Gym loving mum shares throwback snap from 10 years ago – and 'glow up' wows fans

A mum showed how much her body has changed in the last decade.

Shannon Collins, 45, has grown to love the gym in the last 10 years. While she used to eat whatever she wanted, drink and rarely , she has completely overhauled her lifestyle.

Her unhealthy habits started impacting her mental health and wellbeing – so she was determined to get fit. She got "very lean" by 2018, but then set her sights elsewhere.

Determined to feel strong by gaining muscle, Shannon focused on a nourishing diet and lifting weights to progress her goals. Now, she hopes to inspire others looking to do the same.

Speaking to her 158,000 followers, she said: "Change takes time. Lots of it. One thing that never wavered over the years was lifting weights. It was the single most important thing that changed my body.

"Your diet dictates what happens with the body fat. For me it was very short periods in deficit with majority of time in maintenance to continue to preserve/build muscle.

"This is a lifestyle change, not a New Year's resolution. It never ends. Always room to grow and evolve. Wouldn't be where I am without making mistakes and continuing to learn from them."

Shannon has also started taking testosterone to feel less "lethargic" – and has noticed a difference in doing so. Alongside her commitment to weight lifting, Shannon advocates for a balanced lifestyle, which has played a pivotal role in achieving peak fitness.

Shannon's post has amassed 2,600 likes and plenty of positive comments from her supporters. One fan gushed: "Love your content so much! You had great results even early on in your journey."

Another shared: "Love seeing your progress over time. HRT is a game changer, I wish more women saw providers who were knowledgeable about hormones. Thanks for sharing."

Meanwhile, one more wrote: "This has really given me a confidence boost. I was diagnosed with herniated c5 and c6 discs a couple of months ago and haven't been able to train (was lifting 5 days a week beforehand). Am SO looking forward to getting back to training - thank you!"