‘I’ve gone from feeling unhealthily unhappy to being a wellness coach’

Charlie Dodds, 40, quit her corporate beauty-industry job to become a health coach

‘I’d always enjoyed sports and being active and, when I was 19, became a fitness instructor. I loved helping people get fit and feel their best, but left the job to go travelling. When I came back, I trained in make-up artistry in London (I liked taking care of my appearance) and got a management job in the beauty sector. I’d go all over the UK, managing accounts and doing in-house brand training at salons and clinics. I did this for 15 years and often worked 70-hour weeks. It became very stressful.

‘I’d never lost my love of fitness, though, and often found myself doing an unofficial health and wellness consultation with customers, so in 2016, I decided to look into doing a part-time fitness course that would train me up to be an expert. Future

Fit’s Level 4 Personal Trainer course (futurefit.co.uk) looked great as it covers most aspects of fitness and nutrition and trains you to a high level. ‘Over the next three years, I tried to fit in studying around my long working hours, and also went to the gym several times a week to help de-stress. But, despite the flexibility of the online learning and course deadlines, I realised I’d taken on too much.

‘By 2019, I wasn’t sleeping, I was eating irregularly and finding life overwhelmingly hard. I felt like I’d lost myself and I’d also put on weight and felt unhealthily unhappy. It was ironic as I was learning all about how to live healthily, but I saw myself as a real-life example, “you have to live it to coach it!” as they say!

‘After an unexpected health issue, I had the push I needed to leave my beauty job and focus on gaining all of the health and fitness qualifications I wanted. But just as I’d got a job as a PT in a gym, Covid-19 hit and everything was paused. I soon realised, however, that this gave me a chance to get as fit and healthy as I could. I took up meditation, started running and did online classes and felt amazing. In January 2021, I launched as “The Image Guru” (@imageguru.uk).

‘I’m now a women’s fitness and wellness coach (online and in person) who focuses on mindset, nutrition and fitness. I do 20 hours a week of online coaching, plus see 1-2-1 clients in person. I’m also studying for my level 4 nutrition qualification and feel I’ve found my true purpose. I’m hoping to grow my business, do public speaking and take to the stage to inspire women to be a better version of themselves.’

‘You only get one chance at life. If you make that small step, it can lead to big things’