TOM BERRY

I am Tom and from 2011 to 2020 I became one of the leading personal trainers in New Zealand. In 2020 I moved back to the UK with my family. After an unexpected stint as a stay-at-home dad during the COVID-19 pandemic, I rebooted To Be Personal Training first in Cambridge and then in Exeter and East Devon.

Before setting up To Be Personal Training, I attained a First Class Honours Degree in Ancient and Medieval History at Birmingham University and then completed a Graduate Management Scheme with Waitrose. In the past, I have been an avid road cyclist, a footballer, a rugby player, a cricketer and a national-standard track and field athlete (age group level; let’s not get too carried away). I have also had lots of fun in the past running obstacle/mud races with clients (many of whom were far faster than me!).

I believe in practising what I preach. I eat well, exercise regularly and try to manage my stress levels. I am fit and healthy but not a fitness fanatic. I enjoy recreational track and field athletics as part of a balanced lifestyle that involves reading classical literature and history books and spending time with my family.

I take a holistic, common-sense and no-nonsense attitude to health and fitness. Training sessions are always fun, functional and focused on the needs of the client.

Qualifications

Qualified personal trainer
Qualified UK Athletics coach
Current UK Athletics coaching license
Enhanced DBS certificate
First aid trained
REPs Registered whilst in New Zealand
Now registered with UK Coaching

What to expect

I speak to my clients respectfully.
I prescribe appropriate exercises for clients' levels of fitness and goals.
I provide honest, realistic and constructive advice and guidance.
I understand that there is more to people's health and fitness (and also happiness) than exercise and diet.
I understand that there are many reasons to exercise regularly. Weight loss is only one of them.
I turn up on time (well, 99.9% of the time – see photo) with a plan and a good attitude.
I understand the limits of my knowledge and I do not step beyond my professional scope of practice.
I encourage you to take responsibility for your health and fitness. I am a very useful and knowledgeable tool for you to use, but ultimately your health and fitness is your responsibility.
I practice what I preach.
I occasionally dig into my repertoire of dad jokes. What's orange and sounds like a parrot? A carrot.

The time I turned up to the wrong location for a Saturday morning boot camp.

My round of hot chocolates.

what not to expect

I do not encourage binge exercising with gimmicky weight-loss challenges.
I do not plaster my social media with cheesy before-and-after photos of clients in their undies.
I do not think up ludicrously complicated exercises to make me seem 'cutting-edge'.
I do not talk to clients like children if they aren't following their home programs.
I will not supply you with performance-enhancing drugs (I don't even endorse protein shakes, despite easy money-making opportunities).
I do not engage in inappropriate relationships (I'm very happily married thank you very much).
I do not prescribe inappropriate exercises because I saw someone on Instagram doing them.
I do not look at my phone during training sessions (PT pet peeve number 1).
I did not become a personal trainer in the hope that clients would motivate me to become fitter.