A couple who turned their passion for health and fitness into their dream business now prepare tasty and nutritious meals for Love Island stars, top athletes and football legends.
Former professional footballer Jon Worsnop, 37, and his fiance Katie Booth have put their hearts into their company Gymology and are now reeling in its success.
Rather than offering traditional 'healthy' meals, the company dishes up nutritional versions of popular dishes including curries, fish and chips and a Sunday roast - which are delivered to their customers' front doors.
Working with a former Manchester United chef and a nutritionist, they offer up different meals every week for just £5.50 per portion.
Jon came up with the idea two years ago after his football career left him tucking into some pretty uninspiring ready meals as he travelled up and down the country for away matches.
He said: "It wasn't what professional athletes really needed. Your energy would spike before you needed it.
"I said to Katie, I'm sure we could do a better version."
So the couple, who are expecting their first child in the summer, set to work, spending hours coming up with a brand to make their dream a reality.
They hired a chef who came up with some ideas, and spent time practicing the meals in their cafe.
"We found that the meals were really tasty. I liked them, Katie liked them and our families liked them."
The first few months were tough, with Jon still playing for York full time.
This meant he would get up every day, drive to the city, train all day before returning home and getting to work in the kitchen working on their new venture, often til 3am.
"It put strain on our relationship and our careers.
"We had a few ups and downs but we got there in the end."
Katie says that the business has now grown so much that they actually work quite seperately.
Jon comes up with the ideas, while Katie is tasked with making them happen and the logisitcs.
He said: "I'm quite a visionary so I come up with the ideas. Katie is very focuses and determined so she always make them happen.
"It works really well for us."
Despite the hard work and graft, the couple are delighted they took the jump and love their business.
They now have 12 staff and make more than 20,000 meals every month. This week they were named North West Startup business of the year.
The business has a whole host of celebrity clients, cooking for everyone from Love Island stars to top athletes as they prepare for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Tyson Fury , Paddy McGuinness, Jason Manford and Denise Van Outen are also put in orders.
The couple offer three plans - Build, Balance and Burn - depending on what the customer wants from their delicious dishes.
Each meal costs £5.50 for a regular size and £6.50 for a large, with taster boxes available for just £24.
Jon said: "Nobody wants to get up every morning and go to a job they dislike. It's nice to get up and work for yourself and see the challenges of the day ahead.
"Do what you enjoy, not what you have to do."
The business also gives Katie the flexibility she needs to go to the gym and train.
"The work/life balance fits us perfectly."
Rather than offering traditional 'healthy' meals, the couple wanted to come up with interesting and exciting options.
They also change their meals constantly, meaning every box is completely different - with dishes only repeating every three to four months.
Katie said: "We wanted to do restaurant inspired meals. Most of them are a healthy take on normal things."
Jon added: "We didn't want eating healthily to be a chore. We wanted to put a fun spin on it.
"When you've get your box you don't know what you'll be getting.
"Eating the same thing is so boring, that's when it's easy to fall out of your routine of fall off the wagon."
Katie and Jon met in the gym, but they have differing memories of their first conversation.
Jon said: "Katie chased me", to which she replied: "He wishes".
And so far their business has been a hit, and they're set to turn over £1.4m in 2020.
Looking ahead to the future, the couple are determined to keep growing their business.
Jon said: "I don't think you ever take your foot off the gas. We're trying to grow and make it as big as we can."
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