My 40kg Transformation: How a Bullied, Pre-Diabetic Teen Found Strength, Identity & Purpose Through Fitness
People often see the trainer I am today - fit, confident, and passionate about helping others - but what they don’t see is where it all began. My journey didn’t start with motivation or discipline. It started with fear, insecurity, and a genuine worry for my health.
At 16 years old, I weighed 120kg, was pre-diabetic, and was being bullied almost daily. The physical discomfort was one thing, but the emotional weight - the comments, the stares, the jokes - that’s what truly hurt. I didn’t feel like myself, and I didn’t know how to change. I just knew I couldn’t stay where I was.
The Moment Everything Shifted
I remember being in my room one night, just feeling tired - tired of how I looked, tired of how I felt, tired of pretending the bullying didn’t get to me. I wasn’t having some big emotional breakthrough; it was more like a quiet realisation settling in.
I just thought to myself, “I can’t keep doing this.” Not in a dramatic way - just honestly.
And that small, honest moment became the first step. It wasn’t motivation. It wasn’t confidence. It was simply the first time I admitted to myself that something needed to change.
But despite how I felt, this gave me the inner power to push forward.
And so I did.
The Start of Something That Would Change My Life
I begged my mum to get me a gym membership, and that’s how I ended up joining Penzance Leisure Centre. I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew I needed somewhere to start.
Walking in for the first time, I honestly felt sick with nerves. I was convinced people would stare or laugh or wonder why I was even there. I didn’t feel like I belonged in a gym at all.
But that changed pretty quickly.
Once I looked around, I realised that everyone there was just doing their own thing - their own journey, their own goals, their own struggles. And something I didn’t expect happened: people were friendly. Not fake or over the top - just genuinely kind. You’d see people supporting each other, giving a nod, a smile, a quick “you alright mate?” between sets.
No one judged me. No one cared about my weight.I was just another person trying to get better.
That small sense of acceptance made a huge difference. It was the first time I felt like maybe I could do this. Maybe I did belong there after all.
Losing 40kg in One Year
From that day on, I showed up - not perfectly, not confidently, but consistently.
I trained, I learned, I made mistakes, and I kept going. Slowly, the weight started to come off. Then faster. Every kilogram lost was a little bit of my old pain slipping away, and a little more belief building in its place.
Within one year, I had lost 40kg.
People at college didn’t recognise me. Some literally walked past me not knowing who I was. For the first time in my life, I felt strong - physically and emotionally.
But the real transformation wasn’t just my body. It was my identity, my resilience, and my understanding of myself.
Why My Journey Shapes My Coaching Today
That 16-year-old kid didn’t just lose weight; he built the foundation for the trainer I am now.
My transformation took years - from 120kg down to 80kg over a 12-year journey of learning, rebuilding, and growing. And every challenge I faced along the way now forms the heart of how I coach.
Because I know:
what it feels like to start at the beginning
what it’s like to be scared of walking into a gym
how overwhelming it is to change your lifestyle
how emotional a fitness journey really is
That’s why empathy is at the centre of everything I do.
Fitness Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
My success came from resistance training, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right path for everyone. After more than a decade of training and coaching, I know that every person’s journey is unique.
My approach is built on:
adapting training to individual goals
meeting people where they’re at - physically and emotionally
focusing on long-term balance, not quick fixes
creating a supportive, judgment-free experience
Because you deserve a coach who understands what starting over really feels like - someone who has lived it.
From Pain to Purpose
If you’re reading this and you’re struggling with your weight, your confidence, or even just taking the first step - I want you to know something:
I’ve been there. And you’re not alone.
The same inner spark that helped me push forward exists in you too, even if it feels small right now. You don’t need to transform overnight - you just need to start.
Ready to Begin Your Own Story?
If you’re looking for a trainer who truly understands the emotional and physical journey of change, I’d love to support you.
Your story doesn’t have to look like mine - it just has to begin.