Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't you're right.

Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't you're right.

Last Tuesday marked my 200th visit to the gym. In that time, I have become somewhat of a happier person.

Prior to joining the gym, I was scared of joining and didn't believe I had a place in the gym. Someone that looked the way she did, had little fitness like I did, some who walked the way I did and someone who was as weak as I was.

I started on the treadmill and I fell off, scaring the hell out of myself and everyone around me, I got back on and fell off again. My next trick was the elliptical. I fell off that too, only this time I had really scared myself as I went down with a great big thud. I had a bigger audience this time.

For those of you who don't remember, I was born with spina bifida and I was told I would never walk. I took my first steps at 3 following intensive therapies including physio and hydrotherapy. I loved the water, I would be the first one in and the last one out.... That was until I was eight and developed a fear. Mum and Dad never gave up on me and they booked me into Gordon L'Strange swimming school in Kenwick. I hated it every Saturday. Mum and Dad persisted until they ended up buying a house with a pool that was enclosed under the main roof. Having pool parties and having familiar friends around me got my confidence back. After six years in that house, we moved again, to a house with another pool, but this time it was an old pool. Not long after, a storm put an end to me swimming when the pool caved in. It was a further couple years when a friend came over asking me what we could do for the day, I went to my local pool and saw something going on in the distance- a water aerobics class- I HAD to try THIS !!!

Fast forward five years and I haven't looked back, although at another venue I commenced my first water aerobics class after proclaiming:
'What's that?'
'Water aerobics'

I held on to the side of the pool for my first go but then joined in.

I now do water aerobics at another venue and gym combined. I am soooo much stronger, having gone from eight kilos on the leg press, to now leg pressing my body weight and above, trying aqua stick, trying Jacob's ladder many times, trying rock climbing many times and Brazillian jiu jitsu.

Aside from all the physical stuff, I have written my first book, on to my second and a poem, have visited schools. If the world is my oyster, the world is yours too. xx