Catherine is a 46-year-old charity professional who plays tennis recreationally and lives locally to Highgate. She came to THRIVE Personal Training & Health wanting to get stronger, fitter, and feel better in herself as she moved through her mid-40s. She also wanted her body to better support her tennis, so she could play well, for longer, without feeling exhausted.
The Challenge
Before starting at THRIVE, Catherine wanted to improve her overall fitness, strength, and energy levels. She wanted to feel more comfortable in her clothes, move more freely day to day, and stop feeling so tired during longer tennis sessions. She knew exercise was important, but it needed to fit alongside her life and tennis without leaving her worn out or overwhelmed.
Why She Nearly Didn’t Start
Like many people, Catherine wasn’t sure whether structured training would be right for her. She had some concerns about intensity, whether it would negatively affect her tennis, and whether the environment would feel intimidating. She also wasn’t certain how much progress she could realistically make in a relatively short period of time.
The Turning Point
Once Catherine started training with us, she quickly realised how much she genuinely enjoyed the sessions. She felt comfortable, supported, and encouraged to push herself at the right level. The atmosphere never felt intimidating, and the people around her were friendly and welcoming.
What stood out most was that she could clearly feel progress — particularly in her tennis — without feeling run down.
The Results
Over her first six weeks at THRIVE, Catherine achieved some fantastic results.
Subjectively:
- Fitness increased by 2.5 points
- Energy levels increased by 3.5 points
Objectively:
- Gained 1.6kg of muscle
- Lost 1.6kg of fat
- Dropped body fat percentage by 2.7%
- Increased metabolism by around 60 calories per day
Beyond the numbers, the real-world improvements mattered just as much.
Catherine can now play tennis for longer without getting tired, and she’s able to train and play tennis on the same day without fading. She no longer feels exhausted towards the end of matches, can comfortably cycle back up Highgate Hill after training (which she couldn’t do at the start), feels better in her clothes, and moves more freely in everyday life.
As Catherine put it:
“I really enjoyed the sessions and could genuinely feel the progress, especially in my tennis. Everyone is really nice and supportive, and it’s not an intimidating environment at all.”
Catherine also recognised that what helped her most was simply turning up consistently and pushing herself. She’s now continuing her training beyond her initial six weeks and is excited to keep building on her progress.
What This Means for You
If you’re in your 40s and want to feel stronger, fitter, and more capable — whether that’s for sport, daily life, or both — Catherine’s story shows what’s possible with the right support, structure, and environment.
At THRIVE, we help people train in a way that feels sustainable, enjoyable, and genuinely effective.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re ready to feel better, move better, and keep doing the things you love, we’d love to help.
Start your journey with THRIVE here:
https://www.thrivepthealth.co.uk