This story is about…
Female Entrepreneur: Sara Perry
Location: UK
Company: Renaissance – Fitness, Health & Happiness
Industry: Fitness
She started her business because: “In retaking control of my life I realised that I have learnt valuable lessons that I want to share with other women.”
What motivated you to start your business?
I am not naturally slim and if I eat everything I want to eat I notice the dress size increase quickly!! I’ve also had my fair share of emotional ups and downs (more about those later) but I have, over the past few years, learnt how to successfully manage my weight by engaging in good nutrition practices, effective physical training and attitude change. I’ve learnt that faddy diets certainly don’t work and that it’s important to acknowledge that everyone’s different: my routine might not work for you, my problems aren’t the same as yours.
A few years ago I was at rock bottom. I was going through a pretty messy divorce and at the same time hurtling towards forty. My weight had soared, I was in size 18/20 clothes and emotionally I was drained. My claims that I was naturally big boned and born to be this size didn’t hold sway with me anymore. Who was I kidding? I was overeating and under-exercising and the proof of that was staring at me every time I looked in the mirror. Maybe that sounds familiar?
Finally I decided enough was enough. I engaged the services of a Personal Trainer and got serious about my health and fitness. The results were satisfyingly quick, and profound. My physical and mental health improved, my shape changed, my ability to achieve what I had before placed into the ‘impossible’ box increased. I was much more positive and able to deal with the trials and tribulations of day to day life.
Despite these changes, the link between physical and mental health was brought into sharp focus again to me last year. Feeling trapped in a stressful job to which I was ill suited led to me taking a prolonged period of sick leave. Throughout this period I relied heavily on my Personal Trainer and the tools he’d given me about how to stay fit and healthy both physically and mentally to get me through the illness. Eating well and continuing to exercise stopped me from sinking further and eventually helped me to think more positively and retake control of my life.
In retaking control of my life I realised that I have learnt valuable lessons that I want to share with other women. One outcome of my journey has been to realise that a GOOD Personal Trainer and Development Coach can provide invaluable support that goes way beyond an exercise programme. Because of this I’ve decided to make mental and physical health and fitness my career so that I can share with other women the tools that have helped me to change my life.
Tell us about your business…
Here at Renaissance we are passionate about the fitness, health and happiness of women over forty.
We achieve results by helping women to identify their goals and providing a package of exercise, nutrition and positivity tailored to their needs to make sure they achieve those goals. To us, every client is an individual, with differing goals, fitness levels, and time constraints and it’s our job to make sure that the Renaissance package you choose gives you the results you need whilst allowing you to get on with the rest of your life.
We believe that physical and mental development should be fun. Whether your Renaissance is physical or personal development based we will encourage, motivate and support whilst offering you challenge. It’s not in our or your interests for us to intimidate or bully you but we do expect you to commit fully to the process because for us to achieve success we need your input and ours to be 100%. There’ll be no cutting corners but it’ll be worth it. In our experience the rewards far outweigh the sacrifices.
What is a day in the life of you like?
At the moment it’s frantic as I am still working out my notice whilst trying to get the business up and running. But that said, every day is fun, I’m relishing the new challenges and stepping out of my comfort zone one step at a time.
What have been your biggest challenges so far with running your business?
Building the belief in myself.
How did you overcome these challenges?
Getting out there and working with people and actually seeing the difference I can make.
What’s your favourite quote?
You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf!
Follow Sara on Twitter: renaissance_4
