In October 2013 I joined Bodyfix on the recommendation of my main man. (My husband Mark) I was broken both physically and mentally after a massive 8-month journey with cancer;
- Major surgery,
- 5 weeks of Radiotherapy
- and 2 rounds of Chemo.
My first visit I didn’t even make it in the door, I sat in my car cried and went home.
Next visit I made it through the door and I haven’t looked back!
Over time thanks to weekly PT sessions, regular weights and some classes (mainly Spin) I have regained my health, fitness and I am strong again. I currently train with Chris (I’ve gone through a few PT’s, they all seem to leave on me haha) who challenges me week in week out but also ensures I have good technique so no injuries.
Training with a PT gives you so much confidence in what your body is capable of achieving.
I was even the overall winner of one of Carolynne’s lifting workshops (these are a must if you want to learn the best technique) 
In March of 2019 I started a journey of addressing my weight. It was the big lock down and my main man and I decided we weren’t going to sit around doing nothing gaining more weight!!
If you struggle with you weight this will resonate with you
you lose some,
you gain some,
you lose
you gain
and the cycle just goes on.
I needed to change my mind set and not just measure the goals in kg’s lost by such and such a date. The scales are not your friend! I ditched them and only got on them when my clothes were feeling bigger.
First step was I wrote down my demon foods, you know the ONE’s that don’t seem to have a stop button!!
Diet is an awful word, it’s negative and programs your brain to think ‘deprivation’ so what do you do you ? Hoover down everything in the fridge or pantry.
- So I made small sustainable changes
• Portion sizes
• limited white foods
• Cut down on bread
• Put the chippies in a high cupboard that I couldn’t reach
I plodded along that year but I really bucked up my ideas in 2021 when some health issues presented themselves but a couple of CT scans and Ultra sounds later cleared me of anything morbid.
I have some long-term effects from all my Radiotherapy and really to best manage that meant being a little more vigilant on my lifestyle. I was considered obese so a double whammy as I was probably staring down the barrel of Type II diabetes and High Blood Pressure as well. I upped the anti a bit on what I was already doing and my shape started changing.
Today I am 26kg lighter than when I first walked through the Bodyfix door.
It’s been slow but sustainable.
My biggest learnings and this has some ouch factor to it too …
• If you lose it too quickly chances are you’ll put it all back on quickly
• Be flippin’ patient as you gotta change a mindset
• Make sustainable changes so that it becomes habit
• Prepare and be organised with your food but don’t bloody overthink the whole thing (have treats just not the whole packet or block lol )
• The 80/20 rule is actually food to exercise ratio (you can exercise all day every day but if you don’t take a good look at what’s going into your gob then not a lot will change (true story)
• Protein is your friend
• Drink water
• Throw away the scales (can be so de motivating as your weight can fluctuate all the time and I’m prone to getting obsessed).
• I measured my successes in clothing getting too big and only then would I get on the scales
Now I feel so healthy and have so much more energy and have taken on new challenges like the Dunstan Trail and Mt White.
Finally the support and encouragement from my Bodyfix family (Moo, all the staff, Chris and my Bodyfix friends) and my family has been amazing. They make feel proud every day.
If you want a chat anytime I’m up for that, just get in touch.
Cheers
Pip
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