Meet Nicola Faria, 54 from Preston. Nicola is married with grown-up children and works as a customer service assistant and volunteers for a mental health helpline. She joined Transform Hub in April 2024.

‘I knew I had to change something. I’m 54, and I needed to be fitter to have a healthy life rather than just becoming fatter and unfit, with clothes that don’t fit,’ said Nicola.

She had convinced herself that her weight gain was solely due to menopause.

‘I’d been going through it for two years with all the usual symptoms; hot flushes, mood swings, hating everybody - you know how it is!’ she laughed. ‘Even my tolerance for my husband’s breathing was non-existent.’ Nicola recalled.

*Nicola when she came for her initial goal setting session in April 2024*

Nicola and her husband Dean had been regular gym goers, using the services of a personal trainer for a number of years.

‘He was great but I was a nag and knew how to manipulate him and get out of doing exercises I didn’t like. So I wasn’t really pushed and if I’m honest while I enjoyed the company of our PT and my husband, I didn’t enjoy the sessions.’

Dean started to experience chronic abdominal pain and their couple’s PT sessions were put on hold. After 18 months of Dean becoming progressively more sick, a diagnosis of an infected appendix was confirmed. Nicola explained, ‘Dean could’ve died and it made us re-evaluate our lives. You never know when your number is up. We wanted to enjoy ourselves and stay reasonably healthy.’

‘I was a size 16 in denial’

With the lack of training, Dean’s health issues and the menopause symptoms all starting at the same time, Nicola wasn’t feeling her best.

‘I gained weight, felt sluggish, and my uniform didn’t fit. I say I was a size 14 but really I was a 16 in denial. That didn’t stop me trying to squeeze every part of me into a 14 and feeling very uncomfortable all the time. I gained weight in my legs and stomach in particular and wouldn’t be seen dead in shorts for fear of judgement.’

Discovering Transform Hub

The turning point came when Nicola discovered Transform Hub. ‘I chose Transform Hub Preston because I thought "If you don’t do it today, you’re not going to do it and will make excuses.” I liked that I would be training with people around my age. The accountability appealed too like the nutrition support and taking pictures of my meals to share with the coaches or ticking off daily habits. I liked the idea of the accountability that they’d call me if I didn’t attend. Because I’d invested in myself, I put the effort in.’

‘I lived off bread’

Nicola made significant changes to her diet. ‘Before joining the Hub, I lived off bread items, craved carbs, and was partial to red wine and lager. Now, I pause and think, 'Do I really want to do that?' I’ve replaced my night-time cheese and crackers with a little fruit selection. It’s not quite the same, but it works.’

‘I’ve also not been mega strict. I’ve just been away in Edinburgh and enjoyed trying different lagers and eating out. I’m going on holiday in September and after that, I’ll be back on the nutrition support and accountability to focus on my visceral fat coming down further.’

‘I’ve also noticed a massive improvement in my gut health. Being kept accountable with food and habits like drinking 2-3 litres of water a day has improved my bowels and overall well-being. I’ve started having protein shakes with berries and spinach in the morning, and my insides are working a lot better. Sorry I know that’s TMI but lots of people struggle to ‘go’ like I’d done for years. I now know that it doesn’t have to be that way.’

*Nicola had rapid results in her first month at Transform Hub*

‘My Dad was dying but I made going to the Hub a non-negotiable’

‘I’d been caring for my dad for many years as he had a load of different health issues including cancer, heart disease and severe anaemia. At one point last year, I was ferrying him around to his many health appointments, caring for another family member and caring for my husband and it was such a lot. I ended up with depression for a few months as I struggled to manage.’

‘A few months ago, my dad went to the hospital for a routine blood transfusion, and his blood pressure had significantly dropped. They wanted him to stay in overnight. During his stay, he fell, broke his hip, and needed urgent surgery. He ended up in intensive care and contracted COVID. Realising he wouldn't recover, my brother and I moved in to care for him during the last month of his life.’

‘Caring for our dad was our choice and wasn’t a burden at all. Being able to be in his own home, with his dogs, asking for a glass of wine at 10 am if he wanted, meant he was comfortable rather than being frightened in the hospital. While I was happy to care for my dad, I knew if I didn’t take care of my mental well-being I could end up depressed again. I made it a non-negotiable to get to the Hub at least 3 times a week. I even went on the day my dad actually died. I was feeling lost and not myself. I didn’t want to be at dad's, didn’t want to be at home and so I took myself off to an afternoon session and felt better for it. Nobody knew but that didn’t matter. I was there for me.’

‘I leave my baggage at the door’

‘I think sometimes it’s very hard to be an individual and that’s another reason why I like Transform Hub. I leave my baggage at the door and focus on me. I am not a mum, wife, daughter, or sister, I am me and I’m there for me only.’

‘Some days all you need is a fellow Hub member to smile or encourage you, high-five you or push you on. We always have a laugh, we’re a bit cheeky and we egg each other on. Along with the natural endorphins from exercising, I always felt better for being in a session and it gave me the motivation and energy to keep going as dad was dying.’

‘It’s been so vital for me to focus on myself and I think without the Hub, with everything I had going on, I do wonder if I would’ve ended up depressed again.’

‘I am so strong now’

Nicola’s mental strength is matched by her physical strength too.

‘I do feel strong these days and being able to carry my dad’s coffin and be a pallbearer, then stand up and deliver a eulogy, I felt proud about that.’

‘I’m also proud that I wear the damn shorts now. I like that my legs are muscular and toned. I like that my body doesn’t wobble anymore and it’s strong. I also think my boobs look 10 years younger!’ she laughed.

‘I’ve lost just under 10 kilos (1.5 stones, 22 pounds) since I started at Transform Hub four months ago. I like the way we also track other measurements on the InBody scanner and I can see I’ve lost a load of visceral fat while gaining muscle.’

‘Recently, I helped my son move out of his apartment and I was so proud to lift furniture and show off my strength. He is a big gym goer himself and he’s so proud of what I’m achieving. So is my husband Dean, he can see a big change in me and is pleased at how much happier I am.’

‘Being around others trying their best is inspiring’

Nicola found a supportive community at Transform Hub. ‘It’s hard to put into words, but being around other ladies trying their best is inspiring. We have a nice support network, and even if I’m not doing something right, someone will stop to help me.’

She developed close friendships. ‘My gym buddy is in her 70s and she inspires me so much. It’s amazing how diverse our group is, with different shapes, sizes, and cultures. We’re all an inspiration to each other.’

For details on your local Transform Hub and to get a free session pass to try us out, click here.