Do you feel anxious about how much weight you need to lose to be within a healthy range?

Would it make a difference to you if I said that you are not alone? I hope so, because you’re really not alone on this. More people than you know feel exactly the same way.

Ewan Grant from 3BO FM expressed feeling this way upon being asked to take part in the 12-week men’s health challenge. He was concerned that he would not be able to do it. Not only that, but the amount of weight he had to lose felt quite overwhelming.

Mustering up the courage he agreed to take part in the Bendigo Community Health Services men’s health 12-week challenge.

He has lost 11 kilograms in eight weeks.

Ewan is not alone. Nathan Dole from the Bendigo Advertiser also decided to join in the challenge. He too had his own concerns pre-12-week program. Although he spends his day reporting on sport, he hadn’t actually exercised in a long time. So as you can imagine, he was a little unsure about what awaited him at the Shape Fitness studio.

And when questioned about his goals for the challenge, Nathan expressed that he’d like to improve his fitness and lose some weight. “How much weight?” I asked, to which he replied, “Anything would be good”.

He has lost 13 kilograms in eight weeks.

And if that’s not inspiring enough, Andy Hoare from Andy’s Earthmoving joined the program to also improve his health and fitness. Andy is currently cycling three times a week and then comes to do a PT session straight from an hour ride – so that’s 1.5 hours of exercise several times a week!

Andy underwent open-heart surgery just last year – so to be as fit as he is now is a massive achievement.

Having not yet weighed in due to a busy work schedule, Andy’s week-eight results are yet to be determined. But sitting eight kilograms down at week six, I’m confident that things are heading in the right direction.

So I guess the point I’m trying to make is that you can achieve what may seem like the unachievable. The very real feelings of apprehension can quickly turn into surprise – surprise that you CAN improve your fitness.

Surprise that when you set about eating well and exercising, you will lose weight – and maybe more than you’d expected.  

You don’t have to exercise like a 20-year-old elite athlete to obtain improved fitness. You just have to challenge your own ability.

Up the stakes from where you currently sit – and if you currently sit on the couch, then it’s as simple as getting up off it and giving something a go!

Where do you think you’ll be in eight weeks if you start today? Perhaps 13, 11 or eight kilograms lighter.

I hope you find these three men inspiring – I certainly do.

Amy Holmes is the owner of Shape Health and Fitness. You can follow her on Facebook at Shape Health and Fitness or on instagram @amy_shapehealthandfitness

Ewan Grant, Nathan Dole and Andy Hoare are all participants in the Bendigo Community Health Services men’s health 12-week challenge. The program operates in collaboration with Shape Health and Fitness.