August’s Profile of the Month is our super hard working, beautiful Lisa Pretty! Lisa joined TF at the beginning of Round 2. When Lisa first joined she was very quiet and reserved and kept to herself somewhat, just getting the job done. She was a super hard worker right from the first moment. As the weeks passed and she got to know the other members, her fitness and strength improved as did her confidence. 12 weeks later, Lisa is a social butterfly with a wicked sense of humor and super friendly demeanour. She is adored by everyone around her.

In just 12 short weeks Lisa has achieved incredible results! She has dropped 42.5cm from around her body, with 20cm being from her waist alone! She has also dropped one level in her visceral fat reading, which converts to a serious improvement in her health. This has come as a result of Lisa putting in 100% in every aspect from her training, to her nutrition and her mindset. A true testament to ‘If you follow the plan, anything is achievable!’

Congratulations, Lisa you truly are an inspiration to everyone around you! You have kicked serious butt!!! Sooo soooo proud of you!!!

Here is Lisa’s story, in her words:

“Before joining Terrific Fitness I led a very mundane, run-of-the-mill, unmotivated, lazy, inactive, unhealthy lifestyle that I could see was getting worse before it was going to get better.

I have worked for the same company for 15 years. 8 years of shift work (nightshift) did not allow for a healthy lifestyle at all. However I was more on the ‘too skinny’ side. Eating enough food has never been a problem for me however I was eating at weird times, eating the wrong foods and sleeping at weird times and doing crazy long shifts 12-15 hours, no questions asked!! Then it got to the point where I couldn’t move after my shifts I was so sore….so I got an office job. This massive change has at least allowed me to have a normal sleeping pattern but I sit at a desk for 8 hours a day which kills me. So I went from being on my feet for 12-15 hours a day to sitting on my behind for 8 hours…recipe for disaster. About 8 months after I had moved into the office environment I had put on 20kgs!!!!!Yes that’s right 20kgs in 8 months!! I had never in my life been this big, or heavy and I also developed depression and anxiety which I had never dealt with either.

As a child I was extremely active. Netball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, (gymnastics believe it or not), little athletics, karate, swimming. I participated in all of them. Even won “Sports Person of the Year” in Year 12…..this all ended when I started working as I couldn’t coordinate sport and shift work. I had also dislocated my left knee numerous times so thought ‘if I’m working and playing netball and I do my knee again I won’t be able to work’.

Flicking through social media I started following Terrific Fitness. I loved the posts and then had a look through their page. I loved what I saw and thought to myself if I don’t bite the bullet now I never will. It was time to do something worthwhile for myself!! Terrific Fitness was local (Tick!) It had options of group fitness (Tick) or personal training (Tick) It had a range of different training times on different days (another tick) it was very reasonably priced (tick again). I seemed to have a whole lot to gain and nothing to lose by joining, so I did!!

I started off with 2 fitness classes a week; Resistance HIIT on Tuesday nights and Boot Camp on Thursday nights as I thought this would be sensible after not having done any physical activity for 15 years and also manageable with my work .I’ve just upped the ante for Round 3 as I love it so much and I’m determined to improve on my amazing results from Round2!!

I’ve always LOVED food so I worked really hard on my nutrition. I’ve always probably had to many treats here and there (I’m a sweet tooth) and my husband and I also used to have take-away food at least twice a week. Pizza, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Fish’n’chips, anything that was easy and tasty!! So during my first 12 weeks there was lots of substitutions i.e. sweet potato for normal potato and there was no take-out. No alcohol (not that I drank regularly anyway). I didn’t eat bread or pasta and really cut down on processed sugar. I loaded up on fresh vegies and proteins; chicken, beef, lamb, eggs. No fancy sauces or gravies but learnt how to flavour food with awesome spices. You get awesome support and recipe ideas from other Terrific Fitness members and also all the staff including Dani the nutritionist!!

So after my first 12 weeks with Terrific Fitness the biggest difference I see in myself is my motivation and my energy levels. I’ve noticed my depression has diminished significantly. My anxiety is still there somewhat but that is always a work in progress and the physical activity is helping. I get home from work and keep looking at the clock waiting for the time to leave to go to class. I look forward to working up a sweat and hurting and also seeing everyone at class. Everyone is so friendly, encouraging and welcoming. The trainers are experienced, knowledgeable, kind, caring and attentive but will also push you to your limits which is exactly what you want and need in a trainer in my opinion.

If you are umming and aarhing about getting off your behind and not only doing something about your overall health and fitness but doing something for yourself, whether you are male or female then I encourage you to either pick up the phone and call Terrific Fitness or shoot them an email and get the ball rolling…you will live to regret it if you don’t…you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!!” – Lisa Petty, Doreen