Testimonials

I have trained with Val since January 2017 and he has been instrumental in helping get ready mentally and physically, for some of my crazy adventures; whether it was achieving a top 10 finish in a 1,000 mile cycling race, a sub 9 hour Ironman or winning the solo category in the 3,000 mile rowing race across the North Atlantic, we even did IWT and some cage-fighting training at various points. 

His knowledge around different training techniques and methods is vast, as is his nutritional knowledge for optimal performance.  The sessions are as hard as you need them to be to achieve your required goals and objectives, yet he is acutely aware of the dangers of overtraining and “calls it” when your body has had enough. 

To me the real differentiator is Val himself; always available on the phone or WhatsApp if you have a question or query or need support, he is also willing to train at ridiculous hours in the morning, evening, and weekends if it helps with your work/life/training scheduling. The man is a legend.

Val, in my experience, is not just a personal trainer–he is an educator, a mentor, a motivator, knowledgeable and passionate about helping people achieve their health and fitness goals. He is honest and compassionate but willing to push your boundaries safely to get the best out of you, in your situation and circumstances, both mentally and physically. Teaching and guiding to a better way of living for long term health and planning for short term goals.

Three years ago, I was a clinically depressed and overweight empty nester who had lost direction and any sense of self. I asked Val to work with me, not sure what to expect, but knowing I had to do something to help myself. Val set out an initial exercise programme which he has adapted and changed as my body has become stronger. He has guided me towards healthier eating habits and identifying those bad habits of which I was blissfully unaware. He has helped me to understand that the mind and body need to work in harmony for full health. He pushes me beyond my self-imposed limitations so that I can train harder and better than I thought whilst keeping me grounded and realistic. My confidence in myself has soared. I no longer feel powerless. My days always feel better after training with Val. Now I am leaner, stronger and fitter and, more importantly for me, I no longer have to take medication for my mental health. I have started a new business and signed up for a mini triathlon in August. My view of health and fitness has changed completely. I enjoy feeling this way and want to keep healthy and strong through to my old age. It’s a lifestyle change, a journey and Val has helped me to embrace it.

As for cost – I spent fortunes on unused gym membership, dieting programmes, exercise gimmicks and achieved very little. With Val I do the work because I see the results, and because he comes to my home and I have no excuse! 

• A training programme tailor made to MY goal and MY fitness levels
• Each session is different so I don’t get bored. Also Val knows I love Boxing so he will fit that in to my schedule so I can really enjoy my training.
• Detailed observation of my training technique to ensure I am doing moves correctly, to get maximum results and avoid injury. 
• Guidance on healthy eating habits and how to fine tune to achieve a desired outcome
• Motivation, encouragement and training preparation for a specific event.

With Val I am in safe hands.

After hitting a particularly challenging personal and professional time of my life, where my fitness had decreased and slowly I was gaining unwanted pounds, I searched online and found Val.

Having worked with a number of trainers in the past, I quickly realized I had found one of the best. Val’s professional approach, fitness knowledge and focus during sessions have helped me reduce stress, lose some weight and do more push-ups than I’ve ever been able to do in my life.

He is always on time, he works around my hectic work schedule and keeps the sessions relevant to my needs. He also trains in my apartment which makes it easy to add a workout into my schedule without the hassle or costs of going to a gym.

Life rushes by at break neck speed, and before we have realised it, we have missed so many opportunities to improve our well-being, general fitness and agility. We set goals and aspirations for many areas of our life but the one area we always plan to address is de-scoped or put on the back burner until something happens that is quite significant, and then it becomes priority number one!

Training Sessions

The first session (January 2016) was amazing, very creative, very raw and stimulating and I found I was actually stronger than I initially thought despite moving my body into positions that was alien to me. Over the next two/three days the DOM’s hit seriously hard and I found this quite a challenge to overcome but, I decided that it could not get any worse and this just made me more determined to continue, and to demonstrate progress and push forward.

