In this powerful episode, personal trainer and father of three daughters (all under the age of 5), Adam Newton shares his journey of being diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis while pursuing extreme endurance goals, including training for a 100-mile ultramarathon. His symptoms began with psoriasis and escalated following a 24-hour charity cycling event. Although quickly referred to rheumatology and diagnosed, Adam initially downplayed the seriousness of the condition, pushing through pain and keeping it mostly to himself.

He opens up about the emotional and physical adjustments he’s had to make, from stepping back from sports like football and tennis to managing family life during painful flare-ups. Adam was diagnosed when his second daughter was just a few months old, and he speaks candidly about the crucial support he's received from his wife throughout his journey. He also reflects on how he talks to his daughters about his condition in an age-appropriate way, and how he eventually opened up to friends, helping them understand the reality of living with arthritis.

Through trial and error, Adam has found ways to cope, emphasising the power of good nutrition, gentle movement, and a consistent routine. His transparency with personal training clients has helped build stronger relationships and foster empathy.

Adam also hosts the podcast Through the Eyes of Adversity, where he speaks with others about how movement supports both physical and mental health through life’s challenges. He encourages anyone facing a new diagnosis to seek support, do their own research, and know they’re not alone.

Find Adam on Instagram at @adam_c_newton, and listen to his podcast on YouTube and Spotify. 

Please do donate to our urgent appeal to keep the podcast going, https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/inflammatory

Do follow the podcast as it is easiest way to get updates on the podcast. 

Sign up to our newsletter at inflammatoryarthritis.org for more resources.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and LinkedIn. 

Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. We talk about our personal health journeys and the podcast is not intended to provide professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are not medical professionals and in no way claim to be medically trained. The podcast does not take responsibility for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of the podcast. The podcast does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of third-party content.

For more information, head to https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.