So, how did the chubby girl from school (yep, the one always handed the shot putt on sports day — still not sure why, I was terrible at it!) end up as a health and fitness coach? Well, I’ve got Covid and a disastrous relationship to thank for that.

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When lockdown hit, by the second round of restrictions I was climbing the walls. So, when an opportunity came up to work at a Covid Test Centre through my job as a swimming teacher, I jumped at it. The centre was a converted sports hall, staffed by other fitness professionals who, like me, were out of work. It turned out to be an unexpected lifeline — full of laughter, meaningful conversations, and friendships forged through layers of PPE and clouds of hand sanitiser.

Fast forward a year, and after that disastrous relationship ended, I found my escape in the gym. To my surprise, it wasn’t the intimidating, mirror-filled place I’d imagined — more like a youth club for adults. Everyone was in their own world, mostly watching themselves in the mirror (or taking Instagram selfies), and no one cared what I was doing. I liked that. It made me smile.

I began trying new things — dance classes, circuits, suspension training, kettlebells in the sunshine. I started running again. Everything felt easier. Something had shifted. Moving — indoors, outdoors, anywhere — became something I genuinely loved. My mindset changed, my body grew stronger, and most importantly, I started to feel like me again.

Swimming was great — but combining it with everything else? Total game-changer.

I wanted other people to feel that same spark. With a bit of encouragement (and a push or two), I trained as a Level 2 Gym Instructor, then went on to earn my Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training. Since then, I’ve qualified in Advanced Nutrition, Sports Massage Therapy, and Exercise Referral — which means I can help people with health conditions exercise safely and confidently.

For me, health and fitness coaching isn’t about lifting the heaviest weight or surviving brutal boot camps. It’s about finding what excites you about movement — what makes you feel good — and helping you make that a regular, joyful part of your life. And that’s exactly what I love doing.