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HEALTH&FITNESS
244
January15
It Does the Body Good
Personal trainer and mother of five, SAMBLAKEY, is proof that
it’s never too late to make a change. Formerly a journalist and
sub-editor in the UK, Sam moved with her family to Singapore
four years ago and decided to pursue a career in personal
training. Having launched her fitness company, Ooberfit, in
2012 with just three friends on the books, her client list is now
over 100, ranging from 60-somethings down to clients in their
early teens. Sam talks to
Amy Greenburg
about her love of
personal training, her inspirational career change, and juggling
her kids and clients.
What inspired your transition from journalism to the field of
fitness?
Money! With no expat deal, the cost of living here in Singapore, high rental
fees and four kids at the time in international schools, plus one at university
back in the UK, I needed a job! There were lots of accompanying spouses
like me with media backgrounds, but not that many openings and, although
I had enjoyed my last newspaper job in the UK, I quite fancied taking a
completely new direction.
What better time to reinvent myself than after moving halfway across the
world where only a handful of people knew me? Back in my school days, I
wanted to be a PE teacher or a journalist, so in a way, my career has gone
full circle.
CHANGE:
Photography by Ken Tan
What better time
to reinvent myself
than after moving
half way across the
world where only a
handful of people
knew me?