Members’ Stories

“After 3 months in hospital, I was able to take my little boy home.”

Today we’d like to share with you Kim’s, one of our members, personal fitness story with you all. As of right now, this story was first posted two years ago. Enjoy!

[First posted August 29, 2014]

As a child and as a teenager, I always battled with my weight and my fitness. I always was the one tagging on behind the end of the group, as I would come in last in a race and the one who would complain because I had to take part in PE or sport lessons.

As an adult I joined and re-joined gyms but was never completely satisfied with what gyms had to offer. As I graduated from University, I was working as a Welfare worker, a profession that was quite stressful, quite often resulting in emotional eating rather than burning my stress with exercise.

When I got married, my husband encouraged me to exercise, my weight continued to move up and down the scale. As I changed professions and moved into teaching, I loved working with students with autism but I continued to manage my stress through emotional eating but did try to exercise a lot more.

In 2007, I gave birth to my son James at 26 weeks via C-section. I suffered from pre-clamsia, a condition that occurs due to high blood pressure. My organs were about to shut down and the only solution was to deliver early. My son nearly died every 5 minutes and was kept alive via a C-PAP machine. Unfortunately, my health took a turn for the worse and I was taken back to ICU as my blood pressure continued to sky rocket.

My husband was told to prepare for the worse. I soon recovered but my son James continued to struggle for his life, battling a hole in the lung, a number of infections and two blood transfusions. After 3 months in hospital, I was able to take my little boy home. For the next 4 – 5 years I was on high levels of blood pressure medication and continued to battle stress as I worked fulltime and managed my little boy who was always sick and in and out of hospital, seeing doctors and specialists. Time was precious and could never find time in my day to exercise, by night time I was emotionally and physically exhausted.

As my son entered school, the journey continued as James was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder; it was also recommended that he repeat Kindergarten. This also meant more visits to specialists and more time spent at home for early intervention.

At this point I was not happy with where I was at with my health and my weight. I heard about KERRIE FITNESS through my husband and decided to give it a go. Up until this point, I found walking on a treadmill very un-motivating and detested and avoided going to gym because it was a chore rather than something I enjoyed doing.

I was nervous walking through the door for the first time but Kerrie and Trevor were so welcoming and other gym patrons were so friendly and nice. BODYCOMBAT™ and BODYATTACK™ became part of my routine and after a while I became addicted. I was addicted to exercise for the first time in my life. I love the atmosphere, the encouragement of Kerrie and Trevor and the support of other members in the group. I have also incorporated BODYPUMP™ into my routine, which I love.

In January 2014 I officially became a member of KERRIE FITNESS. Due to changes in diet and exercise, I have now lost a total of 14 Kg. Thanks to KERRIE FITNESS, my blood pressure is now under control and I am now only on a small dose of medication. Whoop Whoop! I feel so much fitter and have more energy than I have ever had in my life.

‘Till next time, Kim <3

A note from Kerrie: Kim you have an absolutely amazing strength. All you have been through, the fight you’ve given, all with a smile and come out stronger than ever. So very happy you listened to your hubby Damian and came to join the KF crew. We’re so lucky to have you and James x

“Insulin and exercise like each other.”

Today we’d like to share with you Danielle’s, one of our members, personal fitness story with you all. As of right now, this story was first posted two years ago. Enjoy!

[First posted September 5, 2014]

Every time there was a sporting event at school I would panic. I was the tall chick who would always trip over herself while running, nearly drown at the swimming carnivals, and every time I was involved or even near a ball game I was the person who would get hit in the head with it – it was uncanny. It’s funny when I look back on it now though, hehe.

So physical activity and I had a nervous thingy going on. My sister in law invited me to do a KERRIE FITNESS class, I agreed, thinking it would be fun and beneficial as I have been a type 1 diabetic now for 11 years – insulin and exercise like each other.

I enjoyed it and unbeknownst to me, was about to embark upon an awesome self overhaul, one that would smash my mindset, self preceptions and limitation a little more every time I went.

I noticed after I would do a KERRIE FITNESS class I was more brightened, invigorated and positive. My husband and kids are loving my new energy and attitude.

Today I realise that KERRIE FITNESS isn’t just making me stronger and fitter. But tougher, more confident, assertive and unshakable. I am strong. I am important. I am actually really proud of myself today.

The other day I was at my kids school and a ball came flying at my head and you wanna know what I did, I caught it! Yeh baby. Thanks KERRIE FITNESS.

