‘I can get into my clothes without looking like a sausage!’ - Mike’s Transform Hub journey
Meet Mike Charnock. Self-confessed ‘massive critic who never sticks at anything’, until he found Transform Hub.
Mike, 39, from Knutsford, took the plunge and said yes to the 6 Week Challenge at Transform Hub Knutsford, dropping 20lbs (1.5 stone/9kg) in his first 6 weeks.
‘I’m a programme manager and commute to Leeds 3 days a week and then work from home the other 2 days. It’s a lot of sitting in traffic or sitting at a desk,’ said Mike, whose sedentary lifestyle was adding to his lower back pain.
Mike’s tried lots of fads in the past to not only lose weight, but that all important sustaining results too.
Mike said he ‘felt like a sausage’ in his clothes that were too tight before joining Transform Hub. Here he is before and after.
‘I’ve Joined So Many Gyms (And Never Stuck To It)’
‘I’d bought that book about ultra processed foods and tried to stick to a diet without those foods in. Impossible. I joined yet another new gym at the start of this year. Week 1, I was on the treadmill and machines, 10 reps of this, 10 reps of that doing stuff I thought I knew. Week 2 I did half as much then the pool and sauna then week 3 it was just the pool and sauna. Then for the next 4 months I just paid to have a membership card!’
Mike struggled with the gym because he wasn’t sure what to do.
‘I had no structure with the workouts. Yes, there are millions of plans and programmes online but if you don’t know what to look for, for the best, then it’s pointless. I also would never have ventured into the free weights section back then for fear of standing out as someone who didn’t have a clue.’
Sticking at things and consistency was what Mike needed help and support with the most.
‘I ran the London Marathon in 2022 and got fitter than I’d ever been. Once the marathon was over, I stopped running and did the occasional 5k but mainly became a self-confessed slob again. I’d been really keen to get back into running but I just didn’t have the motivation. It was made extra hard by my wife who recently did a half marathon and ran her personal best. I thought “I’d best up my game!”’
Mike decided to take a chance on Transform Hub and came in for a goal setting session with coach Hannah.
‘When Was the Last Time You Felt Comfortable in Your Body?’
‘She asked me “When was the last time you felt comfortable in your body” and it immediately made me think of feeling good at the pool on holiday a few years previous. I had a holiday booked at the very end of the 6 week challenge so the timing was perfect. I also have a little boy and didn’t want to be stood in the shallow pool on holiday, gut hanging over my shorts and feeling sluggish.’
Mike decided to take the plunge but didn’t believe it would work.
‘I am the biggest cynic and didn’t think for a minute this would work. I had a load of mates getting fit and sorting their health out at various gyms and doing different programmes but it sometimes seemed quite extreme. I thought I’d be expected to weigh my food, track macros, stop drinking, train every day and do a lot of cardio but it’s not been like that at all. It’s been so easy and I can’t believe it’s worked for me!’
Mike tracked his food by taking photos of his meals in the Transform Hub Coach app. He followed a simple nutrition plan that required no weighing of food and just used his palm, fist and thumb size to compare to portion amounts of protein, carbs and fat in each meal. He was supported with his nutrition thanks to feedback from his Transform Hub coach.
Mike attended 3 group personal training sessions a week that focus on fat burning and muscle building exercises. The sessions are fun and the community culture is fantastic.
The Accountability Coaching is the Secret to Success
‘The accountability side is what makes the difference. Knowing a coach is reviewing your food pics make you really think about what you’re putting on the plate, taking away that need for willpower. I still enjoyed a cheeky glass of wine or two across the 6 week challenge and we’d go out for meals as a family too.’
‘I also tracked my data on the InBody body composition scanner so it wasn’t just weight I was tracking but body fat, visceral fat, lean muscle mass and more.’
‘My weight dropped really quickly in those first couple if weeks so I became less stringent and got comfortable with listening to my body and how it was reacting to my nutrition choices.’
‘Before Transform Hub I never ate breakfast and survived the day on meal deals, coffee and tea with a carb heavy dinner that always featured chips. Now I’m always thinking of different ways to get a variety of foods in.’
‘I’ll eat Greek yoghurt with berries, some kind of salad and protein source for lunch and for dinner we’ve started to batch cook which saves loads of time. We’ll make soups, a meat source with roast veggies and rice or salad. It’s been enjoyable and we’ve all been eating healthier as a family.’
Mike has enjoyed lifting weights and learning the right technique and form to give him confidence to train solo in the future. He’s also been out running again and has plans to do some more longer distance races.
The types of meals that Mike is enjoying now, compared to takeaways or everything with chips
‘I Went on a 2-Week All Inclusive & Didn’t Gain Weight’
‘As this has worked so well for me, it was a no brainer to continue and sign up for a year. We went on an all-inclusive holiday straight after the 6 Week Challenge and I felt so much better. I wasn’t sluggish, my clothes fit great rather than feeling like a sausage squishing into every t-shirt and the gut has gone!’
‘I came back after really being mindful with food, not depriving myself and enjoying a drink and didn’t really gain weight. I’ve got straight back into my sessions, back into batch cooking and back into running and my weight continues to trend down.’
It’s Not Just About Weight Loss
It’s not just about weight loss, at Transform Hub we aim to help you transform your body and mind. Mike has enjoyed the benefits of overhauling his health including;
Reset work life balance
More capacity for patience with his young son
Heartburn issues have reduced and need for medication is gone
Reduced lower back pain
Gone down one clothing size
Wearing clothes that had been at the back of a wardrobe for years
More energy
Better sleep quality
Less snoring
Mike’s wife had plateaued despite all her running but the change in diet saw her rack up some good wins too including weight loss
Mike had only really used the machines at the gym and has never stuck to a consistent strength training routine before finding Transform Hub
‘I Still Can’t Believe it Worked For Me!’
‘The accountability and coaching from the team has been what has made this work and so addictive. All the team are brilliant and encouraging, always positive and motivating.’
‘I’ve just done my next long term goal setting with coach Kieran and I want to train to improve my run times, see some definition and weight loss in my midriff and work on my strength.’
Coach Hannah who kept Mike accountable throughout his 6 week challenge said, ‘I remember saying to Mike as he was leaving his goal setting session that “this will be the best decision you ever make regarding your health”. He called me 5 mins after wanting to join saying “I trust you”. Mike has been the most committed member, logging every meal, attending every session and has flown through the program with ease. He did everything we asked of him and has had an incredible result.’
‘If anyone is reading this and is wondering whether Transform Hub is for you, I’d recommend speaking with one of the coaches and being open to being coached. I’m the biggest cynic and still can’t believe how well Transform Hub has worked for me!’