It would be an incredible achievement for anyone - to undergo 12 weeks of intense exercise and dieting to lose 10kg and completely transform your body into that of a super-ripped athlete.

But what makes Ollie Jowett’s amazing fitness programme even more inspirational is that he did it while battling a malignant brain tumour which has meant he may only have five years to live.

The 22-year-old from St Austell created his awe-inspiring new body at times when his ill-health was so bad he hardly had the strength to walk up stairs.

After struggling to find work as a personal trainer in the St Austell area, Ollie – who attended primary and secondary schools in Fowey – was offered a job in Belfast.

His incredible 12-week transformation

However his world was turned upside down just a few months after arriving in Northern Ireland when he was diagnosed with brain cancer.

“It was a bit of a shock to say the least,” Ollie told Cornwall Live down the phone from Belfast. “There’s only so much crying you can do. I was 100% from the get go that I would turn a negative to a positive. Life does not stop. I don’t feel sorry for myself because everyone has problems they have to deal with.”

It was that admirable positive attitude that led Ollie to undertake his online transformation 12 weeks ago with Ultimate Performance.

Ollie is in peak physical fitness despite his malignant brain tumour

Ollie's purpose to inspire

“As a personal trainer I know how hard it is for people to lose weight and the excuses people come up with – the lack of motivation, the lack of time, the lack of willpower," he said. "I wanted to use my illness to inspire people as well as get myself in the best shape of my life.”

It certainly hasn’t been easy and most people facing a life-changing diagnosis like Ollie’s might give up. That was never an option for him.

“I’ve been given five years but this is real life so it can go one of two ways. My condition could worsen in the next year or it could stay stable for 20 years. You just don’t know.”

Of the inoperable brain tumour, Ollie explained: “The likes of chemotherapy and radiotherapy aren’t really options because it’s just so risky and I’m just so young.”

Ollie's MRI scan results when doctors diagnosed his brain tumour

His health suffered and his symptoms were at their worst at the end of 2017, meaning he struggled to work such long hours and had to scale back his work training clients in his 168 Coaching business.

It was then he started sharing his journey on his Project Beat Cancer Instagram account to show the true face of battling a disease like cancer.

“I put my story out on social media, largely because I wanted to be honest, particularly with my clients” he said.

Ollie has refused to let his cancer stop him achieving his goals, building his business and achieving what he wants in life.

Since his diagnosis his focus has been on getting healthy, eating a nutrient-rich diet and putting his body, his mind and his immune system in the best place possible to fight the disease.

Not just that but he has been raising money, raising awareness and forging ahead to prove that cancer is not the end, making his mum Michelle, who lives in Truro, and sister Zoe, in St Austell, very proud.

What he achieved with an online personal training and nutrition plan

“I’m a believer in that we all have a purpose. I know I’ve been dealt a bad hand with cancer. I now have a purpose to inspire and bring awareness about cancer.”

Twelve weeks ago Ollie decided he wanted to start an online body transformation to inspire his clients and people following his journey about what is possible when you stop making excuses.

He said he knew Ultimate Performance was the best in the business and he wanted the expertise and accountability of working one-to-one with an online trainer.

The challenges he faced on his 12-week transformation

“The 12-week transformation was the hardest process of my life. To be honest, there wasn’t a day I didn’t think about giving up. Without a doubt it broke me.

“Trying to find the energy just to train and trying to find the energy just to work is horrendous. But despite my health being the problem, it was my health that was my motivation in the first place. I had to constantly keep reminding myself of this when I wanted to give up.

“It wasn’t just to get a six-pack. That wasn’t the purpose. The purpose was to get to the end so that I could inspire other people with my story.”

Ollie want to inspire anyone facing challenges in their lives

Ollie described it as a rollercoaster during his 12-week program. But working with an expert trainer kept him focussed on his goal.

“There are highs and lows. When you’re high, you’re buzzing. When you’re low, some days were impossible. Everyone is motivated at the start. The first four weeks you’re loving life, dropping weight, dropping body fat and you’re looking better. After a few weeks, you hit the wall.”

Ollie says the low points with his health were particularly low, when his symptoms hit hard.

“Some days I would feel too weak to even walk up a flight of stairs. It can get that bad. Even walking down to the shop can be difficult, let alone doing 15,000 steps.

“I would just do what I could do and that was the commitment I had to myself and to my trainer Umar and to this process.”

Ollie raised £2,000 shaving his head for charity

Ollie said the guidance and support of his trainer were invaluable when he was struggling most with his health.

“The training was hard. It’s not going to be easy. If you want to get in the best shape of your life, it’s not going to be a walk in the park.

“There were quite a few days with my cancer where I was ill and I just said to him that I’ve not been able to train, or I’ve been in bed all day because I’ve been really ill. He has been completely empathetic and understanding around that.”

The physical results are impressive, but Ollie says it’s perhaps the less tangible benefits of doing a transformation which have had the most profound impact on his life.

“I knew that this transformation would be outside of my comfort zone. I knew it was going to be hard. But the reward is that I’ve come out of it a lot stronger, mentally, physically and emotionally.  It’s the growth and self-development I’ve achieved through this process which has made it invaluable."

Ollie shows off the result of his incredible hard work

“Looking good doesn’t hurt either. It does a few things for the Tinder likes, anyway.”

If you feel inspired to follow Ollie’s fitness regime head to the Ultimate Performance website.