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Lean & Lively Testimonials:
“I signed up for Leigh’s programme because of problems with my weight, particularly stubborn belly fat that just wouldn’t shift. Thanks to Leigh, I found out that the causes were a bacterial infection of the gut, intolerances to gluten and lactose and adrenal fatigue.
Apart from the weight issue, I’d always had problems with my energy levels, and it was a huge relief to find out it wasn’t all just ‘in my head’. If you’ve got these sorts of problems, forget doctors, they haven’t got a clue – go to Leigh Brandon.
I also took the Metabolic Typing test and lost 11 pounds in just over a month on the diet, and by cutting out gluten, dairy and sugar. I’m totally happy with my new diet and lifestyle now – I eat better, I’ve kept the weight off and I’ve also taken up yoga, walking, golf and meditation. Really pleased I signed up for the programme – it changed my life for the better!”
Nikki Anderson, Therapist
“…During the 6 months we worked together, Leigh tried to convince me I had some food intolerances. I was aware that I was ‘windy’ and suffered from bloating, making me look at least 6 months pregnant and causing excruciating pain. I had had this for 20 years, all my immediate family where similar, so it was normal, right? Wrong!
Leigh had me do a few tests, which enlightened me to the reasons why this was the case – I am celiac, caused by an allergy to gluten; intolerant to egg albumen and soya.
I now weigh considerably less than I ever did (in my adult life), have a permanently flat stomach, which means if I can plan to wear anything in my wardrobe days ahead, without having to have a last minute change to smock style top with shapeless bottom to cover up the bloating and be comfortable to wear. I live my life pain-free. I have more energy, my skin is clearer and I am so much happier.”
Victoria Knight, Owner of Amethyst-therapy.com
“…lost over a stone in weight, quit smoking, rarely drink and feel amazing!!! Stomach has been a saint and that’s mostly from avoiding the trigger stuff on my list!!! .”
Wayne Grove, Training Director
“The BodyCHEK program provided me with the tools to make choices in my daily life about eating and exercising. By understanding the impact of food and exercise on my body type, I now make decisions and take actions that enable me to manage my weight.
My initial interest in the program was to lose weight. The program delivered far more – besides being my lightest weight in 10 years, I have increased my energy levels and have re-discovered cooking.
Leigh has a wealth of knowledge and was great in tailoring advice to the individual. His support and the range of materials provided enabled me to not only follow the program but understand the basis of how the program worked for ME.
I found the programme to be surprisingly easy to incorporate into my day to day life. Since completing the programme I have found that the changes I made during the programme have become a way of life!
Highly recommended!”
Adrian Walker, Accountant.
“I have been interested in how my body functions for many years. It seemed to me that I was working hard, but getting nowhere. How frustrating is that?
Our work together has finally helped me to make sense of my relationship with food and how the simple act of eating can affect many other areas of my life, including physical problems and emotional issues.
Basically I wanted to thank you for all your help. I was in a much darker place when we first met, and experiencing the sessions with you really kick started something for me.
I have been on quite a journey since with regard to food, nutrition, exercise, goals, etc.
I feel marvellous! I have lost weight! It is all wonderful and I really wanted to let you know how you were the instigator of this for me. I can’t thank you enough.
If you start working with Leigh you will find yourself stretched, you will need to engage in the process, and you will work out what it is your body needs and how you can best help yourself. I found the service offered invaluable and I cannot recommend Leigh highly enough.”
Tracey Fox
“The programme run by Leigh is the most comprehensive and effective approach to weight management that I have ever come across. I have battled with my weight for the last 33 years and in spite of investing a great deal of time, determination, money and knowledge in trying to solve the problem I was just about keeping myself in a steady state. Now I know that I am at last on the road to a healthier, happier existence.
As I progressed through the programme I began to realize that my main goal was not to lose weight but to feel well, increase my vitality, deal with stress better and regain a sense of wellbeing long gone. The holistic approach was the key for me and I began to understand how a complete albeit gradual lifestyle change was the only solution. Within 4 days of starting the metabolic diet I lost 4 lbs. However, the most amazing change was a huge creative drive that took over within me once I had started to get in touch with myself. This is beginning to have a major impact on my life at work and at home.”
Karina Reynolds, Mother & Surgeon
“In March 2004 I became seriously ill whilst on my gap year in Botswana where I was teaching and living in a town called Serowe in central Botswana. Tests confirmed that I had malaria and, when treatment didn’t work and I began getting worse, I had further tests which showed that I was also suffering from encephalitis and amoebic dysentery. With the combination of these 3 things and relatively dated medical care my life was at risk. On my return from Africa I spent two years suffering from chronic continuous headaches, which resulted in my being passed from every doctor/consultant/specialist imaginable. During this time I was pretty much bedridden and unable to do anything let alone think about the future.
