Where to start! I’m originally from Australia, but lived in the UK for 16.5 years, before returning to Australia after the birth of my daughter. I’m a full time mum and homeschooling my girl, and now business owner, training awesome people like you!
I’ve had my ups and downs, with regards to health, fitness and well-being. I started training when I was about 16, doing push ups and sit ups everyday, and then onto free weights when I realised I wanted to be stronger. I hit a peak in my fitness at around 21, just before I moved to the UK. I then lost so much weight that a UK size 6 was too big for me, got back some fitness after I joined the Police, but then ballooned back out again after joining the Fire Brigade. That was when I decided to make a change, and began my real fitness journey.
In 2013 I entered Maximuscle’s Protein Project. I was over 11 stone and had never been that heavy in my life. I felt so insecure about myself I was determined to make a change. I ended up being a finalist, and also won an award for Best New Body, after managing to drop the weight I’d gained and put on some hard earned muscle!
My first stage competition was Physique of the Week at Bodypower expo in May 2013. Looking back, I wasn’t exactly in competition condition, but I felt I had achieved so much and wanted to do it for myself, and to gain more confidence. This was where I met my first coach, who I began working with in August, after deciding that I wanted to compete again, properly.
Towards the end of that year, I was lucky enough to work with some inspiring athletes, including Roger Snipes and Ryan Jean-Baptiste, during a photo shoot with Muscleworks Gym as part of their clothing launch and rebranding of Island Fitness. Receiving positive feedback from them made me even more determined! I even completely gave up drinking, which was a bit of a shock to my friends and colleagues, but I was totally committed.
In 2014 I competed at Miami Pro in April, placing 5th in the Figure category, and getting a callout in the Fitness Model category. I was ecstatic! In May, I competed at Pure Elite’s debut show, where I didn’t place, but was signed to NGM Models, and was chosen to appear on the Pure Elite website alongside fellow competitors. I also became the Face of Pure Gym, which was to be part of the campaign for them merging with The Gym Group (sadly the merger fell through). Later that year I competed in London’s Fittest Firefighter for the first time, placing 2nd in the female’s category.
I was selected as an ambassador for Bodypower Expo (one of Europe’s largest fitness expos) 2015, an event that I feel very passionately about, as it’s an inspiring weekend that promotes health and fitness to the general public, giving everyone the opportunity to learn. I then became a Senior Ambassador for Bodypower 2016. Also in 2015 I became a Fit Gurus Featured Athlete, which gave me the opportunity to share my workouts with a wider audience than just my own social media. I also became part of Elite Fitness Network (EFN), and represented them at Bodypower Expo.
Also in 2015 I became an ambassador for Extreme Labs (supplements), Phatfigures (online gym wear stockist) and Muscle Cake (which sadly didn’t succeed as their protein brownies were delish), and a sponsored athlete for Allure Couture (bespoke bikinis). I competed, and placed, in November 2015 at the WBFF Pro-Am in London. I placed 3rd in Diva Fitness +35, and 5th in Diva Fitness Tall.
In April 2016, the day before a photoshoot, I broke my hand whilst at a fire. First time in my life I’d ever broken a bone. It hurt, a lot. This was when I learned that I cannot handle intravenous pain killers!! Anyway, I wasn’t able to train anything properly. Then I discovered Isolator fitness straps, and my gains made a comeback! Crazy me, I committed to competing with WBFF in Australia in October. Not only did I compete, I placed 2nd in Diva Fitness +35, and got first callout in Diva Fitness Tall. It was great competing in front of a home crowd, with family and friends for support.
After arriving back in the UK, I decided to go vegan. For me, I was shocked at how my body responded. It was totally unexpected, especially after being in the fitness industry where the majority of people think you NEED meat to make gains. Well, I smashed that notion, and packed on more muscle than I ever have, whilst losing and keeping off the body fat. More in a future blog post perhaps.
December 2016, I was involved in a crash at work. We were on our way to a fire call, and collided with a car en route. Everyone, including the occupants of the car survived, however I ended up with my second broken bone for the year! This time, it was my left fibula. Now, as this isn’t the main weight bearing bone in the lower leg, it took a very long time to heal. I wasn’t able to train for over 2 months, as I had no way of getting to the gym. My weight dropped to 136lbs (about 4lbs lost). Cue one very sad me! Even once I got back to training it was upper body only, until about April 2017, when I started doing conditioning work on my legs.
In September 2017, I finally hit a long term goal weight of 150lbs. I was buzzing! I’d always struggled to hit 145lbs, and that usually came with an excess amount of body fat. This time was different. I was leaner than I had ever been for an off season! I was still off work, and doing rehab on my leg.
Then, I became pregnant. My goals of competing in 2018 were replaced with goals of keeping fit, strong and healthy for me and bub. In April 2018, I was diagnosed with polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid). I was told by doctors not to do any strenuous exercise, as it could cause my water to break. Gentle exercise only. That was tough, but I did it. And bub arrived at 42+4 weeks via caesarean. Cue the long recovery time.
We moved back to Australia later that year. I was eventually diagnosed with diastasis recti, and more recently with an umbilical hernia. I have been offered surgery, but so far have decided not to take that route. I am going to continue to try and heal naturally through health and fitness. I started training again around August 2021, here and there, nothing crazy or serious. Just, trying to get the movements back.
Fast forward to now, as that was not a very eventful few years training wise. I finally got certified to train people, after many years training friends and colleagues in the UK, and as you know, am now offering you online coaching.
My goal now is to compete again within a year and finally gain my Pro status with the newly formed FMG (formally WBFF Australia).
Sarah Hawley - Online Coach - Personal Trainer 
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