‘Till next time, Danielle <3

A note from Kerrie: Haha I love it Danielle, yay you!! So happy Shell brought you to us. It was meant to be! It’s great seeing you enjoy yourself in class and to now read how much this has helped you in your life, plus for your family to notice, is just amazing. So proud to have you with us at KERRIE FITNESS. Thank you for sharing x

“The challenges involved in moving countries are mind blowing.”

Today we’d like to share with you Irena’s, one of our members, personal fitness story with you all. As of right now, this story was first posted two years ago. Enjoy!

[First posted August 22, 2014]

When I was a teenager (which was in the eighties, in another hemisphere, in the opposite season and in a communist country), following my best friend’s suggestion, I started attending ballroom dancing classes where together with many other young people. I learnt the cha-cha, rumba, samba, paso doble, jive, slow walls, Vienna walls, tango, foxtrot and quick step.

The “instructors” were a husband and wife who were not paid to teach. Leading the dance club was something they loved doing.

In those days, self managed cultural interests were encouraged by the Communist party. We did not pay anything. Our dance instructors were not paid for the work they did, we were provided a gym in one of the suburban schools for free, and our costumes were made on a government budget which was the communist party’s generous gesture to keep young people occupied in activities that were approved by the communist ideals.

We did not have video tapes in those days, so our dance instructors learned from an old book in English with the steps described in diagrams and the moves in English terminology. It looked like a witch-craft book with mysterious spells. And we were all enchanted!

We were a tight group, each one of us madly dedicated to dancing, the music and everything involved in the process. There was an old music player and the quality of the records was poor, as the recordings were pirate copies, but the music of Glen Miller and Paul Anka, sixties rock and the hot Latin American rhythms were enough to make us all feel unique and incredible!

I trained three hours almost every night. Apart from being technical, dancing is quite vigorous exercise and also requires strength, balance and coordination. We participated in numerous stage presentations where costumes were made in frantic excitement and each stage presentation and competition ended with noisy parties with a lot of laughter and recollection of the stage fright and nerves we had to overcome.

I was fortunate to wear dresses made of 40 meter gauze and slide my feet in high heel dancing shoes, apply make up and transform from the dork I used to be to a graceful dancer.

The sensation on stage was indescribable – it was mixture of wild excitement to fear and panic to incredible elevation when the applause came at the end or the judges gave good scores… I was living a double life – during the day went to school in the plain school rooms with portraits of the party leaders wearing my blue school uniform, with my hair braided in two pigtails, wearing thick glasses. And at night transformed in the dancing queen – glitter, spray, lipstick and pirouettes! I even met my husband, Alex, in the dancing club. I must have stolen his heart with my rumba steps

When I turned 21 I went to study at uni and my focus changed. I left the dancing club and the fitness was left to once a week compulsory physical education run by the uni. It was not exciting at all especially in those minus 20 degree mornings at 5:30am riding the packed bus on an icy road…

I graduated from uni and had my daughter at the same time! All of a sudden I found my life completely changed – taking care of a baby, staying home all the time and nothing else to do but talking googly goo to my cute little daughter. Somehow this was not enough and I was getting restless locked at home alone. Luckily, a friend suggested aerobic classes which was the craze in the eighties and I loved it immediately. It wasn’t dancing but close to it – disco music, leg warmers, leotards and vigorous jumping.

In the early nineties our family – me, Alex and Emilly who was nearly 3 years-old moved to Australia. That was so amazing! The challenges involved in moving countries are mind blowing. There are so many surprises – some good and others not so good – but one learns to overcome obstacles. Yes, there were times when sadness was getting the best of me.

Exercising was not an option while settling in the new country, raising two children (Ivan was born in 1995 in Melbourne), going back to work, moving to Sydney, settling in again, changing work, working full time, building a career and buying a house.

With the stress that came I started putting on weight.

Ironically, a time comes when one has to learn from one’s own children! In 2010, my son Ivan turned 15 and wanted to go to the newly opened gym in Campbelltown. That meant that somebody had to drive him there. I had no idea what Fitness First was or the programs they offered. Actually, I laughed at people at work when they mentioned that they go to the gym. However, putting on weight and the loss of flexibility due to insufficient physical activity was not a good feeling.

