazine.
Immediately I was impressed by his knowledge and the time he took on the phone
to discuss what was then my training programme. I interviewed 4 personal
trainers and Craig shone through with his superior knowledge on nutrition as
well as exercise and his friendly and calm manner was appealing too.
I
have been training twice a week with Craig for the past 8 months. He is
inspirational, focused, respectful and fun and always seems to deliver just what
I need. I always feel uplifted and so much better after training, and through
Craig’s expert guidance I have reached my goals with my weight and muscle tone.
I have two young boys and they adore Craig too, he has taught my eldest son his muscle groups and they both enjoy watching the training and occasionally joining in with the stretching! I would highly recommend Craig to anyone who is serious about their personal training and to reaching and maintaining their goals. I even bought my Dad 10 sessions with Craig for his birthday, and after years of not moving his body through illness, he is getting on really well too.
Craig,
I wish you every success for the future, you so deserve
it!”
Debra, 39, Northwood
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“Craig
O’Toole has been my personal trainer for the past six months, during which time
he has greatly improved my state of health in a highly professional but friendly
and sympathetic manner.
I
find that Craig pays particular attention to my ability to cope during the
training session, both careful and supportive, whilst at the same time extending
and stretching my potential for increased activity and higher
performance.
His
weekly visits are most beneficial to my feeling of both physical and mental
well-being.”
Rosalind, 71, Stanmore
Boxing - With a smile! Core Stability - Back Extension
Body Weight Exercises (Calisthenics) - Lunge
Core Stability - Plank
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“Having run marathons in the past, I now find that because of a
rugby injury sustained when I was a student I suffer from Cervical Spondylosis,
and had been unable to do any exercise for a number of
years.
My wife contacted Craig 18 months ago to organise some sessions
for me as a Christmas present.
As a result of the training Craig has put me through my neck is
now free from pain, my balance and coordination has improved and I am back
running again. Last year was my fastest time ever for the Moor Park 10K
run.”
Jerry, 48, Moor Park
Manches Moor Park 10K 2007
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“Craig
has been a great motivation to me to return to training and to loose excess
weight.
I found Craig very
encouraging and he always pushed me that little bit more than I thought I could
do. I therefore made great progress very quickly.
I soon became very keen and nothing
would get in my way of my sessions with Craig. My waist dropped by 3
inches!
I have now entered
myself to run a half marathon - that’s just over 13 miles. Before I had personal
training with Craig I couldn't even run 1/2 a mile.
Craig tailored my sessions so that I
never got bored and even accommodated a knee injury sustained whilst skiing,
which with the special exercises he gave me has now fully healed. I find his
support genuine and he is always there on the phone.
I highly recommend Craig and cannot
thank him enough.”
Ruth, 42, Hatch
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“The
best thing that I have done in terms of my health and well being in the last two
years was to respond to Craig’s mail shot.
I am now 63 and have worked out on my own; at gyms and with other
personal trainers for most of my adult life but soon realised that Craig did
have that unique selling point that I hadn’t found before.
The
programmes he has devised for me over the last two years could be classed as
being cruel to be kind but they have been great fun to work through with
him and I must admit I never get bored because there is always change and
progress.
Craig’s
other great selling point is his professional knowledge and his continuing
interest in furthering that knowledge. Ask a question and you get the answer and
often something to read to back up the answer.
I
have without hesitation recommended Craig to several friends and their
experience of working out with him has been equally
rewarding.”
Ruth, 63, Northwood
Pilates - Spine Twist Cardiovascular - Walking
Pilates - Swimming
Resistance - Bench Press
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"I
was in a position where I lacked the motivation to go to the gym after a
stressful few months, so I decided I needed a little push in the right direction
from a third party - that third party being Craig. I was just browsing the
internet and found him by chance!
I
would have no hesitation in recommending Craig to others. He is an
amazing 'encourager', all the while pushing you and making you work to
your fullest. He 'ups' the intensity each time as you improve as well - making
your progress very quick. I thoroughly enjoyed the sessions.
Craig
varies things slightly each time, ensuring you don't get bored. It was a very
valuable experience that taught me a lot about how I need to work in order
to make a change.
Great
value for money!!
Thanks
Craig"
Vicky, 29, Watford
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“My family and I began training with Craig over health fears related to our weight. Now thanks to Craig my brother, my father and myself have all lost pounds and become much fitter and healthier. He has changed our whole family’s views on food and activity and we are all reaping the benefits. We are getting fitter and feeling better than we have in a long time.
I
would highly recommend Craig as trainer for anyone."
Fayaz, 19, Loudwater
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“Go
back to this time two years ago and you would have found a couple of rotund,
slow, verging on dormant, women, for whom exercise was something you did to get
rid of demons! Then along came our saviour, in the shape of the small but
perfectly formed Craig.
Eighteen
months later, we have dropped dress sizes; we wobble and puff a lot less and,
amazingly, enjoy the ‘e’ word. In addition to our weekly sessions, Craig has
encouraged us to start power walking which we both enjoy immensely and try to
fit in at least twice per week.
At
the start Craig listened carefully to our concerns and helped us set achievable
goals, he designed a programme for us, which gradually built up our strength and
stamina. Throughout our time with him, Craig has adapted and developed this
programme to keep up with our improved fitness and to ensure that we never get
bored.
He
has also proved to be an invaluable source of knowledge and advice when one of
us has been injured or unwell.
Our
shared Wednesday morning sessions are not only keeping us fit and healthy but
are great fun too. We count ourselves lucky that he was prepared to take on not
one, but two pre-menopausal women at the same time, and live to tell the
tale.
We
cannot recommend him enough.”
Gill, 44, Watford Jo, 47, Watford
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"I have worked with Craig O'Toole since May 2005. I have been very
pleased with my progress to date and look forward to my workouts with him.
I find that his knowledge does not just extend to fitness and training,
but also to nutrition and the "health" side of what we are trying to achieve. He
is also conscious of the risks of injury and these have been avoided whilst
training with him.
I continue to work with Craig on a weekly basis and
see no reason why this should not continue."
David, 39, Northwood
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“Craig has helped me when I wanted to exercise and encouraged me when I didn't! The very first 10k race I entered and I finished as planned, with the great north run in October 2007 and the marathon in 2008 now to train for. It just shows we all need support to achieve our goals."
Alison, 45, Watford
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"At first I was apprehensive about a male personal trainer, but Craig's professionalism soon eradicated any concerns I might have had. He tailored an exercise regime to suit my needs and constantly analyses and revises my program. Be warned - he quickly notices if you are not working hard enough! Craig far excels all personal trainers I have had. He has a good breadth of knowledge and uses his assessment of you as a person to optimise his instruction. Sounds too much like hard work? Sessions are fun and the results are worth it."
Bella, 42, Chorleywood
