Client Spotlight: Tafadzwa’s Journey With Michelle at BodyBack | Personal Trainers in Pretoria

The story behind my reason for joining BodyBack

After surviving DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis), I had a wake-up call the size of a billboard: take my health seriously, or else. I’d tried the weight-loss rollercoaster on my own (wrong diets, quick fixes, all the “miracle” nonsense) and it nearly broke me. I then made the simple google search for ‘Personal Trainers in Pretoria’, then BodyBack popped up.

What I really wanted was simple: to be fit, to be strong, and to keep my curves. Because let’s be honest, as a Black African woman, curves are non-negotiable. That’s when I found BodyBack, Pretoria’s trusted at-home personal training company. And then Michelle happened: my personal trainer near me who gave me exactly what I was looking for… and then some.

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What obstacles we overcame together

Back then, even the simplest things felt like an Olympic sport. Getting out of the bathtub? Cue Mission Impossible theme song. Walking up stairs when the escalator was broken? Somebody give me a medal. Even reaching for a cup in the cupboard left my arms sore.

But Michelle wasn’t just another personal trainer in Pretoria with a clipboard. She tuned in right away. She knew the difference between “I’m genuinely tired,” “I’m pushing through,” and “I’m cheekily trying to fake a water break.” She never judged. Instead, she adjusted, encouraged, and somehow made me laugh through the sweat.

That’s the BodyBack difference: customised sessions, flexibility, and the kind of support you only get with an at-home personal trainer who actually listens.

From starting point to results

Fast forward to now: I feel lighter, stronger, and way more confident. I no longer need a medal just to climb the stairs, and I’ve lost enough inches off my waist that Michelle technically owes me a few new belts. And let’s be honest, my bum? Rounder than ever. Zero complaints here.

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But the biggest transformation isn’t just physical. Mentally, I feel tougher, calmer, and proud of myself. Michelle pushes me in all the right ways, and she celebrates every milestone as if it’s her own.

Why it matters

As a wellness counselor, I always tell my clients: self-care isn’t optional, it’s essential. But here’s the kicker: it’s one thing to preach it, and another to live it. Working with Michelle, my personal trainer Pretoria, has been one of the best self-care decisions I’ve ever made. It hasn’t just transformed my body and my health, but it’s also given me the balance and energy I need to show up fully for my family and my clients

Taking care of myself has allowed me to care for others even better. And that’s the real win.

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Written by our client: Tafadzwa Mercy Chingono