Most women say they looked better on their wedding day than ever before, but I was the exception. On my wedding day, I was bigger than ever. I actually put on weight leading up to the day, which meant I had to wear Spanx under my dress instead of the sexy lingerie my husband was expecting.

When I looked back over the honeymoon photos seven months after the wedding I was disappointed in how I looked; even when I was dressed, I looked frumpy and fat. This was the first time I started to think something needed to change.

I jumped on the scales that same day and was shocked to see a reading of 85.5kg. This was the biggest I had ever been, and it was no wonder my size 14 jeans were very snug and that I had nothing to wear.

I decided to do something about it, so I got up at 5.30am the next morning and ran on the treadmill. I was dreadful. I couldn’t run very far and like most beginners, I went hard and fast for 30 seconds then flopped in a heap. I was far from the fit, healthy woman I honestly thought I was.

I began researching ‘learn to run’ programs. In my research I also found the BodyBlitz challenge and I decided to enter to give myself the extra motivation I needed to lose weight. I figured that if I had to send someone horrid fat photos of myself, then I might as well send them follow-up photos 12 weeks later to show how far I had come.

I weighed in at 81.5kg on my start date. My husband took photos of me in my bathers, which looking back were way too small, and I can’t believe I actually wore them on the honeymoon.

I am noticing improvements in my relationships with my husband and colleagues, my resilience and ability to cope with adversity has increased, and I am generally happier within myself. The main focus for me was to become the best version of myself.

My food was the best thing about the 12 weeks. I have learnt tricks to reduce the calories and increase the flavour of my meals. I don’t really like to snack, so my meals were usually just the three main meals a day, with a piece of fruit or a coffee in between.

I live in Marcollat, a remote area of South Australia about three and a half hours from Adelaide. The town is essentially just a hall on the side of the road surrounded by farms, with approximately 10 people living in the local area. The nearest ‘big town’ is 80 kilometres away and has about 2,500 people.

I go into town two to three times a week for work, and I fit my toning and strength sessions in then. I also do boxing on the days I get to the gym, and progressed from the intermediate to the advanced exercise program over the course of the 12-week challenge.

The other days it is just me, the sheep, the dogs and the cows. I started walking to get the mail in week three, whereas I previously drove the three kilometres to get it. I recently began running there and back without stopping (although running with a pile of post was a little difficult) and found that a six kilometre run was the perfect way to start the weekend.

Throughout the 12 weeks of the BodyBlitz challenge I competed in two triathlons as well as a fun run, none of which I would have ever considered entering before I did the challenge.

The most challenging thing about weight loss for me is the remoteness; not having anyone to be my running buddy and not being able to go to a pump class when you really can’t be bothered training. I have no choice if I want results; I have to push myself.