Freedom Fitness and Wellbeing

04/12/2025

The Science Behind Your Body and Mind (Simple Version)

At Freedom Fitness and Well-Being, I believe real health is a mix of how your body feels and how your mind feels. When you understand both, everything starts to make more sense.

How Your Body Works:
Every step you take, every lift you do, and every stretch you feel comes from your muscles, joints, and nerves working together. When we understand these basics, we can help you move better, avoid injuries, and feel stronger in everyday life.

Pain and the Mind-Body Connection:
Pain isn’t always a sign that something is “wrong” with you. Your nervous system, stress levels, and mindset all influence how you feel pain. Sometimes pain is your body trying to protect you. Learning about this can help you manage discomfort and trust your body again.

Building Strength and Resilience:
Your body and mind can change and improve at any age. With regular movement and the right support, your muscles get stronger, your joints feel steadier, and your confidence grows. Small, steady steps lead to big changes.

Understanding Long-Term Conditions:
Knowing more about things like arthritis, back pain, or nerve issues helps you feel more in control. When you understand what’s happening in your body, it’s easier to make good choices and stay positive.

At Freedom Fitness and Well-Being, I bring together movement, mindset, and simple science to help you feel better, move with confidence, and enjoy life with less pain and more freedom.

28/11/2025

Living, Working & Thriving With Ankylosing Spondyloarthritis (AS)
This year I was officially diagnosed with ankylosing spondyloarthritis — an autoimmune, inflammatory condition that affects the spine, joints, and sometimes other areas of the body.
It’s something I’ve actually been dealing with since 2024, long before it had a name.

AS is often misunderstood because symptoms can look like “normal back pain,” stiffness, or tiredness… but the reality is that it’s a chronic condition that needs proper management, rest, pacing, and for many people, medication. I’m now on my second type of treatment (a medication called Imridol/Imraldi — still not sure which pronunciation is right 😅) and working with my healthcare team to manage flare-ups and keep moving.

I also want to mention something important:
I would never have realised what was truly going on with my body if it weren’t for Emily Coombs at Kibworth Osteopath. Her knowledge, care, and attention made all the difference in pointing me toward getting the right support and diagnosis. I’m incredibly grateful.

And here’s the part I want others to hear…
AS doesn’t stop me from doing what I love.

💪 I’m a personal trainer — helping people get stronger, more confident, and more connected to their bodies.
🐾 I look after dogs — because movement + animals is honestly the best therapy.
🧠 I’m training to be a therapist — learning every day how the mind, body, and emotions all link together (and AS has deepened that understanding more than I expected).

Living with a chronic condition doesn’t make you weak.
It makes you adaptable.
It teaches you to pace yourself, listen to your body, and recognise that sometimes strength looks like resting rather than pushing.

If you’re living with chronic pain, fatigue, or an invisible condition — you’re not alone. I get it. And I’m here for anyone who needs encouragement, movement guidance, or just someone who understands what a “flare day” really feels like.

Here’s to staying strong, moving smart, resting when needed, and building a life that fits your body — not the other way around. ✨ # #

26/11/2025

✨ Rebuilding My Run, Rebuilding My Rhythm ✨

Today I laced up and got back to running again — nothing fancy, just 1 minute on / 30 seconds off for about 3.5 miles, but it felt huge.

A couple of weeks into my new medication for ankylosing spondyloarthritis, I’m learning to reconnect with what my body needs, not what I used to expect from it. As a personal trainer, I talk a lot about listening to your body… and now I’m really living that advice.

Instead of pushing for old paces, I’m focusing on:
•Body awareness: noticing how joints, breath, and posture respond
•Consistency over intensity: short intervals, repeatable effort
•Nervous system care: keeping runs low-stress and supportive
•Redefining progress: celebrating movement, not mileage

If you’re navigating a condition, an injury, or a new chapter with your health, remember this:
Your journey doesn’t need to look the same as anyone else’s — or even the same as your own past. Adaptation is strength.

One step, one interval, one run at a time. #

10/11/2025

Who’s ready to start 2026 feeling grounded, strong, and focused?

I’m running a 4-week Mind-Body Reset this January — all online via Zoom so you can join from anywhere.
It’s designed to help you clear your head, reconnect with your body, and build calm, consistent habits that last.

