So, how did the chubby girl at school (yep, I was always given the shot putt on sports day, although I don't know why I was shit at it!) end up a qualified personal trainer? Well, I have Covid to thank and a disastrous relationship.

 

When Covid put us all at home, I was stir-crazy, climbing the walls by the second lockdown. When the opportunity to work in a Covid Test Centre popped up via my job as a swimming teacher, I jumped at it. I was working with other people who were also fitness professionals (at usual times) in a converted sports centre. It was a breath of fresh air from home life, there were inspiring conversations and much laughter, and I made long-lasting friendships whilst dressed head to toe in PPE and covered in hand sanitiser! 

 

A year later, whilst finding solace in the gym after the end of the disastrous relationship. I realised that the gym wasn't as bad as previously thought (I always preferred to go outside for any exercise), it was really a 'youth club for adults, everyone was pretty friendly, no one was looking at me if anything they were all looking at themselves, sometimes I was even looking at them, mostly when they were taking photos of themselves in the mirrors, I guessed for Instagram. I liked it, it made me smile. I started attending Dance classes, Circuits, Suspension training, and doing Kettlebells outside in the sunshine, I started seriously running again, everything came so much easier. Something had changed for me, I loved moving indoors, outdoors, anywhere, my mindset was different. I felt physically and mentally stronger, my body was changing, and best of all... I felt like 'me' again.

 

SWIMMING WAS GOOD BUT COMBINING IT WITH ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WAS, WELL AMAZING!

 

I wanted other people to know how good that felt. With encouragement and support, I trained first as a Level 2 Gym Instructor and afterwards gained a Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training. I am currently working towards my Level 4 in Nutrition for weight management and athletic performance.

 

Personal training isn't just about pumping iron in a gym or beasting someone at a boot camp. It's about helping someone find what it is that gets them excited about their health and fitness, and that's something I have discovered I love!