I realised if I didn’t take action soon I was going to slip into a very big hole from which it would be impossible to get out of! In April 2006 the idea of seeing a CHEK practitioner was suggested to me by my Uncle, who regularly sees one, and this seemed like a great idea for getting some sort of structure and routine back in to my life as well as hopefully improving my health.
Due to my headaches I found the endless filling in of forms and hours of concentration that were necessary to lay out the picture for Leigh a real struggle and I would feel the effects after each meeting. However, I remained positive in the hope that something would come of it all. It was also a real shock to the system having to eat many foods that I would never have eaten prior to my illness, and, as if this wasn’t enough, I had to cook three times a day which ,was certainly unheard of when I was well!
From the day that I first met Leigh Brandon things have been improving and going from strength to strength. I had no idea what an impact food and water had on one’s life and for almost a year now I have been eating according to my metabolic type. As a result I have managed to lose 3 stone which I gained due to excessive amounts of medical drugs and steroids. Eating correctly and taking the correct supplements has increased my energy levels and has helped me on the way to getting back towards full health. I was very surprised to see the weight start to fall off me within a month and I am now at my optimum weight. Leigh has been instrumental in helping me regain my fitness and has spent hours preparing exercise programmes for me and helping me through them.
As a result of all Leigh’s hard work and help along with support from my family and friends I would say that I am back to 75% full health which is fantastic considering that this improvement has been made in less than one year and I have been ill for three!
I have managed to get a job as well as maintain a far more positive outlook on life. My social life is improving too, which is fantastic after three years of isolation! I intend to continue living as healthy a lifestyle as is possible as I know that, as hard as it can sometimes be with all the temptations of day to day life, it is for the best. Leigh has been truly amazing and has always had time for me; he has been a fantastic person to talk to and has had such a positive impact on my life.
I have everything to thank him for and would recommend him to anyone who has been ill, would like to lose weight, recover after injuries, just get fit, or who just wants to improve their life. My family and I are eternally grateful for all his hard work, and there is no doubt that I wouldn’t have got to where I am today without all his help.”
Will David
“I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome when I fell pregnant. Concerned about my health and very low in energy I went to see Leigh. Put simply, the results have been dramatic. I have had the easiest, healthiest pregnancy of anyone I know and at 8 months, I still have lots of energy. I eat three times the amount I used to without fear of putting on weight.
Leigh has a great gentle style which encourages you to make small changes to your lifestyle which all adds up.
I believe he has set the foundations for my healthy life of not only for me, but my child going forward.
Don’t know if it was the BodyTalk or the yoga or the combination, but yesterday I felt absolutely fabulous-better than any drug! Still feel pretty good today despite poor nights sleep!”
Jen Wright, Life Coach
“I started working with Leigh in January 2011. I was very concerned I was waking up every night and not being able to get back to sleep. This was leaving me exhausted during the day. Looking back, this pattern had been going on for a very long time. I had also noticed I occasionally had a dull ache in my stomach. I had a history of food intolerances, which resulted in skin issues, was already having treatment to remedy adrenal fatigue and had changed my diet to follow Metabolic Typing. I just knew I needed to get to the bottom of my sleep issue.
Leigh recommended a series of tests. The results showed several things. I had a gut infection, which was the likely cause of my waking up each night. Another test showed I had a leaky gut, which was the cause of the re-emergence of spots. It was also clear I had become sensitive to a wide range of new foods, which my system was struggling to process and surprisingly this was having an adverse effect on my adrenal function. Leigh immediately started me on a ‘non fermentation’ diet and a series of supplements to remove the unwanted bacteria from my stomach, replace these with good bacteria and support my immune system.
Within days I felt so much better. I am now sleeping through the night, which is fantastic. My stomach-ache has vanished, my skin has improved, my energy levels have increased and my weight, particularly around my middle, has dropped off with absolutely no effort on my part, other than following Leigh’s revised eating regime. Having just retested, the unwanted bacteria in my stomach is no longer present. All good news!
I am now a firm believer in ‘ I am what I eat ’. I am truly grateful I have had the opportunity of working with Leigh and for his support in improving my health and wellbeing.”
Sharon Palazzo – Business/Cost Reduction Consultant and Trainer
“The initial motivating factor in my decision to work with Leigh Brandon was to undertake the metabolic typing ‘diet’. I had read the literature but was finding it difficult to implement the necessary changes.
Following a thorough consultation and questionnaire, Leigh gave me clear guidelines and a daily food chart to complete so that we could assess my progress. The most interesting factor was my increasing awareness of how certain types of food could affect my mood, energy levels and ability to concentrate.
The ‘fine tuning’ of my diet was where Leigh’s input was invaluable. He was able to give insight as to why I might be craving certain foods (always a problem in the past) and provide advice as to how to prevent this. As with any lifestyle changes certain areas were quite a challenge, Leigh was invaluable in helping me work out ‘coping strategies’ for difficult situations.
