Sophie's - Sophie’s - Small Group Personal Training Studio

1 week later and I still can’t quite believe this actually happened 😮😂

So happy to finally have it done!

Back in August I decided it was time to learn to drive… AGAIN.

My test was originally booked for March in Wakefield, but somehow I managed to get a cancellation for last Thursday and PASSED 🥳…

Which thank god I did because I ended up telling EVERYONE I knew that I had a test that week 🤦🏻‍♀️

Anyway, huge thanks to the best instructor in Eastbourne, 👏🏻🚗

Now…time to find a car and finally stop doing 30,000 steps around Lewes on a Monday 😂

Over the past year I’ve realised something about fitness I didn’t expect…

It’s how much community actually matters.

I never imagined that running my bootcamp in Lewes would turn into a little community like this. 

A group of genuinely lovely ladies who support each other, laugh together and make showing up feel easier than I ever thought possible.

Last night I arranged for us to do a pub quiz at a local brewery.

One dog decided to join in by knocking over a pint 😂, there were plenty of laughs and some hilariously wrong quiz answers (mainly by me…)

But the thing that really stood out to me was watching everyone just relax and enjoy each other’s company.

One of the ladies even said how nice it was to meet outside of bootcamp and honestly, that was a little moment that made my evening.

Seeing these connections grow reminds me why I do this. 

Fitness can feel isolating when you’re trying to do it alone…

It’s easier to skip sessions, lose motivation or feel unsure of yourself. 

Creating a space where people feel like they belong doesn’t just make sessions more fun, it actually makes a difference in how people stick with their goals, challenge themselves and feel confident in themselves.

I don’t just want to run a bootcamp. 

I want to create a space that people want to be a part of, where it’s okay to laugh at yourself, celebrate wins and just be yourself. 

Nights like this leave me excited, grateful, happy and already thinking about more little things we can do together…

Whether it’s a quiz, a walk or just coffee at the weekend!

It’s moments like this that remind me why I started this and why community isn’t just nice to have, it’s the part that actually makes everything work 🫶🏻.

Leaving badminton behind was way harder than I expected

It wasn’t just about stopping a sport, it felt like I had lost a part of who I was

For so long I was known as a “badminton player”

That was my identity, what people knew me as and really it was how I knew myself.

When that went away it was scary and confusing but honestly it was kinda exciting too!

I also struggled with feeling guilty for not performing anymore

I had spent years pushing, competing and proving myself, then suddenly it wasn’t my life anymore

For a while I felt lazy, or like I was wasting my potential

It took time but eventually I realised that stepping back didn’t mean any of that, it just meant I was being human!

And of course, I thought that I would have it all figured out the second I retired

But obviously I didn’t!

I tried a few things, explored what I really wanted and had a lot of moments of uncertainty along the way

But that’s exactly what I needed to be where I am today, and it’s more than okay to not have it all mapped out!

Going through all of that showed me how easy it is to get caught up in pressure, guilt and trying to have it all figured out.

That’s exactly why I coach the way I do now

Helping people find an approach that’s realistic, sustainable and actually enjoyable.

Because fitness should support your life, not take it over and it’s about finding what works for you, not anyone else 🫶🏻

My week in photos 📸

Passed my theory test and booked my driving test 👀

Also hit 30,000 steps on Monday and completed another week of Eastbourne bootcamp!

Pancho’s had his groom and looks like a puppy again 😍

Owain’s been busy baking some sourdough at home!

Finished the week at the allotment, watching everything come together and even spotted a robin which always warms my heart ❤️

The only thing I missed was the gym, but looking forward to getting back to it this week! 💪🏻

Your weekend reminder that working in fitness doesn’t mean I have it all figure out…

Or that I’m living some perfectly balance life

I still skip workouts when I’m exhausted (like this week)

Sometimes I don’t want to eat protein

I even have weeks where motivation is low and I really need to push myself

And that’s completely normal

Remember, we’re all doing our best and some days that looks different than others and that’s more than ok 🫶🏻

We are our own worst critics

It’s so easy to focus on what we haven’t done yet

We notice every slip up, every day we “could have done better” and compare ourselves to others, especially on social media where progress looks instant and effortless

The truth is, your journey is completely unique

What works for one person might not work for you and small improvements can easily go unnoticed

That constant self-criticism can make progress feel invisible, even when it’s happening

That’s why reflection is so important

It’s about taking a pause, looking back and really seeing what you’ve achieved, not just focusing on what’s next

Reflection lets you notice your wins, big and small and gives perspective on what you can adapt moving forward

It’s not about never having setbacks, but about awareness and self-compassion

This is also why I have weekly check-ins with my clients

They aren’t just about accountability, they’re a chance to reflect on wins, normalise struggles and remind my clients that the ups and downs are completely normal

Take my client Joyce, for example

She sent me a photo after a work pasta-making event yesterday and honestly, I couldn’t wait to compare it with a before photo because I knew she would see how far she’s come!

She even messaged me back saying…

“Oh damn, now I see it too!! I am shocked (pleasantly, of course!)”

