You all know the drill by now.
It is (almost) the end of another month, and time for me to introduce you to another one of our INCREDIBLE Kent Mums in Business.
There are so many wonderful businesses right on our doorstep which are owned and run by amazing local Mums and I think it is sooooooo important to celebrate that (and them because they are awesome!)
This month I have the pleasure of introducing you to the lovely Frances Gibbins - Kent Mum of Two, Personal Trainer and the proud owner of Frances Eliza Coaching.
I recently spent a beautiful morning with Fran. We chatted all about her beautiful business and I got to see her in action…
It was clear how much Fran loves what she does and how passionate she is about making a difference to women's lives to help them feel confident, beautiful and happy, whilst sticking a huge middle finger up to diet culture (and I couldn’t love that more)
Tell us about your business and what services you offer?
I am a personal trainer who offers 1-1 personal training, online coaching and circuit classes.
What do you offer to your clients that no-one else does?
My clients tend to be people who are complete beginners, never exercised or taken a long break due to things like raising a family, illness, just life in general because it gets busy!
I work with them to help them see the value of exercise beyond it just being a tool to make themselves smaller.
I work with women who have tried everything and are tired of dieting, women who are sick of hearing that they need to take up less space, and women who want to get stronger and fitter to just live their lives.
I don’t use guilt or shame to motivate my clients, I help them find a place for exercise within their lives so they make it a sustainable, lifelong habit.
Where does your inspiration come from?
It was whilst pregnant that I really appreciated the effects that exercise can have.
During my first pregnancy, it felt like I was tired most of the time, I had absolutely no clue about exercising during pregnancy, I had no inclination to do it and of course I had advice coming at me from all angles about what was best.
Therefore, after giving birth, I struggled with awful back pain, just changing the bed sheets would make me feel like it could give way.
This caused my self esteem to plummet as I struggled with my new identity. I would wear clothes that were “practical” and “comfortable” that would cover me up and I think I lost who I was.
I knew I had to do something about it. In the past, I would go to the gym as a means to look a certain way. However, in my eyes, I never really achieved it. So I started going to the gym with a different perspective, to improve my quality of life and help my back pain.
Then I fell pregnant with my daughter, I continued with my fitness programme but with the goal of getting my body ready for birth.
I felt empowered and I felt strong as my strength increased and my energy levels went through the roof.
Although I had days where all I wanted to do was sit on the sofa, the rest of the time I was the most active I have been in my entire life.
I felt amazing and my mood was fantastic. In addition, I could care for my toddler, I had no aches and pains like before and my self esteem was the best it had been in years. Importantly, I felt like me again and I felt beautiful.
That was like a light bulb moment for me, I was like MORE WOMEN NEED TO KNOW!
Why are we constantly being fed this message that the only reason to exercise is to be smaller?
It’s everywhere.
Open up any social media app and you are bombarded with transformation photos, messages of bounce back, get a snatched waist, bikini body ready, melt body fat, ozempic-ness, fad diets.
So (to stop waffling and answer your question!) my inspiration are the beautiful strong ladies in my life that come to me in tears because they hate how they look, because social media or the tv and magazines have made them constantly berate and hate themselves and I am quite frankly so sick of it!
I decided I'm going to be a personal trainer with a difference.
It’s awful and I want to make a difference to women's lives to make them feel confident and beautiful and happy and stick a huge middle finger up to diet culture.
What is your favourite part of your job?
My favourite part of my job is seeing the light bulb moment happen for my clients.
It takes some work because we’ve spent a lifetime of listening to the outside messaging but when it starts to seep in, it is amazing and it makes me want to cry happy tears of joy.
It’s a journey and one I am on myself.
I have days where I'm harsh on myself but I have the knowledge and the tools to say, no!
This is me.
This is my body.
You have one life and you need to live it, enjoy it, and be in the moment.
No more “oh I wish my thighs were smaller” or “I’ll feel better if I lost weight so this dress fitted me”
Get a better dress!!!
If you would like to know more about the wonderful work that Fran does, please visit her website here and give her a follow (and your support) on social media:
Claire xx
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