Three months on I am extremely happy with my new way of eating. I find the diet very satisfying and I sustain good levels of energy throughout the day.
Leigh combines a wealth of knowledge with a caring professionalism. I cannot hesitate to recommend working with him. He is a highly motivational and inspirational practitioner.”
Bridget Sanderson, Dentist
Pain Elimination Testimonials
“In January 2005 following a repeated history of shoulder and neck pain for a couple of years I was diagnosed with spinal stenoses C4/5, C5/6 and C6/7. I was extremely tender over the neck and trapezius muscles bilaterally and I suffered from severe neck pain continuously.
I approached Leigh Brandon a couple of years ago who advised me that a thorough evaluation was necessary to determine the causes. An exercise program was specifically tailored following a thorough physical assessment to improve my stability and strength. In addition to this, Leigh recommended a NUCCA chiropractor to align my atlas and a combination of all the coaching and recommended therapies had incredible results.
I am much stronger and more flexible than I have ever been and no longer suffer from repeated neck pain.
In addition to this I suffered from continuous exhaustion, intestinal gas and bloating although I felt I was following a relatively healthy diet.
A Health Appraisal questionnaire helped to access where I was experiencing problems with my internal organs and that my health was fast approaching a downward spiral. Leigh then suggested that we look at what could possibly be the cause of the continuous exhaustion and headaches by doing a metabolic assessment. Fungal infections like Candida exhausted my bodies capacity for adaptation, wearing down my immune system, and thus inhibiting the efficient functioning of my metabolism.
By eating the right foods for my metabolic type, I now get the proper protein and fat to carbohydrate ratio at each meal as my diet was very high in sugar and carbohydrate before. By following the diet that Leigh had tailored to my specific needs my energy production was maximised. By fine-tuning my diet to my unique requirements I no longer suffer from the gripping stomach pains that dominated my life for a very long time.
Thanks to Leigh I have maximised my energy and well-being and am living life to its maximum potential.”
Emilia Christodoulides, Help Desk Manager
“I have always been pretty fit and engaged in physical activity so when at the beginning of February 2004 I suffered a fairly debilitating back injury it was quite a shock. I had been running regularly and began to suffer hip pain in my right hip, which then suddenly changed to a severe lower back pain on the right hand side. I was barely able to get out of bed or walk without being in excruciating pain. I visited my GP who prescribed me anti-inflammatories, pain-killers and muscle relaxants and also referred me to an orthopaedic consultant. I couldn’t really leave the house for 10 days and after that could not get through the day without large doses of all the prescribed pills.
The orthopaedic surgeon diagnosed me with a prolapsed disc between L3 and L4 and advised giving it two more weeks before re-assessing and if there was no change he would consider either anaesthetic injections or spinal surgery. I was horrified, people added to my doom and gloom feelings by gleefully telling me I would have constant back problems now forever. I was very miserable and my whole life was being adversely affected I could hardly drive, a day at work was agony and any movements in bed were very painful.
I began to see an osteopath who advised me to treat the area with hot and cold compresses, which helped to relieve the discomfort and over the next few weeks he began slowly to work on the area. This treatment did help, but I was still very concerned about how this injury had occurred ‘from no where’ would it happen again and more importantly how could I prevent it from happening again?
I considered contacting a personal trainer but felt that I needed someone who had an exceptionally good knowledge and experience of back injuries as my own fitness knowledge was already quite good.
Leigh as a qualified, experienced personal trainer as well as holding the very demanding CHEK level 3 qualification was ideal. I visited him and he carried out a very detailed examination involving postural assessments, muscle strength testing and movement patterns. From this he was able to identify any problems and prescribe a very specific exercise programme to correct my problems, reduce the level of pain I had and prevent the injury reoccurring.
Leigh provided me with a detailed exercise programme, he took me through every exercise as well as providing me with pictures of each exercise to remind me of them. Within 5 weeks of following the initial programme, the pain had reduced hugely in my back and I had stopped taking any pain killers. I then visited Leigh again who reassessed me and wrote me a new more demanding exercise programme. I had made many improvements in core muscle strength and in the way I was standing over the first 5 weeks and continue to improve. Leigh provided me with a detailed exercise programme, he took me through every exercise as well as providing me with pictures of each exercise to remind me of them. Within 5 weeks of following the initial programme, the pain had reduced hugely in my back and I had stopped taking any pain killers
Leigh is an extremely professional and yet approachable and friendly Practitioner. He is highly skilled and focussed on your specific problem. I found it very helpful that he is also available to discuss any problems you are having and discuss your progress as you work through the programme.”
Kathryn King, Mother and House Wife.