So a week after Ivan became a Fitness First member, I signed up. I was interested in the group classes but was scared to join in initially as I was so unfit. I remember walking in my first BODYCOMBAT™ class with Kerrie. I was late, the class had started, I lasted less than 30 minutes and left in the middle of the class, breathless and purple in the face. I seriously thought that I needed resuscitation after those 30 minutes!

I clearly remember that Kerrie approached me after the class and instead of being cranky at me for leaving before the end, asked me what I thought of it. Without thinking I replied that I loved it! And I found myself going to BODYCOMBAT™ classes and loving it more every time I went.

Then ZUMBA™ was launched for the first time in FF. Kerrie was there in bright colours, the Latin American music was blasting and disco lights were adding to the excitement! There was no room to stretch my arms without touching someone, it was that full! And the Zumba moves! WOW! It brought back all those long forgotten memories when I was a teenager in the ballroom dancing club!

In time I realised that not only did I lose weight, I felt immediate stress relief after every class, my mood improved and I started feeling like a much happier person. It was really sad when I realised that Kerrie had gone after they sold out FF. The classes were not the same even though the instructors were well trained.

I missed Kerrie, her enthusiasm, giving 110% in her classes, creating the positive atmosphere, the feeling of joy and happiness in each of her classes. Until one day chatting before class to two regular BODYCOMBAT™ guys at the gym, one mentioned that Kerrie has opened her own business in Campbelltown. I did not waste time.

I immediately googled Kerrie Campbelltown fitness and there it was! KERRIE FITNESS – the phone, the address and the classes time table which included ZUMBA™! YAY! Hot pink, disco lights, Latin American, hip hop and rock and roll rhythms! I love the BODYCOMBAT™ class as well! I only wished I had more free time to go to BODYPUMP™ and other classes.

Going to Kerrie Fitness classes is not just going to another group fitness class. There is enthusiasm, positivism, strength and joy! Coming to your classes, Kerrie, gives me extra happy feeling because you are such sunny, friendly, happy person!

‘Till next time, Irena <3

A note from Kerrie: I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am you found me again Irena! I was under strict instructions I could not tell my members of 10 years I was staying with Fitness First and not with the company taking over at Campbelltown.

I love your story, and feel so blessed I am able to bring that light back into your life which sounded so very exciting. By the way, I still love rocking leg warmers!!!

I take my hat off to you working mums. It’s a true balance fitting in work, family, taking care of your home and still knowing how important it is to take care of yourself to be able to take care of the above! Together we can do it!

Thanks again Irena. We’re so lucky to have you at KERRIE FITNESS x

“Twelve months on… it feels like I never had knee surgery.”

Today we’d like to share with you Libbie’s, one of our members, personal fitness story with you all. As of right now, this story began two years ago. Enjoy!

This story comes in three parts.

| Part One |

[First posted August 8, 2014]

I’ve always been active since school. I liked playing team sports the best. When I got into Uni, I stopped playing sports except for the rare recreational soccer game with friends because I didn’t really like the pressures of playing competitively.

When I was in year 4, I decided I wanted to work with computers, so I became a software engineer. I also picked up graphic arts, self-publishing comics and video games as primary hobbies. Back then I could easily sit through a 24 episode Anime marathon in one go or 3-5 hours of continuous online gaming.

If I were to imagine a world where KERRIE FITNESS wasn’t my second home, I’d be spending 40 hours a week working on my laptop, 15 hours a week sitting in a train to work, 15-25 hours with “sit-down” hobbies. That’s almost half the week on by butt, and I wasn’t even counting weekends!

Coupled with the fact that software engineers tend to network and celebrate over pizza and beer, and my tendency to consume whole bags of lollies and energy drinks when work gets difficult, I definitely would have been a statistic for the overweight.

Luckily, I was saved from all that when my cousin talked me into joining Fitness First Campbelltown with her. We would faff around on the cardio machines thinking we had achieved something and go home. Eventually, she stopped going regularly, but I decided to press on.

I soon found that I disliked machines and hated working out by myself. So one faithful Saturday morning, I decided to try out the BODYCOMBAT™ class, instructed by none other than Kerrie! The first class I attended felt really awkward. When I moved left, the rest of the class would move right. My timing for punches and kicks were a couple of seconds slower than everyone else. It didn’t matter though, it was love at first class! There was no standing around being indecisive about what to work on next and for the first time since I joined, I really felt like I accomplished something because I could feel “results” the following day.

