About Me
My name is
Anabela Cabrera
And I am thrilled to share my fitness journey with you. Several years ago, I faced significant health challenges that turned my world upside down. It was during this difficult time that I discovered the transformative power of fitness and exercise. What started as a means of recovery soon became a passion that fueled my everyday life.Fitness has not only helped me regain my health but has also instilled in me a deep sense of purpose. I am on a mission to inspire others to embark on their own fitness journeys, encouraging them to approach exercise with love and passion. Through my experiences, I've learned firsthand the incredible impact that physical activity can have on both the body and mind. Join me as we strive for a healthier, happier life together. Let's embrace fitness, not as a chore, but as a joyful journey towards wellness and vitality!
I hold a Degree in Physical Education (5 years of study), and I’ve worked as a Certified Swimming Instructor in both Argentina and New Zealand, alongside my certification and years of work as a lifeguard and aquatic coach. I spent 6 years working in pools, teaching movement, and developing a strong connection between the body and water.
Over the years, I expanded my training into land-based strength and wellness, completing a Functional Training course, a Foam Roller workshop, and leading my own functional training classes. I’m also a qualified Personal Trainer in New Zealand, a certification I’m especially proud of—it marked a turning point where Femme By Me truly came to life.
After completing my Personal Trainer certification, I spent 3 years working at the gym here on Waiheke Island, where I honed my skills in creating supportive guidance and personalized training routines for women of all ages. Those years taught me not only how to design effective workouts, but also how to inspire confidence, celebrate progress, and make fitness an enjoyable part of everyday life.
My journey through personal recovery and transformation deeply shaped my approach. I don’t just teach fitness—I live it, and I help other women do the same.
Today, I design and lead my own class formats, including Full Body Boost, a dynamic HIIT class with impact that builds strength, endurance, and power, and Femme Form, a low-impact, repetition-based class that blends tone, elegance, and flow. I have hands-on experience in HIIT training, muscle-building workouts, and offer personalized client sessions based on unique goals and needs.
Currently, I’m expanding my holistic approach through the Precision Nutrition Coaching program (Canada), to integrate deeper guidance on food, strength, and sustainable wellbeing.
My
Background
I’ve dedicated over a decade to movement, strength, and wellness—with a foundation rooted in education and a passion for empowering women.
A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY
My Journey
Overcoming Adversity Through Strength and Movement
How It All Started
When I was 19, I was studying Nutrition while training as a lifeguard in Mar del Plata, Argentina. But something didn’t feel right. I loved moving, being active—I just didn’t see myself sitting in a classroom all day. Deep down, I knew I was meant for something else—something that involved movement, teaching, and helping others.
So I made the switch to study Physical Education. As part of the admission process, I had to get a simple chest X-ray. That’s when everything changed.
My Body
Stopped Cooperating
Just a few months later, I started to lose feeling in my right leg. Within days, I could barely walk. I was holding onto walls to stay upright. Tests confirmed the tumor was back, pressing on my spinal cord. I needed emergency surgery—this time, a much more complex one.
The doctors monitored my nervous system in real time during the operation to prevent permanent damage. I spent almost a month in the hospital. When I went home, I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t feel anything from the waist down.
It felt surreal—like it was happening to my body, but not to me. I never saw myself as a victim. I just knew: I would walk again. I had to.
A Diagnosis
That Turned My Life Upside Down
The X-ray showed a large shadow near my heart and right lung. After more tests and a painful biopsy, I was diagnosed with an aggressive but non-malignant tumor. In that moment, my whole world shifted. My priority wasn’t my career anymore—it was surviving.
I scheduled surgery during the winter break, hoping to get back to university as soon as I could. The surgery went well, and thanks to my active lifestyle, I recovered quickly. By September, I was back at class. I couldn’t train yet, but I felt hopeful. I thought the hardest part was over.
But it wasn’t.
I wasn’t alone
My family, my friends, my doctors, my physiotherapists—they all lifted me up when I couldn’t do it myself. I also went through radiotherapy, another exhausting chapter, but I had already decided I would come out stronger. And slowly, I did.
But just when I thought I was getting my life back, the tumor returned—this time in my lung. Another surgery. More recovery. I started an experimental medication with no guarantees and stayed on it for ten years. Finally, in 2023, after returning to Argentina, I was officially discharged. I was free.
Learning to
Walk All Over Again
Rehabilitation was tough. There were days of frustration, tears, and exhaustion, but also small wins and moments of laughter. My body didn’t feel like mine, but I kept going. Every little sensation, every small step, was a victory.
I Never
Gave Up
Through everything—surgeries, setbacks, endless rehab—I kept going. I finished my degree in Physical Education. I didn’t just want the title. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.
A New Chapter
in New Zealand
Now, I’m living in New Zealand, and I’ve reconnected with what truly lights me up: movement, fitness, and helping others feel strong and balanced through exercise and nutrition.
My journey has been challenging, unpredictable, and sometimes overwhelming—but it’s also been my greatest teacher. It taught me to trust my body again, to keep going even when things felt impossible.
Strength isn’t just about muscles. It’s about resilience. It’s about falling and deciding to stand back up. It’s about believing in your body, even when you feel it’s let you down.
That’s what I want to share with you: your body is not your enemy—it’s your greatest ally. You just need to listen, take care of it, and trust that it can do amazing things.
We don’t just live in our bodies—we live through them. And I’m here to help you feel strong, capable, and empowered every step of the way.