My name is Paul Donohoe, Owner/ Founder of PFD Fitness. I’m a Personal Trainer & Neuromuscular Physical Therapist originally from Portmarnock in Co Dublin, now based in Slane, Co Meath.

My passion for fitness came quite late on at the age of 27. I was always fairly active, regularly playing football a couple of times a week, and going for the odd aimless jog but was never into going to the gym. At least that's what I told myself...

I was at a point in my life where I wanted a change (I’ll spare you the sob story) and decided to approach a local personal trainer to do a 6 week challenge. I haven’t looked back since. 

After getting great results initially, my progress halted after a few months and my training even started to regress. I was working as a professional musician 3 / 4 days a week, Still working in a shop 4 days a week and training in the gym 5 days a week. All on low calories, because that’s what you do to look fit right?  Wrong!  Needless to say I was completely burnt out and was finding it difficult getting the energy to get up off my drum stool at the end of a gig. I even found myself in a doctors chair to find out why my heart was racing doing the simplest of things. 

I decided to strip back my training to 3 days a week, increase my calories and not train the days I was gigging. I started to get great results. This lightbulb moment made me realise how important your lifestyle comes into play when it comes to achieving your goals. I went on to become a Personal Trainer so I could help people who might be struggling the same way I had been. 

After a few years, I wanted to expand my knowledge and decided to do a course in Neuromuscular Therapy so I could help people suffering with injuries and get them back moving better and feeling better. Something I noticed early in my training career is just how many people have little niggling injuries and are going through life in pain and avoiding exercise. Moving and strengthening these areas is what we really should be doing.

My mission at PFD Fitness is to help people achieve their fitness goals and to realise that you don’t need to live in the gym 6 days a week, cutting out everything you enjoy in life to be in shape. Like anything in life, it’s about balance, and finding the right balance to suit you and your lifestyle.