What is your Odyssey with Health & Wellness?

I have been super active ever since I could walk. Ask my mum! I used to run everywhere! I think having active parents stuck with me as I grew up. My relentless energy progressed into doing almost every sport at school (other than swimming). This active lifestyle I have continued up until now, I religiously train in the gym, run, walk, play football & practice yoga.

Career wise, being born with a hole in my heart stopped me from potentially following my dad into the services but it is something that has never slowed me down.

I eventually qualified as a personal trainer in 2017 but honestly did not like the way gyms operate regarding personal trainers & how much rent they had to pay. By 2020 with the help of a great friend I had the opportunity to set Odyssey up.
Bringing in another close friend (Craig) we started Odyssey in my kitchen… We worked really hard to hit the ground running & fortunately moved into teesside university in 2021. The past 3 years have been a whirlwind but I am loving it. The challenge is epic but I believe with every fibre in my body Odyssey will be the best health & wellness provider in the UK.

I feel so lucky to be where I am now. I was not the most academic at school but my grandpa always said I would do it… I hope that’s true!

Favourite Hobby:

Other than training at this present moment I would say writing my first kids fantasy book called Archie & Goblorc – watch this space!

Biggest Achievement:

I would hands down say leading Odyssey into its 3rd year. Watching the team develop & grow as well as the company as a whole has been awesome!

Best Piece of Advice:

Be more positive about yourself, you are capable of doing so much more than you realise!

First 3 Things I’d Buy with a Lottery Win:

1: Buy each of my family something they’ve always wanted.

2: Disneyland florida holiday for my family

3: Property!

Favourite thing About Odyssey:

One would simply be helping facilitate positive change in people. There is nothing better than seeing someone transform & become healthier & happier. I would also say pioneering the Odyssey way of supporting companies, our style means we do things with high energy, excitement & freedom, putting us in a whole new lane compared to other organisations.

What is your Odyssey with Health & Wellness?

I have always been active from a young age, playing rugby from the age 8 & learning a lot of life skills. I was lucky in the places I lived, I was able to lead an outdoor lifestyle from a young age. I just loved being outside & having many adventures.

I have always had an interest in fitness, I liked that feeling of pushing yourself & the rewards you get from being active. Meeting Mike at rugby was a date in destiny.  Training together, having the same passions & becoming great friends.  I knew we could do anything after we decided that we should give a strongman event. We had never done one before but started the training plan & set a  goal. Mike came first in one comp and then we came 2nd and 3rd in the next one . But it did not stop there. The next Venture turned into Odyssey being born & getting the chance to be a part of this to share my passion & to inspire & be inspired.

Leading an active lifestyle has saved me. I have had some battles with my mental well being. This became apparent & I learnt a big lesson while doing the yorkshire 3 peaks whilst in a bad place. Completing it has resonated in me & has become my strength.  I understand what it feels like when struggling & why it is so important to be active. The simple act of going for a walk can be life changing.

Favourite Hobby:

For me getting older has opened more wants to try new things and enjoy different experiences.  So my new hobby is listening to what scares me and giving it a go.

Biggest Achievement:

Leaving a career of 16 years and starting a new career with Odyssey.

Best Piece of Advice:

Do one thing that scares you each day,  from this you will gain Strength, courage and confidence. From staring fear down.  WIN THE DAY.

First 3 Things I’d Buy with a Lottery Win:

1: Travel with my family

2: Collection of Motor bikes

3: Buy a wide beam Barge Boat to live on

Favourite thing About Odyssey:

Nothing is limitless,  We go out to show what we can achieve by giving it a go.  Odyssey is not like work, which sets us free from a lot of constraints.  We have the desire and passion to make a difference and give confidence and strength to who we work with.  Working with friends who bring different strengths and ideas helps Odyssey grow.  We like to have fun and to show how fun is a great weapon to be active and achieve.

What is your Odyssey with Health & Wellness?

I began my journey with health & wellness when I was 16/17 years old, as I was diagnosed with a panic disorder. Because of this I missed nearly a year of college, including the social aspect; seeing friends going out etc.

Overcoming my illness is one of the biggest/greatest accomplishments of my life & has really made me look at my own health & wellness in a different way. Yes, it wasn’t an easy journey but the fact I overcame it & am stronger for it is what motivates me to do that little bit more each day.

Alongside therapy & medication, I started to do home workouts. I would exercise; do a workout or go for a walk when I felt anxious. I believe being active played a massive role in my recovery. I knew that if I felt down or worried I could do a workout & feel somewhat better afterwards.

After university I got an internship with Odyssey! After 3 months I was offered a permanent position & have been here ever since. Personally I want to help as many people as possible to be the best they can be, to overcome mental & physical illnesses or worries by demonstrating the power of exercise, to show that you don’t have to change much to improve your lifestyle & how you feel about yourself. Which is exactly what Odyssey Health & Wellness are providing and offering on a day-to-day basis.

Favourite Hobby:

Doing my workouts and going for food with friends & family.

Biggest Achievement:

My biggest achievement would be a toss up of two things; the first being overcoming my anxiety disorder & the second would be completing the Limitless 2023 Challenge of 24 Workouts in 24hrs, in 9hrs 33mins.

Best Piece of Advice:

Go Get’em Tiger

First 3 Things I’d Buy with a Lottery Win:

1. A house
2. A big holiday for all my friends and family
3. An unlimited supply of crispy m&m’s

Favourite thing About Odyssey:

My favourite thing about Odyssey is that we get to work with/help a wide array of people reach their goals & aid them along their journey, being able to see them progress & become the best version of themselves as I find that really rewarding.

