Going From Existing To Living

Meet Lilydale’s most inspirational people who happens to be one of our inspirational clients of 2014

In her first 8 months of training at Assist PT, Ebony has lost 136cm and 24kg of body fat!!

When Ebony walks into our studio it’s like our sister is home! This girl is one of a kind! Very talented in her career as a freelance special effects make up artist, works extremely long hours, always applies the advice given and never holds back on giving back some cheek to the team.

Ed: What made you get into fitness? I wanted to be fit… I wanted to be fit, healthy and strong. Something I had not been for a very long time… if ever!

Ed: What was your “snap point” – the point where you said, enough!! What made you sign up with your trainer? To be honest, I think I have had more than one snap point. I signed up with Assist PT for so many reasons but the simple fact is I just wanted to be happy again. I could envision myself in the future sinking into this life of sadness where I stopped doing the things I love, and stopped being an active member in my own life.

I was starting to say no to too many things, I was waking up sore every morning from doing absolutely nothing. I was getting so many incredible opportunities in my booming career that I didn’t have the energy to care anymore and started seeing everything I once loved as a chore.

I found myself so ridiculously addicted to takeaway food that I would drive through KFC, Hungry Jacks, Red Rooster or McDonald’s 2-3 times… sometimes 4-5 times a day…. everyday, not even realising. I knew I had a problem and had to do something about it but I didn’t know where to start… I needed help.

I looked up a trainer in my area and immediately met with Annette at Assist PT. After sitting down with Annette revealing my embarrassing lifelong habits, she recommended I start training with Jordy and I signed up everything she recommended for me. I knew instantly that I was onto a good thing here!

My second snap point came after I had completed my second 12 week challenge. When I received my ‘before and after’ photos from Jordy, I was in shock. I knew I was big before and I knew my body had changed but until I saw those photos, I had no idea how unhealthy I really looked just 24 weeks earlier.

This snap point is what drives me to continue because I will never go back to that.

Ed: What where the challenges you had to overcome on your journey? The biggest challenge for me was overcoming my addiction to takeaway food. It has been nearly 8 months without any takeaway and this has been incredibly hard for me especially when family and friends around me continue to eat it constantly. It took months for the cravings to go away and I would be lying if I said I didn’t still want it occasionally but my goals are way more important to me… plus the site of it now makes me feel queazy!

I committed 100% to changing my nutrition and basically had to learn how to cook, something I have never really done before. It took me a little while to get my head around the nutrition…. I remember my first nutrition session with Jordy, we actually sat down and wrote a shopping list together for my first cook up because she knew this was all so new to me (She even told me what aisles things were in). I now love doing my weekly cook ups and experimenting with different foods. I have come to find that being prepared is what keeps my nutrition on track.

Another challenge was my fitness. This was hard at the start because I was so incredibly unfit that it was actually embarrassing! My first cardio session with Jordy still burns very vivid memories in my brain…. memories i’m not so fond of! With the right amount of pushing from Jordy, Annette and Matt Shepherd (Assist PT’s trainers), my cardio fitness has improved immensely.

One of the biggest challenges for me was and still is to not rely on the numbers. Reminding myself that its not all about how much weight is dropped on the scales (I still can’t throw them out though)… but i’m slowly learning that the other successes that aren’t number related are just as important!

Ed: What training tips for transformation would you give someone in your previous situation? Sign up with Assist PT and listen to every piece of advice they give you… that information is priceless and will save your life! Do everything you’re told!

Ed: How has your Trainer helped you? Words cannot express how much Jordy has done for me. She is my complete support system. She has changed everything, from nutrition to training to my sleep quality…. my entire outlook. She is always 10 steps ahead of me, knows when i’m struggling, knows when to push me and when to make me rest.

She shuts down my excuses, constantly keeps me on my toes and challenges me to be the best I can be. Jordy made it so easy, teaching me that this is a journey of highs and lows…. that any step, as small as it may be, was such a positive step to permanent change. I have no doubt that I could not have done any of this without Jordy! She is a truly dedicated trainer with so much knowledge and commitment to me and all her clients. I cannot thank her enough for changing my entire life!

Ed: What have you liked most about your journey so far? I actually enjoy all aspects of training and meal prepping. I like how I don’t have to stick to a set food plan, I can eat a huge amount of food and still loose weight! I didn’t love group training at first because of my lack of fitness…. the only thing I liked about it was that is was only 25 minutes but now i’ve come to love it. Especially because Matt and Annette constantly mix it up and there is a lot of variety. Probably my favourite part is the strength training. I love how weights will always give you new goals to reach for.

Ed: How has this program helped you where you may have failed or got it wrong in the past? It’s the support system that I have never had before that makes the biggest difference…. from my trainers to the support on the private facebook page, and all the information available on the website. I have lost weight before and always gained back more but this time is different because i’m actually being educated about what is right for my body and my mind. This time I’ve learnt how to make my health my number 1 priority… something i’ve never really cared about in the past It’s taught me how to make it a lifestyle and the weight is just dropping off as an added bonus!

Ebony only did 2 weekly weight training sessions with her trainer Jordy and attended our group training sessions.

Here is a snippet of what Jordy had her doing in one of her programs:

Workout 1 – Leg Day

weeks 1-3: 12RM weeks 4-6: 10RM weeks 7-9: 8RM weeks 10-12: 6RM

Bulgarian Deadlift – 3 sets

Hex Bar Deadlift – 2-3 sets

Split Squat – 2 sets

Core

Workout 2 – Upper Body

weeks 1-3: 12RM weeks 4-6: 10RM weeks 7-9: 8RM weeks 10-12: 6RM

Seated Row (neutral grip) 2 sets

BB Bench Press 2 sets Lateral Pull Down (overhand) 2 sets

20 Degree DB Incline Bench Press 2 sets

Tricep / Bicep isolation variations

There is still 3 months before Ebony reaches her 1st Birthday with us and we can’t wait to see what she will achieve in her 12 month journey at Assist PT.