BodyBlitz Challenge Measurements Before Height: 175.5 cm Weight: 89.5 kg Chest: 99 cm Waist: 94.5 cm Calves: 41 cm Arms: 34 cm Thighs: 60.5 cm After Height: 175.0 cm Weight: 86.5 kg Chest: 101 cm Waist: 85 cm Calves: 40 cm Arms: 36.5 cm Thighs: 59.5 cm

I have always known I was going to enter the BodyBlitz Challenge from the time I bought my very first issue of Iron Man Magazine two and a half years ago.

I was already an avid trainer by this stage but I had the usual roller coaster method of attendance — train hard for five weeks, then not train at all for five weeks. Also included in my then-lifestyle was a really bad habit for comfort eating and a lack of serious cardio due to chronic shin splints. No wonder, when I was weighing in at 99 kg!

As a young bloke I loved playing footy but being heavy and unable to run always stopped me. In April 2008 I had a hernia in my belly button operated on and it really hit home when the doctor said I could afford to lose a few kilos, so now I had the drive. From the time I was able to train again I managed to get down to 90 kg and found running was now a possibility, with icing after every run.

After achieving my goal of playing footy again, I found that at the end of the season I really needed to work on my fitness for more opportunities in the next season, and this is when I started my challenge.

I found the 12 weeks very challenging at times, trying to limit alcohol and unhealthy food at events, such as getting engaged to my long-time partner, friends going overseas, family and friends’ birthday parties, which were all happening in this period. Not to mention working in the quarry industry, consisting of 12-13 hour days.

But I came through the other side feeling great and in the best shape of my life! It would not have been possible without the constant encouragement from all of my friends and family, and to the various supplement stores I harassed for good sources of nutrition. Also a special thanks for my fiancée Kate, because doing a challenge like this often would lead to me being very selfish about my spare time and without an understanding partner I would not have been able to do it. IM