So for the next seven years, I became a Saturday morning Combat regular and would try my best not to miss a class. Over time, I scheduled other classes whenever I could after work. At first I thought all I needed was cardio. It took while, but eventually I realised that adding a strength class like BODYPUMP™ made for even better muscle tone and stronger legs. I took the high impact options all the time because I LOVED tuck jumps, air jacks, split knees and jumping evasive side kicks.

Everything was going great. Exercise helped me breeze through pregnancy, post-pregnancy recovery, and for years, saved me from using up sick days. More importantly, for 5-7 hours per week, I wasn’t sitting on my butt!

Then, about three months before KERRIE FITNESS was due to open, I spoiled it all by completely tearing the cruciate ligament in my knee. The bitter irony: it broke during a Combat class!

It happened so quickly, I don’t even remember the minor details anymore. It was pretty much jump kick, LOUD CRACK and then a horrible realisation that something was seriously wrong with my knee as it gave way while I threw a jab. I went to see a doctor right away and then physio as soon as I could. A couple of weeks and an MRI scan later, it was confirmed: grade three ligament tear in my knee and it would require surgery to repair completely.

Exercise is supposed to make you stronger and you’re constantly encouraged to push past your limit. So what’s going on? The unfortunate truth is, sometimes in the adrenaline rush, you push too hard past your limit and when you forget about technique, you open yourself up to the possibility of breaking something.

Living with a trick knee was a horrible experience. I had to change my stance in Boxing and MMAXFIT classes because I had trouble staying upright whenever my random training partner hit the focus pad/shield. Kicking too hard, too high, twisting my lower body too much, doing scissors in the air too fast all made my knee vulnerable to giving way. There were no “ifs” or “buts” about it – I needed knee reconstruction right away.

Apparently having a really strong knee was the key to a quick post-op recovery. So in the months before surgery, my physio gave me exercises to do that focused on strengthening the muscles around my knee. I also chose to continue on with group fitness classes anyway because I probably would have gone insane if I didn’t get my regular dose of endorphins. But I modified my performance in all programs to focus on low-impact options, technique and upper body movements. If I couldn’t use my legs, I’d wave my arms harder. If I couldn’t jump, I’d squat lower. If I couldn’t do high knees, I’d march with intent.

I enjoyed about a month of KERRIE FITNESS classes before finally, the day of the surgery came. All I remember from it was getting a lot of “See? Exercise is bad for you” jokes and discovering that there’s actually a real life, functional use for hip bridges.

The next day I was sent home with crutches. My focus during the early weeks of recovery was to ice my knee often to keep down the swelling and range of motion exercises. After a week, I was able to commute to work again. After twelve days I ditched the crutches because they were starting to affect how I walked.

After two weeks cardio machines in the form of stationary bicycles became my friend again. My knee was so swollen I had trouble completing even one revolution. Surgery took away whatever muscle definition I used to have.

Week by week the number of exercises I was allowed to do increased. After six weeks I felt confident enough to walk through the hot pink doors to do classes again. Pump and Combat were the only classes I did for a while and I had to start both from the beginning – using the barbell as a post to map out squats and lunges to focus on range of motion and technique, and walking my way through Combat to map out my foot work and focus on technique.

My body was quick to tell me when I had overdone it and some weeks it felt like I had gone backwards in progress, dropping back down to exercises that I thought I had already graduated from or skipping classes to focus on recovery and giving my legs a good stretch.

But week after week, leg press after boring leg press, the swelling started to subside. After sixteen weeks, I was back to my pre-op leg press weight of 120kg and I had full range of motion pain-free. It was finally time to ease myself back into BODYATTACK™ – WHOOP WHOOP!

It took nine months to work my way back up to my pre-injury Pump squat weight and another month or two before I started playing with high-impact options again. But I still replace things like continuous jumping jacks with low-impact options. I picked up Kerrie Core as an extra class when I found out how great it was at building up my hamstring – some of which was used to replace the cruciate ligament I lost.

Twelve months on, although it feels like I never had knee surgery I know there’s still a lot of work to be done. Although I won’t be able to complete an entire class doing the “Hare” options anytime soon (maybe forever!) I don’t mind having the agility of a “Turtle”. They have a different kind of strength. They may not jump very high, but boy can they get down low. And steadfast determination allowed them to win the race.

The awesome thing about group fitness classes – it doesn’t matter whether you’re a “Hare” or a “Turtle”. Everyone starts together, finishes together and wins together. It’s like I was playing team sports again and the entire KF crew have my back. And I’ll have your back! If you’re stuck for low impact options, come find me – front and a little to the left!

