Tom Pitfield on ‘Eat, Shop, Save’

Hope Primus | 20th July 2017

 

Thanks to ITV, ‘Eat, Shop, Save’ is a new hit series helping UK families to live a healthier lifestyle, stay fit and save a great deal of money. Over three million viewers tuned into watch the first episode last Thursday and yesterday, I spoke with the show’s fitness coach, Tom Pitfield about the first episode which was set right here, in Manchester.

 

Hi Tom, what is a normal morning like for you? Breakfast, exercise?

I work in a gym so I’m pretty fortunate in regards to exercise. For breakfast I’ll usually have an omelette, maybe chicken or spinach or sometimes I’ll use a bit of smoked salmon and have it with poached eggs, Alfie likes that too, he’ll have it with some wholemeal soldiers. We’re actually out to eat now and I think I’ll get him some prawns and spinach which is a nice finger food alternative.

 

What advice do you give to families with young children about maintaining a healthier lifestyle?

What we find is, we’ll open the fridge at tea time and Alfie can pick what he wants, he’ll watch me or Catherine prepare the food. It’s exciting for him and it’s a tip we’ve been giving families to help break down barriers.

As a family we like to plan things for the weekends. We’ll take long walks or go swimming, I think we’ve found that if we make it into an activity, like having a picnic or something we have a lot more fun.
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(Courtesy of The Pitfields)

 

 

Why did you choose a career in fitness?

It’s just something I’ve always been involved in. I did my work experience in a gym when I was about 14 or 15 so I’ve always had some involvement with fitness and I’ve been a personal trainer for the past 10 years.

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(Courtesy of ITV)

What made you want to do the show?

I could relate to the families as I experience it myself daily. It is a challenge but I’m passionate and I think that passing on my education about health and fitness is seen in my son’s development. You don’t have to feed the kids fish fingers and chips after school, Alfie eats most of the stuff I eat which makes it easier and more cost effective.

I was a bit nervous watching it go out last week but it was about the principle of the show and breaking down barriers for families. To get that across on a great scale like ITV is a big chance not to be missed and people are loving it! Each family we’ve chosen to work with people will relate to. They’re all struggling with kids and jobs. They’re real people getting real results.

 

In the UK the average adult wastes approximately £150 on sports equipment, are there any effective exercises that can be done without buying expensive sports equipment?

Yeah there’s loads, you don’t have to go to the gym. Swapping everyday things like walking to work or going up the steps instead of taking the lift. Next weekend you’ll see a family that do a lot of home workouts with no home equipment, it can be done.

 

In the first episode you set mum of the family Lorraine a challenge to train for a 5k run in 8 weeks which she completed! How was that experience?

She did amazing, we were in contact throughout the 8 weeks which was good, as with everyone she had her good days and bad days. We set goals weekly and she hit all of them and lost fifteen pounds! I’m still in contact with her now, I think it’s just hard at first but when you stick to it you see results.

 

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(Courtesy of The Pitfields)

 

 

You and Catherine looked amazing on your honeymoon in Dubai, how does she keep in shape?

She’s really into fitness and she’s passionate about it too. We find that we get a lot of enquiries about how we stay healthy so we made our own Instagram page ‘The Pitfields’. We post tips about how we live and making healthy eating a part of your lifestyle, we’re not fitness freaks, we just try to keep a healthy lifestyle and make compromises.

 

Catherine is used to being the TV star in the family, how is she adjusting to your new found fame?

It’s funny to see myself on TV, Catherine is really happy for me and she’s loving me on the show even Alfie spots me sometimes. I’d love to do some more TV work!

 

The second episode of ‘Eat, Shop, Save’ airs 7.30pm tonight on ITV.

For more information about ‘The Pitfields’ follow them on Instagram or Twitter