“I worked as a personal trainer at Holmes Place and had asked Leigh for advice whilst training for the London Marathon. I was suffering from shin splints and tightness in the IT Band, which led to knee pain and lower back pain. I managed to run the marathon but after felt I needed to reduce the running. I then stopped as the injuries kept recurring. This was upsetting because I really enjoyed running. I was stretching and seeing an osteopath but felt that I wasn’t getting anywhere. I spoke to Leigh and he said he would be able to help. I had signed up for a half marathon and was hoping to be injury free.
Leigh gave me a questionnaire to fill in which gave him some insight into my lifestyle, which was quite hectic. He then invited me to spend 3 hours with him to test, measure and go through some exercises. He was very thorough and patient.
He came back to me the following week with a day by day programme for the next 4 weeks. At first I found it hard to fit in, especially the stretches before the running but as I got to know the programme it became easier. I definitely felt the difference when running. Stretching pre run and core strength exercises, helped with the lower back pain.
After the four weeks we met again and went through another series of measuring and testing. The new programme was a little bit tougher and again it took a week or so to master it.
I was feeling stronger and I was able to increase volume and intensity with the runs. When I ran the half marathon I felt the most comfortable I had ever felt, upright strong and able to increase speed, without injury. The race itself was pretty flat, and the conditions went from bright sunshine to hailstones to blustery showers, but throughout I enjoyed it especially being injury free. I also took ten minutes off my personal best. So although being a Trainer and constantly reading and looking for the answers Leigh’s way worked and I still find those programmes useful especially when leading up to a race.”
Amina Akram, Mother & Marathon Runner
“Leigh is the answer to all your problems”
Leigh was recommend to me by my good friend and boss.
I had suffered with daily debilitating IBS-D for 19 years. Walking to and from work took somewhere in the region of 1.5-2 hours (should be 45 minutes) as I was having to stop at various toilets along the way. I had seen many doctors and specialists over the years but the only solution I was ever given was to quit work or take Imodium every day. Obviously quitting work wasn’t the answer so I ended up taking approximately 5 Imodium every day. Then I met Leigh. Boy did he make an immediate impact on me. After a thorough review of my medical history he was confident he could help me. Nobody had said that to me in 19 years. After various straightforward tests and the MT Typing I was diagnosed as having severe food intolerances and allergies. I ate according to my metabolic type and cut out all the foods I was sensitive to. And within 3 months I was feeling brand new. My skin cleared up, I lost weight and had much more energy. I CAN NOT RECOMMEND LEIGH HIGHLY ENOUGH. If you have IBS and really want to get better and are willing to change your diet go and see LEIGH.
Amanda Bond, Company Accountant
“My original goal was to improve overall fitness and posture, whilst looking for a change in direction in training from the same dull weights plans I have done for years. And to get my core stability up to a standard where I can run a marathon without breaking down!
Leigh came highly recommended by a friend who had achieved great results. The best thing about working with Leigh was how it changed my outlook on the way I train and approach my general well being. Before, I used to just lift as much weight as I could as often as I could. My focus changed to increasing core strength and flexibility. I noticed the benefits in no time and felt great from training with Leigh. Even though I always considered myself to have a healthy diet, he also made me re-think the type of food that was good for my body.
I became very disciplined in my training as I could see the results so stuck closely to the program. My diet changed also but I felt I could still eat most of the foods I liked, I just became a bit more conscious of what I ate. My tone and posture improved and generally just felt great in myself. I now get continuous comments from friends and family about how healthy I look!
I would highly recommend Leigh to anyone who wants to change the way they look at training – for me it was a breath of fresh air from the boring training I had done for years. A completely fresh challenge where the results are not only visible but also in how I felt in my day to day self.”
Brian Cahill, Banker
Peak Performance Testimonials
“I first met Leigh at a Paul Chek seminar on Scientific Back Conditioning in Brighton back in April 2005. At this point I wasn’t looking for a coach or trainer as I planned on training myself with the knowledge I had acquired and was acquiring.
I am a competitive Masters Swimmer and Triathlete although sprint swimming is my forte.
As a swimmer I’ve been plagued with shoulder problems for most of my career. I had torn my Supraspinatus muscle during a weight training session (heavy weights and bad technique) a few years back and since then the problems have just got worse.
I started noticing that the strength in my left arm during drills in the pool was significantly weaker than my right and no matter what training I did I couldn’t rectify this. I decided to see an Orthopaedic Consultant in South Africa who specialises in Sports Shoulders. He recommended surgery and this I went along with. I had an arthroscopic Subacromial decompression and the Coracoid cleaned up. He also found that the Supraspinatus had healed but with a lot of scar tissue and there was nothing to be done there. I was sent to a Physio at who gave me rehab work to get on with. After six weeks I decided to start on the stretches and exercises in the CHEK Golf Biomechanic book. I couldn’t believe the difference. This is when I decided I needed to know more about the Chek approach.
