Damian took a good hard look at the man looking back in the mirror and didn’t like what he saw.  He decided to make a change and after 18 months of preparation, he stepped on stage for the ANB Victorian Titles last month.  After dropping 24% body fat to compete, he won the Most Inspirational Competitor Award and this is why…..

“It was February 2008.  I woke up one day standing in front of the bathroom mirror.  Looking back, was a 31 year old, well and truly over weight male, who was on his way to becoming another obesity statistic.   I was over 90kgs and 30% body fat.  Standing there, feeling clearly unhappy, I remember thinking, “is that it? Is this how I’m going to look like for the rest of my life? ” A change was needed.

I surfed the net and found Serious Fitness.  What drew me to contact Anne and Bruce was their competition website photos.  You could say they were personal trainers who walked the walk and talked the talk.  They looked AWESOME!

Initially I started with a 12-week body challenge.  With that programme, I trained with Bruce and the team at Serious Fitness.  I was able to lose some body fat, and gained some really great results but it was Anne who could see my ability and positive attitude towards striving for success in my life.  She knew that I could focus this into my training and dieting to take things much further….all the way to competition.

 It wasn’t all smooth sailing and it was really tough both physically and psychologically.

I had friends to keep up with and a family life.  I also had to deal with the pressures of a busy work schedule too and fit in all the training and eating as well.   When it all became overwhelming, I would ask myself; “Do you want success? ” Fortunately, I also had the team at Serious Fitness and Anne’s support.  They knew I could do it even though I nearly threw in the towel a number of times.  Anne would remind me that the busy schedule would eventually subside and the long-term benefits would far outweigh the short-term pressure.  I decided to make time and made the training and eating well a high priority.

When I stepped on stage, I weighed in at 76.3kgs and 6% body fat.  A far cry from where I started.

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Bodybuilding is a tough gig and competing, well…. that’s even tougher.  Would I do it again? Ooooh yeah! I am certain that for every person who does make it on stage there would be a lot that don’t.  Possibly because they gave up, didn’t have the support that I had or they lost sight of the bigger picture. The prize in competing isn’t about coming number one or a trophy, it’s about conquering your own self limiting beliefs and taking a journey you have never taken before, to a better place. I know that the guy in the bathroom mirror staring back at me today isn’t the same guy 18 months ago and he isn’t coming back either. My new life is now comfortably scheduled around achieving my dream of a great physique and pushing myself to the limits in whatever I do.

Going far in life begins with having the right attitude and a determination to succeed, but you also need a mentor.  One who has already walked the path of success and seen beyond a trophy. Anne showed me the path. I had to walk it! 

Thanks Anne and the team at Serious Fitness, I couldn’t have done it without you.

Thanks to my other mentors and support network in my life: my father in business, Keeley Sensei for developing my appreciation in Koryu (classical martial arts - Tatsumi Ryu Heiho) and my friend Parag, who taught me that pain is only a short term precursor to a lifetime of success.  These people have made me who I am - Thank you!”

Well done Damian, we are extremely proud of you!