From Rock Bottom to the Slopes: Diana's Journey to Strength, Health, and Confidence ⛷️💪
The Fall That Changed Everything 🥨
We've all heard the saying, "Just one last run," and for Diana, our incredible Member and Content Manager at Kate Ivey Fitness, that phrase took on a whole new meaning in August 2021. What was supposed to be the final ski run of the day at Dobson Ski Field turned into a tangled mess... literally. One awkward fall, a slide down the mountain headfirst, and legs twisted into what can only be described as a human pretzel. Her partner heroically untangled her, ski patrol skidooed her off the slopes, and the journey to recovery began. 🚑
The Struggles and Setbacks 😔
Initially diagnosed with a torn meniscus by her GP and physio, Diana threw herself into rehab, physiotherapy, strength-building exercises, and reformer Pilates. She was determined to get back on track. But six months later, during a night out where she was having a little too much fun 🍷, her knee gave out completely. Another trip to the doctor, more physio, and still, nothing was working.
Hitting Rock Bottom and Finding a Way Forward 🚀
This moment was a breaking point, the final catalyst in years of struggling with her health, weight, and overall well-being. Prior to her injury, Diana had suffered two miscarriages, leaving her emotionally and physically drained. The combination of limited movement, lost motivation, and lifelong struggles with weight and binge eating sent her into a spiral. As someone who had spent two decades as the queen of fad diets 👑🍔 and yo-yo weight loss, the cycle had once again repeated itself.
Taking Control: Surgery and a Fresh Start 💪
Determined to take control of her health, Diana advocated for herself. She pushed her GP for an MRI, which finally revealed the true extent of the damage, an ACL tear, cartilage damage, and a torn meniscus. At the same time, she made another life-changing decision: to consult a weight loss surgery specialist.
In May 2023, Diana underwent a gastric bypass, followed by knee surgery 6 weeks later. It was the beginning of a complete overhaul of her health, fitness, and strength, both physical and emotional. ❤️ She started working with an ACL physio specialist and set some bold goals around building her strength all with determination to get back on the slopes with confidence. Not just anywhere, but in Niseko, Japan, for her honeymoon in February 2025. 🏔️🎿
Finding Strength with DediKate 🏋️♀️
Diana had dipped in and out of DediKate over the years but had struggled to get into a consistent routine. Her head just wasn’t in the right place. But the gastric bypass became a game-changer! 🚀 It gave her another tool to reset her relationship with food and her health. With the help of a therapist and dietitian, she worked through the mindset shifts needed to sustain long-term health changes. And finally, with the correct knee diagnosis and surgery, she was ready to rebuild her strength from the ground up.
Training Hard and Setting Big Goals 🏆
Joining the DediKate team in May 2023 was another turning point. Immersed in the world of fitness and motivation, she started incorporating DediKate workouts into her weekly routine, focusing on the Thrive Programme. Realising she was in perimenopause at 44, she became even more attuned to her body’s needs, learning to listen, adapt, and strengthen. 💜✨
Her physio set a series of milestones for her to achieve before giving the green light to fully embrace her new active lifestyle. One key goal was to build the functional leg strength and stability needed to confidently tackle the slopes. At first, that target felt nearly impossible, she could barely maintain her balance on uneven ground. But session after session, rep after rep with DediKate, her strength and stability steadily improved. By November 2024, she had not only reached her strength and mobility goals but exceed them. She felt unstoppable and superhuman. 🏆
Back on the Slopes – A Dream Come True 🎿
Fast forward to her honeymoon, sitting in a gondola being whisked up the snowy peaks of Niseko. Nerves were high. Would her knee hold up? Had she done enough work? Clipping into her skis, she set off down the beginner run, carefully feeling out each turn. Halfway down, she stopped with her group and the biggest grin spread across her face. Her physio had been right. Her ACL was 'rock-solid'. She was good to go. 🤩🎿
From there, there was no stopping her. She skied with confidence, carving turns, feeling strong, fit, and light as a feather. It was a moment of pure triumph! Standing on top of the world, not just physically but mentally and emotionally too. She had rebuilt herself, step by step, lift by lift, squat by squat. 🏔️🔥
What’s Next? The Sky’s the Limit! 🌟
Looking back, Diana is beyond proud of herself. She advocated for her own health, set goals, and smashed them. With the support of her husband, family, friends, professionals, and the DediKate community, she has transformed her life. Listening to her body, respecting it, and appreciating what it’s capable of has been an incredible journey and she knows she’s just getting started.
Because now, she’s asking herself, “What else am I capable of?” 💭💪
And we can’t wait to see what she does next. 🚀✨
Come join Diana on DediKate and see what you are capible of too!
