Samantha Pettifer - Personal Trainer & Life Coach

I’m 51 years old, and I’m still amazed at how I got here. It was never my plan or intention, but here I am. The journey I’ve been on for the past 9 years has been nothing short of life-changing. In 2015, something happened that completely shifted the path I was on. It was a “sink or swim” moment. I chose to swim.

That year, I made the decision to walk away from my old life and embarked on a powerful, often lonely journey of change and self-discovery. At the time, I was weighing over 100kg, and my life was at an all-time low. I had reached rock bottom. Something had to change, and that something was me. I had to change before it was too late.

Over the past 9 years, I’ve dedicated myself to getting better, healthier, and fitter. I let go of bad habits and walked away from the toxic people and environments that had held me back. I started a journey to truly understand who I was and what I wanted.

I had always struggled with weight, unable to sustain any progress. The scales would go up and down like a yo-yo year after year. I had tried every diet and quick fix available, always searching for an easy solution. But in 2015, I stopped chasing the quick fixes. I flew to Thailand to literally “detox” both myself and my life. This marked the beginning of a long, painful, yet magical journey.

I lost 40kg in 9 months, and spent another 9 months building muscle. I was hooked. I didn’t know exactly where this path would lead, but it felt like the start of something important.

Over the next 9 years, I tried different forms of exercise, training, and self-discovery. I’ve faced countless personal challenges, both visible and invisible. Through consistent effort, I’ve put most of my bad habits behind me, and I’ve gained a deeper understanding of myself. I’ve developed a daily program that helps me show up for myself and others, and I share my experiences in the hope that my journey will inspire and support others.

I began working through a 12-step recovery program, healing from the inside out. I learned about nutrition, exercise, and weight loss, and transformed not only my body but my entire life.

The 12-step program has been essential in unpacking the trauma of my past and understanding my behaviors. I’ve developed a program that works for me, and I stick to it every day—it’s non-negotiable. Through training, I’ve found that I can reset my mind each morning, which has become one of my greatest gifts.

I’m not your average personal trainer. This transformation wasn’t handed to me—it’s the result of hard work, discipline, and sheer determination to survive. I’ve lived through addiction, food disorders, and trauma from a very young age. Today, I’ve reset who I am and what I stand for.

Now, I’m navigating the challenges of menopause, which hasn’t been easy. It’s brought me to the edge of darkness and chaos, but weightlifting and training have helped me push through to the other side.

I know how hard it is to implement change. I understand the pain of sitting in the darkness, the chaos within. I get it. I live it every day. But I’ve learned that through discipline, consistency, and small daily changes, it’s possible to rewrite your path.

I hope to support you through your own journey of change. You don’t have to do it alone.