What is your Odyssey with Health & Wellness?

I am a public health specialist, epidemiologist & expert in health, wellness and longevity science. I am registered with the UK Public Health Register & work as a consultant in Public Health. Having recently completed my PhD in nutrition & dietetics, my current research focuses in on the role of ultra processed foods in human health. My thesis investigated ultra processed foods and the science of sophisticated food advertising and associated marketing activities on the brain & the impacts on behaviour change.

I’m passionate about nutrition & designing a lifestyle for optimal health & longevity, my favourite subjects are the neuroscience associated with behaviour and decision making & epigenetics, how our lifestyle affects our genes.

I am based with Leeds Beckett University & guest lecture across multiple universities in all my favourite subjects!

Favourite Hobby:

I have sooo many hobbies, there’s just not enough time! Reading & studying are probably the ones I do most. But I love painting & have sold my work to clients all over the world, including to a gorgeous hotel in dubai!

I restore porcelain flowers & gift them to friends, family & ladies at church. I upcycle furniture with my signature black & neon hand illustrated flowers or jungle scenes. Scarab beetles are so fun to draw with intricate patterns.

Microscopy is my biggest time consumer of my free time, you can get caught up for hours searching the microbial world of a slide!!! Mycology is my most recent obsession, I love studying mushrooms & mycelium & am currently growing oyster mushrooms in my home library.

Biggest Achievement:

Having my four beautiful babies of course! After that it would be my registration with the UKPHR, the work involved in getting registered at that level was like nothing I’ve ever done before & attaining my PhD in 2022.

Best Piece of Advice:

You don’t have to see the world the way everyone else does, just because other people do things in a certain way doesn’t mean you have to.

First Things I’d Buy with a Lottery Win:

A cosy book store with a coffee shop, tons of houseplants & mushrooms, and the occasional book loving customer

Favourite thing About Odyssey:

I love how oddessy focuses on all aspects of health, not just weight loss or exercise in isolation. Health is so much more than the absence of disease, it is your mindset, your lifestyle design, your nutrition & overall well-being. Oddessy knows this & makes sure that all their strategies are holistic, well planned & sustainable. Everything is designed to improve your health for life, not just a quick fix.

What is your Odyssey with Health & Wellness?

Running had always been my nemesis, so on the 1 st of January 2013 (the year I was
turning 40) I started the Couch to 5K & by April had a charity place for the MS
(multiple sclerosis) society to run the Great North Run! Not long after however I started to feel lethargic, I would fall asleep at my desk & some days I struggled to walk, let alone run. After many different tests, a lengthy process & in a bizarre twist of fate: I was diagnosed with MS! This shook my world & for a long period of time I concentrated on all the things I couldn’t do health & wellbeing wise rather than
what I could do. I had worked for a transport company for 20 years & during the pandemic due to the medication I was on I had to work from home, this had a detrimental effect on my mental health, so I started working with a life coach who encouraged me to go walking and become more active. It was during this time that I decided to make a career change & become a life coach & therapist, a decision that I have never regretted & fills my days with positivity! I still continue to walk each day, some days more than others, I sea swim at least once a week & will be working with the Odyssey team to improve my health & fitness.

Favourite Hobby:

I absolutely love sea swimming & will swim at least once a week & have done
for over a year even in the winter when it was -4.

Biggest Achievement:

Taking a leap of faith & at the ripe old age of 48 I set up my business, along with
my 2 amazing children.

Best Piece of Advice:

If you always do what you always done, you will always get what you have always
got ……. So do something different NOW!

First 3 Things I’d Buy with a Lottery Win:

1: I would travel around the world, first stop, Disney world!

2: Buy a house overlooking the sea

3: Donate to charity

Favourite thing About Odyssey:

The passion and the energy to improve clients quality of life. Odyssey is not just about
one aspect of health & wellness, it is all encompassing.

What is your Odyssey with Health & Wellness?

I have always been passionate about dancing from day one. From pulling myself up to wiggling along to Michael Jackson, before I could walk. Watching music videos on The Box every morning before school, I was & still always dancing!
When I left school I qualified in Performing Arts, Fitness Instruction & Personal Training. I worked in a local primary school’s coaching Street Dance, but I put my passions on the back seat & veered into hospitality management.

In January 2023, ConfiDance was created, a dance group with a twist. The focus is to improve mindset, confidence building & empowerment in women & the wider LGBTQ+ community. Teaching beginner level heel dance routines to unlock our sensuality. Only a handful of months into this journey & I am so grateful for the positive impact it’s making.

Favourite Hobby:

I love hiking & beach trips, when I’m not dancing I’m up a hill or by the sea!

Biggest Achievement:

Creating Confidance & how it is positively impacting & helping people with their confidence & self-love. It has even been featured on Teesside Live – chuffed with that.

Best Piece of Advice:

Your perception molds your reality. The life you want is yours to have! A change of outlook on the world around you, wondrous things will happen!

First 3 Things I’d Buy with a Lottery Win:

1. I would buy a camper van, pronto!
2. Cargo Fleet office building, reminds me of the Performing Arts School in Step Up.
3. A donation to science to find a cure for autism.

Favourite thing About Odyssey:

Their mission for positive change and the team’s passion for what they do. I am really excited for the future of Odyssey!