2026-04-15T20:36:15.949Z

We are in our late sixties and at the end of January decided to join Holly Hill Health Centre to access the gym and swimming pool. We needed to break out of a rut, to improve our fitness, strength and mobility, and hopefully loose some weight.We are far from 'gym bunnies' and in fact our first gym induction session left us feeling very intimidated and that maybe this scene was not for us.We needed help and guidance, and it would have to be a very special person to give us that....Marek Downing became that person.We felt instantly at ease. He listened to who we were and what we hoped to gain. He listened to our pains and niggles and put together a 6 week foundation training course, that changed our lives.He is not just a Personal Trainer but a 'champion of healthy wellbeing'. His wholistic approach has changed our relationship with our diet, alcohol, stretching and exercise and generally made us feel better mentally and more able to cope with day to day challenges. We are more toned, have lost weight(4.5kgs) and can now wear clothes that fit and look right.You have to make a financial investment to work with a P.T. but what Marek has given us cannot be measured with stats. or money.So if you are considering a change in your life, there is no better man that Marek Downing to share your journey!!Many many thanks,Bill & Debbie

2026-03-18T12:28:22.969Z

I didn't realise how much I was holding myself back until I had a taster session with Marek.It was pretty clear I was intimidated by half the machines which kept me doing the same exercises with no real goal, no progression and questionable form.Booked 6 weeks of personal training and it changed everything! Marek cut through the overwhelming noise of conflicting gym advice you get online and gave me a clear, straightforward plan that was easy to follow. He makes every session enjoyable and challenging in the best way, he pushes your limits but keeps it fun!I'm just so excited to see how much I can push my body, reach my goals and keep feeling this good about myself and the gym. Do yourself a favour and book your session!

2026-03-12T20:24:57.599Z

I can’t recommend Marek enough as a personal trainer. Since training with him, I’ve gained so much more than just improvements in fitness — I’ve gained confidence and a genuine love for the gym.Marek is incredibly supportive and truly dedicated to my journey. He has gone above and beyond to support me, making sure my form is correct, tailoring sessions so they’re not just challenging but still enjoyable and explaining nutrition in a way that makes sense. Because of his guidance, I now enjoy eating whole foods much more than processed foods, and I feel better for it.Thanks to Marek, I feel far more confident in the gym and actually look forward to my workouts. If you’re thinking about getting a personal trainer, I’d highly recommend him.

2026-03-04T19:53:51.768Z

Before I started training with Marek, I felt stuck, uncomfortable in my own body and unsure on what i was even doing. I struggled with confidence, my relationship with food wasn’t great, and I was constantly worried about my shoulder/elbow mobility getting worseStarting this journey has genuinely been life-changing for me.I’ve now lost almost 10kg (30kg in total), but the biggest transformation isn’t just physical — it’s mental. I understand food properly now. I know how to train safely and effectively. I’ve been given the tools, structure and confidence to make this a lifestyle, not just a quick fix.What makes it even more special is the care and patience shown around my shoulder mobility issues. Marek worked with me to improve this and even tailored my plan when I had a back injury.Every session is adapted, supportive and focused on long-term health. I’ve never once felt judged — only encouraged and believed in.I feel stronger, more confident and proud of myself in a way I haven’t felt in a long time. This isn’t just about weight loss — it’s about gaining confidence, strength and self-belief.I’m so grateful for the support and guidance from Marek and have truely loved the sessions. If you’re nervous about starting or feel unsure like I did, this is the person you want by your side. I would highly recommend and I hope to work with Marek again in the future. Thank you again for everything!

2026-02-27T13:33:07.855Z

I used to struggle with my diet. I was eating healthy meals, but I snacked a lot in between and wasn’t doing much exercise.Since starting the program, everything has finally come together. I’m exercising more, drinking plenty of water, cutting out the snacking, and having less coffee. I feel so much better now and much more in control of my lifestyle.

2026-02-23T11:08:25.893Z

I had a really positive experience working with Marek Downing at Progress 165. From the outset, Marek was supportive, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in understanding what I was trying to achieve. His guidance throughout the process was clear and reassuring, and he took the time to explain my options in a way that made everything easy to understand. Thanks to his expertise and ongoing support, I achieved exactly the results I was looking for. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Marek to anyone looking for professional, reliable advice and support.

2026-01-29T16:49:45.884Z

I signed up for a few sessions with Marek as had been struggling with my balance and also wanted to lose some weight. Marek gave great advice on building my core and functional strength to help with my balance and I feel more confident using the equipment in the gym now. He also gave useful nutritional advice and I have lost around 4kg in a month by making just a few small changes to my diet.

2025-12-15T21:21:24.709Z

My partner and I underwent a 6 week training plan with Marek focusing on nutrition and building muscle to support with running. I have always suffered with a bad leg and Marek notice instantly a misalignment in my hips and set me exercises to target this alignment - even after just 6 weeks I really noticed a difference. Having nutrition targets focusing on protein and not just calories has been a game changer for me and I found myself lose weight (around 3-4kg in the 6 weeks) and without feeling hungry or deprived. The workouts challenged me to use new weights and equipment that I would never dared to try before. I am now feeling so much more confident and capable in the gym, and overall stronger, happier and healthier

2025-12-14T15:08:17.837Z

I won 4 sessions with Marek at an auction, and so glad I did! I benefitted from all aspects of working with Marek, from strength plans, to hydration and nutrition goals. It has definitely helped me take a step forward in my fitness journey!

