Joanne Glase

Before joining Vision, I felt like a quieter, watered-down version of the woman I used to be.
I didn’t feel at ease in my and no longer liked the way I looked and felt, and my self-esteem was nowhere to be found. With an underactive thyroid, being in my late 50’s and approaching post-menopause, I had mentally resigned myself to the belief that “This is how things are now.”

For a long while, I went back and forth about joining Vision. Part of me wanted the change, but another part was scared—scared of making the commitment, and honestly, scared of failing when I had tried so many times before. Eventually, the disappointment of not seeing any progress became harder to sit with than the idea of taking that first step.
And in hindsight, I only wish I had taken it sooner.

Starting with Vision St Ives has been nothing short of life-changing for me.
I’ve lost 13 kilos, but more importantly, I feel strong again. I feel capable. I’m lifting weights, building muscle, and I’m fitter than I ever was, even in my younger years. I’ve learned to run and have taken part in several fun runs, and even a Tough Mudder obstacle course. If you’d told me five years ago that I’d be doing events like that—and actually enjoying them—I would have laughed in your face. Yet here I am, already excited about the next one.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned at Vision is that I truly love challenging myself. I’ve discovered that when I set my mind to something, I can achieve it. I love that I’ve discovered this inner strength. I love proving to myself, “I can do this” after so many years believing “I can’t do that”.

I’ve learned more about nutrition than I have in my whole adult life —how to fuel my body properly, how to spot the old habits that once held me back, and how to avoid slipping into self-sabotage without even realising it.

Resistance training has become one of the highlights of my week. I never thought I’d be someone who enjoyed lifting weights, but feeling strong and toned has changed how I move, how I stand, and how I think about myself. I keep surprising myself, and now in my 60’s, that’s a wonderful feeling. My goals across the last two years have changed from fat loss, which I’ve achieved, to now putting on weight by building muscle, and improving my running fitness.

I could never have done any of this alone.
My trainer took the time to truly understand me—my worries, my past patterns, the things that made me doubt myself. He encouraged me long before I believed I was capable of more. I think having that great connection with my trainer was so pivotal, because he inspired me to do better. The more I realised how much he cared and how much he wanted me to achieve my goals, the more I didn’t want to let him down or disappoint him, just as much as I didn’t want to disappoint myself. That support has just made all the difference.

The seminars, shopping tours, nutrition sessions, and various events have taught me so much. The trainers are knowledgeable and encouraging, and the clients feel more like friends. It doesn’t feel like a typical gym at all—it feels like a community. The studio has become my third home, or you could say I’ve found my “tribe”!

If you had told me a few years ago that I would look forward to going to the gym, I wouldn’t have believed you for a second. But Vision has truly changed my life.

If you’re looking for results, support, and a place where you’ll genuinely feel seen and encouraged, I couldn’t recommend Vision highly enough.