A note from Kerrie: A very big thank you Libbie for taking the time to share with us all. I still remember in the 7 months it took Trevor and I to find a location to set up KERRIE FITNESS, after Fitness First Campbelltown sold, I was so sad for you to receive your message that you had damaged your knee. Now look how far you have come. I can speak for Trevor and myself when I say we couldn’t be happier to be a special part of your recovery and watch you get stronger week by week. Leaps and bounds. You definitely have a strength like no other. Keep up the awesome work. You’re a treasure x

“I definitely would’ve been a statistic for the overweight.”

| Part Two |

[First posted September 2, 2015]

Hi KF Peeps!

I’m still only two weeks into my postpartum recovery period and I’m totally missing the group energy at KERRIE FITNESS.

For those who don’t know me, I’ve been a regular group fitness participant for over nine years. I started with Kerrie’s Saturday morning BODYCOMBAT class at Fitness First Campbelltown and then became a KERRIE FITNESS member when it opened two years ago.

Last time I shared my story it was about exercising in group fitness classes post knee reconstruction. This time I wanted to share my experience with exercising through pregnancy.

This is actually the second time I’ve participated in group fitness classes during pregnancy. The first time I was training with Kerrie and other group fitness instructors at Fitness First Campbelltown. The second time I trained at KERRIE FITNESS.

It’s a bit impractical to compare my babies to each other because they will be different no matter what. But I looked back at our health records and was quite surprised at the similarities.

FIRST PREGNANCY
* Exercised from Week 0 to Week 36
* Went to the gym 1 to 3 times per week @ Fitness First Campbelltown, primarily Saturday morning BODYCOMBAT (with Kerrie!), then Wednesday evening BODYATTACK and Monday evening BODYCOMBAT. Note: cardio clases only.
* My weight @ Wk 40: 72.9kg
* Average blood pressure was 110/70
* Duration of pregnancy was Wk 40 + 3 days
* Birth weight: 3.3kg
* Birth length: 51cm

SECOND PREGNANCY
* Exercised from Week 0 to Week 41 + 2 days!
* Went to the gym 5 days a week @ KERRIE FITNESS on all 7 programs (which feature both cardio and resistance training) until Week 39, then selected programs based on convenience / mood until Week 41 + 2 days.
* My weight @ Wk 40: 73.1kg
* Average blood pressure was 100/70
* Duration of pregnancy was Wk 41 + 3 days
* Birth weight: 3.2kg
* Birth length: 50cm

I was considered pretty “fit” both times, but despite exercising a lot more this time around, my weight and blood pressure was still around the same. So I don’t think it was the volume that was an important factor, but CONSISTENCY – something that is preached quite often at KF!

If volume didn’t make a difference, what’s the point of going 5 days a week as opposed to 1-3 days a week?

Strength and aesthetics! I was fortunate enough to have the same obstetrician for both pregnancies. During my first consultation, he mentioned how much more athletic I looked this time around. The difference between then and now was that I added resistance training into my weekly routine.

When you become pregnant, you get taken out of your comfort zone from Week 0 until delivery and postpartum. I found that the best way to deal with the hardships of pregnancy and labour was to train where putting yourself outside your comfort zone is encouraged – KERRIE FITNESS! In particular, KERRIE CORE. This program is awesome because it works all the parts of the body that come under the most stress during pregnancy and labour – back, abdominals, pelvic floor. Well, technically speaking, pelvic floor exercises aren’t part of the regular program, but when your baby bump gets really big it’s more practical to replace the different flavours of crunches on your back with pelvic floor exercises. I wouldn’t have made time for them otherwise!

It sounds a little bit crazy, but doing group fitness classes regularly have other benefits besides making you stronger. Unlike the first pregnancy where I had an 8 hour lead up to the second stage of labour, the build up the second time around was a lot shorter – about half the time compared to the first time. The following helped me make it through the second stage of labour:

(1) breathing through the pain
(2) listening to instructions through the pain
(3) holding on for 30 seconds during contractions until it was time to “push” to avoid tearing (and until my doctor arrived!)
(4) listening to my body to know when it’s the right time to “push”

Sounds like familiar phrases in a typical KF class, no? I’m also pretty sure all those KERRIE CORE classes increased my pain threshold!

