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We’ve all been there. You sign up for a gym, full of good intentions. You buy the workout gear, maybe even go a few times. Then life gets in the way - work deadlines, family responsibilities, sheer exhaustion - and before you know it, that membership card is collecting dust in your purse. Sound familiar?
That was Becky’s story. Like so many women over 30, she had tried everything - home workouts, big commercial gyms, fad diets - but funnily enough nothing ever seemed to click.
“I felt like I was constantly starting over,” Becky recalls. “I’d get motivated for a few weeks, but I never felt like I belonged in those spaces. The equipment was intimidating, I didn’t know what I was doing, and I just felt… out of place.”
The turning point came when she stumbled across a Facebook post about a women-only fitness community in Basingstoke. Unlike the traditional gyms she had tried, this one promised something different: a welcoming, supportive space designed specifically for women who wanted to feel stronger, healthier, and more confident - without the intimidation factor.
“I thought, ‘Why not?’” Becky says. “I wasn’t expecting much, to be honest, but from the moment I walked in, I knew this was different.”
More Than Just a Workout
What Becky discovered, and what so many women need, is that fitness isn’t just about sweating through a session and ticking a box. It’s about community. It’s about feeling comfortable enough to show up, even on the tough days. It’s about finding a place where no one cares what you look like, how fit you are, or whether you know the difference between a squat and a lunge.
“I didn’t realise how much I needed that support,” Becky admits. “The instructors knew my name, they checked in on me, and the other women there just got it. No one was judging me, and for the first time ever, I actually looked forward to exercising.”
A year later, Becky is two stone lighter, stronger than she’s ever been, and most importantly she’s still showing up. Not because she has to, but because she wants to.
Why So Many Women Struggle with Fitness
If you’re a woman over 30, chances are you’ve had a similar experience. Maybe you’ve felt the frustration of starting and stopping. Maybe you’ve been put off by the idea of gyms that feel more like a performance space than a place to get healthy. Maybe you’re just tired of trying things that never seem to stick.
The truth is traditional fitness spaces weren’t designed with you in mind. They weren’t built for women juggling careers, kids, and the mental load of a hundred other responsibilities. They don’t always offer the structure, the accountability, or the emotional support that makes long-term success possible.
Finding What Works for You
So, how do you break the cycle? How do you find a fitness routine that sticks? You start by finding a place where you feel comfortable. A place that understands your struggles, your insecurities, and your need for something more than just another gym session.
If Becky’s story resonates with you, maybe it’s time to try something different. Maybe it’s time to stop forcing yourself into fitness spaces that don’t fit you and start looking for one that actually makes you feel good.
This April, myself and some of the lovely members at Fitter Body Ladies Basingstoke, will be at the Revive & Thrive Show in Basingstoke, sharing more about how we’re helping women just like you find a fitness routine they love. Come say hi, ask questions, and maybe take that first step towards something that finally feels right.
Because fitness should never be a punishment. It should be something you enjoy, something that lifts you up not something you dread. And the right community makes all the difference.
If you’d like to come along for a free trial before the show, just drop me a message and I would be delighted to book you in for a session that suits you basingstoke@fitterbodyladies.com
Instagram: fitterbodyladies_basingstoke_