At the seminar in Brighton, Leigh was helping out showing people how to do the various exercises correctly. At one stage I asked him a question and the way he answered struck a cord with me and I thought this is the guy that can get me to where I want to go. I made an appointment with Leigh to meet up with him at his London Clinic the following week. He asked me what my goals were and I told him that I would like to win the European Masters Championships in Stockholm which were 3 months away. And long-term goal was to win the world championships in San Francisco in 2006 possibly with a world record attached. Deep down I thought that these were tall orders but Leigh seemed confident which gave me confidence. We went through all the NLC questionnaires and he metabolic typed me although I did know this from testing myself. He did however go into greater depth and I left his clinic knowing exactly what I should be eating. It has taken a while to adhere to these changes but I’m getting there.
Leigh also did an extensive assessment on me, which lasted 4 hours. His findings were very interesting. I remember looking at the program he gave me and thinking that this was so different to what I had been doing in the past. I stuck to his program religiously and 4 weeks later I was back for a reassessment and a new program. All my scores had improved so I was moving in the right direction. I saw Leigh one more time after this and still my scores were improving. One big change was in my posture. Stockholm was a huge success for me. I won gold and got the British record as well. At this stage we had done no Strength or Power work and I’m feeling excited and upbeat as to what I can achieve when we do move into these areas. I have seen Leigh twice since the championships and we have set out the course my training is to take up until August 2006.
To date I have more energy, a positive attitude to everything in my life and more strength in my training and most important of all, I have been injury free. I look forward to our future sessions together. Everything I have learnt from Leigh I have been able to implement in my own programs to my clients and I can see the difference in them.”
Michelle Dige, 50m Butterfly British & European Masters Champion and Record Holder.
“I was recommended to Leigh as a fitness specialist by my tennis coach as I was in need of improving my leg strength and stability to take my game to the next level, but it was painful for me to put any weight on my left knee so was in need of help. I also had a painful left shoulder which as giving me constant discomfort while I practiced serves and the tight muscles in my back were also a problem.
Through a detailed procedure Leigh found out the most effective way to build strength and muscle for my specific genetics. I left that day with an action plan which i stuck to for the designated 7 weeks; changing slightly each week incorporating different stretches and exercises.
I still to this day use the exercises to help maintain a strong core which has really been the cause in my success over the last couple of months. All of my injuries have now vanished and its safe to say i wouldn’t be were i am today if it wasn’t for working with Leigh. I really hope to see Leigh in the near future so we can make more progress together.”
Connor Ellerbeck, Tennis Player
I originally decided to see Leigh to help me overcome back pain that was preventing me from playing tennis. Prior to seeing Leigh, I had physiotherapy which was covered by medical insurance and after one year of treatment, the condition hadn’t improved.
This enables him to give you the very best programme he can. Leigh has written 2 exercise programmes for me, the first relieved all my lower back pain and during the second my physical attributes increased greatly.
Josh Stokes, Tennis Player
“As a semi-professional rugby player, I have suffered from recurring injuries for the last 3 years.
I have been suffering from a sharp pain, swelling and tightness in the top of my right leg. It was especially bad when drop-kicking and punting. I had tried sports massage and stretching which had brought about some short-term relief. However, when playing rugby, the pain always returned.
I also suffered from sharp pain in both groins, which restricted my movements. The pain was worsened by kicking and changing direction at speed. As a fly-half, kicking and changing direction is an essential part of my game. Therefore, this pain was affecting my performance levels. Acupuncture and sports massage had some benefit, but still felt tight afterwards.
I also suffered from pain and pins and needles from both shoulders down to the hands and fingers. This pain worsened when driving my car.
All the above injuries meant that I could only play three matches in a row before I had to take 3-4 weeks out to recover. This was very frustrating.
I decided to see Leigh to help condition me during the off-season so I would be ready for this season. I wasn’t very confident that anyone could get rid of these injuries.
Leigh gave me two separate stretching and strengthening programs to follow during the off-season.
It is now over half-way through the season and I am yet to get injured. In fact, I’m kicking better and further than ever. I’m running quicker, cutting off one foot better and bursting through tackles.
I’ve never felt so sharp, quick and strong.”
Billy Stanley, Rugby Player
“I first saw Leigh in August 2009 for what I considered a last ditch attempt to recover from a recurring groin injury. I first had problems in October 2006 and prior to seeing Leigh had seen five different physios, two highly regarded sports physicians and a sports surgeon (who operated in Jan 2007). All these so called professionals were very narrow in their approach to finding a solution to a problem that was clearly more complex than they could deal with. After spending £000’s on medical insurance the only solutions I was continually getting were very generic stretching and core stability exercises or cortisone injections and surgery- none of which were having desired results.
