Image of Heather, main character of this member's story

From rehabilitation
to transformation

See how after a life-changing injury, Heather rebuilt her strength at Fitness First.

7-day cooling period

The hardest chapter

Heather’s story starts in one of the hardest chapters of her life.

After breaking both sides of her hip and ending up in a wheelchair, she was medically discharged from the Royal Navy. Rehab was slow and painful, and as her health slipped, her weight climbed. At almost 18 stone, she decided enough was enough.

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Flexible options (freeze/upgrade)

Staffed floors & friendly support

Choosing progress with Fitness First

With Fitness First, she chose progress.

Step by step, Heather rebuilt her strength. Guided by coaches and the able platform, she started with low-impact training to regain mobility, then built into strength circuits and spin. On the gym floor, she added plates, improved her form, and celebrated every gain.

I went into the gym floor incredibly intimidated. And so for me it was the classes started seeing the same few peoples and the the strength started coming as a positive byproduct. Believe in yourself.
There is no perfect time to start, so just give it a go.

Today: trainer, instructor, role model

The scale moved. Her confidence grew. The strong, active woman she thought she’d lost re-emerged.
Today, Heather is over 8 stone lighter, stronger and fitter than ever and now helps others as a fully qualified Personal Trainer, Group Exercise instructor, and spin instructor.
From wheelchair to fitness instructor, Heather’s story is proof that progress is a choice, one she makes again and again.

What Heather found here:

Supportive coaches who paced her rebuild
A clear plan with progress check
A welcoming community and facilities that made training feel safe and motivating

At Fitness First, we believe progress isn't linear, results don't come from quick fixes, it's about showing up, again and again. It's not about perfection, it's about progress. Every rep, every class, every choice adds up to real change. Whether you're taking your first step or your next leap, progress is waiting. Because when you choose progress, you don't just change your body - you change what you believe is possible.

Frequently asked questions

How do I join Fitness First?

It’s great you are wanting to join us and put your Fitness First. The joining process is a simple digital journey. Please click here.

How old do I have to be to join?

Members must be at least 16 years old.

What memberships are available?

Our memberships our designed to provide everything you need to start your fitness journey, create a habit and get results. It includes multi-club access, advanced class booking and you begin your experience by unlocking your 4 complimentary welcome sessions providing personalised support and data-driven insights. These sessions are designed to help you make the most of your first 90 days bringing structure, motivation, and expertise to your routine.

Simply download and login to the Fitness First App to book your able session - Your Smart Fitness Journey

We have individual members, students and corporate memberships available.

Am I tied into a contract?

We offer a range of memberships to ensure we can meet the individual needs of our members. Our memberships are available for an initial minimum period of 1,3,6,9 or 12 months. These membership lengths may not be available in all our Clubs, please check here for more information.

We understand circumstances change and should you need to end your agreement earlier than planned, this can be done by paying a settlement fee here.

Where is my nearest gym?

Use our Club finder to find your nearest gym, simply type in your postcode or use the map functionality to search.

Can I refer a friend to Fitness First?

We want our members to enjoy their training. You can invite your friend to join us, check out our latest referral promotions on your Fitness First App.

How do I book my trainer-led session included in my membership when I joined?

Begin your experience by unlocking your 4 complimentary welcome sessions providing personalised support and data-driven insights. These sessions are designed to help you make the most of your first 90 days bringing structure, motivation, and expertise to your routine. Simply download and login to the Fitness First App to book your able session - Your Smart Fitness Journey

Do I get a gym membership card?

The Fitness First App (free in the App store or on Google Play) will give you easy, contactless entry into the club. You must swipe in using your unique barcode upon every visit.