Vimal Patel · Chief of Staff (2021 recommendation)
Vimal’s recommendation and his published account describe work from an earlier stage of my coaching career. His experience offers a personal view of what purposeful programming and ongoing support can mean.
“every training program had a purpose, it was fun and relevant and he listened to me all the way”
Vimal Patel, LinkedIn recommendation, 3 October 2021
He remembered that the training was fun
Vimal called the training fun. That detail means a lot to me. Every programme had a purpose, the work felt relevant to him, and he felt listened to throughout. Enjoying the process was part of the physical and mental change he described.
Fitness sometimes gets sold as proof of how much punishment you can take. I have never thought that looking miserable makes a programme more credible. The work can be demanding and still be something you want to return to. Vimal’s account makes room for both.
We adjusted the training when he needed help getting through barriers. Regular checks helped him stay on top of the work, and our relationship helped him stay motivated. He had a coach who stayed involved as the programme developed, listening and helping him keep moving towards his goal.
Every programme needed a reason
As we worked together, Vimal learned about training and nutrition. That knowledge helped him reach what he described as the best shape of his life. It also changed how he thought about his health. He began to describe his approach as more consistent and, importantly to him, more balanced.
That understanding is useful long after a particular session is finished. I want you to know what you are working towards, what to record and why we might change something. You should be able to ask questions about your own plan. Following it does not mean switching your brain off.
By October 2021, when he shared his recommendation, those lessons had become a central part of his story. He could connect the work he was doing with the changes he was making. Purpose, encouragement and a relationship built on listening had helped him stay engaged along the way.
The results reached beyond the gym
In November 2021, Men’s Health reported Vimal’s 27.5kg weight loss and approximately 12% body fat. He described better sleep and feeling sharper at work. The feature named Goran Tololeski as his trainer.
Those changes at work and at night matter. A before-and-after photo cannot show how clearly you think through a working day or how you feel when you wake up. Vimal included those details in his account, alongside the physical result.
Stay involved in your own progress
In my online coaching today, I want that same involvement. Tell me what makes sense, what you are struggling to execute and what has changed in your week. We use that information to adjust the training, nutrition and habits around them.
My part is to stay involved too. Vimal’s words are a reminder of how much listening matters when the goal is to help someone keep moving forward.
Sources and photo credits
Based on Vimal’s LinkedIn recommendation dated 3 October 2021 and the original reporting linked below. These are Vimal’s reported individual results; your starting point and progress will be your own.
Photos: Ultimate Performance, via Men’s Health.