For years, I thought strength was all that mattered. If I could lift more, everything else was just background noise.

I pushed my body to the limit, chasing numbers. I was convinced that as long as the weight kept going up, nothing else mattered. I ate whatever I wanted—lollies, curries, beers—because I believed I was training hard enough to balance it all out. But what I didn’t see was the damage it was doing—physically and mentally.

I felt tired all the time. It wasn’t uncommon for me to have 4-5 cups of coffee and a massive energy drink just to keep going. But worse than the physical fatigue, my mind felt heavy. I was disconnected from myself—training had become a routine, just going through the motions. And no amount of weight on the bar could lift me out of that.

That’s when I realised something needed to change. Lifting heavy was no longer enough. I wanted to feel fit, energised, and capable of taking on anything—not just in the gym but in life. I needed a new approach—a way to train that didn’t just make me stronger but made me feel whole.

I began experimenting with new training methodologies, learning from experts I’m lucky to have around me. But I found that focusing on just one discipline bored me, much like weightlifting had. I wanted more variety, a purpose beyond just one goal—I needed to feel truly fit for the first time in my life!

I wanted to run a 5km with my mates, lift heavy, and hike up a mountain without thinking twice—all things I once thought were impossible. After one of the hardest years of my life mentally, I knew I needed this change for me. So, I started trialing a new training and diet approach that I couldn’t find anywhere else.

As I transformed, people started taking serious interest. They noticed the physical changes and were curious about the new workouts I was doing. And also accusing me of taking steroids... Which I took as a compliment! After nine months of training this way, I wasn’t burnt out or bored. For the first time, I felt motivated and genuinely excited about my health and fitness. I knew I was onto something.

It was about breaking the cycle of feeling stuck and finding my ‘why’ again. Building a routine that made me feel alive—strong, fit, and balanced in every aspect of my life.

I’ve been through the pain of feeling disconnected from my own health. I know what it’s like to be caught in that cycle, feeling like you’re running in place. This challenge is my way of helping others break free from that.