My Story

The majority of us have, at some stage, struggled with our weight.  Mine has been a life-long battle and one that for the past 11 years I was losing big time.

I was a marvellous size 10 when I met my husband, thanks to a love of competitive soccer and triathlons, plus a gruelling uni schedule.  Then we moved to Mt Isa and things went rapidly downhill.

I felt isolated from my family; was working in a tough, non career orientated job; and my darling was working away all of the time.  We were new to town and making  and keeping friends in the Isa can be difficult (it is a very transient population).

Within 12months I had put on 12kg – at the time I kept thinking “It’s not that bad, I’m still size 14.  It will be fine”.  But life was about to change BIG TIME for us!  Nine months later we welcomed our first child into the world - a bouncing, happy and lovable boy, who became the centre of our world.

I also landed a dream job ... baby + busy job = another 16kg piled on!!

If we fast-forward  to 2006 – by now I had 4 beautiful babies and had ballooned to 100kg.  I was working in a very stressful and time consuming job and the kids were keeping us on our toes.  Over the next couple of years my weight would go up to 110kg.  I was a size 22 and miserable.

At the start of 2011 my darling husband enrolled me into our local Bootcamp (Aussie Bootcamps, Bushland Beach).  I can tell you exactly where I was standing on our patio when he told me and I can tell you exactly how long my massive tantrum took!! 

I was narky - I’d been backed into a corner and was not happy!

My first Bootcamp wasn’t an entire success. Hubby was away a lot and I used this as the perfect excuse not to go.  Yet something made me re-enrol for my second Bootcamp, and the one after that, and the one after that....

This week I will start my 10^th Bootcamp and I can proudly say:

·         I can now run 5km non-stop and am eager to reach 10km

·         I ran a personal best for my 1.6km time trial – my first time was 15min, my PB is 8min51sec

·         With considerable focus on my portion control and calorie intake have lost 20kg

·         I am down from a size 22 to a 16/18

For me, my weight loss journey has really only just begun.  Why, after achieving so much?  Because for the first time I actually believe that I can do this, that I don’t need a magic pill or expensive program to do it.

All I need is determination, consistency and a desire to be the best that I can be.  I have all of these, plus the amazing support of my beautiful family and amazing friends.

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

The coming months will be my unforgiving minute and I intend to wholeheartedly run with all of my being.