Meet Lou Stephens-Pantoja

Member Spotlight: Lou Stephens-Pantoja

Meet Lou Stephens-Pantoja, a dedicated member of Irlam & Cadishead Leisure Centre since 2017, who shares her fitness journey with us this month. Lou’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, the importance of community, and the incredible transformation that comes with commitment and hard work!

Member Louise before and during her fitness journey

Lou’s Fitness Story

Lou’s decision to join the gym stemmed from a desire to improve her fitness and shed some extra weight. “I felt unfit and out of shape, and after years of putting my health on the backburner due to career commitments and raising a family, and knew it was time for a change. After a reasonably active childhood, my fitness was sacrificed in favour of my career and motherhood,” Lou shares. “I thought my busy lifestyle was enough, but I was kidding myself.”

Pushing Boundaries and Overcoming Challenges

When Lou first started, she didn’t believe she could achieve much. “I just tried to get through classes rather than pushing myself,” she admits. “But as time went on, I became addicted to improving. I saw every class as an opportunity to increase my performance—pushing myself to lift heavier weights, go longer distances, or complete more reps.”

One of the most memorable milestones in Lou’s fitness journey came after facing a tremendous personal challenge. In early 2018, Lou was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. Forced to take a break from training, she came back stronger than ever. Research shows that a healthy diet together with better physical and mental fitness can reduce the chance of cancer coming back or new cancers forming.

“I was determined to give myself the best chance of staying cancer-free, while enjoying the countless benefits that come with being fit and healthy,” she reflects.

Milestone moment

A standout moment came when Lou achieved a major physical milestone: going from lifting a 10kg barbell at the start of her journey to lifting 50kg—nearly her own body weight! “It was a lightbulb moment,” Lou says. “I realized that fewer reps with a heavier weight were far more beneficial than doing hundreds of reps with lighter weights.”

Lou’s biggest source of pride is simply showing up—day in and day out. She’s committed to being better than she was the last time she worked out, consistently pushing herself to improve.

“I’ve learned that fitness is about more than just numbers; it’s about how strong, healthy, and confident you feel,” Lou shares.

Advice for Others: Keep Showing Up

To anyone just starting their fitness journey, Lou offers this advice: “Keep turning up and try different things until you find what you enjoy. And once you find something, keep mixing it up to keep it fresh!” For herself, looking back at old photos has been a powerful motivator. “I remind myself of the progress I’ve made—better skin, more strength, improved fitness—there are so many benefits to staying consistent.”

Fitness has also had a profound impact on Lou’s life outside of the gym. “It allows me to keep up with my dogs, juggle a full-time job, and maintain my mental balance with family and friends,” Lou says. Fitness helps her stay sane in the midst of a busy life, keeping her physically active and mentally sharp.

Keep up the great work Lou!