Since day one – we have continued to work together twice a week and I have continued to develop both in terms of physical confidence and ability. The sessions are planned meticulously with a variety of challenges, you never quite know what is coming next which is interesting and exciting and this keeps you motivated. I wanted to work with a trainer who was more hard core and raw in his techniques rather than a personal trainer in a pretty gym with all that seriously boring equipment. At the beginning of my training journey, I remember having a complete disconnect with my core and whilst I really did try to maintain a plank position, 3/5 seconds was my limit if that. I just found it such a challenge, and I was rather frustrated that this pathetic body could not hold its own. Despite this, Val adapted the position to minimise my range of movement, however I still struggled, and I cannot begin to explain how hard it was – my body just did not get it. Irrespective of how disappointed I was in myself this just made me more determined and now I can hold a plank position (a proper one) without flinching for 2 minutes.

Results

In terms of results, my weight loss at present is 16 lbs the bulk of which I lost in the first six weeks. My body fat percentage and body mass has decreased, and lean muscle mass is kicking in hence I am toning, which will help me to achieve my physical goal. The weight loss in inches has been quite significant within 12 weeks and if someone had sat me down and walked me through the possibilities and the results I could achieve in a short period of time, I would have struggled to believe them. Mentally, physically and emotionally I feel stronger, and that in itself is quite a powerful and serious motivator.

Food Menu

It helped enormously to plan my food menu each week so I had a clear understanding of how I was going to fuel my body each week, and whilst de- scoping cafe/tea for 4 weeks was hard I was determined to stick to it, and avoid the visit to Starbucks. I have also experimented with new recipes with great success.

Valentine Rawat

Val is the height of professionalism, and remains committed to realising my personal goals, it is great to be able to undertake a range of movements with absolute precision. I would rather undertake a range of movements “right” every time under close supervision rather than a range of movements with “no” close supervision, which may result in injury, or no physical changes in my shape and ultimately result in me feeling more de-motivated than I did on day one.

Going Forward

My plan for 2016/2017 , is to be fit for life and be the best example of who I am – is there anything wrong with that? It is a lifestyle change, a mind-set change and a shift in attitude, with a significant change in my behaviour on a daily basis. It all embraces the key learning principals from Val. Right now – I simply cannot thank him enough.

I had been doing my own strength and conditioning for my MMA fights up until I decided it was time to step my game up for a fight at a higher level. Heard good things about Val and his methods so decided on a little training with him.

The sport specific movements and exercises made a massive difference to my game and improved my overall conditioning greatly after just a very small time of working with him.. Went on to overpower my opponent in under a minute.. Will definitely be training with him for my future fight preparations.

I am married with two children (a toddler and a nearly 6 month old), I work full time as lawyer and therefore have a busy time juggling home, work and children.

Health and fitness has always been important to me and after I had my 2nd child in August last year (2015) I was determined to shift my baby weight within 3-4 months to get ready for a holiday we had planned at the end of the year. I had two stone to lose to get back in to my beachwear and therefore decided to enlist the help of a personal trainer.

My main issue was time, I needed a workout regime that would challenge me but was time efficient and that I could do at home. That perfect combination came with Val and his strength based training. For the first 12 weeks I trained with Val twice a week then aimed to do the home programme he gave about 3 times – 4 times in the week. The home programme though intense was easy to follow. Having no time was and is no excuse all you need is 30 to 40 minutes and boom you are done and feel great for it. In addition to the training I followed Val’s simple eating plan. This was tough but after the first four weeks it got easier and in essence it is all about moderation. I saw results within the first fortnight and that motivated me to continue. It has been an educational experience and I feel the fittest I have felt in a long time. Not only have I lost the weight,  I have toned up and have much more strength which helps in running around with the kids! Within 12 weeks I had lost that two stone and felt great on holiday.

Val is inspirational and a motivator. He has this clever knack some-how of getting you to a stage where you exercise not because you have to and because he is there to tell you but because you have built a desire to challenge yourself and thus become self-motivated. It is not rocket science you get out what you put in but Val gives you the all-important focus and drive. What impressed me the most is that he really cares about why he uses the techniques he does to achieve the results desired. He is also not afraid to question why and what for. He has a real leader rather than follower mentality which shows in his drive and passion for getting his clients to get the results they want. Thanks Val!

