testimonials

If you want to be coached to a healthier lifestyle; he is the right choice!
I have lost over 50 lbs and over 50% of my body fat through his expertise in fitness training and nutritional planning. The most important result over the past year has been an improved andmore confident attitude!

"I was Mark Stables' first-ever client back in 1998! Besides developing a standard weight-training program that was tailor-made to my specific needs; he develop a dietary plan that enabled me to lose weight, by enjoying healthy foods, which I have maintained to this day. With Mark, I created a goal setting strategy that helped me believe in myself, enabling me to become healthier and more confident with my lifestyle!
In my first 18 months with Mark, (Benchmark group), I lost 48 lbs. and 11% body fat. I have never felt so physically and mentally strong!

"As a person with a physical disability, Mark has been very sensitive to my needs; developing an action plan that will address long-term lifestyle solutions."

— Wayne Heirwegh, Active Benchmark group client, Simcoe, Ontario

"Mark has been beneficial in not only keeping me in the gym consistently, working intensely, he has also kept me at the proper training intensities to get the greatest results. I am in the best shape I have ever been!"

— Ed Doucet (Jr.)

"My personal results were so significant I sponsored my entire executive management team to workout under Mark's guidance"

— Jeff Lang

"Under Mark's coaching and supervision I noticed a significant improvement in my energy level and my ability to concentrate at work. I could almost feel the stress diminishing"

— Randy Walden

"Mark enabled me to meet and exceed my personal fitness goals in a much shorter time frame than I thought possible."

— Michael Vicano

"In a few short weeks, I experienced more strength and endurance during my workouts, and more energy throughout the day. It put me in the right frame of mind; I'm eating much healthier and adhere to my workout schedule. A healthier lifestyle has become routine --- habit not chore --- and I feel good mentally and physically. "

— Lisa Hepfner

"Mark worked closely with me to understand my health and fitness objectives, and helped me establish a work-out routine that focussed on those objectives. Overall, I feel stronger and can visibly see the difference in my physical condition. Best of all, the work-out can be done anywhere, which is extremely important to me since my business requires me to travel at least 2 weeks out of every month.
Susan Louth"

"I have just successfully completed today’s coaching questions. Through working on them together, I have taken the time to adopt my own set of questions. This came so easily, due to the clarity, direction and coaching you were able to offer. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to work with you, learning and drawing from your strengths. Thank you. "

— Lana Boyuk

"I wanted to suggest that you do a show on wellness coaches! Wellness coaches can make the difference between just a diet and making a lifestyle change that sticks!!

I used a wellness coach Mark Stables www.benchmarkgroup.ca, when I was training for a 60KM (38 mile) walk to raise funds for Breast Cancer research. I was 30 lbs overweight and out of shape as I had not exercised for over a year.

Mark helped me implement an exercise program that suited my fitness level, while at the same time we worked on improving my eating habits. Mark helped me examine my entire lifestyle. I completed the ENTIRE walk, something I was not sure I could do when I signed up 8 months earlier!

Now, it has been 3 months since my walk. I have maintained the healthier eating patterns and I am look forward to training for next years walk!!!

I know your viewers would benefit greatly from knowing Wellness Coaches exist!!"

— Lisa Kirshner, MBA Creative Alchemist

"In today's busy world, it is a challenge to find quality time for yourself. What Mark has been able to do in a very short time is to focus me on what is the most important and what will give me the best return to provide that quality balance for myself. He helps me come up with specific, actionable and result oriented objectives that I can commit and achieve. It has only been 5 weeks and I can say that it has made a difference in feeling healthier and energized."

— Stephanie Labbe, Associate Director, Human Resources, Eli Lilly Canada Inc.

"I worked with Mark over a three month period and not only achieved all the goals we had articulated at the outset, but significantly improved my overall lifestyle and orientation towards health. I truly valued Mark's broad and very educated perspectives on issues ranging form health and lifestyle to executive coaching and professional development. His maturity and professionalism combines well with his empathy and ability to adapt to the particular needs of anyone he works with. I greatly enjoy working with mark both on a personal and professional level, and recommend him highly. "

— Richard D. Miller, Senior Consultant, Deloitte & Touche

"I am very pleased with our workout sessions, and I know they have made a difference to my strength and overall health. I find the 3 times a week schedule works really well for me, because there is no opportunity to "slack off". What is really surprising is that I am not all that tired, even after the sessions, and I feel more energetic (not to mention less hungry) than I used to.

