Transformation stories

I have been training with Richard for over 3 years. While training with him I have gained a lot of confidence in myself, and a lot of muscle and strength. My body feels good and so does my mind. He has taught me the most important thing in order to have a healthy body is eating healthily — a balanced whole-foods diet is the key to success. He is the most genuine person I have met, and has taught me so much. I am so grateful to have him as my trainer, teacher and friend.

Richard is absolutely incredible, and he's definitely changed my life for the better. I started with him when I was quite overweight and unhealthy, and he's helped me to completely turn that around. With Richard's help I've lost around 15 kg and have learnt a lot about exercise, diet and being healthy, as well as about myself. He's helped me build the foundations for a healthy lifestyle so that I can carry on and build on it even when he's not there. What I really appreciate about Richard is that he genuinely cares. He's tailored my training completely to my needs — taking into account my injuries, weaknesses and strengths — and regularly refines it for the best results. He's also significantly helped me with my diet (I'm vegetarian), and one of the most unique things he's helped me with is my mindset, using meditation to build mental strength and help me visualise and achieve my goals.

Training with Richard was one of the best things I could have done for my fitness. Despite having several gym memberships over the years, I never felt like I was reaching my full potential. I decided to train with Richard to challenge myself and reach my goals. What I didn't expect was how much I'd love the training, and how much I looked forward to the challenges he came up with each week. As well as our sessions, he wrote me tailored training programmes to follow and altered them when needed. Unlike other trainers, his approach is completely individual — you never feel like you're getting a carbon copy of someone else. He takes the time to go through movements with you and watches form at all times. Most importantly, Richard forms a relationship with each of his clients, allowing him to push everyone to perform at their best. I would completely recommend him to anyone looking to improve strength and fitness, or improve themselves in any way.

It's with great pleasure that I write a testimonial for Richard. I approached him after becoming very frustrated at my inability to take myself to where I wanted to be. Feeling like this was a last chance, I started to train with Richard. What I got was someone who was more focused on getting a result than I was, but in a considered way. Throughout the week, whenever I felt I was starting to lose focus, I'd get an unsolicited text asking how it was going and whether I was on track. With someone that determined on your behalf, you can't help but reach your progressive milestones — all of which were set by Richard. He got me to each one and continues to do so today with no loss of dedication. Training has become my stress release and my favourite time of the week. So, if your goal is to lose weight, build muscle or just look good at the beach, then Richard is your man! He'll get you there!

I have been training with Richard for nearly two years. In this time he has taken me from a complete beginner, having never been in a gym, to a confident lifter familiar with most of the equipment. I came to the gym as rehabilitation for a back injury — my primary goal being to improve my core strength and flexibility to avoid further injury. From the start, Richard showed genuine interest in my back issues, directly consulting my specialist to check on appropriate exercises. He instructed me in every exercise for technique and form, and as he trains hard himself he is a good role model: positive and motivating, careful with exercise selection, and excellent with communication. With his help I have significantly increased my overall strength, flexibility and fitness while avoiding any significant training injuries. Most importantly, my back is getting much stronger and incidences of back pain are far fewer and less intense, which feels great.

Whether you're an athlete or amateur in the fitness realm, Richard Kerr-Phillips is one of the best. He pushes you past your limits to reach new ground you never thought existed. His knowledge ranges from boxing to complex compound strength routines, body sculpting and confidence growth. When I started training with him, I did not enjoy exercise and complained 90% of the time — how he put up with that I'm only finding out now that I've become a Personal Trainer myself. Going from a shy, self-conscious, unfit teenager to a confident and strong woman is something I never thought I would be doing. When I started I was doing Bulgarian split squats from a deficit with just body weight and struggling; now I can do them under the same conditions with 22.5 kg dumbbells in each hand. Richard is the person to go to if you want to change your lifestyle for the better.

After 10 years of searching I've finally found a way to lose weight, gain muscle and improve my wellbeing mentally and physically. I originally committed to training with Richard for 6 weeks — I am now 18 weeks in and have never felt better. I achieved my goal of dropping from 92 kg to 75 kg in half the time I'd allowed, thanks to Richard's ongoing support. At my heaviest I was 93 kg, over 30% body fat, with dangerously high blood pressure and got breathless climbing stairs. I'm now a lean 75 kg, 15% body fat, with perfect blood pressure and the fittest I've been in my entire life. Richard invests himself in his clients' goals and is determined to make sure they are achieved — my goals are his goals. He also works to educate his clients so the lifestyle change can be permanent and sustainable. Meeting him was the best decision I've ever made for my mental and physical wellbeing.