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.

2024-11-26T08:32:33.316Z

Before reaching out to Marek, I was unhealthy, eating whatever I liked, gaining weight, and dealing with hip flare-ups from osteoarthritis. I felt drained, unmotivated, and lost on how to get back on track. My goal was to get healthy, lose weight, and improve my strength for rock climbing and mountaineering. I also needed help with my routine, nutrition, and overall fitness.Marek’s program completely exceeded my expectations. It made everything simple and easy to follow, which was a game-changer for me as I tend to overthink and complicate things. Marek was always available to support me, guiding me through cravings and bad habits. He made me feel comfortable even when I struggled, sharing his own experiences to help me stay motivated. The regular check-ins and feedback were invaluable.Since starting the program, I’ve seen major improvements. Regular mobility and strengthening exercises have stopped the daily pain in my hips and shoulders, where I have a repetitive strain injury. I now know how to create a progressive exercise plan, track my nutrition, and maintain balance in my life. Marek also taught me the importance of recovery, hydration, sleep, and even planning social events without letting them derail my goals. His approach to discipline was empathetic and down-to-earth, which really resonated with me, especially given my mental health challenges (ADHD, autism, anxiety, and depression).Marek has truly helped me take control of my health and fitness, and I feel confident about maintaining my progress. If I ever need guidance in the future, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to him again. Highly recommended!

2024-11-25T18:27:53.976Z

I started training with Marek after feeling frustrated my workouts were having little impact on my weight, plus I was getting regular injuries through running which was frustrating.Marek was a real support through the process, and questioning whether my perceived challenges were a problem or just requiring a mindset re-boot. He is good at the big picture stuff, taking into account not only PT but also diet, sleep, stress and water intake, all of which contribute to well-balanced health. Addressing all these areas really helped me to get to a healthy weight and good positive mindset to maintain my long term health goals.I’m a middle-aged woman who needed a kick start - far from beasting me in the gym (!) Marek was really supportive and understanding, and of course knowledgeable about achieving realistic change. Can’t recommend him enough!!

2024-11-24T12:27:17.937Z

I started the program because I gained couple of kilograms after my spinal surgery. I needed guidance because I never really followed any training program and my gym sessions didn’t have any structure.Marek helped me get back to the gym and personalised my workouts to fit my busy work schedule and re- balance my body after the surgery.I managed to do 100kg deadlift for the first time and 120kg hip thrust along with many other PB’s. App is easy to use and helps tracking your workout progress and diet.I lost 8kg without loosing muscles and even managed to grow my glutes. I’m feeling more energetic and now I have practical knowledge how to manage my workouts and diet.Thank you Marek!