The secret of my success: Astrid Longhurst

Astrid Longhurst, 38, is a size 20 fitness instructor for GMTV. She is about to release her own fitness video, ABC (Any Body Can).

"I STARTED dancing classes at the age of three and was absolutely obsessed with it. Although I was far from having a perfect dancer's figure, I was accepted into a dance college.

"But towards the end of the training I was having problems keeping my weight down. I had serious eating disorders and used to hide food underneath my bed. I finally realised that I was never going to be a professional dancer. It was then that I decided to retrain as a fitness instructor instead.

"My first class started off with only two people and I thought it would never work, but then UK Living heard about me as an `unusual' fitness instructor and asked if they could tape some of my classes. That was very exciting but I thought it would be a one-off. So I was really surprised when, five years later, the producer of GMTV called and asked if I was interested in doing a workout program on Lorraine Live.

"The positive feedback was so enormous. I guess I am just very lucky. I mean, who would have thought that you would have a size 20 fitness instructor on national television? I have accepted that I will never be a size 10, but life is too short to be stuck in negativity.

"Although I never danced professionally, my dreams have come true in a very special way. I do not think success is about money. To me it's an inner feeling of satisfaction. People have to accept themselves and what they are. Dreams can come true in the most unexpected ways and you have to believe in what you are doing. If you love what you are doing and are able to love yourself then anything is possible."