After years of putting off her plans for a health and fitness overhaul and her confidence at an all-time low, Laura knew it was time to stop making excuses. Now 34 and a qualified personal trainer and remedial massage therapist, Laura reveals her path to a new beginning… Laura performing a handstand The Fat Kid [caption id="attachment_623" align="alignleft" width="180"]Laura as an overweight child I was the "fat one" in the family[/caption]

I was a big child at school. At 11 years old, I weighed a hefty 11 stone, so I was definitely one of the “fat kids”. Growing up as the fat one in the family, I was teased by my peers and my family and I can see how that stayed with me as I embarked into my teens and twenties with low body confidence. To lose weight, I tried every fad diet possible. I also developed eating disorders by stopping eating and trying to make myself sick. I’d lose some weight but then I’d put it all back on again, plus more.

Trigger for change Throughout my life I’ve wanted to change my attitude towards my body and improve my fitness but excuses always set in. In April 2010 I was at my lowest with confidence. I’d gained more weight and I had real body issues; I'd just comfort eat. And I couldn’t blame my weight on having children anymore - my latest excuse. They were growing up! It was my friend Julia who inspired me in 2010. She told me she’d started running and was managing 10 miles at a time and I was somewhat jealous! She looked amazing and I wanted to do the same. Unlike before, this time I was determined that I’d had enough, and I wanted to prove to others that I could do it sensibly. Losing weight My original goal was purely just to lose a bit of weight and tone up. I just wanted to be able to put on a pair of jeans and not have fat pouring over the edges. Now don’t get me wrong – I wasn’t very heavily overweight, but I wanted to feel confident about myself, and feel confident around others. I didn’t want to feel like the fat child anymore! [caption id="attachment_624" align="alignnone" width="393"]Laura before losing weight Me before discovering exercise - I had very low self-esteem[/caption] Spurred on by my husband, I began eating healthily and started going to a weekly fitness class. At first, I felt a little ridiculous and embarrassed and within 10 minutes of starting, I felt sick and had to stop. My body was certainly shocked by exercise! But that said, whilst it was hard and I hurt for days after, I was hooked. This was my turning point! I added in some running (on my first run, I couldn’t even make it from lamp post to lamp post!) and then upped to two classes a week plus the running. I started seeing my body change and the weight was coming off. Before long, I had dropped 40lbs, just over 2 and a half stone. Getting the fitness bug… I decided I wanted more targeted results, so I started seeing Rob, a personal trainer. He pushed my limits, and even though I hated it sometimes, secretly I loved it! He would make sure we constantly varied the workouts not only to target all muscle groups but to ensure I stayed motivated. We’d do everything from uphill runs outside and on the treadmill, resistance training with weights including dumbbells and kettlebells, circuits and high intensity interval training (HIIT). I learnt so much that it was easy to carry on with my workouts at home. So with the two fitness classes, a personal training session a week and running, I was certainly kept busy! I even added in Karate! To progress, I gradually increased my workouts and introduced measurable targets. This included adding in an extra mile on my run, trying to improve my speed, and adding more repetitions to my exercises. I started to research articles on food and diet and went with smaller portions, healthier choices, but still gave myself a treat in moderation. The hardest thing was trying not to reach for food when I felt low or hadn’t lost weight one week. I just had to remember what I wanted to achieve and it would pull me out of the rut. Running a 66K marathon My biggest achievement has to be running a 66k in July 2012 with Julia. (At 41 miles, it’s 15 miles longer than a marathon!) She started me on this journey - little did she know she would be joining me for this crazy challenge two years later! [caption id="attachment_625" align="alignnone" width="580"]Laura on the 66k run Me (left) and Julia on the 66k challenge[/caption] It was the hardest and toughest thing my body and mind have ever been through. From not being able to run down the road to getting this far is most definitely something that makes me proud. In 2013, I was also diagnosed with Costochondritis and Fibromyalgia, a condition that affects the muscles and soft tissues of the body. It means I suffer from muscle pain (especially chest pain) and fatigue, but exercise most definitely helps this condition, so it’s just spurred me on with my goals, rather than hinder them. [caption id="attachment_627" align="alignnone" width="580"]Laura 42k trek Me (front) with friends on a 42k trek[/caption] Embarking on a fitness career When I started researching articles on fitness and nutrition, I knew this was more than just a hobby for me. With so many conflicting articles out there, I began courses in 2011 to learn about the body, fitness, nutrition and lifestyle. These included my PT Level 3 qualification, sports & remedial massage, anatomy & physiology and health-related exercise for children. These courses have given me the knowledge to help myself and others to achieve their goals and dreams. I decided to take the plunge and changed my career from a hairdresser to a fully qualified personal trainer. I built my own studio at home and now run Discover Exercise Personal Training. I run group functional fitness classes including one-day boot camps, circuits and 12-week workout challenges. Once an overweight, under confident person, I am now lucky enough to be teaching my passion to others! Whether it’s me training, teaching, enjoying challenges with friends, or simply enjoying active family days outdoors, fitness is now a part of my everyday lifestyle. [caption id="attachment_626" align="alignnone" width="580"]Laura Pretty Muddy I fit exercise into my personal life wherever possible. Here's me (left) with friends at Pretty Muddy Mud Run[/caption] My Goals for 2015 I’m now focusing on building a strong and healthy lean body, working with Tim Sharp, Owner of Sharp bodies PT Studio and 5x Mr Britain finalist. We’ve worked out a specialised programme which builds muscle and drops fat in a sensible way and fits into my lifestyle and my condition (Fibromyalgia). I am the strongest and fittest I have felt in a long time and certain aspects of my Fibromyalgia have improved. Tim is incredible and his knowledge and expertise are just amazing! When it comes to staying motivated, I’d say my children are key. I want to show them how to live a healthy and active life and to do this I have to practice what I preach. Like anyone else, some days I don’t want to exercise, but I pick myself up and get started. My advice to anyone wanting to make a similar change would be to “just start”. There will never be a right time, or right place. Don’t put it off until the following week, because that week will never come. The first workouts will be tough, but the accomplishment you feel when you’ve reached a goal, whether that be losing a few inches from your tummy or completing your first half marathon, is amazing. Got a success story to share? Leave us a comment or email [email protected] Read more fitness success stories.