My interest in bodybuilding and lifting weights started when I was young. I have lifted weights on and off most of my life but never got the results I was really looking for. I had always wanted to compete in bodybuilding and had been told many times that I had the build for it. I have hired numerous personal trainers and tried endless diets but never found the combination I was looking for.

I have had more than my share of stress and trauma in my personal life over the past few years. I never seemed to have time to exercise regularly and had always found a friend in food. The sudden death of my 13 year old daughter in the fall of 2007 and then the failure of a long term relationship right after made me feel like life was too short to start living it tomorrow. I, like many people, am a single parent to teenagers who are a bit more challenging than average and work long hours in a high pressure job. I decided that I wanted my life back. My plans got sidetracked by a major back injury which lead to back surgery in 2009. After surgery I reached my highest weight ever, 239.6lbs and was in the worst shape of my life. I needed medical clearance to even start exercising due to my injury.

In august 2009 I started trying to eat better and lost a few pounds. I was going to physiotherapy and was seeing some results in terms of recovering from the surgery. I was able to obtain permission from my doctor to start exercising again in Sept 2009 and started using an elliptical machine. I was only able to do about 5 minutes on the easiest setting and was winded and in pain. I still wanted to get control of my life back.

I found out about Kerry during a work training day when another of Kerry’s clients made a presentation for my office. I was instantly drawn to the fact that Kerry could combine the diet and exercise, something I had never found before. I also liked the fact that she had competed before so she knew what was necessary to get there. I took Kerry’s card and called her. I was determined not to stay overweight and in pain any longer.The idea that I had found someone who would be able to get me to competition was exciting as well.

I signed up for the 16 week nutritional monitoring and personal training. Kerry was great to work with right from the start. She designed my program around my injury and worked with my physio and massage therapists to make sure I was continually getting better. I started the eating plan and actually found it hard to eat everything I was supposed to, there was so much food. The weight started falling off and with it, exercise became easier and my back pain got better. Kerry has been totally supportive and helped push me along the way. Making small changes to my diet to keep my body burning fat along the way and reminding me that I am making a life long change and that it takes time.

So far I have lost a total of 70lbs since August 2009 and 60lbs of it with Kerry’s help and guidance. I am still dealing with permanent back issues and pain but with that exception, I have never been in better shape in my whole life. I went from barely being able to do 5 minutes on an elliptical to being able to run for a half hour seven days a week. I feel like something is missing in my day if I don’t go to the gym. I have run into a few more issues in my personal life and have taken a break from the nutritional monitoring for now but still managed to lose weight and keep it off. I feel better than I have for years. I am not finished my journey and still want to make it to competition at some point but am finally happy with myself. I no longer feel like food or physical injury can dictate the terms of my life. I am looking forward to the rest of the journey with Kerry.

Marina Griffiths