"Growing up, I wanted to be a strong, athletic woman, like the characters in Xena: Warrior Princess who I watched on TV. I remember watching Jet from Gladiators do a backflip and then begging my mum to let me do gymnastics!
"Because I wanted to be like these strong women, I played a lot of sport – hockey, netball, karate, and I ran for the Manchester Girls Athletic Team. When I was 12, I stole a pair of dumbbells from my sisters room and I started using them!
"I remember when my cousin gave me a pair of professional running spikes. They were bright orange and inspired me to train on the track. When I got them I thought 'Okay, this is it now, I’m going to be a proper athlete because I’ve got proper shoes!'
"Now, the gym is my escape and outlet. I love how fitness makes me feel, and I love training in comfortable clothing, like leggings, a vest top or a hoodie. If you feel comfortable in your gym gear, you’re more likely to train harder. I practically live in gym gear when I'm not working out too - stuff like leggings and a T-shirt, or jeans and a hoodie!
"In my gym bag I always have a towel, water bottle, wrist straps and a skipping rope (which I take everywhere when I’m travelling because 3 minutes skipping 3 times a day is a great fat burner). I also can’t live without my foam roller, which is so important for warming up and cooling down.
"So this Christmas, buy your loved ones a gift that will really inspire them - a skipping rope or new gym wear may get them in the mood to workout!"
This Christmas, head to Very.co.uk to give a gift that helps someone you love discover their gift and to Very.co.uk/lovegiving for the chance to win a gift for you and a loved one.
Plus, shop our edit of gifts that will ignite a passion for fitness below:
Gemma Atkinson influencer piece - Very commercial
1 of 6Nike Gym Club Holdall, £28 from Very
Make like Gemma Atkinson and invest in a trusty gym bag, like this duffle one from Nike. With an internal divide and zip fastenings, you'll be able to easily organise all of your gym kit.
2 of 6Body Sculpture 2 x 1.5kg Smart Dumbbells, £8.99 from Very
At-home weights that you can work into your fitness routine are a great Christmas gift for someone who likes to exercise. Plus we're OBSESSED with the fact that they're hot pink. ud83dudc95
3 of 6Michelle Keegan Mesh Panel Gym Vest, £15 from Very
Look sleek in black with this mesh workout top designed by Michelle Keegan. The stretch fabric means that you can comfortably focus on exercising, while still looking super chic.
4 of 6Nike Odyssey React, £115 from Very
Enhance your loved one's running experience with these Nike Odyssey React trainers. They super comfortable, innovative and they look stylish. Trust us: you're going to want to buy a pair of these for yourself, too!
5 of 6Kitsound Nova Wired Portable Earphones with Built-In Microphone, £14.99 from Very
No gym session is complete without a pair of trusty headphones! Let someone listen to music through these Kitsound ones, which we love because of their flat cable feature, which means they don't get tangled up!
6 of 6Joe Wicks 350ml Crystal Glass Water Bottle, £9.99 from Very
It's important to stay hydrated at the gym, so gift someone this stylish crystal water bottle that features a pretty pink ombre design.