One woman’s journey from exercise aversion to athleticism began with just 40 seconds of planking.

For years, I lived in a cycle of failed attempts at fitness, all while indulging in my love for smoking, wine, and greasy chicken wings. I tried to follow health trends: making overnight oats, nibbling on small mixed sushi, and even attempting Veganuary. Yet, exercise remained a foreign concept. Terms like “core strength” and “leg days” seemed like an exclusive club I would never belong to.

But deep down, I still believed I could find the motivation to work out. I joined Fitness First, located conveniently opposite my flat, certain that proximity would guarantee commitment. However, I only visited twice in the span of a year. That’s when it hit me: I had set the bar impossibly high. Like many diet plans that fail, my approach to exercise had been too ambitious and unrealistic.

That’s when I made a small, manageable change: a 40-second plank every day for a week. Just 40 seconds. It didn’t seem like much, but it felt doable, even for someone like me, who couldn’t fathom more intense exercise routines.

Five years later, I still perform that plank every single day. What began as a simple challenge has turned into a routine that has completely transformed my life. I can now hold a plank for over two and a half minutes, and my physical strength has improved drastically. The results were slow at first, but after a year, I started noticing significant changes.

My body began to feel different. I stood taller, my core became naturally taut, and, to my surprise, the beginnings of abs emerged. Could I actually have abs? This was the body I had spent years criticising and hiding, but now, I found myself accepting it and even liking it. While my size hadn’t changed dramatically, my strength – both physical and mental – had grown.

The newfound confidence didn’t stop there. It pushed me to revisit my childhood passion: competitive swimming. As my core strengthened, so did my swimming ability. A coach even called me an “athlete,” a label I laughed at initially, but couldn’t shake off for the rest of the day, testing how it felt next to my name.

Regular swimming has not only helped me lose weight, but it also inspired me to adopt healthier eating habits. I’ve quit smoking and now find joy in taking care of my mental health. On some days, I even crave vegetables. I’m still the same person who enjoys a glass of wine and the occasional fried chicken, but my lifestyle has fundamentally changed.

It all began with that first, shaky 40-second plank on a rainy Monday evening. The simplicity of the exercise became my gateway to a healthier, more self-confident version of myself. Now, it feels like I’ll never stop planking – not just for the results, but for the streak I’ve built and the reminder of how far I’ve come