The best thing about exercising through pregnancy at KERRIE FITNESS – the instructors are more like personal trainers than your typical “one-stop-shop” group fitness instructors. If you maintain a solid relationship by coming regularly, listening to your doctor’s recommendations and keeping Kerrie and Trevor up to date with your progress, you’re sure to be in good hands in terms of safe alternative options as your pregnancy progresses.

BODYATTACK / KHIIT became “walking and squatting through everything”.
BODYCOMBAT became “walking with punches and kicks”.
BODYSTEP became “walking with a step”
ZUMBA became “walking with a little hip movement”.
BODYPUMP was just a matter of dropping enough weight to still feel a little bit of resistance.

I was a lot more comfortable exercising all the way to the delivery date at KF than anywhere else because of the closer relationship I have with the instructors.

“Fitness” for me isn’t about how high you can jump or how far you can run or how heavy you can lift. It’s about being in control of yourself both physically and mentally. It’s about being able to control where your punches go, being able to control how you jump and where you land, being able to control where your weights go. Keeping the hormones and the “baby blues” at bay by doing the things that make you happy.

Most importantly – being in control of what you put in your mouth!

Which leads me to the next goal. I’m not going to lie – I snacked on Tim Tams and Pringles in the name of “cravings” and eating for two. But to really embrace the “KERRIE FITNESS” way, I’ll have to start changing my diet and seeing where that leads me. Hopefully it will lead to the “holy grail” (abs) or at least a flatter post-pregnancy tummy 🙂

A note from Kerrie: Absolutely amazing Lib. Thanks for sharing with us all. We miss you in the studio and are so looking forward to having you back 🙂

“Now that preparing healthy meals are a part of my daily routine, there’s no going back anymore!”

| Part Three | The Final Piece |

[First posted November 25, 2015]

I’ve been training at KERRIE FITNESS since it opened in 2013 – even longer in group fitness class with Kerrie when she was still an instructor with Fitness First Campbelltown. All that time going to the gym and working out, I’ve maintained an average healthy weight of 59-61kgs.

I was pretty content. Given my chosen profession as a software engineer – where I’m sitting for 8 hours or more, living on coffee and energy drinks, snacking on lollies while chasing deadlines and networking with peers over pizza and beer – regular, consistent exercise helped me to avoid putting on the weight and regulate stress during major projects.

Fast-forward to this year, I welcomed bubs #2 into the world. On maternity leave until at least the end of the year. Perfect opportunity to complete a long time fitness objective: a mid-section to match all this training I’m doing!!

A few things about me that will explain why I haven’t been able to reach this goal despite all the group fitness classes I participate in:

1 – I’m Filipino. Besides being one of many cultures that love and gather over food (and lots of it), the staple for Filipino meals is rice (and lots of it). We can have rice for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. In addition, a lot of the dishes I grew up on consist mostly of orange, yellow and red vegetables and not many leafy green ones.

2 – I love my noodles, rice and pasta dishes as much as I love satisfying my sweet tooth.

3 – When my friends and I go out, sometimes we like to select places based on their dessert menu.

4 – In general, I don’t like cooking. Unless I’m simmering something for an hour, if it takes more than 15 – 20 minutes to prepare or contain a lot of “complicated” ingredients, I probably won’t make it. Especially when I was working, I tend to make all meals on the weekend and if we run out, it’s take away!

5 – It’s a very personal preference, but counting calories does my head in. I can’t do it consistently. Truth be told, these days I find myself checking the nutritional info on packages more often than I used to.

How do I reach my goal when upbringing and personal preferences are stacked against me?

Answer: KERRIE FITNESS Foodspirations! Occasional inspirational posts in the form of Food Porn.

After giving birth, I had to complete mandatory 6 weeks of recovery before training again, so it was the perfect time to give these healthy food ideas a try. The plan was to choose two meals – lunch and dinner – to follow faithfully during the week. On the weekend, I would cook meals that I can enjoy with the rest of the family. The following week I’d choose another two and then rotate combinations as I like.

Foodspirations are awesome, especially when juggling a rambunctious 4 year old and a newborn bub because most of them take under 15 minutes to make. Most of the time, cooking brown rice in the rice cooker is as long as the cooking time gets and frying eggs in a non-stick frypan is as complicated as preparations get.

Then on the weekends, I get to enjoy the meals I grew up on with my family and eat the triple choc muffins I occasionally make with my daughter.

On my 6 week post partum check up, I was actually below the weight I was the day I entered antenatal care with my doctor. Today, continuing with my Foodspiration-inspired meal plans and just over 6 weeks after restarting my training at KERRIE FITNESS, I’m another 4 kilograms lighter at around 55/56kg.

