I really struggled with being consistent. I would set good intentions but they just wouldn’t last. The last time I was in the gym was 2014, when I was doing classes with a friend. On my own it didn’t happen. I needed to be consistent and I knew it. My target wasn’t just to lose weight, I wanted to be healthier too.

I feel better in myself. I’m healthier and fitter. Something that has happened is the change in my mindset with so many aspects of my life. I’m achieving things I had just thought I’d never do.

Long story short, COVID-19, bad habits and a crazy work schedule meant that I had lost my spark. I decided I needed to find space to prioritise my well-being and after a chance conversation I was introduced to Mikey.

Fast forward three months of working together, seeing some considerable improvements in well-being, sleep and scale weight, it was time to set myself a personal challenge…. Chase the Sun. A 205-mile cross-country road race in one day leaving at sunrise with the single objective of arriving at the destination by sunset.

10 months of a punishing training schedule, sacrifice, and preparation later, I crossed the line after 14 and a half hours in the saddle, it’s hard to put the whole experience into words but for those of you reading this, anything is possible if you want it enough, and it’s worth it!

Health and fitness is a very personal journey, no matter what your goals, Mikey is an exceptional coach and human being that puts his client’s needs first. It doesn’t matter where you are starting from, his approach just works, he’s always honest, makes the time and creates a plan that’s designed for you, achievable and sustainable.

Just get in touch, you won’t regret it!

Having been a serial dieter on and off since my early 20’s I was looking for a new approach away from your traditional weight watchers and Slimming World.

I had always been able to lose weight but never keep it off, food was my happy place, my treat, my go-to. I felt “what did I have to lose, it was worth a try!”  I've lost weight and I have found my love for running which massively helps me mentally as well as physically.

I set myself a goal of running my first 10k, having only ever run short distances around the block. It was a worry for me to be able to run 10k but with Mikey's help I smashed it and loved every moment of it! It didn’t even feel like a slog working up to that distance, I know that was all down to Mikey.

I started working with Mikey for fairly typical reasons - to lose weight and tone up for a holiday.

Having been successful in that first goal, I’m now in my second year of working with him - way less focused on what I look like and more on what my body can achieve!

Beyond the training and nutrition plans, it’s the regular support he gives me, especially through illness, ‘off days/weeks’, injury, when work is super busy and when I really just can’t be bothered - he always finds the right words of advice to keep me motivated and believing in my goals at the point I would ordinarily have given up and started with the excuses.

When I started working with Mikey I hadn’t ridden a bike more than 30 miles for about 5 years. 2 years later and I completed a 100 mile, fairly lumpy sportive!

I decided to join because I was at a point where I needed to lose weight.

I do a lot of exercise so I knew exercise was not cutting it but I also felt that I didn’t eat particularly unhealthy.

The other thing I was struggling with was being accountable and to learn, perhaps, a little bit more about nutrition and what it was that I was doing right or wrong.

The whole reason was to get to a better place in my life. I had a high cholesterol reading so there are things that needed to be addressed and the only way I thought I can do this is by having a collaboration with somebody who will keep an eye on me.

In terms of where we are to date, I’ve lost about four kilos. It’s not a massive amount but it’s made a huge difference to my body shape.

I’ve lost about 10 centimetres off my waist and about the same with my hips. I didn’t want to lose weight particularly quickly. In the past I’ve done other diets where you lose weight fairly quickly and then as soon as you stop you put it back on so for me it had to be a slow and steady lifestyle change.

I think the best thing about the service is the accountability. It’s done in such a lovely way on every level.

I would absolutely recommend the service to other people.

I think it’s very useful to just be able to tap in on somebody who has got a little bit more knowledge than one has or maybe just to remind you of the knowledge that you have yourself. If you’re struggling to get fitter or to lose weight or to tone up or get healthy, I recommend getting in touch.

In mid 2024 I decided to make a change. I’d been going to the gym a couple of times a week and making progress – lifting heavier weights and feeling good about that, but nothing was changing. My weight was still a challenge and food remained the issue behind this. It is very true that you cannot out train a bad diet!