Leigh had a completely different approach to what I had experienced before and he (combined with NUCCA Chiropractor treatment) has been the only person who has been able to get me back playing football for a sustained period. He did not treat the groin injury in isolation, he treated me as a whole. This included a tailored and very specific gym based rehabilitation programme of stretches and exercise that were treating imbalances in my body. What the treatment also included was changing my nutrition, hydration, breathing and sleeping. These changes have had an immense impact on improving my lifestyle and work life aside from the fact I’m back playing football fitter and stronger than ever! I have significantly more energy, am much more alert, have a much more positive frame of mind and am much healthier and happier.
Leighs treatment programme has significantly changed my life, I had thought I was healthy and doing the “right” things but was way off the mark. I look back on having such a severe groin injury as a blessing in disguise as otherwise I would not have seen Leigh (as a last resort) and would not have learnt all I have from him and made such positive permanent life changes. “
Ian Cooper, Semi-pro footballer
“I have trained with Leigh for the last seven months, which has been fun, hard work and eye opening! It has changed many areas of my life for the better.
I originally started with Leigh as I wanted to start training for my sport (golf) I originally went with goals regarding consistency strength and power, I was also suffering from lower back, and knee pain which I wanted to get rid of. I used to be a personal trainer myself but from the big high street gym training background and felt I needed to make my training more sports specific. Also, I work as a London black cab driver now and a few years in the seat does wonders for messing your posture which need to be sorted out which was one of the causes of my back pain etc!
Once I went for my assessment I started to see that there was more to the system Leigh follows than just general conditioning and corrective work on the body. The C.H.E.K system goes in depth to all areas of your life which I now see to be true for optimal health, your body has a brilliant capability to heal itself which I have found out, I had suffered from panic attacks for many years of my life and even though the main panic attacks have gone now I still suffered from anxiety and quite a constant state of unease for reasons I didn’t know.
I was told about metabolic typing, which is a way of eating the right foods for your body as an individual, I started the plan after taking a test to determine my type! This turned out to be a fast oxidizer. I started eating meals with the right mixture of carbs, protein and fats right for me and within a quite short period of time I noticed some good changes in my body, I was having a increase in energy, I felt so much calmer than I had in a long time.
From here, we worked through a lot of other lifestyle changes, that have all mounted up to building a solid foundation of health and fitness for me. With regards to training and my sport, my body has become much stronger especially my core area, I can now Deadlift over double my body weight, stand on a Swiss ball and swing a golf club, and dive through burning rings of fire backwards, just messing! It has helped loads with building consistency with my golf swing and making it easier for me to make the changes my golf coach is asking me to do! We started with correcting my body posture and working on the weak areas in my body and building a solid foundation to start my strength training, from there we have moved into maximum strength and have just started on explosive power in my last programme which I’m looking forward to seeing some good results!
I have also noticed other changes in the way I think about life in general, I am a more positive, calm and open-minded person than before, Leigh and the C.H.E.K system are great. I can highly recommend him to any one seriously looking to improve their life, but be prepared for change, it’s worth it.”
Barry Smith, single figure Golfer
“Thanks for your help. I had success with your programme. My team won the Surrey Merit League cup!! I was also very pleased with the results, I got stronger and faster and enjoyed every minute of the training.”
Ben Mann, Personal Trainer and Rugby Player
“I started working out seriously about 2 years ago and I began working with a CHEK level 1 practitioner, I became interested in the programme and decided rather than ask questions I would go and see for myself what it was all about so I enrolled on HLC1 and was hooked, I carried on working with my PT and was getting fairly good results.
However I stopped exercising for a while and concentrated wholly on my nutrition plan, specifically eating correctly to my metabolic type. The result was amazing I lost 2 stone in 3 months and felt amazing I had more energy and really was excited about what I could now move on to, so I decided to learn more and went on a 3 day workshop seminar. I was lucky enough to meet Leigh on the course and having already seen his website and been impressed with his newsletters and blogs I agreed to meet up to discus how he could take my fitness to the next level.
What actually happened, however was much more than I expected. As Leigh had completed all levels of CHEK training he looked at things from a holistic view as well as just exercise and am happy to now admit I underestimated the full impact that his presence was to have on my life. His general conditioning and workouts have been both stimulating and effective, they are always pitched at the correct level and as the contact was a couple of times a week each session can be monitored and changed accordingly, therefore always contributing to the next step on the path to any long term goals.
His inspiration and motivation always push and challenge me to look inside myself and also the world around to see if I am achieving my full potential, and if not he can guide and explain easy ways to make instant changes and progress. However the transformation in my sports has been the real test of all this effort and I am pleased to report that fitness levels have gone through the roof for football, whilst on the golf course not only am I hitting the ball further and straighter, my bad shots have reduced dramatically meaning I am far more confident when I stand behind the ball leading to a relaxed swing and ultimately a better outcome.
