Darlington man who almost drank himself to death now changing lives of others
After getting sober, Paul Woodhouse became a health and performance coach as well as a qualified therapist
A Darlington man who almost drank himself to death is now changing the lives of others.
40 year-old Paul Woodhouse's battle with alcohol almost claimed his life after his mum died five years ago suddenly.
He said: "I was very unwell for a long time and realised that if I didn't get sober, I was on the path towards dying.
"At my lowest point when I was drinking, I was sleeping rough and I even suffered really serious frostbite.
“I didn’t deal with grief well and I became a daily drinker. Eventually I ended up in rehab and that’s where I realised the devastation alcohol can cause to lives – both your own and those around you.
"When I left rehab, I just worked extremely hard – I paid off debt, exercised and lost over 20kg myself - the change was immense and I’ve rebuilt my life in the process.”
Now five years sober, super-fit Paul - a health and performance coach - is using his unique skillset, alongside his lived experience, to help others.
A trained therapist, he also has qualifications in personal training - a combination completely unique in the North East.
By blending both skillsets, Paul's trademarked brand – PLW Fitness – works on changing client behaviours, which in turn, improves health and wellbeing. From his studio in Darlington’s West Park, he privately and semi-privately coaches professionals – be it business owners or directors.
Paul added: “PLW Fitness has three pillars – build, burn and restore – and it recognises that exercise alone isn’t enough; You need to allow yourself enough time to recover, improve your resilience but more than anything, change your behaviour.
"The system helps build strength, resilience and confidence while developing lasting behaviours, and I take pride in knowing almost everything about my clients’ lives and the barriers they face. The sessions are challenging because they are results-focused and nobody is allowed to blend into the background. I want people to get results."
Nikki Todd, managing director of Fortis Vision, is one of Paul's clients. He was feeling burnt out and unmotivated he wanted to lose weight, yet he was swamped at work and struggled to prioritise his own health alongside the demands of running a company.
However, with Paul’s expert guidance, he’s shed almost five stone of body fat, with pictures showing the incredible transformation – while boosting his strength and confidence.
Nikki said: "I don't think I'd have carried on as MD without the transformation both physically and mentally."
Having qualified as a therapist in 2015, Paul said his unique background gives him a firm understanding of the barriers that can prevent lasting change. And for Paul, that change started with himself.
His approach often attracts clients who want more than a traditional gym environment, with Paul saying many people feel intimidated or unsure where to start.
In Nikki’s case, Paul has also done more than just help him lose weight – he’s also helped the business leader develop sustainable habits that fit around his professional life, rather than taking him away from it.
Paul added: “I think I’m probably one of the only people combining therapy and personal training in this way. The two work so well together. A lot of people who want health and fitness coaching feel uncomfortable in a gym and don’t know what to do, while many obstacles’ people face in their physical health stem from the mind. The message outside my door is take the body and the mind will follow.”
And he said his own experiences allow him to connect with clients facing their own struggles, whether they involve major trauma or merely the everyday pressures of modern life.
Paul said: “The message I want to get across is simple; change your behaviour, change your life. I understand behaviour change and how it can literally transform someone’s life, because I'm a living embodiment of what I do now.”