You will find below a collection of client testimonials that we have compiled for you to read.
If you are one of our clients and would like to leave some feedback, please click here to visit our feedback page.
When I first met Dave he made me feel completely at ease, he is personable and easy to spend a session with. I was left feeling inspired after our first meet - he has got me motivated and help me achieve my goals. Dave was a very positive influence in my battle to tone up and get fitter before I reached 40! Without his motivating influence I'd certainly never have stuck to my regime. I have never stuck to any exercise regime since leaving school!
Dave has been training me for the last 18 months. He has not only transformed the way I exercise and the way I look, but he has given me an education in smart training and smart eating that I will never lose. Dave is more than a trainer who takes you through a work out, he teaches you the principles of what you are doing and why you are doing it. I find it easy to transfer what I have done with Dave during a session to training on my own - and he is always available to answer any of my questions and check up on how I'm doing.
Workouts are tough but kept varied so I always enjoy them. I have been introduced to new disciplines such as running and cycling, even entering my first 5k run last year and cycling time trials this year. I'm hooked. I have also met other clients through Dave who share similar interests and have a good social/support network with them.
Dave stands out as a trainer; not only do you get someone who is very knowledgeable in his field, and continues to keep up to date with it, but he also is someone with enthusiasm and dedication to improving his clients.
Dave is a great PT, can't recommend him enough - you won't regret it
Sandra, Leyland.
Forget gym fees - I have been training with Dave for 18 months now and this is the best fitness investment I have ever made. Whilst highly qualified; Dave can explain concepts and exercises clearly concisely and with seemingly endless patience and good humour. He is entirely client centred and will both help you set goals and make you accountable. Don't expect an easy ride but you can expect results from your efforts with his professional help.
Chris Wootton, Ormskirk
I am retired but not retiring and a living proof that it is never too late to regain fitness. Prompted by my daughter and following a knee operation I started attending weekly sessions at SmartShape. Encouraged and motivated by Dave, after 9 months I am two stone lighter, cycling up hills I never imagined being able to and feeling 10 years younger with more energy, stamina and flexibility than ever. I look forward to my sessions with Dave and him helping me progress to my next level of fitness and I can thoroughly recommend anyone, no matter what your age or fitness level to try an approach that is specifically tailored to you as an individual.
Pam Greaves, Burscough.
Retired Practice Manager
I went to see Dave for two reasons. Firstly, I wanted to know what exercises I needed to do to tone up. I was doing a 10 minute exercise routine every morning at home but I needed to know if I was doing the right things. Secondly, I needed to know how to improve my diet.
Working full time and erratic hours meant that I had a very limited time and my diet was very poor as a result. Dave showed me new routines which would be more effective but would still fit into my busy lifestyle and appeciated my situation and was both encouraging and supportive.
I particularly like the fact that he would text me to give encouragement. I certainly needed it.
He introduced me to yomping, a form of running and walking which surprisingly I enjoyed! On the diet side, he looked at my food diary and discussed with me why I ate certain foods regularly like biscuits. (I haven't eaten a biscuit for over a month now!)
What I really liked was that he didn't criticise... He just took what I was already doing in terms of exercise and diet and suggested ways of improving them. Dave certainly knows his stuff and explains everything in a calm and friendly way.I really enjoyed my weekly sessions, even the yomping down a wet canal bank at 8am!
Dave has certainly helped me to understand the importance of incorporating exercise into my daily routine and ensuring that I eat better and I can feel the difference.
Thanks Dave for all your help and encouragement.
Jan Nethercote, Liverpool.
I have trained with David for 6 months and the results have been brilliant! He is so knowledgeable and adapted each session to meet my individual needs. David has encouraged me to achieve things I never dreamt of like cycling... I had not been on a bike for over thirty years and now I love it, my family and friends have all seen the amazing results. David has made the sessions fun and challenging and I would reccommend him to anyone.
Carol
Shevington, Wigan.
I had been struggling to get motivated in taking regular exercise and following a healthy eating plan and was quite frustrated. When I first started training with Dave in April 2008, I was 2 stone heavier than I am now, was averaging between two and four hours a night of disturbed sleep and daily headaches were the norm for me.