Val is an awesome personal trainer, not only did he help me lose body fat and build muscle he changed my mindset when it comes to food. That was one of the hardest challenges, but now I have formed great eating habits that will stay with me forever thanks to Val.

His approach to training is like no other! His workouts work every muscle imaginable and push your body to the max. He makes sure you know how to do every exercise safely and correctly for maximum results. He doesn’t over complicate workouts or diet plans which is great.

I can’t thank him enough for everything he has taught me!

I’ve been training with Val for coming up to 12yrs.

I started off with 1-on-1 session to kick start myself into regular exercise. My day to day job is fairly stressful and I was struggling with work/life/health balance. Working with Val has sorted all this out, I feel healthier, my Asthma that has been fairly severe since childhood has dramatically diminished (I was actually able to scuba dive and gain my PADI open water, which would have been unconceivable all those years ago) and I have more energy overall. Now I do the group sessions twice a week at my work place with my colleagues and love it, good banter and ever innovative ways to workout without falling into stereotype exercise routines.

Val is available whenever you need advice on diet, new techniques or new challenges. Friendly, personable and a good instructor.

The only thing I regret about Val’s personal training is I had to relocate with my job to the south UK and stop training. I knew that I was getting into the best shape of my life.

After four months of training I entered a Tough Mudder competition. When I first told Val about this goal four months previously, he simply said you’ll be ready. When I finished the Tough Mudder race after some five hours, 12 miles and 24 tough obstacles, I had enough confidence to sign up for another one straight away at the finish line.

What impressed me the most about Val was how he could perceive the muscle movements during my personal training sessions. I knew that he was watching the posture constantly and left me to concentrate entirely on giving everything during the exercise. It was sense of safety which I never had in gyms.

There was a time too, when I was sitting at this website, trying to justify the price of a personal trainer. But I remembered a quote that floats across my mind from time to time.

“If you always do what you’ve always done,

You’ll always get what you’ve always got”

The sad part was I had a membership to a gym, which I didn’t even use. I think this was the hardest part. Admitting to myself that what I had tried before had never worked.

I booked the training. I still remember the first session. I almost fainted from the exercises. It was the longest hour. But four months later I was lifting two 16Kilo kettlebells regularly, completed a Tough Mudder run, and upped my game professionally, which led to a promotion. It was the best start to any year I ever had. No bullshit, Rawfit is worth it and more.

I trained twice a week with Val. Believe it or not, at 4.30am on a Monday and Friday morning. No Lie.

A lot of people used to chuckle to themselves whenever it was mentioned. I would get the usual “that’s crazy” “or “I could never do that, I’m not a morning person”

But the truth was, it didn’t matter what time of the day we trained at. The only thing that mattered was the progress I made, which was phenomenal. It was the best training I’ve completed/endured/pushed through. It became a very personal journey of just how far I could keep going, of discovery where my limits were. Something I never experienced before. The bottom line here is this, if you want to achieve and I mean to reach a goal that is meaningful/life changing in a way. Then Rawfit will get you there.

I have been training with Val at Rawfit since October 2013. I have been a yoyo dieter for years always looking for quick fix weight loss. I went to the gym on average 3 times a week and enjoyed an active lifestyle yet I could never sustain a manageable weight which I was happy with.
When I first started the clean eating plan and the tri weekly outdoor early morning training sessions at Roundhay Park the penny finally dropped that I needed to quit the diet food and the long sessions on the cross trainer and start eating clean wholesome food and pushing myself to the limits through short bursts of interval training.
The results were quickly apparent as I grew fitter, stronger, less lethargic, lost weight and inches, had a better complexion and generally felt 100% better from the inside out.
Val is one of the most patient men I have ever met, he is a great motivator and leads by example. He is a down to earth grounded guy so understands there will be ups and downs along your journey but he never judges just gently leads you back onto the right path again with sound knowledgeable advice.
My News Years resolution has been to lose weight and get fit every year for the past 25 years, but this year I had no need to make that. Through hard work and dedication with the help of Val and the inspiration of the other ladies I train with I know this is now a lifestyle change not a short fix January resolution.
I love my body and my life so much more now. I cannot thank Val at Rawfit enough.