The changes to my diet, although they seem small, are very real, and I don't miss the things I thought I couldn't do without, like pasta and rice and ice-cream. "

— Ron Behdin, Senior Regulatory Scientist, Eli Lilly Canada Inc.

"I must admit, initially I thought I would be an incredible challenge for Mark, and doubted that I would get the results I was looking for. All I really wanted was to have some energy back so I could spend more quality time with my children and my husband and have time in the evening to do something for myself. After the first 2 months I had achieved my 3 month goals and in some cases had exceeded my goals by 100%. What can I say - Mark is a great motivator, an excellent coach and is great at asking the right questions. His flexibility, versatility and patience are valuable assets as well. In my case, he not only rose to the challenge - he conquered it. Well, actually, I conquered it - with his guidance."

— Sandra L. James, Manager, Health & Safety, Eli Lilly Canada Inc.

"I have found that the services you provide have helped me realize my potential and re-balance areas of my life so that I am a happier, healthier person. I am still working on it, but you have helped me develop plans to balance work/personal life, improve my fitness level and generally move myself up the priority list- resulting in a healthier balance of family, fitness and work."

— L.J. Viau

"I worked with Mark over a 9 month period in 2003. He is a very professional & knowledgeable coach. The goals that Mark & I established together allowed me to move from a state of non-exercise to one where I was able to complete a two day 60KM (38mile) walk for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer. He also worked with me to modify my eating habits and lose 15lbs. I recommend Mark to any individual or corporation looking to implement a wellness program."

— Lisa Kirshner, MBA Knowledge Transfer Specialist/Creative Alchemist,

"Mark has been instrumental in my recovery from a serious wheelchair bound injury. Since training with him over 13 weeks I have trained safely, re-aligned my body from over compensating from the injury and lost 14lbs. Mark's background in kinesiology has been instrumental in this process and was what attracted me to benchmark initially. I wanted an educated group that could respond to abnormal circumstances and give extraordinary results and I got what I asked for."

— Shelagh McCartney, Architect

"During my coaching and supervision I noticed a significant improvement in my energy level and my ability to concentrate at work. I could almost feel my stress diminishing."

— Randy Walden President, Nedlaw Roofing Ltd.

"With the ever increasing cost of healthcare in Ontario, corporate sponsored wellness and lifestyle initiatives have proven to have a positive ROI for employers. Many major insurance carriers are recognizing these benefits through discounted rates on Long-term Disability and Extended Healthcare premiums. I have experienced the positive impact The Benchmark Group made on my own organization. Improved productivity, reduced absenteeism and improved morale were all tangibly noticeable in the organization. I would strongly recommend The Benchmark Group to any progressive organization."

— Jeff Lang Employee Benefits and Pension Consultant Stevenson & Hunt Insurance

"My trainer worked closely with me to understand my health and fitness objectives and helped me establish a work-out routine that focussed on those objectives. Overall, I feel stronger and can visibly see the difference in my physical condition. Best of all, the work-out can be done anywhere, which is extremely important to me since my business requires travel at least 2 weeks out of every month."

— Susan Louth

"Mark’s coaching style is extremely professional and non-judgmental. Mark is forgiving of mistakes and moments of weakness and has contributed to my success with his infectious positive attitude and a good sense of humour. The program seems to be “client-designed” such that Mark’s role is more to educate the client and steer them towards better choices rather than to dictate a “diet” and “fitness” regimen. Through this approach, a lifestyle change occurs that both fits the busy client and is sustainable. The client clearly has ownership and accountability for the program and its ultimate success."

— Paul Culbert, Ph.D. Principal Research Scientist, Eli Lilly Canada Inc.

— Ed Doucet (Jr.)

"My experience with Joy as a nutrition/wellness coach far exceeded my expectations. Her coaching style was non-intimidating and non-judgmental. Her positive, high energy attitude was infectious, and coupled with her informative wellness tips and supportive comments, was very instrumental in helping me to achieve my personal health and fitness goals. The best part is that I did not learn a ‘diet’ – I gained the knowledge to help effect the lifestyle changes needed to achieve my goals. I now know what my body type requires for optimum health and performance. I have more energy, improved fitness, feel fantastic and more ‘in tune’ with my body."

— Jennifer Stewart