I had known Petra for a while before I started training with her—she was my daughter’s gymnastics coach, and I respected her deeply. I also knew she did some personal training. I’d been toying with the idea of getting a personal trainer because, when training alone, I could easily talk myself out of it.
I began training with Petra in January 2024. The thought of joining a gym always set off my anxiety, largely due to the societal pressure around how women “should” look. I’d known Petra for some time through my daughter’s gymnastics, and when I learned that she offered personal training, I knew she was someone I’d feel comfortable with.
I kept training, and my confidence started to build. When Petra told me she’d be moving on from her other role and offering one-on-one training, I jumped at the chance. Even in that short time, my strength and self-belief had already started to grow.
Over Christmas, I saw she was running a six-week online program, and I knew it would be the perfect starting point for my journey towards fitness and weight loss. I also joined her bootcamp classes. When I arrived at my very first session, I was so overcome with anxiety that I started shaking and crying the moment I stepped through the gym doors. Petra greeted me warmly, and I rushed to the bathroom to compose myself. But when I came back out, I found myself welcomed by an incredible group of supportive women who were all there for similar reasons.
From March 2024, I trained with her in her home gym. At first, my goal was all about weight and fat loss—getting “skinnier.” But even though I was growing stronger and fitter each week, not seeing the scale shift the way I expected often left me deflated.
At the same time, I was dealing with irregular periods and hormonal imbalances. Petra suggested we take a closer look at my nutrition. I started keeping a food diary, and she helped me review and tweak it. I’ve always had a massive sweet tooth, especially for chocolate, and every time I tried to cut it out completely, the cravings only worsened. Petra helped me reshape my relationship with food—not by restricting myself, but by learning moderation. That one chocolate bar could be enjoyed, not punished.
As my strength training intensified, I also learned about the importance of protein for recovery. Over time, my focus shifted. It stopped being about getting smaller and became about getting stronger. I started to feel confident in a body that had carried and nurtured two children. I began to feel proud of how I looked—something I never thought possible.
That summer, I took my daughters to the Yorkshire Dales. They love the outdoors, and one of their goals was to climb a particularly steep hill. I wanted to experience that moment with them—not be held back by fatigue or shortness of breath. Petra tailored my training to strengthen my legs and build my stamina. Thanks to her, I made it to the top with my girls.
The confidence she helped build in me didn’t stop there—I took a leap and joined a kickboxing club. A year later, I became a qualified instructor. The strength and conditioning work I’d done with Petra massively improved my performance. And even when I suffered a nasty knee injury, she adapted our workouts to focus on building joint strength. I was never left behind.
I can say with 100% confidence—Petra doesn’t do this for the money. She does it because she cares about helping women reclaim their confidence. She’s done more for me than I think even she realises. She’s helped me love myself—my body, my abilities, my journey.
Today, I can run and play with my girls at the park without needing to catch my breath every five minutes. I can train, teach, and keep growing. Petra opened that door for me. She’s been by my side every step of the way—cheering me on, lifting me up, and celebrating every win.
You truly couldn’t ask for a better coach.
IF YOU AREN’T SURE WHERE TO START, BUT YOU KNOW YOU NEED TO MESSAGE ME TODAY TO FIND OUT HOW I CAN HELP YOU TOO.
ARE YOU READY?
Petra