After a successful career as a police officer, I retired in 2021 at the age of 53. I lasted a grand total of about 6 months before I realised I had to find a new purpose and new challenges. This was a great opportunity to re-invent myself! I had always been passionate about sport, having played football and competed in athletics in my younger years, so I began researching ways to develop this further.

In 2022 I was accepted as a mature full-time student at City of Glasgow College, studying for a Higher National Diploma in Fitness, Health and Exercise. I then graduated in 2024 as a Personal Trainer, accredited by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).

This was just the beginning of my learning. I found I really enjoyed studying and gaining a better understanding of how a healthy lifestyle impacts your day-to-day. After further studies, I qualified as an Exercise Referral Instructor, working with specialist population groups. Over the last two years I have devised and delivered safe and effective exercise programmes for people with a variety of health conditions including: Parkinson’s, hypertension, and obesity. I have also delivered training to general population groups. The learning never stops and I continue to add to my knowledge and qualifications through Continual Professional Development.

As a member of the National Register of Parkinson’s Specialist Personal Trainers, I now deliver personal training as a certified Parkinson’s Exercise Specialist. I am also a Prostate Cancer Exercise Instructor.

Through all of this education I discovered something about myself. Helping to improve the quality of life for people with health conditions is my greatest passion. I firmly believe this can be achieved through appropriate, carefully devised exercise programmes, nutrition education and behavioural change. This is the new purpose and challenge I was searching for when I came out of retirement. This is why I made Just a Number Fitness.

Tony