UCLan nutrition degree helps Linzi level up
A Burnley mum has achieved her dream of becoming a personal trainer thanks to her University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) degree.
Linzi Monks has set up her own business, Level Up with Linzi, after successfully completing her nutrition and exercise sciences degree at UCLan.
Based at TnT training on Accrington Road, the 41-year-old has been offering one-to-one and small group training sessions since May this year.
Linzi has been running her new business alongside finishing her degree studies and bringing up her three children Maddison,18, Lawson 9, and Lainey 5, as a single parent.
She said: “I have always been interested in nutrition and exercise and love having the opportunity to help members of the public to lead healthier lifestyles. It’s great to see the feeling my clients get from working out and achieving their goals!
“My degree in nutrition falls hand in hand with my personal training as I’m now able to advise my clients on nutrition and give guidance on nutritional information on training and non-training days. I enjoy learning and am keen to carry on doing so to develop my business in the fitness industry.”
"I knew I needed to return to study and finish what I started and I’m really grateful for the opportunity and for the level of teaching and support I received from my tutors"
— New graduate Linzi Monks
Linzi began her journey in 2017 when she completed an access course at Burnley College before attending UCLan. Keen to push herself, Linzi also completed a level three personal training diploma but suffered setbacks after dealing with several family bereavements in a short space of time.
“I briefly put my studies on hold last year because I lost three family members within three weeks and had to deal with this alongside coping with lockdown and home-schooling” she said.
“However, I knew I needed to return to study and finish what I started and I’m really grateful for the opportunity and for the level of teaching and support I received from my tutors.”
Former Nelson and Colne College student Linzi already has the future firmly in her sights and is planning to return to UCLan next year to complete a masters degree alongside building up her business.
She added: “I hope to study for masters degree in dietetics, which will enable me to prescribe diet plans for clients in the future and expand my business.
“I’ve had the most amazing five years with many ups and downs and am thankful for the support I’ve had from my parents and my daughter Maddison. I feel extremely proud of everything I’ve achieved and my children are also very proud of what I have accomplished. I know this will inspire them to achieve their own goals in the future.”