Towards the end of last year i started to get sick. Sick with stuff someone my age (26) should not be getting. It had been coming on for a few years I suppose.


I have always struggled with my weight and once I finished uni and left ybs I began to really pile it on (in the words of kartman "beefcake, beefcake, BEEFCAKE").

And when I say pile it on I am not kidding. I'm talking about 20KG's in 3 months and gradually edged from 80, to 100 then up to a whopping 110KG's. I hated myself.
But along with this came an addiction I am not very proud about.
I became addicted to fast food, and just couldn't stop. You name it and I would eat it, and keep eating it.
It was a vicious circle really. I felt bad, I ate crap, I felt bad for eating said crap then because I felt bad I ate crap, and around and around it goes.

It wasn't that I didn't want to do something about it, but more that I was setting myself unrealistic goals that would be broken in less than a day.

Anyway, moving on. When I was in the UK a few months back I was persuaded by one of my best mates Jason K that it was probably about time that I try something a little new to me. Not a diet but just a combination of exercise and just plain healthier eating. I know that last statement sounds really basic but its probably the one approach I hadn't taken. And the fact that I had started to struggle with some
aspects of Cornet playing, namely breathing and larger, more demanding works were taking it out of me too much it was really time do do something about it.


A few months before this I had been sent an email from my gym (yes, I was already a member!) offering me a free personal training session.
I ran for the hills.....but...something made me keep that email.
I was too embarrassed to go and see a personal trainer.

I got back from the UK and (sheepishly) made myself an appointment to have my first PT session. If I had continued the way I was going I was predicting a heart attack by the age of 35.

Well, now I have another addiction and this one will actually help with my cornet playing.
I have to say that getting a personal trainer (and a gym full of lovely peeps) is the best money I could have ever spent.

Just being able to wake up in the morning and not get leg cramps any more, I'm getting sick less and I can just do more, is just phenomenal for me.

I know she will probably never read this but I want to thank you Sally (my trainer) for helping to give my life back to me and thanks to all you guys at the ymca gym in Brisbane for just being cool. Oh, and thanks to all those other people, you know who you are, who have encouraged me along the way. I will get there now.

So, as I've  overcome my embarrassment here is what I weighed, what I am now and where I want to be.

Starting weight (DEC 2006)= 110KG
Weight now      (JAN 2007)= 102KG
Goal weight                 70KG
I've lost 10cm off my waist and gone down 2 trouser sizes (20-16).

My aim is to post these changes as and when they happen.

Speak soon

paula xx