My fitness journey started after the breakdown of a 5 year relationship. We finally called things a day in September 2012. I was left staring at a reflection in the mirror that I no longer recognised. I was just about to turn 26, a size 12-14 – the biggest I had ever been and now I was out in the big bad world of the singletons – and i had never felt more unsexy in my life! Last time I was here I was 20, a lean size 8-10.

I’m not sure when or how I started to pile on the weight, there was no occasion I can definitively say, this is when or how. However looking back at all the bad habits I have rectified, it’s clear to see how the pounds crept on. I was tall, I carried my weight well, for want of a better saying, so in my head I looked pretty slim. I mean honestly, I have no idea how I thought I looked ok, but I never remember my weight being an issue. I was always pretty confident. I’d never been a diet kinda girl and I never counted calories. I ate what I wanted, when I wanted and I drank copious amounts of alcohol without a second thought. When I was younger I danced so I guess the calories I was over eating were being burnt, but as I got into my 20s various office jobs took their toll. I went to the gym, mainly to show face and mainly participated in circuits and group exercises. All cv based. But I did this only so I could eat a bit more!

I started to find myself at the gym throughout September as a coping mechanism – the people were nice and it meant I wasn’t rattling around my house all on my own. Money was very tight since becoming single so going out wasn’t an option, so I did what I thought was right, reduced the food I ate, increase my exercise and sooner rather than later this incredible body would arrive right?……well not exactly!

In feb 2013, I stood again reflecting in the mirror, and I had indeed lost ALOT of weight. I was now a size 8/10 but a very withdrawn, pretty shattered, crabby one at that. I barely slept, I was just as emotionally unstable as I was a size 12/14 and I felt equally as unsexy as I did 6 months before. So what on earth did I have to do to get those bodies in the magazines and feel what every woman single or not wants to feel……desirable and sexy?

A coach at the gym I attended offered to do my body fat %. I was quite pleased when he said it was 24%. Pretty good the the average scale. However I have always hated being average. I asked him what it would take to have abs and he said I would need to reduce my body fat to approx 16%. So that was my goal. He showed me a few exercised to do, all weight based and this was the day I stepped into the weight area and I haven’t looked back since!

I was plodding along in the weights area for a few months at my own device. I was reading up on various materials and I was SLOWLY seeing changes. My diet was what I thought at the time “clean” but I was soon too learn what eating clean REALLY meant when I got talking to a previous fitness model in the gym. When I heard all about her experience I was like “I want to do that” it seemed just what i needed to keep my focus and get the body i really wanted. So within a couple of weeks with toying with the idea, I entered Miami Pro UK championships oct 6th 2013 – fitness model. The only hard part now was looking like a fitness model!

I had 5 months and I needed a plan of action quick. These girls looked INCREDIBLE…..how on earth was my body ever going to compare to theirs? A friend of mine had competed in male bodybuilding back in the 90s. He was happy to write out a plan for me for exercises and diet. And this is when i had my wake up call! No sugars, reduced fat, reduced salt, brown carbs, protein protein protein! And the supplement list was huge! I had to eat every 2.5hrs and drink 4-6litres of water a day! I suddenly thought, when am I going to find the time to eat and how will I cope without chocolate?

Never one to go back on my word, and I had already told too many people to pretend I hadn’t entered, I set about the plan. I trained 6 days a week twice a day, had one cheat meal a week and one rest day. It was a bit difficult at first to adjust, but the results were coming in so quickly it kept my motivation up and made me want to try even harder. I was starting to feel more energetic, sleeping better, skin was clearer and I was turning into a much friendlier person. I almost forgot about the person I was and how I started. I wanted to prove to everyone I could do it and even on days that were tough I just stopped to remember the end goal and the reason why I started. I did not want to be that fat girl ever again!

Competition day drew closer and I was now a tight size 6, a 25″ waist and I had lost 15kgs since may, and over 3 stone since the previous September. I looked so much younger and felt sexier than ever. I had more male interest than I ever thought possible and from younger men too! Random people were complimenting me in social media and in local shops and people in the gym were asking me about my training tips as they had seen such a transformation. My confidence was growing and I was so overwhelmed.

Stepping on stage was the most nerve racking experience of my life but at the same time the most exhilarating. You are surrounded by like minded women, all with individual stories to which got them to this point and its your opportunity to shine and showcase all your hard work. You almost forget its a competition. I placed 4th at miami pro and loved every second. So much so that from the second I stepped off stage I’ve been planning my next competitions for 2014 and my journey to get there.

I wouldn’t hesitate for a second in recommending weight training to any female. Whether it be for a personal goal or a competition, learning to understand your body, the fuel you eat, training effectively, has had such a positive influence on my life balance. I’m rarely stressed, I’m kinder, I’m more fun to be around, I’m energetic and I’m always wanting to better myself. I’ve gained more than a fit body, I’ve gained inner peace and a balanced life which works for me. Deep down I think that’s what I always wanted and feeling sexy comes from all those attributes and not just a hot body!*