15/07/2022
A little bit about me 🥰
I work part-time as a personal trainer, currently based at Urban Fitness & Performance gym in Egremont. I completed my PT qualification whilst studying a degree in Psychology full time at Lancaster Uni which I’ve just recently completed.
My goal is to help others feel good both mentally & physically. Due to my own experiences, I am passionate about helping others with their mental health through exercise, providing people with the knowledge to train both effectively & in a way that prioritises mental well-being, balance & happiness. It does not have to be an all or nothing approach - small but consistent steps are the most achievable & sustainable ones which soon amount to progress over time.
I have had my own demons with depression, anxiety & eating disorders, so can truely empathise with my more nervous & anxious clients. The gym has been a massive turning point in my own mental health journey. Initially, without the correct knowledge, I began an unsustainable diet focusing on an unrealistic calorie goal with the goal of being skinny. I lost a lot of weight in a short space of time but destroyed my mental health in the process.
Equally, despite weighing less on the scales I was still unhappy with my shape - the absence of strength training in my routine leaving me without definition (I will do another full post on why strength training is one of the best weight loss tools out there & why my coaching centres around this). The low calories my body had adapted to offered me zero flexibility and made me miserable. Sure enough I rebounded - binge-eating & piling on additional weight; despising myself for truely wanting to feel better but being unable to stick to anything.
Over the last 2-3 years I have transformed my mindset (& body) by focusing on strength training, and healthy but balanced eating - allowing still for the foods I enjoy in moderation, & the ability to enjoy meals out with friends & family without guilt. The realisation & acceptance that if I train hard & effectively in the gym and am on track & consistent with nutrition 80% of the time, then flexibility in the other 20% will not ruin my progress. In fact, it compliments it - if I am mentally happy & fulfilled, I am more able to invest into working on my goals the rest of the time.
I will never advocate super low calories for a short term goal - nor will I sell ‘quick fix’ plans. These didn’t work for me - and where they have worked for others this progress is often short-lived due to it’s unsustainability. I’ve modelled my business off of my own progress - long term lifestyles changes, habits, & an enjoyment for training. Pick a lifestyle that also allows enjoyment, & a training style which you actually enjoy and you will be 100000 times more likely to stick with it. No question is a stupid one - if you would like further information about the services I provide please drop me a direct message.
Dani 💜