I like to train and be outdoors, its a big part of my life and keeps me sane and happy. I went skiing in March 2013 and broke my ankle after 3 days into the holiday. I was feeling fighting fit before I went and came back very frustrated and on crutches for the next 7 weeks. After three weeks I was so fed up I thought about getting some personal training sessions. I knew of Valentine Rawat and was following him on social media, he seemed to have a great reputation and was extremely positive and motivational…

Why did you start training with a personal trainer?
I first started training with Val at the end of August after losing my grandma I had decided I wanted to get fit and sort my lifestyle out!

What was the reason you to chose Val to train with?
I had looked on a personal trainers official website.. he looked the most qualified, and fit person! Who also sounded as if he could work me to the best of my ability.

What were your expectations before you started training?
I expected to lose weight fast and be a total bikini bodied beach babe in 3 weeks! Ha! …. In reality I wanted to lose 2 stone at least and get back to my old healthy weight.

In reality had it met your expectation?
Val has changed my life for the better.. He taught me how to lose weight the healthy way and maintain keeping the weight off!

How did you feel before your first session?
I felt unhealthy, fat, my self esteem had dramatically dropped.. I wasn’t my usual bubbly self and it was starting to affect my way of thinking…

What lifestyle changes have you made, ie, nutrition, activity, family, work…?
I now eat breakfast and put as much green veg on my main meals as possible! Not to mention my secret drink of water! I still do regular exercise, my favourite is boxing so I will usually punch, kick knee the air for a good 20 mins, then add a few crunches and sit ups to tone my abs. I have tried to encourage my family to eat and exercise like me however they aren’t as keen… I should get Val to sort them out!

What exercise do you most enjoy?
Definitely Kick Boxing! Easy way to de-stress and lose good weight!

Did the coaching you received help you stay motivated?
100% my weight has NOT returned!!!

What are you tips to people that thinking about training with Val?
Definitely go for it, he is worth every penny and a very kind man! He will push you to your breaking points many a time but you will enjoy his training and realise you need this guy to motivate you, encourage you and change you.

What is the best part of training?
Seeing the results for yourself! Knowing you can put your whole lifestyle in the hands of Val and it will be sorted! The first two weeks of the training is intense but Val’s introduction to a healthy living lifestyle was unbeatable!

Val is a motivator, an inspirer, someone who takes the development of body *and* mind very seriously. Don’t expect a sugar-coated, quick-fix approach to health and fitness, or some spray-tanned narcissist who loves his own muscles more than he’ll ever care about his clients. Val is grounded, down-to-earth, leads by example and teaches with compassion so that you’ll want to do the hard miles he recommends.

Highly recommended.

When I had my very first session with Val I was a little apprehensive as it was something I’d never done before – personal training. To me this was for either the very rich, the self obsessed or a bit of both. How wrong was I! Valentine made me realise that exercise isn’t a dirty word that in fact it can be fun and by the way you get some really good results too. So twice a week I would meet with Val for one hour and we had fun, it’s his ability to help you keep focussed, motivated, interested that made it all feel so worthwhile. It was affordable and I lost weight, became fitter, felt happier. Not bad eh?

Call me if you would like to hear for real that Val is a very special person and can truly help you get the results you want – oh and you’ll have some fun too.

The best Personal Trainer in Leeds and I recommended to all my friends ! Val is amazing, his focus and ethics are spot on, and his encouragement was amazing. He drove me up to, and beyond what I thought was physically possible, and help shape my body the way I wanted it.

If you’re considering getting a Personal Trainer (PT), then I would suggest booking Val in – you’ll start seeing results quick!

I love the results that I got while training with Valentine. His training was unconventional and helped with my martial arts training. He is skillful in his knowledge of strength and conditioning along with people skills. No longer living in Leeds but would definitely recommend anyone with serious training goals.

He got me ripped.

