Helen Dawkins

As a mother of two young children, living in a new country, I understand the importance of finding a community, keeping my mind and body strong, and discovering what is important to me outside of family life.

Finding the 5:17 Community was a real turning point for me personally. I was in a stressful job and struggling to find any direction and purpose in my life. I was trapped in vicious cycles of restrictive dieting, feeling deprived, overeating and guilt. I blamed myself for my lack of willpower and felt that if I could just try harder, then I would be successful.

I hoped that joining 5:17 would help me lose body fat, gain strength and give me a framework for ensuring those changes were permanent. For me, it has been much more than that. Not only have I gained a new love of strength training, but it has also opened my eyes to what any of us can achieve with the right support system and people around us who care about our well-being and want us to succeed.

Seeing and feeling how strength training is transforming my body and boosting my confidence has also sparked a real interest in learning more about body mechanics and kinesiology, particularly how training can be designed to help overcome physical challenges and optimize results.

I love making connections with people; I’m positive, motivated and committed and would love to help other women find out what they are capable of, help them achieve their potential, and continue to engage with and encourage the amazing community at 5:17.