✨ Tuesdays (6–7 a.m.) — Journaling & hypnotherapy
💪 Thursdays (6:15–7 a.m.) — Lift & strength session

A gentle, powerful way to realign your energy and reset your focus for the year ahead — all before your day even begins.

Spaces are limited (and a few are already taken!) — inbox me for more info 🌿

26/10/2025

All-or-Nothing Thinking: Fitness, Life & Well-Being”

Hook:
“Ever catch yourself thinking: ‘If I can’t train hard today, I’ve failed’ or ‘If I slip up once, everything’s ruined’? That’s called all-or-nothing thinking—and it sneaks into fitness, work, and even daily life.”

Body / Explanation:
“I’m training to become a psychotherapeutic counselor, and part of my journey is learning how our thinking patterns affect our well-being. All-or-nothing thinking makes us feel like we either succeed perfectly or fail completely.

It shows up everywhere:
• Skipped a workout → ‘I’ve ruined my week.’
• Ate a treat → ‘My diet is over.’
• Missed a goal → ‘I’m terrible at this.’

Tip / Reframe:
“Life—and progress—is rarely black and white. Small wins matter. Skipping one session doesn’t erase all your hard work. Eating something outside your plan doesn’t undo your dedication. Next time you notice an extreme thought, ask: ‘Is it really 0 or 100? What’s the middle ground?’”

Connection to well-being:
“Combining my work as a personal trainer with learning psychotherapy is teaching me that mental habits are just as important as physical ones. Both shape our well-being.”

24/10/2025

BEFORE THE WORKOUT:
“Ugh, I’m tired.”
“I’ll start in 10.”
“Maybe tomorrow.”
🧠 Brain = full of excuses.

⚡️ AFTER THE WORKOUT:
“Why did I ever hesitate?”
“I feel unstoppable.”
“Let’s go again!”
🔥 Brain = flooded with dopamine + pride.

🧠 WHAT JUST HAPPENED:
Exercise literally rewires your brain.
🩸 More blood flow.
😁 More endorphins.
⬇️ Less cortisol (stress).
⬆️ More clarity, focus & confidence.

Every workout is a chemical upgrade —
not just for your muscles, but for your mind.

Next time your brain says “skip it,”
remind yourself:
👉 The hardest rep is getting started.

14/10/2025

So proud of my boy! 🥋 He earned his brown belt yesterday at martial arts 👊 — all thanks to his consistency, discipline, and respect. He shows up every single week, puts in the work, and gives it his all.
As a mum and a personal trainer, seeing him embrace fitness and dedication as a lifestyle makes me so proud ❤️

11/10/2025

💚 axSpA Warriors Club 💚

“From butt to chest — still the best.”

This year I was diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) — a chronic inflammatory disease that mainly affects the spine and pelvis. It causes pain, stiffness, and fatigue, but you’d never know it by looking at someone. It’s a hidden condition that can take years to diagnose — on average 7–8 years in the UK alone.

🧠 Some quick facts:
• Around 1 in 200 people live with axSpA.
• It often starts in your teens or twenties.
• Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent long-term spinal damage.
• Movement and exercise are key parts of managing it — but so is rest and medication.

For me, it shows up as sacroiliac pain, sternum pain, shoulder pain, and elbow pain — sometimes all at once, sometimes one at a time. It’s unpredictable and exhausting, but I’m learning to listen to my body and adapt.

I’m still waiting to start my long-term treatment, but I’m incredibly grateful for the support I’ve had along the way — especially from my osteopath, Emily Coombs, who encouraged me to keep pushing for answers when things didn’t add up. 🙏

Finding community and awareness like this has helped me so much already. 💪

If you’ve got unexplained back pain, stiffness (especially in the morning), or pain that improves with movement — don’t ignore it. Ask your doctor about axial spondyloarthritis.

09/10/2025

Nothing makes me smile more than seeing mums and their little ones training together 🥰 Showing that exercise isn’t just about fitness — it’s about connection, confidence, and being a positive role model. This is exactly why I love what I do 💚

14/09/2025

Proud parent moment today 💙⚽ My son set himself a goal to score in his match… and he only went and did it! First goal AND his first goal-scoring medal 🏅🙌

Such a reminder that setting goals, believing in yourself, and putting in the effort pays off — whether it’s in football, fitness, or life.

Well done, Noah — you’ve inspired me today 👏 ❤️ l

13/09/2025