After a harsh 2007 in the Mildura building industry, I decided to take my family on a trip to Queensland for a bit of R & R. By chance, I caught up with a friend who truly inspired me to compete in the 12-week BodyBlitz challenge — Rick Brennan! I had not seen him for some five years and his astonishing transformation both physically and mentally was inspiring. He had begun his transformation by winning the 2003 BodyBlitz Grand Champion title. He has since achieved great success in bodybuilding around the world and runs a very successful gym in Broadbeach.

On the journey home I decided to reinvent myself. With the uncertainty of the building industry in Mildura due to the ongoing drought, I realised I needed to set myself personal goals to prepare myself for the possibility of a life change either in relocating my family or changing my profession. I was also ready to live a healthier, fitter life.

I had major nose surgery just before I began the competition and one week into training I was told my first operation was not 100 per cent successful and would require a second operation to enable me to breathe to my full capacity. But nothing was going to stop me! I missed one full day of training with the surgery but at 6 am the next morning I smashed a 7.5 km walk. I was back on track!

My routine was simple: WALK first thing in the morning, GYM in afternoon and WALK again in evening. My diet was altered by eating smaller portions of meat with unlimited amounts of vegetables and fruits, supplementing with protein shakes, eating oats for breakfast and snacking on nuts, cereal, rice cakes etc. Getting rid of the traditional tradesman smoko was also key.

My gym sessions were extremely motivating, employing an excellent personal trainer who unbelievably had also been a monthly winner of the BodyBlitz competition — Adam Ferry. He was tough but he understood my mindset and we bonded through training and on an everyday level. I consulted with both Rick and Adam about my diet and gym routines. I knew I had these individuals with amazing experience behind me, so the only way I was going to fail was if I was not true to myself. Always knowing I had the right mindset, prioritising was my main hurdle.

Work has always been my main focus; from the moment I started at 17 years of age, financial security has been my main goal, and for the last ten years being able to provide everything for my wife and kids has been my number one priority. It was time to give something back to myself and this was it. I was so focused that at one stage I went for a 10 km walk halfway through my sister-in-law’s 30th birthday.

Ironically, in the third week of the competition my biggest support in my life, my wife Kara, broke her foot on a girls’ night out dancing to the song Footloose (no joke!). I took this as a sign: there was no room for failure; too many challenges were being thrown. Quitting was not an option!

Throughout the entire 12 weeks, every time I jumped on the scales, lifted extra weight, walked further distances or received a compliment from somebody, it motivated me further. I was taught to understand when an opportunity arises grasp it with both hands as it may only look you in the face once.

Inspiration to me has many different definitions. I believe respect has a fair bit to do with that word. I saw first-hand what Rick he had gone through prior to his success and I thank him whole-heartedly. I would recommend my awesome personal trainer Adam Ferry (from Body Mods Mildura) to everyone in Mildura. Thanks mate! Thanks to my fellow workmates Ken and Jeff for keeping the work going. And finally a big thank you to Kara, Zack and Ava as you made this possible. You are my whole world.

The biggest lesson for me? The one thing that holds you back in life is yourself!