What other clients say in brief:

“I trained with Val for 6 months from February to the beginning of July twice a week ostensibly to get ready for my sisters wedding. He gave me a complete plan including meals and came to my house to train twice a week. Probably the most telling sign of commitment from Val for me though was his willingness to come to my house for 5AM in order to train me which meant he was getting up at 3.30AM twice a week! I don’t know many trainers who would be prepared to do that and I know everyone thought both he and I were nuts, but he is determined to fit around your life wherever possible which meant that was the only option.
The sessions were hard but within my ability and enjoyable. He is a fun guy to train with and really wants you to get the most out of your training and push you to achieve without being scary or aggressive with it. I would love to train with Val again, and frankly if I wasn’t relocating abroad would still be doing it now. A morning session whilst hard always set me up for the day and really helped me tone up – I noticed the difference. I also lost nearly a stone which I intend to keep off. Val is not the cheapest trainer but he is worth every penny and more – pay peanuts, get monkeys….
Thanks Val, I’ll miss the burpees….”
Bryony Stentiford

“I have been training with Val for over 3 year now – this is truly significant for someone who does not generally enjoy exercise. Val tailors my sessions so that I can achieve results doing activities that I enjoy and at a time that is convenient to me. He is always motivational (no mean feat at 6am in the rain) and he inspires me to push myself that bit further. I would happily recommend Val to any of my friends.”
Dan Dixon (MD Boots Optician)

“I have been training with Val since August and have noticed a difference in my strength, a significant loss in weight and a real improvement in my motivation to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. Val’s workouts are (dare I say it?) fun and varied and he is never preachy or military-style in his delivery. He’s happy to give dietary advice outside of sessions (by e-mail or FB) and understands that people need the right mental attitude to succeed; to this end he encourages realistic goal setting and gives a lot of positive feedback. Don’t be tempted to sign up at “Globo Gym” or somewhere similar, Val gives a far more personal service (that’s not supposed to sound dodgy); he remembers your hobbies and interests and makes you feel valued as a client. I have employed cheaper personal trainers, but at the moment I feel his services have been worth every penny.”
Caroyln Kendall (School Teacher)

“I have only been training with Val for a couple of months, however I would definitely recommend his services to anyone who wants to start making positive changes to their lifestyle. I thoroughly enjoy each session. They are tough and push your boundaries, but you come away with a sense of achievement. It is not what I expected from a personal trainer, I was pleasantly surprised. I don’t feel self consious like I thought I would. Val is very professional in his approach and puts you at ease. The sessions are competitively priced, and become cheaper the more sessions that you attend. I didn’t think that I would be able to afford a personal trainer, but prices are in line with what you would expect to pay for a monthly gym membership. The only difference is, you have a more structured programme and a motivational trainer encouraging you every step of the way. The sessions are never boring and are different every time. Highly recommended.”
Laura Schofield (School Teacher)

“I’ve been training with Val at RawFit since the beginning of this year and cannot recommend him highly enough. The RawFit classes have a really good atmosphere – you need to work hard but that’s how you get results. Val pushes you beyond what you think you are capable of and you finish each session with a real sense of accomplishment. He is a great motivator and always happy to share advice and tips on everything from technique to healthy eating. In 9 months, my body fat has reduced dramatically and my fitness levels have improved tremendously. I’m much more toned and I feel stronger, fitter and healthier as a result of working with Val. I originally contacted Val to improve my kettlebell technique. I now work out three times a week with him and have been introduced to so many different ways to work the body. Every session is different so you never get bored and your body is constantly being challenged. It’s not easy but Val’s encouragement and the camaraderie of the group make it very enjoyable. Val is very professional and approachable. An excellent trainer.”
Lisa Brown (Counsellor, Graphic Designer, Web Developer, Photographer)

“I have trained with Val now for just over 1 year and I have seen a huge difference with my over all health, fitness, energy and my physical appearance. I have never felt as strong or as confident as I do now, however you have to be prepared to work hard and give 100% to each session. Each week is different to the last and each week the intensity gets harder and harder so be prepared to hurt. Val doesn’t just teach you skills to sculpt your body from the outside but how to look after it from the inside too through a healthy & balanced attitude towards food. 5 Star Trainer”
Katie Smith (Recruitment Consultancy)

“Really good all over workout – can really feel the difference. Relaxed, friendly atmosphere of the classes makes you feel less self conscious. Would thoroughly recommend.”
Heather Lamb (Primary School Teacher)