A good friend of mine had been on a journey with Black Blade Fitness and achieved amazing results for his 50th birthday. When I asked him what the secret was, he said,  “You need to talk to Mikey”

From the outset this process has always felt like a personal 1:1 journey with Mikey in my corner. He’s always on the end of a WhatsApp when needing advice, guidance – or steering back on course on a few occasions! Mikey’s holistic approach to losing weight and improving how you feel has enabled me to lose over 30lbs to date, and we are not done yet – we have our EPIC (Every Person’s Individual Challenge) which can be anything you aspire to and something Mikey uses to help focus progress.

Mikey’s use of accountability and his ability to guide rather than dictate change has led to consistent progress towards my goals. Daily support, weekly check-ins with video feedback and monthly 1:1 Zoom call has made a remote coach feel like a personal relationship. Calorie management is key and with Mikey’s support, easy to manage. Combined with balanced gym work and goal specific exercise – swimming, cycling and running – speed has increased and PB’s have followed.

We have some more weight loss to focus on  then we start the fun stuff (as Mikey calls it!) of developing performance training on the way to my EPIC– the Castle to Coast middle distance triathlon. Post event we’ll take a fresh look at new goals and move into a management and protection phase to ensure 12 months hard work are not lost.

If you want to make a change, lose weight and feel better I cannot recommend highly enough investing in yourself with Mikey and Black Blade Fitness.

I started my journey with Mikey back in January 2022 and at that time I was grossly overweight and very unfit.

I had type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol as well as leading a totally unhealthy lifestyle.

Having spent some time under Mikey’s coaching expertise I managed to completely change my lifestyle.

I started going to the gym, something I hadn’t done for 25 years!

My eating habits and choices of food changed radically, as well as dropping weight.

Although I’m no longer working with Mikey I’m delighted to tell you all that I  still continue to follow the guidance Mikey gave me.  I had a call from my GP recently informing me that:

I’m no longer diabetic!

My cholesterol levels have fallen significantly!

My blood pressure is excellent!

Whilst I appreciate I wanted to lose weight, I also recognised that my whole lifestyle needed an overhaul. This is where Mikey stepped in and helped me on my journey.  He saw the bigger picture and gave me the motivation and personal guidance to get to where I am today.

Our paths first crossed when Mikey began working with my wife in 2021 so I had first-hand experience of his great results.

However, I didn’t contact Mikey to help me address my poor food choices and desire to work on my overall fitness until 2024 when I was blessed with the news that I was going to be a first time grandad. 

I always thought I led a pretty active life but was constantly niggled by the same old injuries that I picked up during my runs which were usually 3 times a week, 5-10km per run.

I always ran the Beat the Boat 10km and the Windsor Half Marathon but couldn’t never get the PB’s I wanted and often finished training or races, pretty beaten up. At its worst, at 2023’s Windsor Half, I tore my calves at the 4 mile mark and hobbled in around 2 and a half hours. I vowed to my wife I’d never do it again!

However, I didn’t want to retire on a low and felt I had to return to get my revenge. 

So in early 2024, when I started with Mikey and Black Blade Fitness, the plan was to start my 50’s with some strength (I’d never done any gym or weights ever), fix my injuries, lose some weight so I could enjoy the activities I would look forward to with my grand-daughter and make better food choices with regards to snacking.

Whilst my progress was slow, it was consistent through the food choices and the mix of training I was doing to fit in with my goals and the time I could dedicate.

3 months after starting with Mikey our first goal was Beat the Boat 2024 in under an hour. I ran 53 mins! Our next goal, 6 months after starting and 10kg lighter, was the Windsor Half Marathon in under 2 hours. I ran 1 hour 53 minutes.

Next, was Beat the Boat 2025 with the idea of being faster than 2024. Being 15kg leaner I ran, 46 minutes 47 seconds. 6 minutes quicker than the previous year!

Just for fun, I got talked into a Spartan race which I was in great shape for - stronger, leaner and injury free, I came first in my age group and 20th overall male.

The final goal and agreed exit from the service was to get my elusive PB I’d been chasing for 12 years of sub 1 hour and 45 minutes in Windsor.

I crossed the finishing line and shook Mikey’s hand farewell with a time of 1 hour and 41 minutes!

I’m running injury free, faster and better in my 50’s than I was in my 30’s.

The change in mindset and the continued focus doesn’t stop there, I now fly solo with the knowledge and strategies to maintain my weight and fitness goals and I know, even though I’m not on the service, I can call Mikey for advice and support at anytime.