My diet was unhealthy to say the least and my energy levels were not as high as they could be. By working with Dave and following his advice, I now get a blissful 5 - 6 hours of undisturbed sleep, very rarely get a headache, have lost 2 stone in weight and enjoy exercising 3 -5 times per week, which seemed impossible to fit in beforehand. I’m certain that left to my own devices I would not have made the progress I have made. You may be wondering what makes Dave an excellent personal trainer. From my experience:
He is extremely knowledgeable
Training sessions are creative, energetic and fun and he knows just how far to push you without it feeling as if it’s some sort of military regime.
For the full duration of your training session he is totally focussed on you, introducing exercises that take into account the unique and perhaps quirky ways in which your body moves, correcting any imbalances or areas of instability you may have.
He ensures that as a client you get value for money.
He has a personal touch in a professional environment and is keen to develop a partnership, working with you on your goals and outcomes.
It’s not just about exercise – he takes a holistic approach; mind, body & spirit.
He leaves his own ego at the door – it’s about you, what you want to achieve and how he can best help you.
I have no hesitation in highly recommending Dave and thoroughly enjoy training with him and the feeling of being fitter and healthier.
Carol Billingsley-Doyle
Training & Management Consultant
Not being the sort of person who would ever go to the gym and lacking the willpower to exercise on my own going to Dave has been ideal for me. He is an inspiration! After 4 months, I have now lost over 2 stone and I feel so much better about myself. Dave monitors my diet and my exercise routine. I now actually enjoy going out for a run and having got me in much better shape and fitter, I have now started weight training – which goes to show it’s never too late even for those of us on the wrong side of 50! I recommend Dave and this method of improving health and fitness to you all.
Des Stubbs
Head Teacher
After having two very large babies close together and a major operation, I decided it was high time that I started to get back into shape. I started training with Dave in March this year and I can honestly say that he has had a major impact my health and fitness levels. The weight has dropped off, and I feel fantastic. I have always hated running with a passion but Dave persuaded me to try. To my amazement I have now become obsessed by it, running four times a week - wonders will never cease! Thank you Dave for all your help and encouragement and for broadening my horizons when it comes to taking on new challenges.
Jodie
I have found Dave to be a very professional person he has given me inspiration that no other trainer has , I have done the usual yoyo diets and gone to every gym in southport and found nothing has worked .So far with Dave I have lost just over 4stone. I have gone from a size 24 to 16/18 so far. My Blood pressure , flexibiltiy and endurance, and general fitness has come a long way . I never thought I could run or go on a bike ride. My eating habits has changed a lot which I must say Dave does offer you the full package , the support , the knowledge , the extra push and we have a laugh at the same time, which in my eyes has been the key for me.
Jo Rimmer
Since I started training with Dave in January 2007, I have lost a fantastic 3 stone in weight. I train 4 times per week and this is centred upon a highly enjoyable outdoor cycling programme. I am fitter than ever, eat better, and feel fantastic!
Nick Leach
I went to Dave for help getting fit and to loose weight. He has helped me loose 2 and half stone and I am the fittest I've ever been in my life.
Through running, core exercises, tonning exercises and boxercise, Dave has motivated and encouraged me through a fun regime of exercise and diet changes. He is a powerful motivator tailoring his technique to your personality. Dave will support you at all times from helping you work towards a race to texting you advice when you have a big night out! He helps you to get into a fitness rhythm which suits you, your lifestyle and works towards whatever your goal is whilst still managing to make it fun, interesting and, of course, challenging.
Vicky Roberts
I have been training with Dave now for several months. What has impressed me is his dedication to his clients. He really focuses on you and your needs at all times and makes you feel you are really inportant to him. This is genuine on his behalf. He takes the time to contact you in between sessions to see how you are getting on and if you are entering any races, he always gets in touch just before to wish you luck and motivate you. He makes it easy to train with him becuase he makes it fun. You immediately relax with him and he knows just how much you are capable of. I look forward to my sessions each week because I know I am getting better all the time. All in all, I would recommend him to anyone.
Diane McMahon
I have been training with David for the past 4 months. In that time I have improved my fitness & health immensely. I have lost 11lbs in weight, accredited to his advise and help with my diet. The programme of cardio, weights, and stretches has vastly improved my fitness. I would thoroughly recommend his personal training service as I’d never have the motivation to stick at it on my own!
Christine Dee.
Dave helped me to look great for my part in Footballers Wives. We did a combination of boxercise and freestyle running. Dave made each session exciting and fun even when I moaned and would certainly recommend him to you! Thanks Dave.