Now that preparing healthy meals are a part of my daily routine, there’s no going back anymore!

I really value my KF membership. No other group fitness instructor is as motivating when it comes to chasing results. Kerrie and Trevor can help you find it even if you spend most of the year doing low impact options. You don’t even have to pay extra for sensible advice on nutrition – it’s all there if you go through the photos.

For general fitness, all you need is love of fitness, determination, commitment to be consistent, and EVERYTHING KF has to offer. Then everything else becomes a matter of time – time to set aside to work towards a better you, time to get used to the moves, time to let the stretch marks sort itself out!!

Thanks Kerrie and Trevor for helping me to master the hardest discipline of all.

‘Till next time, Libbie <3

A note from Kerrie: We’ve all noticed your awesome results Lib. Your shape, tone, you look amazing. Congrats on your results.

I’m an open book, I share with everyone what works for me and are so happy you have taken all that on board. Going to miss you in the morning classes when you go back to work next year! Keep up the great work. Once you find what works, my favourite word (besides MORE!) MAINTENANCE!! Kerrie 🙂

“Suddenly… my life came to a grinding halt. ‘Tanya, you’ve actually got stage 2-3 Melanoma .'”

Today we’d like to share with you Tanya’s, one of our members, personal fitness story with you all. As of right now, this story was first posted two years ago. Enjoy!

[First posted July 25, 2014]

How the Gym Saved Me

I have been a little hesitant to share my story with you, as I don’t like showing weakness. To be honest there are still many days I feel scared, I mean, I watched my dear friend Marina fully recover from cancer only then to die 3 years later. I am only human, so of course sometimes I am going to think the worst.

I know you’re thinking, “Wait, is this the same Tan I am thinking of? Can’t be, she is really strong!” Well I am strong, but I get scared too! So I am being brave, and setting an example for others who are also hesitant to stand up and tell their story, and to let you know when you let it all out you will feel better and you can only become stronger.

Everyone knows that my fitness journey is not the typical “Oh look at how my body has changed”, due to my love of doughnuts and chocolate! So lets go all the way back to when I was just 11 years old.

My sister was a gym junkie. She used to drag me to the gym and I hated it! The only part that excited me was my sister told me I could pig out after the work out. That was the only thing that excited me. When she moved away that was it. The end.

Then years later my friend told me to join the gym. She said, “You will feel great, and look so good.” I was thinking, I already look so good!, haha, but jokes aside I was a huge manic depressant (Ironic going from not caring about living or dying to fighting tooth and nail for the joy of being alive).

I went to Fitness First Campbelltown and picked this class called BodyAttack. I thought, Yeah attack the body! and I’m invincible; I will do half hour on the bikes before class. Haha what was I thinking? I remember walking in. I saw Kerrie and I was like, Whoa, she is so pretty. I might just stand up the back out of sight…

By track 3 my throat was burning, I couldn’t breathe and I was barking like a seal with asthma. I stopped for about 1 minute, but I heard her say, “Keep going, don’t stop!” so I was like, Okayyyyyy I am dying but I am not stopping.

Several weeks later when I am BodyAttacking I hear my name, “Tanya!!!” I suddenly felt important and special. The next 2 years flew by, then suddenly Kerrie broke my heart… Fitness First Campbelltown sold and Kerrie would no longer be teaching her classes. I was devastated.

I stopped training.

One day Kerrie messages me and says, “Hey I am opening a gym.” I was like, “Really??? Sign me up for life.” (Remember that Trevor?) Then I got to know Trev, and grew to love and respect him too. Life was great. I was getting fit, making new friends and feeling awesome.

Suddenly one day my life came to a grinding halt. “Tanya, you’ve actually got stage 2-3 Melanoma.”(Different doctors call it at different stages).

Look, I will be honest and say for a few hours my whole body went numb. I was a bit of a mess, and then I had to call my Mum. I was so scared. I said, “Hi Mummy.” She replied, “What’s wrong Tanny?” The second I told her I had cancer I knew she was more scared then me, and that made me stronger somehow. I could feel how much my Mum loved me, and I knew I had to make her feel better. After constantly reassuring her and my whole family every 5 minutes that I am going to be ok, I looked at myself and thought, Holy crap if anyone can do this Tanya, it’s you!

