In January 2025, Nikki was walking her dogs on a Saturday night; out of breath, frustrated, and watching her friends enjoying their night out without her.

Nikki had turned down an opportunity to see her friends because of how uncomfortable she felt in her own skin.

At 36, working as a veterinary nurse, life already demanded a lot from her body. Constant bending, lifting and carrying is a normal day at work but Nikki was finding it harder and harder to keep up.

But it wasn’t just work where the struggles were showing up.

Outside of work, her confidence had hit rock bottom. She stopped going out. She avoided social plans. Getting dressed felt like a battle she’d already lost before leaving the house.

“I’d try and get dressed and just hated what I saw in the mirror.”