PPERSONAL fitness trainer Ben Skinner was given an almost impossible mission – to get Bolton News journalist Craig Archer fit again. Ben put Craig through a special six-week fitness guarantee course to get him ready for the beach. But how did it go?

I DID it - and I’m alive to tell the tale!

I have completed my six-week intensive fitness course with personal trainer Ben Skinner and I couldn’t be happier.

All those press ups, push ups, runs, boxing sessions, stretches, floor exercises and weight lifting sessions have been worth it. It’s been tough at times, but I can say I really enjoyed it - and I’m going to carry it on.

Ben, who specialises in holding classes at your home, carried out a number of tests and after our final session and I’ve got to say the results are amazing. Amazingly, I have lost a stone in weight, my blood pressure has come down and my heart rate has improved. All this, in just six weeks!

My fitness levels have really improved as well.

I can now do a lot more press ups, push ups and squats in a minute and can last three times as long doing step exercises.

It’s a far cry from six weeks ago when Ben turned up at work to kick off the course.

I was struggling with the easiest exercises and couldn’t run further than three of four kilometers without stopping for a break. Now I’m feeling a million times better and am preparing for a 10k.

Ben’s workouts were all new to me but seemed to have an instant effect.

He got me holding out kettle bells, jumping on and off steps, doing press ups and push ups. We even got the boxing gloves out for a session.

All this was going on in the office boardroom during my lunch hour - great for me as I didn’t have to travel to the gym.

The exercises were all designed to be done at home or in the workplace so there are no huge machines to worry about.

Ben targets all areas of your body so you get an all-over workout.

My favourite sessions were those outside.

We went to Heaton Park where I ran up hills and sprinted from one cone to another. (There was a strange incident where a dog ran over and chewed up two of the cones as we looked on.)

There’s a lot more to this than running around and lifting weight, though.

Ben is a whizz on the stats and devises a special eating plan for you - complete with a calorie count and suggestions on what to go for.

And he measures heart rate and blood pressure before the course and after to show the difference.

But, most importantly, Ben is supportive, helpful and great at his job. He can help you reach your goals and lose the weight - and that’s all that counts.

Cheers Ben, I enjoyed it mate - even in Heaton Park where I was struggling to breath in the 90 degree heat!

Ben covers Bury, plus the surrounding areas of Heywood, Rochdale, Radcliffe, Whitefield and Prestwich. He also covers the east side of Bolton, including Little Lever and Farnworth.

If you are interested in contacting Ben for a fitness session, you can reach him at athomefitness.co.uk/personal-trainers/personal-trainer-bury/ or his Facebook page www.facebook.com/personaltrainerbury/. You can also email; benskinner.ptbury@gmail.com or phone him on 07802 284488

The six week promise starts from £250 and includes 12 session, twice per week, with session one and 12 being the fitness test. Single sessions are available from £25. Prices change depending on the time of day.