2025-11-21T19:14:21.456Z

I started with Marek in January 2025 to help with weight loss, he tailored workouts and gave very helpful nutritional advice making sure I stuck to it via the app. Marek’s advice and nutrition guidance has led to an understanding of how to fuel the body for results.I enjoyed our PT sessions, they have made a big difference to myself physically and mentally making me feel more positive.Thank you Marek for your support, guidance and friendshipKeep up the good the good work.

2025-11-20T17:46:12.589Z

I've been working with marek for 7 months and have lost 6kg and am far fitter and stronger than I was at the start. Would recommend

2025-11-16T11:23:25.773Z

I've never been so physically and mentally healthy and a huge portion of that is down to Marek. After 6 months of consistently getting myself to the gym but not really progressing I decided to give a PT a go after he showed me round the gym and within the first two months I'd almost doubled the weights I could lift whilst simultaneously shedding extra weight and then ending up running the fastest 10k I've ever run.If you're thinking of making a change, I can strongly recommend giving him a go!

2025-11-07T19:49:24.321Z

Came to Marek looking for advice, guidance and help with training. He provided this along with nutritional tips as well as providing bespoke workouts and continual feedback and advice. Overall a professional service which achieves results.

2025-11-03T18:04:49.142Z

Marek was very helpful in helping me get the most out of my work at the gym as well as helping me get used to the equipment and excersises and what each excersise targets.

2025-06-09T18:50:02.900Z

I wanted to take my fitness to the next level and drop fat and gain some muscle. After talking with Marek in the gym I decided to sign up for his program.I quickly developed some new habits that led to rapid results, I increased my step count and Marek gave me strategies to help with this and I reduced daily calorie intake which helped strip my body fat down.Having a personalised plan in the gym took away the guess work so I just had to shop up and follow the plan. I’d defo recommend Marek for anyone wanting the accountability and push to get results that last!

2025-06-05T19:05:39.270Z

I got in touch with Marek just over a year ago as I had enough of looking in the mirror and not liking what I saw, having Marek as my personal trainer gave me a lot of confidence whilst I was training knowing I was doing everything correctly from the workout and diet plan he put me on, I’m feel stronger than I ever have and seeing the physical changes has given me more confidence than I’ve ever had, I highly recommend Marek he’s very knowledgeable, reasonably priced and helps you achieve whatever fitness goals you have.

2025-04-28T05:25:00.996Z

Signed up for Mareks 4 week Easter lock-in to help with weight training/toning up. I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved it. Marek is very supportive and knowledgeable, with weekly PT sessions and a programme that's supported by easy to follow videos of each exercise, which made the whole experience really enjoyable. I've learnt so much from Marek, not just about what I can do inside the gym but also outside the gym. I would 100% recommend Marek 💪

2025-01-24T07:08:46.011Z

Marek is a top professional, would highly recommend for ‘busy people’From personal experience I ate more (to loose weight) became leaner/stronger and more flexible (I’m getting close to that 40 number, 2 kids and a very busy work/family life)I wasted to much time ‘researching’ diets and training programs, nothing worked, marek had it sorted within the 3 months I worked with him (I lost 6kg, happy to say 4kg are still off 🤣)If you ‘don’t have time’ or ‘life is to busy’ it’s really not, with proper direction and a few minor adjustments change can happen with Marek very easily.My knowledge has increased and I don’t dread workouts or healthy meals anymore, myself and Marek completed what we set out do and that was to change my lifestyle.

2024-12-01T13:37:46.250Z

I started training with Marek because I wanted to train my strength and physique and I wasn't making the progress I wanted at home. Additionally, I lacked the confidence to navigate the gym. I originally followed videos on YouTube and I didn't know where to start. Planning my own training program and researching nutrition was adding stress to an already stressful job.Marek helped me with my training and nutrition, he took into account outside stressors that could impact my training and offered personalised advice and adjustments to the programme.After working with him, I feel more confident at the gym. I'm lifting weights I never thought I could I'm very happy with my physique. I have a much better understanding of how to strength train more effectively. People have been complimenting me on my strength and physique which is rewarding.I recommend Marek, especially for beginners because he takes into accoint physical and mental challenges that comes with training making him ideal for anyone new to the gym or is feeling overwhelmed. His approach made the process easier and I feel like I've grown in strength and confidence.

2024-11-27T00:16:55.014Z

Came out of Covid desperately needing to lose weight, become fitter and get into some sort of half decent shape! Saw Marek’s profile in the local gym and signed up with him soon afterwards. I’ve now lost almost 4 stone and 8 inches from my waist. I feel fitter than ever and my only regret is that I didn’t do this ages ago. Marek guides, pushes and encourages exactly as and when required and I couldn’t recommend him enough.