Katie was 23 years old at the time of this article in 2023 and was diagnosed with BBS10 when she was 5. She is registered as severely visually impaired, uses a cane, and underwent a successful kidney transplant.
Katie shared her fitness journey with the attendees at our 2022 conference. You can watch her full Personal Perspective on our YouTube channel, along with all of the other presentations from the conference.
Katie said, “during the first lockdown in 2020, I joined my Mum and brother in doing fitness classes online. It was really hard work, but I very quickly felt fitter and happier. After lockdown, I decided to employ a Personal Trainer, called Stu, to come to the house once a week for a one-to-one session. Stu sets me goals around strength, fitness, weight and body composition, which I work towards and, when I hit them, we set new ones. This keeps me really focused.
I also started an online dance class for adults with learning difficulties, which is great fun and gave me a whole new circle of friends. And on top of that, I take our dog Rosie for long walks around the village, which I can manage fine with my eyesight.
Currently, my mum is helping me work through the NHS Couch to 5k programme which is going really well. My goal is to take part in our local Park Run and to be able to run all of it.
My weight has now dropped to 79.8 kgs, so in total I’ve lost 25.2kgs in about 3 years and I am in a mentally and physically better place than I ever thought I could be.
It’s hard work with BBS but it’s a great feeling when you start to see and feel the benefits of being fitter and stronger.
I’m loving my fitness journey and all I can say is that if I can do it, you can do it too.”