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Testimonial

hi julie, can i just say, wow, we had so much fun on Monday yet its now Thursday and we all still ache.LOL.Yday felt like i'd been in a car crash.....will keep up with the reps and hope to meet you within the sessions.

Regards,

Kelly O'Rourke

Hi Julie,

Just feeling enthusiastic and wanted to say thanks for being really welcoming. I really enjoyed my first class and am quite excited about getting to the point where I can actually do some moves!

So far... hardly any pain.... I'll not speak too soon though!

Thanks and see you next week!

Joanna

hi julie just a quick email to say the lesson we had was fantastic loved it!!! you have a great business going there!! booked for four and will be with you for a while. thanks.

Laura

Hi Julie,

Really enjoyed my first class with Victoria and was buzzing afterwards - had a great time. Just didn't realise the hard work involved and like you say - did feel the pain, big time!!

Was so looking forward to my next class but found it quite tough to even support weight never mind do anything on the pole but Victoria assured me my stamina will build up gradually and I will feel better next week.

Have been doing my homework as instructed and hope this begins to pay off soon.

Hope to be more involved much more this week.

Yvonne

OUR BIGGEST SUCCESS! GILLIAN'S STORY.

Gillian Oliver is a true testament to exactly what can be achieved when you put your mind to hard work and determination.

At her heaviest, Gillian was size 22/24 and weighed 17.5 stone. A poor diet and bad habits were contributing factors along with no form of physical exercise. She owned her own pub and would regularly have a few beers after hours, eating whatever was to hand at the time, all the time. In Gillian's words "If it was edible I ate it!"

The pub was located right next to a gentleman's club and so Gillian would pop in every so often to chat with the owners and have a catch up. She realised very quickly that none of the dancers were overweight and figured she would try pole as a form of fitness.

Roll on 7 years and a flier advertising our pole fitness classes was put in Gillian's hand. It was to change her life completely. We chatted with Gillian and here's what she had to say...

• When did you start attending classes?

  I started with Independent in Feb 2009 when the studio first opened. I had been attending the gym for 18 months and had gone from 17.5 stone down to 15.5 stone, from size 24 down to 18. I had seen some pole dancing before and knew that it was a great workout.

• How did you feel first attending?

  To be honest I was completely comfortable. Everyone attending classes is lovely and friendly, we all support each other, yelling and cheering when we nail tricky moves!

• How quickly did you start to see a difference?

  I was aware of major changes within the first 6-8 weeks of starting. I had hit a plateau with the gym and nothing was shifting the excess weight I still had. My goal when I first started was to get down to 12 stone doing pole fitness. Within 2 months of started I had lost another stone. It's great!

• Have you changed your diet?

  Yes. Prior to changing, my diet consisted of anything. If it was edible I ate it! A lot of my food was cooked in a deep fat fryer or fried in a frying pan. It was for ease and quickness I guess? I realised that things needed to change and it was having an adverse affect on my life. I had no energy, felt listless, tired all the time, mood swings, depressed. I had enough. First to go was the fryer and pan and I made gradual changes. Breakfasts were fry ups, lunch was nothing great and dinner would be something out a packet into the fryer. I should add that I used to smoke too and so gave that up at the same time! Double torture!

• "Had you tried dieting before?"

  Yes, I was the failure and proof of every single diet and fad on TV, in magazines. You name it, I tried it! Nothing worked for me and that is me being completely honest. Diets dont work!!

• What do you eat now?

  Typically breakfast is a grapefruit, slice of wholegrain toast, coffee and more fruit. Lunch consists of either sushi or a pasta salad though that will change now as Julie has told me pasta is a no-no! So now I have homemade soup and a salad. Dinner is a meat (chicken/beef) with rice and green beans. I feel full and don't feel the urge to snack as these foods are able to keep me sustained for longer.

• You mentioned snacks. Are you tempted?

  Of course! But I choose to avoid the things I used to have. Instead of chocolate, crisps, fizzy juice, etc I dive into the fruit bowl now and have a few apples, a pear, some nuts and raisins.

• So what is your routine now?

  I stick to a healthy routine with my diet and exercise. I do my reps in the house 4 nights per week and go along to the gym when I get time. I've got my pole in the house as well and hop on that once the wee one is in bed!

• "So what weight are you at present?"

  I am currently 12.5 stone and almost into a 12......watch this space!!

• What are your 5 top tips for anyone wanting to lose weight?

  • The most important thing is to set yourself realistic goals! If you have one bad day, don't worry about it. Get back on the routine the very next day.
  • Don't weigh yourself every day. That will only promote a negative mindset. Go by clothes becoming looser and inches coming off.
  • If you have a bad day, take it out on the pole! It's a wonderful stress reliever and leaves you feeling great.
  • Don't buy small clothes to diet into; this puts you under too much pressure.
  • Stick a label size to the fridge. This is what I have done as my aim. I have also kept an old pair of jeans.

So here is the proof that pole fitness does actually work.