I was always keen to keep in shape and to look after myself, although I did not really excel in any particular sport. At school I participated in all the normal sports for girls hockey, netball and rounders but I was probably around 28 when I really discovered exercise.

I would have all the videos !! to workout to at home and I started joining in step and aerobic classes. At around 30 I plucked up the courage and walked into my local gym. I had wanted to go for a long time seeking the help that I knew I needed to start lifting weights purely out of curiousity. There I found all the help I needed and realised the true benefits of training with weights, I never dreamed in a thousand years that this was what I would eventually do for a living, I was hooked.

Like all people I experimented with weights in those days and still do !! It was at this time that I found my body was really changing more than ever before all because of weight exercises. My husband who had just retired from bodybuilding agreed to help me get ready for my first contest in 1999 the Miss Durham. He still coaches me today.

If you check out my achievements you will see that I began competing as a figure girl. I am naturally a very small girl with little joints, although I was never over fat nor was I really thin either. But my composition began to change rapidly with what was now bodybuilding training. After winning figure contests it was clear that my path now lay in the physique classes.

I am blessed with good genetics and I am very lucky that I carry my muscle mass pleasingly without becoming too over powering and it is this combination of mass and lines that I try to carry over to every contest that I prepare for. Over the years we have learned how subtle changes in my preparation can deliver strong results and we are always experimenting and learning with foods and exercises. My training philosophy has never really changed even from when I did step classes etc, I always train with dedication. I very rarely miss workouts and I very rarely have an easy one. I train with conviction and intensity and I am told that I have a very strong work ethic. I am also very passionate about what I do not just for me but also my clients.

I maintain a very strict eating plan that I adhere to throughout my preparations typically 20 weeks or so. I keep to white meats and salmon, brown or basmati rice, green veg only, oatmeal and eggs !!! I use a lot of cayenne pepper and seads too, and of course my food supplements. I use a sustained release protein source daily and a fast source for during or after workouts only. Other aminos come from my BCAA & glutamine. I strongly believe in correct vitamin and mineral balance especially if my diet becomes a little restricted. Before workouts I use a Nitro product and zinc / magnesium. A good thermogenic product is also used to aid fat metabolism. Fairly old school stuff really but used at the correct times is very effective for me.

Although I don’t train as a powerlifter I do use fairly heavy poundages in my training,  examples of which can be seen in my vid clips on my Web site, but common and regular poundages are 150kg squats, 80kg barbell walking lunges, 55kg dumbbell rows, 45kg dumbbell chest presses.

I always train with good form and warm up properly to avoid serious injury. As a Pro I spend a fair amount of time in the gym where I also run my personal training business and BootCamp sessions. I travel to as many bodybuilding shows as possible trying to give a little back to the sport that has given me so much and I am very thankful and blessed to do something that I enjoy so much. It is very hard sometimes balancing my very busy work load with my family life so it really important for me to spend as much time with the family, they travel with me whenever I compete or work.

I have done some really exciting projects since turning pro and have appeared on various tv and promotional gigs especially in the States. I only wish that bodybuilders were treated with a bit more respect in the UK, we rae all hard working athletes that have learned so much from our sport not unlike any other sports person, maybe one day this will change.

My female clients are always really surprised how they can benefit so much from weight exercises in their routines without necessarily building Big Muscles !! Not everyone wants to be a bodybuilding and I totally get that, but there is a bit of bodybuilding in all physical training that people do, we all want to change our bodies if we are honest and it is bodybuilding that taught the world this long before step & aerobic classes. Remember Strong Body Strong Mind people.

I am currently preparing for the Pro Tampa and Chicago Shows in my attempt to qualify for the Biggest Goal in Bodybuilding the ‘’Miss Olympia’’ Crown.

Achievements     

• 1999 Miss Durham Overall Winner (Figure Class)
• 1999 NABBA Miss UK 3rd Place (Figure Class)
• 2000 NABBA North Britain Tall & Overall Winner (Figure Class)
• 2000 NABBA Miss Britain 4^th Place (Figure)
• 2000 Miss Europa Runner Up (Figure)
• 2001 UKBFF North East Mw & Overall Winner (Physique)
• 2003 Miss England Overall Winner (Physique)
• 2003 NABBA Miss Universe 4^th Place
• 2003 UKBFF North East Mw & Overall Winner (Physique)
• 2003 UKBFF British Champion Mw Runner up
• 2006 UKBFF North West Hw & Overall Winner
• 2006 UKBFF British Champion Hw
• 2009 UKBFF European Championships 2^nd Runner Up Hw
• 2010 IFBB Arnold Classic 2^nd Runner Up Hw division
• 2010 Received IFBB Pro Card.