"Sometimes it takes people to break before they can start to build again."

It was a line in the middle of my chat with fitness and nutrition coach, Adam Robinson but it was far more than some hollow Instagram-worthy quote, he's been there.

Adam, originally from the Mold area, has turned his life around, and was inspired to help others do the same.

The turning point for the 32-year-old came about two years ago.

Adam said: "I'd never really looked after myself, through my teens and 20s I had the sort of lifestyle where you lived for the weekends.

"And it was getting to me. I felt as if I wasn't progressing in life in general. I'd see those around me moving on with their lives – getting married, starting careers – but I wasn't happy where I was, there was something going on inside myself.

"It led to this place where no matter what I did or where I went in a job, I was never happy.

"This was where I realised I had to find happiness within myself rather than somewhere else.

"My mental health took a big dive, I was depressed. I went to the doctor about anxiety and depression.

"I was offered medication but I knew I didn't want that, I wanted to tackle this at the source – me. I needed to do this for myself, take responsibility for how I felt."

Ultimately it was an episode while working as a veterinary nurse that led Adam to start his path to seeking help.

He said: "Driving to work one day I felt a bit shaky, very quiet and subdued in myself. Usually I would have had my music blaring but as I got to work, I realised I'd not had it on the whole way and hadn't even noticed.

"Soon as I was in work, I wanted to leave, for no real reason that I could say, I just wanted to leave, couldn't be there.

"I was there for an hour, and thought 'I have to get out of here'. My heart was pounding, pulse racing, I was getting sweaty. It was a full-on panic attack.

"I finished what I was doing and walked straight out, too embarrassed to tell anyone why, I simply said I need to go.

"Soon as I got home I felt better but something lingered, a feeling in the chest, pure anxiety."

It was then he reflected on his life.

Adam said: "I realised I had to turn my life around. I looked back on everything, my lifestyle, diet, nutrition, and it was terrible.

"I was drinking a lot, eating countless takeaways, no fruit or veg. I didn't exercise beyond a walk now again.

"I researched for things that others had done to boost their mental health, and one thing I found was martial arts, which was where this whole new, positive journey started."

It was to be a pinnacle moment for Adam.

He recalls: "My confidence started to grow, I started teaching classes. I enjoyed working with the kids, which I'd never have thought about. That's where it all sparked, and the fitness and nutrition side of things went from there. I've not looked back since."

And it's now getting others to the point of taking responsibility for their own lives, while loving doing so, that is key to Adam's success.

He said: "I love impacting people's lives, helping others in that place.

"But if someone comes to me and says they want a program to just go off and do, then it's probably not for them.

"But if they want to transform the way they go about life in general, then I'm more than happy to help.

"For people to leave behind that temporary mindset that sees them yoyo dieting or only working out when it's nice outside.

"I want it to be a positive part of people's lives. When it becomes habit, it becomes routine, lifestyle."

But Adam knows it's not easy, no quick fix. He knows because he's been on that journey.

He said: "I've been there. Felt it, done it. That's why I can do it with others.

"Truths are difficult to accept. It can be really hard but one thing I don't ever do, is give up on people.

"As much as I could try and help someone, unless they are honest with themselves, open to change, it won't get better. They'll never leave that comfort zone.

"Sometimes it takes people to break before they can start to build again, that's what happened to me."

It's Adam's authentic approach that shines through, and having had clients aged 19 to their mid-70s, clearly works for just about everyone.

His main group are usually those in their mid 30s to 40s, people who want an overall shift in their lifestyle, and Adam is all about opening up the opportunities that such a change can give people, adding: "I'm not about preaching, I'm a real person, who's been there too."

When covid hit, Adam threw himself into building on his business, focussing on what he ultimately wanted. But seeing people struggle with their mental health through the early days of lockdown, really spurred him on to get it all in place.

So what does the future hold, does he have a vision?

Of course he does and he was clearly fit to burst about it all but wasn't for giving much away.

He simply ended with: "My main mission with all of this is to educate."

And if anyone can, Adam can but he doesn't just educate, he motivates. And that's priceless.

• Adam Robinson will be joining a team of health and wellbeing experts in the Leader on a regular basis.

He will share tips and guidance but also wants to hear from you.

If you have any questions for Adam based around fitness or nutrition, please email claire.pierce@newsquest.co.uk

• Adam Robinson is an online-based fitness and nutrition coach in North Wales.

For more details visit www.coachadamrobinson.com