Vicky’s fitness journey

I had joined yet another gym for the 4th time… this time I decided to make the most of this time round and see a personal trainer.

“I hate exercise, I hate the gym, I am a very fussy eater, the only reason I am here is to lose weight!”

These are the words I spoke to Kat Millar (my personal trainer) when I first met her. I must have scared her senseless!

I made the decision to meet Kat twice a week (to help me go to the gym). I started with a goal weight and a picture of what I wish my body looked like (a model from a magazine). I had a notebook to record every food and exercise I did each day.

I began by training twice a week and the occasional day in-between… this soon changed to be 6 days a week. It was a great feeling to be able to push myself further each time and set myself new targets.

Kat gave me nutritional food guidelines to follow, within the foods I actually eat… I changed from my diet of roast potatoes, sausage rolls, coke, chocolate, takeaways… to lots of water, boiled/mashed kumara & parsnip, fruit, veges and hard boiled eggs.

I did a before & after photo of myself and compared them side by side. I was so shocked… not only at the difference but of what I looked like before, I could not believe I had let my body get that way! It was just more motivation for me to continue training hard & keep myself fit.

I used to look out the window of the gym wanting burger king, now I look at it and think ‘too fatty’.

I resisted the sausage rolls, cake & scones at work morning teas as I ate my banana & water crackers. I only watched as colleagues ate chips and drank wine & beer at Friday work drinks.

When training with Kat she pushed me to my limits and never let me give up. I loved that each session was something different.

I changed from struggling to do 1 full push up to being able to do 14 at ease! I came home exhausted and everyone at work heard about my pain the next day.

I never wanted to go to the gym, but once I got on my gym gear I felt energised like no other time, it was like I had turned into another person.

My confidence improved and I went from baggy track pants to bike pants. I used to complain about pain now I am upset if I am not in pain after a workout!

My thoughts are now surrounded by healthy eating and exercise, I constantly talk about what I have done and how I could never have done it without out a personal trainer and will always swear by them.

Vicky Smith, Auckland, NZ