The beauty of online coaching is that there are really no geographical limitations. Here's a testimonial from Manchester, England. Another testament to what smart coaching and getting away from the overreliance on the nonsensical approach of the more cardio the better, the lower the calories the better, the less carbs the better, can do for you.

I started my journey with Erik in September 2009. Having done my first figure competition in August 2009 and training couple of years before that, like a competitor, but not competing, if that makes sense, I run out of options and ideas, how to make things work and my body respond to it. Of course 3 hours of cardio approach, ‘keto’ diet, starvation, high reps only training, no squats, as it makes your legs wider, was standard to me and what I heard on daily basis from ‘big’ male competitors. I even went through the experience with a coach/trainer (who won couple of titles here and there), who couldn’t understand, that I train for myself, not for gold and medals and if I feel like to do a competition it’s an additional aim to me, that keeps me motivated and gives me a kick, not my priority. He also was the one, who tried to convince me, that if I want to win anything, I need to take ‘something’. Of course I thanked him after that episode.

But with Erik it was all different!! My friend, who is a ‘veteran’ to me in competing and who helped me a lot, hired Erik couple of months before me. She only gave me couple of details, but when I heard, how much cardio she does, it was pretty obvious, I’m gonna knock on Erik’s door straight away!

So after exchanging couple of emails with Erik, I soon become his ‘protégée’

How exciting was waiting for my first training and diet? Just like a kid getting a candy for Xmas!  I must have checked my email million times so as like every time, when I was awaiting my monthly update. I have done the exercises I never knew about before and felt muscles, I never knew, existed! My workouts were short and intense and the pain after them beautiful and ongoing! No cardio in off season and very little, when shredding. Finally I understood, that if I want to really change my physique and improve certain parts of my body, I need to allow that process and make some ‘sacrifices’ meaning, I need to allow a bulk process, when you build muscles, eat hell of a lot and get a bit fat here and there. It’s all controlled fat, I must admit and nothing to be scared of.

The diet was straight forward. I never ate things I didn’t like. It was suited for me and my taste. Erik provided me with tools such as food calculator, so I could substitute products, when I felt like. He has also an awesome, still growing blog of recipes on his LBC website, which will fit into everyone’s life still and taste. Trust me on it!

Understanding, professionalism, knowledge about diet and training is expected from a good coach/trainer and that is, what we pay for. Erik is such a wonderful human being and I wouldn’t be exaggerating, if I said he really changed my life. I don’t think, he himself, understands how big input he has into people’s life. The amount of times he picked me up, when I was drowning in my own little battles is countless!  How many times he helped me understand what I’m experiencing and why it’s happening is another story.  That’s something what I didn’t pay for and I would never expect it from any coach. I’m very grateful that I ‘met’ Erik. His wise advices helped me to understand myself and stop comparing to other competitors and trying to look like someone else. He taught me that I will be only happy when I develop the best Ilona’s physique I ever could and that should be my main aim - to improve and compete with myself and get better year by year.

Thank you very much, Erik! It is truly wonderful feeling to know that there is a lovely coach/trainer/human being out there, who isn’t only working with you to make money, but sees your personal success as his own success.

Ilona Loewnau, Manchester

Posted Aug 03, 2010 by Erik Ledin.
This entry is filed under Testimonials and Fat Loss.