Everything considered I think it has been a pleasure to work with Leigh and I look forward to him helping me going further than I ever imagined in many areas of my life, he is a credit to his profession and I feel privileged that our paths crossed and he agreed to work with me.”
Graham Harris, Financial Broker & Golfer
“I have worked at Holmes Place as a personal trainer for 2 years. I am passionate about health and fitness, especially in the area that I compete, triathlon.
During the prep phase of training for the up and coming season I started to experience knee discomfort for which I received physio treatment. Although the physio seemed to relieve the symptoms of my problem it did not seem to cure the under lying cause. This became apparent as each time I tried to increase my mileage the discomfort reappeared.
During my time at Holmes Place I have received further education from the Holmes Place Training Academy Team, one of which is Leigh Brandon. I have always respected Leigh’s thorough and holistic approach to training. Being at a ‘wits end with my knee’ I decided to ask for Leigh’s help with this. After a discussion with Leigh it became apparent he could help me with my knee and other areas related to the biomechanics of swim, bike and run. I decided to book in for a consultation/assessment.
The consultation was a very thorough process, which looked at my medical, injury and training history. The movements of my daily routine were considered. In addition to this a variety of practical assessments were completed, amongst other things this included a static assessment and a dynamic assessment to see how my body performs whilst moving.
From this Information, Leigh produced a periodised exercise routine, which took into consideration my other training commitments. The program was very structured. It had a flexibility and mobility component and two short resistance routines that worked well with regards to time available. I followed this program rigidly. After 10 weeks I was reassessed and a new program followed based on the new outcomes. I followed this program rigidly.
During the training, I started to gain confidence in my knee and consequently increased my mileage and was extremely pleased to find that the knee pain never reoccurred, and this day has not! In addition I generally feel more mobile. My posture has also improved and this has positively affected my running form, this improved form has been reflected in my running data! Lower heart rates have been achieved for given speeds and during a 10k time trail a personal best was achieved.
I would highly recommend Leigh if you are serious about progressing your health, performance or are looking to rid yourself of discomfort and pain. His high level of knowledge and skill set which allows him to apply this knowledge is well beyond that of even the best personal trainers. He is far more than a personal trainer and should consequently not be confused or titled as one! Leigh uses a far more holistic approach, which takes into account all factors that relate to health, well-being and performance. No stone is left unturned. His assessment methods remove all the guess-work from training. Results are practically guaranteed!!”
John Williams, Ironman Triathlete.
“I would consider myself to be an active person who loves to exercise. I have taken part in sport for most of my life and have been taking part in Ultra-distance Marathons for the past few years.
I spend a lot of time standing in my work and for some years, I have suffered from lower back pain.
As you can imagine, running long distances was becoming more painful and I also wanted to play golf with my sons at weekends without pain.
I first me Leigh when he attended one of my training courses in London and found out that he was a CHEK Practitioner. I had worked with a CHEK Practitioner before and knew that they are very well respected within the health and fitness industry for helping their clients achieve great results.
It was arranged for me to have an assessment with Leigh, which was very thorough. Following the assessment, Leigh gave me an exercise program to follow and to my frustration, did not include any running and was far less active than I was used to.
Leigh explained that this was to give my body ‘a bit of a rest’, re-align my posture, strengthen my core and to ensure I do not end up with faulty running mechanics.
We kept in contact on a regular basis and Leigh ensured I was keeping to the plan. Leigh also suggested I saw my Osteopath to ensure a holistic approach.
After eight weeks of training I can feel that my posture has improved and even though I still get slight pain after standing for a long duration, I am able to return to running without pain and am looking forward to taking up golf again soon.”
Nic Jarvis, Management Consultant & Ultra Distance Runner
“I went to Leigh Brandon in summer 2008 to get an all round health plan. Going to a personal instructor wasn’t exactly what I wanted; I needed an all round plan encompassing exercise and nutrition. Leigh was more than able to fit the bill.
I had spent several years in sport getting fit for a ski season or triathlon event but almost always I would get injured during or just after an event and never really feeling like I was taking it to the next level. I had seen an article on CHEK Practitioners in a Men’s Health magazine and decided to try it. Leigh was able to come up with an exercise and nutrition plan within the first few visits and ended up designing a programme for me to follow throughout the year.
I learned so much from the visits, exercises and nutrition studies that I improved markedly over the next few months and this year after having the best ski season of my life, I was able to step up the triathlon training and completed my first Ironman this summer.
I recommended Leigh to a friend who was having back pain and he not only eradicated the back pain, but he was able to complete his fastest ever marathon times.
What Leigh did more than anything was educate me on what was right for my body so I feel I don’t need to see anyone else to improve.”
Stephen Kelly, Banker & Ironman Triathlete
“I first met Leigh in 2006 and was instantly astounded by his level of knowledge which was way beyond anything in which I had previously encountered and prior to this I had been a professional football player with access to the club physiotherapists and doctors and I am also degree educated, all of which did not compare to what Leigh had to offer. He introduced me to the CHEK system, which was a major turning point in my approach to exercise, health and well being. Leigh immediately was able to help me explain the answers to questions for which I had not been able to explain with my previous study and experience.
