Hi my name is Lia. I am 36 years old and I had not exercised since the birth of my son whom is now nearly 9. Back then I weighed 55kg and at 168cm considered underweight. At 7 months pregnant I weighed 62 kg (my son was born premature) 7 years later I had ballooned well I thought I had ballooned to 73kg. I had been inactive for a long time had no motivation to exercise.

In November 2006 I was enrolled by a colleague to complete the tour down under community challenge fun ride.  (Did I say fun!!?) Victor Harbour the destination and 84 kilometres long. I had not been on a bike in two years and that had been a leisurely Linear Park ride to the city for brunch.  I started at the gym and employed the services of a personal trainer called Nick. I need results fast. I had 3 months to get fit. Many rpm classes later and two sessions per week personal training with Nick and I achieved the bike ride challenge although I did walk most of the 5km king of the mountain in the rain. The end result I made it.

I continue personal training throughout 2007 to get fit again with the main aim to try and loose some weight. I needed to have goals so I enrolled to complete the next community challenge. It was only 74 kilometres long and would be a dream in comparison to the last as there was no king of the mountain. I needed a better training plan instead of the 3 month rush prior to last year. I completed the ride and it was a little easier and I achieved a personal best time. I did not loose any weight this year and I was still feeling lethargic. Nick questioned what my diet was like. I eat healthy. I said gritting my teeth! That food diary has made me realise my poor eating habits and how easily I slip back into old habits. My thoughts were I am doomed, I was fitter, fatter and now I have to diet.

My plan for this year is the next community challenge. 94 kilometres this time and another king of the mountain hill which so I am told is 64 kilometres into the bike ride wahhhh just something to look forward to. Over the past 2 years I have seen the results of the weights routine Nick has made me complete. I do not get bored with the change in routine and with regular exercise I know there are muscles somewhere underneath the layer but then I only exercising 1 day per week. I cannot expect miracles here. I love the gentle reminder two days later of sore muscles that yes I did exercise this week. Major challenge for me this year is to change my eating habits. Nick is setting small goals to achieve week by week. I endured the detox diet!!! and it worked wonders. I did loose some weight; I had more energy and felt energised. Then I slipped back into my bad habits and guess what I feel really unwell. My goal this year is to complete that fun ride again. This week instead of focusing on loosing weight and DIET and HEALTHY EATING Nick has me looking at what habits I can change today. I am the only one that can change those habits but I know I will have Nick to give me those reminders of you CAN do it...