Melanie Sinclair-Heddle - Health and Exercise Gym in Kalamunda

 After coming to Australia from the UK nearly 4 years ago and settling into life here, I soon stopped exercising and put on about 20kg in weight, until June 2009 when I stayed with my late Grandfather in Orkney and saw the photos that he had taken of me. I was horrified & I couldn’t believe that I had allowed myself to get so overweight and lazy! I had always been so active and enjoyed going to the gym, fencing and running, and couldn’t understand how I could have let myself go, especially without really noticing! I had managed to eat, drink and smoke my way to 84kg and I vowed from then on to get myself back into shape and seriously fit once more. I managed to lose 5kg by myself through diet, cycling and running, but the weight seemed to stop moving. Then in late October last year, I joined Gym Tonic and started having personal training sessions twice a week for twelve weeks, and after having an absolutely fantastic personal trainer in Ben and the rest of the team at Gym Tonic and just sheer grit and determination, I have lost 21kg, given up smoking and have got myself into the best shape of my life. I am also fitter now than I have ever been and have just turned 35. This has also spurred me on to become a personal trainer and I am due to gain my Certificate III & IV in Fitness in October this year.

My biggest love though is running. I love to compete in races in distances of 10km and upwards and completed the City2Surf Half Marathon this year as my first race since losing the weight. I particularly enjoy trail running and will be competing in my first 45km ultra-marathon in December this year. I also intend to compete in the Kep Track 100km Ultra in May and the Kimberley 100km Ultra in September of next year. My ultimate dream is to compete in the much coveted 243km Marathon Des Sables in 2012 which I have entered and am already preparing for!

As you can see from my sporting achievements and hopes, I am extremely disciplined and dedicated to achieving as much as I possibly can. But without the support, encouragement and training I received from Gym Tonic, especially all the constant encouragement and motivation, I doubt I would be training for such epic feats - I’d probably still be sitting on my sofa eating some cake instead!

Motivation gets you going – discipline keeps you going!

Remember – The body achieves what the mind believes – you can achieve whatever you put your mind to and never, ever give up!

Mel