Since meeting Leigh I have been one of his clients, attended all of his workshops and also been mentored by him in his business development programme all of which have helped me to improve my health and performance, enhance my knowledge and increase my business earning potential.
I am thankful to Leigh for all his help and support and he has always been willing to go that extra step which as a client is something that is invaluable to helping you succeed. “
Paul Read, CHEK Practitioner, Strength & Conditioning Coach
Other Health Related Testimonials
“After 18 months of seeing a string of doctors and specialists who could not find anything wrong with me despite putting me through a myriad of expensive tests, they eventually began to imply that maybe ”it was all in my head”. I was in constant pain, was suffering a range of awful symptoms, my health was deteriorating by the day - how could this possibly be all in my head!?!
None of the doctors had any idea what was wrong with me or what to do next, so I started getting the ”well you know, sometimes these things happen” speech, followed by the “you could try this surgery or that procedure” speech. How could this be happening to me – I had been completely healthy all my life and suddenly not even the most highly qualified medical specialists could help me, let alone make a diagnosis!
In desperation, I went to see Leigh after reading up about the CHEK Institute and finding Leigh’s website. I really didn’t expect anything to come of it as I’d accepted what the doctors had told me and was now just exhausting any other avenue I had not yet pursued in a last bid attempt. I had lost 17kg’s, my face was drawn and pale, I looked, felt, and was, very sick. Leigh calmly explained everything that he was going to do with me, and confidently reassured me that he believed he could help me and that this was not permanent and my body could heal itself once the problem/s had been identified and resolved.
I took various diagnostic tests, did a Metabolic Typing test, eradicated many things from my diet including foods (including several “healthy” foods) which I had tested sensitive or intolerant to (amazing results – I highly recommend this test!), started using a number of recommended supplements, and generally did everything Leigh told me to do over the weeks.
I immediately started to feel better by the end of week 1! I was ecstatic, but would it last? Week 2, 3, 4 – improving day by day! By the start of month 2 I knew 100% for sure that we had cracked it and that I was recovering! I started to regain the weight I had lost, symptom after symptom disappeared, and I’m pleased to report that I have been absolutely 100% fine and back to my normal healthy self ever since! The only time things start to go wrong is if I begin eating what I shouldn’t or not eating what I should, which is when I quickly get back on track and am feeling great within a few days! A small price to pay for good health.
I cannot explain how grateful I am to Leigh for helping me regain and retain my health, and for taking the time and showing a genuine interest in me when the rest of the medical fraternity had written me off! I still send Leigh the odd question and refer to my notes from the various discussions I had with him, and I know that I will never end up in the state I was in because I now understand how our bodies were designed to function and how modern day living can literally poison and unbalance you, and slowly steal your health without you even realising it. I highly recommend that anyone struggling with anything medical and not getting answers from doctors that make sense, go and see Leigh and you may just find that it was the best decision you ever made, because that’s what happened to me!”
Trayl Wallace, Company Director
“I originally went to Leigh for a health check, not really knowing what to expect or having anything in mind. Leigh helped me to make clear goals from the test results and my own concerns.
I have improved on two of my major issues, one of which I’ve had since I was young, and the other a few years. Both have improved greatly, one being my eczema, which has cleared up by Leigh’s constant encouragement, always having an answer to my questions and providing me with information on how I can help myself.
As my skin became to look and feel better, so did I, and my confidence has grown as a result. Thanks Leigh.”
Lissa Alexander, Account Manager
“About two years ago I went to Leigh Brandon for help on solving my acne problems. He gave me very good advice and guidance and not only helped with my acne but also with my general well being.
Two years later my skin has significantly cleared and I am feeling as confident as ever. However I continue to follow Leigh’s good advice as its become part of my life now.”
Litza Karatzoglou, Accountant
“I was referred to Leigh through my partner. Having suffered bad anxiety attacks for a number of years I thought it was something that only medical drugs would deal with. I sought an alternative approach because I had no real success with symptom management.
Through my assessments with Leigh he highlighted area’s that needed attention. Within a few weeks of incorporating Leigh’s methods – I did not have any panic attacks, bouts of anxiety & 6 months later I am healthier then ever.
I am pleased I made the steps to improve my health and now enjoy the benefits. Thanks Leigh”
Gemma O’Grady, Business Owner
“I had been suffering from itching, hives and extreme fatigue for a couple of months and was at my wit’s end before I went in to see Leigh. The test results coupled with Leigh’s advice and patience not only helped me alleviate my symptoms and balance my system, but propelled me on a path of taking responsibility for my own health and healing.”
Sana Bux