Water Meadows gym regular Nicola Parkin is in the running for a National Fitness Award in the Member Achievement category, having lost more than seven stones in less than two years thanks to fitness and nutritional changes she’s made to her daily life, including attending the Mansfield gym up to seven times a week.

The awards are organised by Script Events in conjunction with fitness industry magazine Workout, with support from headline sponsor ServiceSport, and in each category up to seven finalists have been selected, who will now go through to the next stage of the judging process.

Trophies will then be handed out a glittering awards ceremony hosted by Diane Youdale (Jet from Gladiators) on Friday, 18th November at The Athena in Leicester.

Nicola said: “It’s wonderful news to make the final at a national event like this. Back in April 2021, I weighed 19 stone. I wanted to get a hysterectomy, but had been refused due to my weight. I had to get from a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 42 down to 35, if they were going to perform the op.

“I knew I had to do something, so I started with small steps. A two-minute trip in the car became a 10-minute walk, instead of driving to the GP, I’d walk. I cut out snacks and started eating better, and I joined a gym. I now go to the Water Meadows as often as I can – I love it there!

“I always used to look at people who went to gyms and think ‘why are you doing that!?’ It didn’t look fun. Now I get it. The way I feel now that I’m regularly active is so different to the way I felt before. When I was overweight, I always ached all over; I was tired all the time. Now I’m so full of energy and confidence.

“The staff at the gym are so friendly. I must give a special shout out to Carl Smith, the fitness manager. His support has been so important to me. He’s always there when you need a positive word or piece of advice.”

Mayor Andy Abrahams congratulated Nicola on her achievement and highlighted the importance of keeping fit and healthy.

He said: “I want to congratulate Nicola on her fantastic achievement and milestone in her weight loss journey. Making nutritional changes and regular exercise is the key to healthy weight loss. It is a lifestyle change, not a quick fix.

“I’m proud to say we have so many places for residents to take advantage and make their switch into a lifestyle reality, with health and wellbeing initiatives at Mansfield Museum to our three fantastic leisure centres.

“It makes me proud to see us working in partnership with our local organisations, helping us achieve our aim of becoming a district where people live happy and healthy lives.”

Jack Garner, contract manager for the centre, added: “We’re proud to have one of our members in the final of a prestige event like the National Fitness Awards. Nicola has worked hard and it’s paid off. Good luck in the final, Nicola. Everyone at Water Meadows is rooting for you!”

Nicola added: “If one person reads my story and thinks about making a change, I’d be overjoyed. Once you start, stick to it. Believe in yourself. It can be difficult for people who see the end goal, when they should be thinking one step in front of another, one day at a time. If you’re 17 stone and you want to be 10, it’s a long way off. Just think, this week I want to drop 1lb, maybe 2lb. Weeks blend into each other and all of a sudden, you’re stone lighter. One foot in front of the other, one step at a time.”

Oak Tree Leisure Centre, Rebecca Adlington Leisure Centre and the Water Meadows Fitness & Swimming Complex are operated by More Leisure Community Trust, in partnership with Serco Leisure and on behalf of Mansfield District Council. For more information of what else you can do to keep fit, visit www.mansfield.gov.uk/health-wellbeing/physical-mental-activity