Then I prioritised. Okay, it’s the day before my surgery, I’M GOING TO THE GYM. My best friend came with me, and totally only said yes because I had cancer, but I didn’t care. I was jumping up and down shouting on the gym floor being Tanya, and for that 90 minutes I forgot about what I was facing, and I drew strength from that.

I got up on the day of my operation went by train to Newtown station. I ran and I ran and I ran, all the way to the hospital. I get there dripping; I was soaked. The doctor asked me if I was nuts for running to the hospital before a major operation. I said, “Clearly I am mate.” He said, “Good on you; you’re healthy and Melanoma does not like fit, healthy people.” Another doctor mentioned how my circulation was amazing, and I said to her, “Umm, that would be because I ran here,” and she was like, “Yes it would, and good on you!”

Everyone at the hospital looked at me with pity in their eyes like I was dying, which actually ticked me off. I was like, “I am not dying. You know I will be back at the gym next week.” Their reply was, “No you don’t missy, not for 6 weeks.” I am not even kidding when I say I looked at them, I went, “Pffffttt, we will see about that.”

Well okay, I did wake up with 30 stitches. So I was out for 10 days, ha, then I turned up to the gym, stitches and all. Yeah, I didn’t do much, especially in triceps, my favourite track, but I was there with my friends, my gym family. I was working out, which for me was a big milestone.

Here I am, 3 months out, and I am stronger than ever! I am still in remission, so I have my scary moments, and my journey is far from over. I had a beauty spot removed from my throat last month for nothing – what a waste! This week I am getting a scary CA125 blood test to see if there is any cancer in my blood. Sometimes I wake up and obsess about my arm and it drives me crazy.

What gets me through is I have my friends, I have my family, I have my fitness and my strength. I truly believe that Cancer doesn’t stand a chance when you are fit and healthy inside and out. I want you to draw strength from my story, maybe even tell yours, and I guarantee you, in times of weakness you will feel stronger!!!

Finally, Kerrie, Trevor, all my Kerrie Fitness Friends, my best friend and family too, thank you for holding my hand through what is a whirlwind of a journey! You all played a big part of me being okay. Always keep on keeping on the good fight. I’m never giving up. If I ever need chemotherapy, I will still smash it out at the gym.

‘Till next time, much love, Tanya mwuaaaaaa <3

“[I] found myself hating going to the gym, with absolutely no motivation.”

Today we’d like to share with you Alison’s, one of our members, personal fitness story with you all. As of right now, this story was first posted two years ago. Enjoy!

[First posted July 11, 2014]

Hi there fellow Kerrie Fitness members! This is my fitness story!

I have battled with weight loss and weight gain most of my life. By the time I was in year 12, I was a size 18-20 and getting bigger. Eventually I lost it then put some of it back on before losing it again. That was all before I met Kerrie and Trevor!

I have been working out with Kerrie and Trevor for almost ten years.

In May 2011, I fell pregnant with my gorgeous bubba James. My pregnancy didn’t stop me from attending Kerrie’s classes until the 38 week mark, and only then because the doctor banned me.

Despite my best efforts, I still managed to put on nearly 30 kgs during my pregnancy. After James was born in March 2012, I returned to Kerrie’s classes and slowly started to lose weight. But then the sad news in December 2012 that we would no longer have the privilege of working out with Kerrie .

I continued doing classes, but found myself hating going to the gym, with absolutely no motivation, even for my beloved combat class. I was just going through the motions and the scales reflected this. I hated the way I looked and felt. Then, after regular harassment and encouragement during our regular catch ups, finally some good news; in July 2013 Kerrie Fitness opened it’s doors!

Within three months, the results were incredible. I was fitter, stronger, leaner and had greater muscle tone than ever before. Not only could I now do chest push-ups on my toes, but I could do tricep push-ups on my toes as well! And did I mention I had finally lost that last 10kgs of baby weight?

I couldn’t have done it without the dedication, commitment, motivation and encouragement of Kerrie and Trevor, and of course our KFAA crew!

Now for the next goal: lose those extra few kilos I always wanted to lose, and maybe get some abs like Kerrie!

Stay positive Kerrie Fitness members! If anyone can help you achieve your goals, and keep you there, it’s these guys.

For anyone who is reading this thinking, “Wow, I wish I could lose the weight”, guess what? You can! Get up off the lounge and walk through that hot pink door. Not only will your body love you for it, but you will meet some amazing people who have your back, no matter what challenges you face!

‘Till next time, Alison <3