I was always an active child and was out playing, climbing trees and playing sports, but in 1995 I was hit by a car, and in all honesty, I should have died. I had to have two operations; the first was physically traumatic and the second was emotionally traumatic. I ended up with a plate and eight pins in my leg, after four months on traction failed. I was told that if I fell, was tackled, or thrown badly my leg was at risk of shattering, so the exercise stopped. In the same year, my Dad committed suicide. I tell you this because there is research that indicates a link between emotional trauma and developing fibromyalgia. 

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I was in and out of physio for years but nothing ever really helped. 

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And then in 2008, I injured my knee again... and that's where the problems started. Chronic pain, digestive problems, amongst other things, and reduced mobility. The only thing that helped my pain was alcohol, so I drank too much, ate junk food and would spend the majority of my time resting. 

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I put on over 3 stone and went up 3 dress sizes (well, 4 if I'm honest) in less than 2 years. I started to wait for THAT photo. You know, the photo that people always say made them open their eyes to how big they'd got? But it never came. I continued to make poor decisions and my weight continued to go up. Having a history of heart disease and stroke in my family had always worried me but not enough to actually do anything about it. 

 

In 2014, I stumbled across Beachbody. I'd heard about Insanity and P90x and thought that anyone who wanted to do that, was crazy. I found Focus T25, fell in love and lost some weight but life got in the way. I went to Glastonbury Festival and all the bad habits with using alcohol to manage my pain and eating junk-food returned. I never did finish T25

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I was studying and had a stressful job, so my health and well-being took a back seat. I had been diagnosed with Chronic Pain Syndrome many years before and all my other symptoms indicated I had Fibromyalgia.

 

I was taking a variety of pain killers to manage the various symptoms, but I relied on a walking stick most of the time. Life was a constant struggle.

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I had an aggressive but benign tumour removed and knew I needed to make some changes. Not only was the tumour considered to be quite rare, when it did occur, it was most common in women aged 40-50; I was only 32!

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I foresaw a future of disabled parking, limited mobility, medication, doctors appointments and deteriorating health. It was depressing. 

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In 2015, after repeatedly trying to re-commit, I stumbled across a Facebook page that set my soul on fire. For the first time, I was filled with the confidence and self-belief that not only could I do whatever I put my mind to, I could help others to do the same. I felt alive. It was time for change. I heard that Shaun T, who'd done T25, was releasing a dance workout called Cize. I thought it sounded like fun and that it was the opportunity to start again. 

 

I was 200lbs, registered disabled and miserable. I  didn't want to sit around, waiting for THAT photo. I didn't want the life I foresaw; I wanted more

 

I wanted to make changes and help others make changes. I realised that living a healthy life doesn't have to be about depriving myself or slaving away at the gym for hours on end. I realised that exercise was fundamental in managing my condition, and being healthy meant having a healthy mind as well as a healthy body.

 

After Cize, I did multiple rounds of 21 Day Fix, before finding my spirit workout, PiYo ; this combination of pilates, yoga and dynamic movement was just what I needed, and was a way I could workout without aggravating my pain. 

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At the start of 2016, I was lucky enough to work out with Shaun T. I was at the start of my fitness journey and never would have thought that I could have survived a live workout with Shaun T. Not only did I survive, I thrived. I realised that the ONLY thing that had been holding me back was myself. I literally could do anything that I put my mind to. 2016 became the year I changed; 2016 became the year that I started to shape my own destiny. 

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I now live a life that is free of medication. I haven't used a walking stick in over a year and foresee a life without boundaries or limitations. I am free, and you can be too