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From 136kg to Personal Trainer - My Story
Until I reached my goal weight at the age of 35 I couldn't remember a time in my life that I wasn't overweight, I didn't have an early enough memory.
The first time I tried to lose weight I was around 8 years old. I had been asked to be a flower girl for my foster brother, we thought it would be nice if I could "lose a little weight" for the wedding. (The engagement broke off so I was off the hook!)
From my mid-teens the dieting started with a passion - ridiculous diets like the "The Beverly Hills Diet" where all I seemed to eat was pineapple! I lost 10 pounds in the first week, fantastic! But that was generally as long as I could stick to something so extreme. Looking back I should have been suspicious of a diet that said, "Don't feel guilty if you don't exercise as you probably won't have the energy."
I tried a number of meal replacement diets, the "Hip and Thigh" diet, Natural Way, Ultra Diet, Kilo Club, the "Bread Diet", the "Kiwi Kiss" Diet (well, I bought the book anyway!), and a couple of different prescription weight-loss pills.
At the beginning of 2000 I had reached 136kg. In desperation I joined a gym, got myself a personal trainer and started losing weight. Then after a reasonably long absence my personal trainer told me he'd "pretty much given up on me". I'd pretty much given up on myself too, so I cancelled my membership. Over the next few years I had varying degrees of success with different eating and exercise regimes and of the extreme ups and downs I experienced, I managed to keep off around 20kg.
In October 2003, goodness knows what possessed me, I walked in the door of my local Weight Watchers meeting one Saturday morning. I can still remember sitting in the back row thinking to myself, "What on earth are you doing here again and how long is this going to last?" I had been a member at Weight Watchers at least three times before - the first time at the age of 15. I don't think I'd ever made it past week six! But this time I made a promise with myself that I would face the music every week - no matter what kind of week I'd had I was going to get on the scales. I also committed to staying for every meeting.
In 17 months I lost 47kg to reach my goal weight... for the first time in my life!
It was also the first time I had ever followed anything through to completion. The confidence this achievement gave me allowed me to dare to take on other dreams. I completed my Weight Watchers Leaders training and from 2006 through to 2016 I took meetings and worked with members to achieve their weight-loss dreams.
In 2007 I began my studies towards a Diploma in Personal Training and Exercise Prescription at the Otago Institute of Sport and Adventure. Both years, 2007 and 2008, I achieved Distinction in my studies and took awards for Personal Trainer of the Year and Academic Excellence! This was a stark contrast to my high school years where my reports usually came home with comments like, "Rochelle would do better if she would only apply herself." It's amazing how finding what you love makes that easy!
During 2010 and 2011 I continued my studies in the area of massage and BodyWork - this was the discovery of a whole new passion for me! In 2013 I studied Reflexology, completing my Diploma and then in early 2019 I studied Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage Therapy, giving me the ability to offer an all-round service of well-being. There are still many other areas I want to investigate and study, so for me the journey is just beginning!
Let me help you achieve your health and fitness goals too - contact me today!
In October 2003, goodness knows what possessed me, I walked in the door of my local Weight Watchers meeting one Saturday morning. I can still remember sitting in the back row thinking to myself, "What on earth are you doing here again and how long is this going to last?" I had been a member at Weight Watchers at least three times before - the first time at the age of 15. I don't think I'd ever made it past week six! But this time I made a promise with myself that I would face the music every week - no matter what kind of week I'd had I was going to get on the scales. I also committed to staying for every meeting.
In 17 months I lost 47kg to reach my goal weight... for the first time in my life!
It was also the first time I had ever followed anything through to completion. The confidence this achievement gave me allowed me to dare to take on other dreams. I completed my Weight Watchers Leaders training and from 2006 through to 2016 I took meetings and worked with members to achieve their weight-loss dreams.
In 2007 I began my studies towards a Diploma in Personal Training and Exercise Prescription at the Otago Institute of Sport and Adventure. Both years, 2007 and 2008, I achieved Distinction in my studies and took awards for Personal Trainer of the Year and Academic Excellence! This was a stark contrast to my high school years where my reports usually came home with comments like, "Rochelle would do better if she would only apply herself." It's amazing how finding what you love makes that easy!
During 2010 and 2011 I continued my studies in the area of massage and BodyWork - this was the discovery of a whole new passion for me! In 2013 I studied Reflexology, completing my Diploma and then in early 2019 I studied Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage Therapy, giving me the ability to offer an all-round service of well-being. There are still many other areas I want to investigate and study, so for me the journey is just beginning!
Let me help you achieve your health and fitness goals too - contact me today!
