A GYM owner who opened his business ‘at the worst possible time’ is determined the bring the Lakes a specialist fitness experience.

Jack Dutton, 31, from Windermere, is the founder of Worx Gym in Ambleside.

He began his fitness lifestyle after being told at the age of 18 that his health was at risk due to his weight.

After turning his life around, he became a professional fitness trainer.

Despite opening the business three weeks before the last lockdown, he has boosted his membership by 50 per cent in the first week since restrictions were lifted.

FITNESS: Jack began his fitness life style to over come health issues at age 18

FITNESS: Jack began his fitness life style to over come health issues at age 18

Jack said: “When I was a kid, I was obese and my health wasn’t great.

“I was told at 18 that if I carried on like this there was a chance I wouldn’t see my 40s. It was then I decided that I wanted to make a change, so I did something about it.

“I began taking a lot of interest in fitness. I lost ten stone, studied sport health, exercise and nutrition at Leeds Trinity University and before that I studied dietetics at Leeds Metropolitan.

“After that became a personal trainer.

“The help I want to give people is the help I wish I had when I was younger, so I want to provide that for people today.

“We opened the gym three weeks before the last lockdown which was the worst time to open in the history of opening gyms.

“But we wanted to reopen as soon as possible when restrictions came down.

“We got back to it one week ago.

“The lockdown has really shown the importance of gyms.

"That is for mental health, and physical health.

GYM: Worz Gym is located in Ambleside

GYM: Worz Gym is located in Ambleside

"The whole thing was a bit of a shock for so many people.

“Healthier people are better for fighting against illness, so it’s great to have them back.

“In my job as a personal trainer, I find a lot of clients who were once like me so we find a lot of common ground when training.

"I know what it’s like to be on the larger side so I know where they’re coming from with their training.

“I was a trainer for 15 years after university. Then me and my dad decided to bring the Lakes a gym with all the facilities it would need.

"A lot of gyms are more touristy or just in hotels so I wanted to offer a more versatile service for the Lakes.

“I just think the main thing is lockdown has been so hard on so many, and we’re here for them. I strongly believe we can help people and our doors are always open.”