Key stats:
Starting weight: 90.8kg
Current weight: 64.7kg
Programs: 12 Week ‘Get Foxy’ Challenge 2013 & 2014
Marnie held onto old injuries to excuse her expanding waistline… that is until a friend’s photo of her on Facebook shocked her into action. On the suggestion of her personal trainer, she completed the 12 Week Challenge in 2013 and came back for more in 2014. Now 40 and 26 kilos lighter, Marnie counts running as one of her hobbies and is the fittest and strongest she’s ever been.
What was your health and fitness like before starting the 12 Week ‘Get Foxy’ Challenge, and what is it like now?
I used to use injuries as an excuse to explain away weight gain, when in actual fact I was just being lazy. I’m still injury prone but I now work around that, adapt my gym routine and watch what I eat. I’m the fittest and strongest I’ve ever been and I also know what foods work for me.
What was your ‘light bulb’ moment - the decision that drove you to do the program?
A photo posted by a friend on Facebook gave me such a shock I burst into tears. It wasn’t how I saw myself – but it was obviously how I really looked. I pretty quickly realised it was time to take action.
Become a success story – get your FREE 7 days pass to Fernwood and start reaching your health and fitness goals today!
Why did you choose Fernwood and the 12 Week Challenge over other gyms or programs?
The female only aspect really appealed so I was already a Fernwood member – but I had let my attendance slip to a single weekly PT session. My trainer encouraged me to attend classes but I was nervous about starting, so she suggested the 12 Week Challenge as a way to get more comfortable around the gym – and she was right, the group support was fantastic.
What was the most challenging thing about the 12 Week Challenge?
To begin with, running from the gym to the park for the boot camp sessions was a huge struggle. I hadn’t run since I first dislocated my knee aged 15, and now I was 40 and carrying an extra load – it was hard work. Once I got past that, the next struggle was training myself to eat breakfast.
How many times did you attend the gym per week? And what type of training did you do?
I hit the gym 6-7 days a week with a mix of boot camps, PT sessions, cross training, boxing, Pilates, Body Pump, spin and ab classes, plus cardio on the treadmill, bike or rowing machine. I also did the weekly workouts from the 12 Week Challenge program.
What aspect did you enjoy most from the 12 Week Challenge?
The structured exercise, was my favourite part of the challenge. It quickly had such an obvious impact with positive results, a steady improvement, plus all those feel-good endorphins – it became a very enjoyable addiction!
Did you find the meal plans easy to follow?
Being a vegetarian, I adapted the main dishes to suit and ate half for dinner and half for lunch the next day. With full time work and a full gym schedule the snacks were too much for me in terms of time to prepare, so I simply ate a handful of nuts between meals and never felt hungry.
Did you find your mindset changed over the 12 week period, if so how?
Exercise was something I had always shied away from, but as I got fitter and found I could do more, I wanted to try more. It was simply a matter of gaining confidence through experience.
What do you think was your key to success?
Having a support team was my key to success, from my trainer, to my partner, to work colleagues and gym buddies, I couldn’t have done this on my own.
Get the support you need – experience the Fernwood difference with a FREE 7 day pass to your nearest Fernwood club.
How do you keep motivated?
Looking at before photos is enough to scare me into being motivated! Plus it’s nice to be able to fit back into favourite T-shirts and jeans without busting out all over the place.
How has losing weight, getting fit, and being healthy changed your life?
I wouldn’t say my life has changed, more that I have got my old self back. The one distinct difference is that now I’m a runner – and that’s an awesome feeling.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about doing the 12 Week Challenge?
Sign up, prepare a food and exercise schedule, and stick to it – no excuses! And above all really commit to it; it’s only 12 weeks and it’s probably just the kick start you need! My bio age has dropped by 20 something years – that’s a whole lot of life to get back.
What have you achieved post 12 Week Challenge?
Once I learnt to run and eat properly the weight just fell off. After that I was able to work on muscle tone. Since finishing the 12 Week Challenge I’ve lost another 2kgs, but more importantly I’ve shed centimetres and gained muscle you can see in my arms, legs and abs even when I’m not flexing. Plus I can run 6kms in 45 minutes – not bad considering a 1 minute run had me gasping for breath when I started!
Inspired to make a change? Kick start your health and fitness goals with a FREE Fernwood 7 Day pass.
*Fernwood client testimonial was achieved as part of an overall healthy diet and exercise plan. Regular exercise and proper diet are necessary to achieve and maintain weight loss. Consult your healthcare professional before beginning any diet or fitness program.