I had personal training to help me pass the fitness test for the police, in particular the push/pull dyno machine. I had seen instructors at gym previously but didn't feel I was making progress. However after just a few sessions with Dave I began to see improvements. Rather than trying to do as many reps as I could on the weights we went for max. effort & strength so I could do no more than 5 reps to really overload muscles & I really noticed the difference in my muscles! Each session I was pushed a little bit further as well to lift heavier weights. Dave also taught me to use positive thinking & 'imagery' to help improve performance, which I felt really worked. The personal traning really helped to boost my confidence & self belief that I could do it and with Dave's help I passed the fitness test with flying colours!! I would definitely recommend Dave & Smartshape to anyone who wants that bit of extra help & encouragement!
Louise Johnson
I have really enjoyed the personal training sessions I have had with Dave Sims. He creates imaginative and fun programmes that are specifically designed to meet my needs and to help me reach my goals. His knowledge of fitness training and nutrition is outstanding, and his continual efforts to better understand the human body and how it works means that I am getting the best and most up-to-date information and advice I possibly can. I highly recommend him as a personal trainer.
Amy Parry
I have been using a personal trainer since 2000, to assist in improving my fitness for my Martial Arts training. I changed to train with Dave in approximately 2003, and unlike his predecessor, Dave is dedicated to giving value for money, and certainly makes you strive for your absolute best. He is punctual and very reliable.
I would have no hesitation in reccommending Dave to anyone looking to improve fitness or indeed diet.
John Birch
I have trained with Dave for over 4years. Dave helped me to look great and acheive 100% physical fitness.
This enabled me to win MISS UK 2003 in body building figures competition in the Midlands, along with other bodybuilding competitions around the country. His training sessions where demanding but at the same time they were fun.
I would highly reccommend Dave to anyone, his dedication to his clients is exemplary.
S Brookfield
I would like to say that Dave sims is great at getting the best out of people. I have spent years going to the gym with nothing really happening to the shape and tone of my body. However since I have had a workout programme off dave all that has changed. I now feel and look better than I have in a long time.
He always checks up on me to see how I am doing and if there is anything that he can do for me, which is great, because it helps to keep me motivated. Thanks a lot dave.
Sam Minshull.
I had been working out in the gym on and off for the last few years, seeing some but limited, results. Meeting Dave and listening to his ethos on training, diet and general well being made me interested enough to try him out. The results I have seen in my own fitness, tone and stamina have been remarkable, understanding why you are doing something and the benefits it has, I have found most beneficial, I would highly recommend Dave to anyone, many thanks
Simon Llewellyn-Williams - Interior Design Consultant
I have been training with Dave since 2002. I have a number of medical problems including a bad back, a recurring stomach ulcer, and balance problems. I could never have believed that I would achieve the levels of fitness and ability that I currently enjoy. I cannot praise enough Dave’s professionalism, his patience (I think I have been a challenging client!) and his constant positive support.
Janet Twist
I have trained twice a week with Dave for over a year now and commend him in his help to profoundly increasing my health and fitness. I now regularly run over 4 miles in training, and have a achieved a level of fitness I never thought possible. Dave even got me to consult with my G.P to alter my ‘stone-age’ insulin regime and has given invaluable dietary advice to aid in my treatment of diabetes. Dave has a great sense of humour, is polite, punctual and is dedicated to the welfare of his clients, a trainer well worth investing in!
Paul Martland
Having been both grossly overweight and totally unfit, Dave’s training programme has been vital to both my weight loss and improving my level of fitness. His knowledge of diet and nutrition plus his over-all dedication ensured my continued progress. He has given me motivation to get fit, stay fit, lose weight and to keep it off!
Nicholas Medlock
I am a 7 time national junior Karate champion and needed additional help with my flexibility and strength. I have been training with Dave for approx 4 months and since this time I have certainly improved my flexibility and strength. I feel that that this has aided my over-all karate technique, and hopefully allow me to win more competitions!
Jordan Birch
Wanting to get fitter and having left it for far too long I found that I lacked focus at the gym. David Simms provides that focus on a one to one basis. In addition the technical knowledge on training techniques, musculature and skeletal problems and dietary requirements is far superior to that normally found with a run of the mill "personal trainer".