There’s a 10kg difference between these two photos!

This is exactly why reflection matters

Because when you’re in the middle of it all, you don’t always notice just how far you’ve come

And I couldn’t be prouder of Joyce for every bit of effort she’s put in

Reflection isn’t just something extra you do now and again, it’s one of the most important parts of making progress

If you’re ready to start noticing your wins, understanding your journey and getting support along the way, I’m here to help

Weekly check-ins can make a bigger difference than you’d expect and it’s exactly what helps my clients see just how far they’ve come!

I’ve been running a female bootcamp in Eastbourne for 3 weeks now and it’s been great seeing the group come together 💪🏻.

Each session is a full-body circuit designed to help improve your fitness and confidence in a supportive environment. You don’t need to already be fit to join as everyone works at their own level and it’s about building up at your own pace.

The next one is Wednesday 6:30-7:30pm at the Sea Cadets Hall on the seafront. I cap the group at 10, so it never feels overcrowded 😀.

If you’d like to come along next week, drop me a message and I’ll get you booked in 📩.

Ever feel like everyone already has their friends and routine and you’re just trying to find your place?

I get it

I’ve moved three times since returning to the UK, and each time it’s been a challenge to settle in and meet new people

Moving somewhere new is exciting…but it can also be lonely

Making friends as an adult isn’t easy

That’s why every time I move to a new city, I start a bootcamp!

Yes, I’m there to lead a fitness class, guide you through exercises and help you move your body

But the reason I do it goes deeper

I want to create a space where women can meet people if they want to

A space where they feel supported, even if they’re a little nervous

And a place where they leave that session having had a moment just for themselves

Some come for the connections

Some come for the movement

Some come for the mental break

But everyone leaves knowing they belong

By showing up together, sharing that hour, cheering each other on and swapping laughs and stories, a group that started as strangers slowly becomes a community

If you’ve ever wanted a space to take care of yourself, meet new people or just have an hour to let off some steam, my bootcamps are designed for exactly that

I run bootcamps in Lewes and Eastbourne, so if you live in or around those areas, you’re welcome to join!

Come as you are

You’ll find people who get it, a supportive environment, and a place where you truly belong 🫶🏻

You know when you actually start showing up for yourself consistently?

Not for anyone else, just you

It’s not really about the scale

It’s about how you feel when you wake up, how you move through your day, whether you actually like what you see when you catch yourself in the mirror

Maybe it’s dragging yourself to a workout when you really can’t be bothered or eating something decent instead of whatever’s quickest

Small stuff, but it builds up

You don’t notice it immediately, but after a few weeks you’re standing differently

Moving better and feeling more like yourself

My client’s been experiencing exactly this!

She’s 0.8% down in body fat, getting stronger and actually liking what she see’s when she looks in the mirror

Of course the numbers are nice, but how she feels is what matters!

Look, there’s no magic formula here…

No quick fixes or perfect plans...

It’s literally just about being consistent with the basics

Moving your body regularly, eating properly most of the time, getting enough sleep!

The boring stuff that actually works

And when you stick with it, you start trusting yourself more

You prove to yourself that you can follow through

And that confidence of feeling capable and strong carries over into everything else you do!

It’s not complicated

Show up, do the work, trust it’s adding up to something

First bootcamp in Eastbourne 🫶🏻

It's been a while since I've posted on here so wanted to share something I've been working on recently!

I've been running a bootcamp in Lewes now for over a year and it's grown so much that I'm now running two back to back on a Monday.

I really love running these bootcamps! What I love the most is seeing the energy it gives people, especially when they know it's finished 😂

So here we go, time to grow my bootcamp in Eastbourne and have a place where I bring people together, make them feel like they belong and give them a comfortable space to exercise! 🫶🏻⚡️

Why I fully supported Ami’s switch from gym to home workouts

Your training environment has a massive impact on your consistency, but most people don’t realise it

If you’re constantly battling your surroundings, whether that’s frustration, inconvenience or just feeling unmotivated in that space it’s going to affect how often you actually show up

You might push through for a few weeks, but eventually that friction adds up

Your environment should be working with you, not against you

My client Ami was experiencing exactly this

For a few weeks now she had been feeling frustrated in the gym

Equipment being left out, people taking ages on machines and just a generally draining atmosphere

Monday morning was the breaking point when she walked in to find every machine still loaded with weight plates

When she told me she messaged me to tell me she wants to start working out from home, I didn’t try to talk her out of it

Look, I love working out from a gym

They’re incredible spaces with amazing equipment and I’d recommend them to most people

But I also listen to what my clients actually need

If Ami’s gym environment is impacting her motivation, then we need to change something

She already has some kit at home and was genuinely excited talking about morning workouts instead of dragging herself there after work

For her right now, consistency is more important than equipment variety

Build the habit first, everything else can come later

And that’s not saying she won’t go back to the gym in the future

She starts working out from home next week and I can tell that
her mood has lifted because of this

Every situation is different and sometimes you need someone to listen to what’s actually going on with your training

Send me a message if you want to talk through what might work better for you 😃