I have my parents to thank for finding Craig O’Toole Personal Training, and Craig to thank for finding me some muscle tone and also, more importantly finally allowing me to enjoy exercising. We started off slowly given that I was very unfit and overweight and now we are boxing, running, doing weights and swinging the dreaded kettle bells…not always in one session but close enough.

Craig has a way of encouraging you to carry on when you feel you can’t and makes you feel like you have achieved something in every session. I can’t recommend the boxing training enough – both as a form of exercise and also just a great deal of fun. I think he quite enjoys it too! One of the things I like most about my sessions with Craig is that he never lets it get boring, we are always trying new exercises and new techniques and I look forward to every session… kind of! Without Craig’s knowledge, patience and support, there is no way I would have come this far!

Carolyn, 32, Northwood

Before

After

Still smiling

Craig did a fantastic job in helping me to prepare for my first ‘Tough Guy’ event. I already had a regular exercise programme but felt that I wasn’t working hard enough to survive the race’s 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 the freezing cold lake, barbed wire crawl and fire pits still gave me a few race day jitters, but I was thrilled to complete the course… and in a good time.

When's the next one?

I couldn’t have 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, 34, Abbots Langley

Michelle

My husband and I initially contacted Craig O’Toole Personal Training 6 weeks before a beach (i.e. bikini) and water-sports holiday, for an intensive blast of exercise. 5 years 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. 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.

Matt

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 & Mathew, 37, Pinner

After With Family

The advert said ‘Beach Bodies for Sale’ Well mine was certainly not suitable as a beach babe and well past it sell by date, especially when you‘ve had 3 children! So what attracted me to call the number, maybe it was the smiling face or the credentials on the flyer? However the thought of actually training from home, in my own time, was why I decided to ring….

Craig arranged to call at my home a few days later, to cover some basic details and to talk through, fitness and what I was looking to achieve. I had always had a goal to run, not at Paula Radcliffe’s pace I must add but having watched many people out running on a summer’s evening I thought that would be great. Setting out for an hour’s run, cheesy music to listen to and time to focus physically and mentally, that would be fab. I even had this whimsical notion of maybe one day running the London Marathon…..as if!!

London Marathon

So on the following Wednesday, Craig arrived exactly on time with my training programme in hand and we set off down the road to get fit and RUN! Oh dear, by the end of our road I was out of breath and feeling very unfit, Craig though never made me feel a failure, he encouraged me to take it slower and then gradually to increase the pace. Many times he kept me going when I wanted to stop but inspired me when I was doing well…

I found the regime of Craig being there each week, fantastic, it is so easy when you’re going to a class at a Gym or Sports Centre, to make excuses and plan to go the next week, which never comes…

With perseverance I decided to enter my first race…..Scary. Craig put together a training programme which I found invaluable. I knew exactly what I should be doing and on what days. I managed to complete the Watford 10k in quite a respectable time and felt I had achieved my first goal!

Each week Craig continued to change and adapt the routine, so it was never boring, we incorporated, Boxing, Pilates, and even some strength exercises in the garden….Now that’s what I call training from home!!

However life never quite goes to plan, my husband Ian was diagnosed with a second blockage in his heart and I found it more challenging to train but Craig was always there to support and keep me focused, even on the times I really DIDN’T want to exercise…. Ian did recover after surgery and when life had settled down to a more even keel, Craig and I talked about a goal to work towards, the idea of running the London Marathon came up….maybe, possibly, although it would involve much training, focus, commitment and at 48, having never run a marathon before, could I do it?

So I applied through the British Heart Foundation and GOT A PLACE!! Craig put together a plan, I went off and bought some running clothes and set about training. I trained thought the cold winter months, the frost, snow and ice, I kept well, followed the plan and on the 26^th April 2009, I became one of the 35,000 runners who took part in the London Marathon….I loved every moment of it, the atmosphere, the sights, the crowds were fantastic and the feeling of crossing the finishing line, well it is a memory I shall never forget…Craig was there at Canary Wharf to cheer me on, as you can imagine!!

So if you’re just looking to get fit, lose a few ponds, feel better about yourself or even like me run 26.2 miles, you need to train with Craig O’Toole Personal Training!!

Thanks Craig

Alison, 48, Watford

I started New Year 2009 on a downer. I was facing my fourth Marathon in April but my running performance and enjoyment was going nowhere fast! I was getting repeated injuries and had almost decided to take up darts instead…but then I discovered Craig. He came to me in January and I was immediately impressed by his thorough approach. He did an in-depth test of my fitness and went into great detail about my current exercise levels as well as my nutrition and even how much I sleep – and this was all in the first free session. He was professional while also retaining a sense of humour!

Personal Best Marathon Time

I booked ten sessions to take me up to the big day. Each week he arrived promptly (even in thick snow) and put we through a whole range of strength, endurance and stretching exercises including hopping on one leg up my driveway – which is far harder than it sounds! With each session came a fresh challenge and I never knew what to expect. It was certainly never boring – painful yes – but tedious no!

He correctly analysed why I was getting injured and worked to strengthen the key muscles which long distance runners need.

The result was a 3hour 55 Marathon – a time I never thought possible back in January.

Perhaps even more importantly I recovered well afterwards because of my extra strength and endurance. I also had new found confidence in my running and whilst not exactly enjoying every one of the 26.2 miles…it was certainly far more fun than in previous years. Even on the day itself he was there shouting me – and his other clients on! I would certainly recommend him to anyone whether they are hoping to run a Marathon or a mile!

Heather, 44, Chorleywood

Mike

With the blood pressure rising and the stomach bulging like many a chap I went into denial and breathed in when faced by a mirror. However my wife had other ideas, she was already on a mission to regain her fitness and decided if I would not help myself, Craig would. Craig developed a series of exercises, interspersed with boxing and slowly, but surely we began to notice the differences. Weight was lost and fitness levels improved and blood pressure reduced.

Debra

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, calm, manner was appealing too.

I have been training twice a week with Craig for the past 18 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

Vicky

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

Ruth

The best thing that I have done in terms of my health and well being in the last three years was to respond to Craig’s mail shot. I am now 65 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 three years could be classed as being cruel to be kind but they have been great 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

Rosalind

Craig O’Toole has been my personal trainer for the past 2 years, 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 period, 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, 72, Stanmore

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 savour, 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