This is the fourth time I have entered the BodyBlitz Challenge and the first time that I have completed it.
On the 26 July, 2008 I had my 37th birthday and celebrated it in my usual style, consuming an obscene amount of beer and pizza. Little did I know that the following day would be the start of a new life for my family and me.

I have suffered depression and anxiety problems most of my life but the morning after my birthday I had a panic attack that shook my world. I believe it was a wake-up call and my life has changed for the better in so many ways since.

As I write this it has been 15 weeks since I last had a beer and I don’t miss it! Some people can enjoy it in moderation but I always had a thirst for more and I was loving it to death. I weighed 116 kg and had been back and forth from the hospital with some major health scares. I knew I would never feel healthy and energised again unless I took action. Three weeks later I had lost six kilos just by avoiding beer and take-away food and I thought this time was the time to tackle the BodyBlitz challenge once and for all and change my life.

Twelve weeks is not a long time but I have enjoyed results far beyond the physical transformation. I no longer suffer hypertension, my liver function is back to normal and my cholesterol has dropped to well within healthy limits. The best part though is that I am jumping out of my skin with energy and enthusiasm for life.

Weighing in at 94 kg (the lightest I’ve been in over 10 years), I now feel strong and confident and I’m looking towards my next goal of competing in a bodybuilding contest. As you only get one shot at the novice class, I’m going to have to train hard for the next 12 months and pack on some muscle!

I have gained a lot of encouragement from reading Silvio Morelli’s editorials in my collection of Iron Man magazines and was inspired by Eric Broser’s article ’40 is the New 20’ in the last issue. I first lifted weights in my early teens but after more than 20 years I feel I am just starting out again and on my way to achieving one of my dreams, better late than never!

I had a few setbacks along the way, one being a poorly timed vasectomy in week two, another being pulling the stitches in my testicles while performing squats two days later! (It’s hard to feel manly while wearing a panty liner!)

In weeky five I tore up my heels by wearing badly fitted runners on a 12 kilometre walk and I was unable to wear shoes again for the rest of the challenge. I now love training barefoot so it is just as well that I train at home.

One of the medications that I am taking has a side effect of increased appetite and weight gain. I pushed my body through this by doing some big training sessions like riding my bike 100 km in one outing or swimming three kilometres breaststroke. I also did some big circuit sessions with weights. I will be buying some new equipment soon and can’t wait to take my training to the next level!

I spent the first half of this year studying the Diploma of Sport Development including Certificate IV in fitness at Wide Bay TAFE. I was getting through the course and passing the required subject but I was so unhealthy that I would have been a hypocrite to give personal training advice to anyone. I withdrew from the course due to ill health but I will be completing my Certificate IV in fitness in the New Year. Now I feel I am walking the walk and will be able to guide my future clients with knowledge from both textbook learning and personal experience.

I have always been passionate about weight training but with beer and take-away food playing such a big part in my life I was never even close to realising my physical potential.

I would like to thank Blitz Publications for their initiative with this competition, as I am sure it has had a positive impact on the lives of many people. Thanks also to my beautiful wife Belle and our three awesome children Jade, Ryan and Amber. I love you all dearly and look forward to sharing a longer, healthier life with you.