Ruth's Story
Ruth went from chronic pain and fear of starting to stronger, pain-free, and confident. Her mantra? Start where you are — then keep going.
Starting at Rock Bottom
When I first started this journey, I was at a particularly dark point in my life.
My fitness was so low that even the things I dreamed of doing felt out of reach. I had struggled with chronic knee pain for most of my adult life, even walking short distances was painful, and was I scared to lift heavy weights in case I caused more damage.
I was scared — not just of failing, but of even starting.
In that moment, I came up with a phrase that has stayed with me ever since: “Start where you are.” It reminded me to stop comparing myself to others and to focus only on what I could do that day.
Strength I Never Imagined
I’ve since gone on to complete physical feats I once thought were beyond me—squatting 70kg, performing pull-ups and push-ups with additional weight attached to my body.
This shift in my physical capabilities has changed how I walk down the street, how I interact with people, and how I approach challenges in my daily life. consistent training and learning to listen to my body, I built strength and trust in myself. A year later, the pain is mostly gone, and the fear I once carried is no longer there.
After nearly a year of training at Thrive, I joined their 12-week Transformation Programme. I committed to tracking my food, giving up alcohol, and training more regularly. I was nervous I wouldn’t manage, but instead I learned how to plan, prepare, and build habits that now feel natural. The physical changes were incredible — I now have muscles I never thought I’d have, and I’ve stopped blaming “genetics” for what I thought my body couldn’t do.
