About the ODFC Founder - Gary Nash

Gary Nash - best known for his stint on hit reality TV show Bad Lads' Army - founded the Outdoor Fitness Company and holds training sessions in parks and green spaces across Newcastle.

He is also a qualified nutritionist and adventure training instructor.

After serving 13 years in the army Gary set up his own personal training company, Summit Fitness, working particularly with people who had experienced limited results in a gym.

"A lot of the training style comes from my experience in the army," says Gary. "The gym we had was very basic and the vast majority of exercise is done outdoors using the body as its resistance with simple equipment. But it gets results, and shows you don't need a treadmill to improve your stamina or energy levels."

"Parks also offer changes in terrain which throws up different challenges and a better workout," said Gary. "And some people tell me they really don't like the gym ethos."

"At the same time I'm not a military instructor and there's no cruel shouting. People need to be encouraged in a positive way, which is what I do."

Gary and his co-trainer Derek Wilson will constantly spur the group members on as they lift kettlebell weights and medicine balls.

"We've been doing fitness sessions in Newcastle for 12 months now. People have come along even when it's been raining, snowing or icy. No matter what the weather, there is always something you can do to keep fit."

Gary's vision is to give people the knowledge and strength to get away from large over crowded expensive technical gyms and take them back to basics using there bodies as they were meant to be used, with hard effective enjoyable training.

Using open grassy areas to do on-the-spot excercises, benches for press-ups and winding park pathways for jogging can be the perfect tonic to the confines of a gym.