Melanie Ebner thought her pre-baby body and active lifestyle were a thing of the past until she enlisted the help of The Biggest Loser trainer, Shannan Ponton.
She shed 21kg with Shannan’s 8 week Fast Track Challenge and loves fitness so much now she is embarking on a career as a personal trainer.
The 37-year-old mum of 3, from Balberra in Queensland let the challenges of everyday life and raising a young family get in the way of her once active life, with her weight ballooning to 80kg before she decided it was time to do something about it.
She signed-up to Shannan’s exclusive online program and is now back to her pre-baby weight of 59kg. Even better, she feels fit, healthy and has lots more energy.
“Before joining Shannan’s Challenge, I was cranky with everyone and everything.
“I got into the habit of eating deep-fried foods, takeaways and had lots of social drinks with friends, which meant chips and dip, cheeses, salami and other processed meats. Plus my portion sizes were way too big.”
Melanie looked in the mirror and realised that the 37 year old woman staring back at her bore little resemblance to the slim girl she had been in her 20s.
“With the kids finally at school, I decided I could allow myself some time each day to lose the weight.”
She tried several diets, including Body Trim, Tony Ferguson and the Atkins diet but none were the right fit.
“When I read about Shannan’s Challenge and what it would entail and that there were options for both gym and home workouts, I was sold.”
For someone like Melanie, juggling work, 3 children and part-time study, the detailed menu and exercise plans on Shannan’s Challenge are ideal.
“Having everything all set out means there’s no excuses – you just do it,” she says.
“The recipes are adaptable for my family, and easy to prepare. There are no expensive or hard-to-find ingredients either. We have several favourites on regular rotation.”
The support of Shannan and the other Challengers has also been invaluable.
“The online meetings are fun and I have made a great group of friends – people I’ve never met but who are likeminded. The personal involvement of Shannan through the meetings and Facebook is fantastic encouragement. It keeps me accountable too!”
“I am proud to say I have completed all the Challenges so far and it’s been the best thing I have done in ages.”
Melanie has become so dedicated to her fitness that she is studying her Certificate III and IV in Fitness and plans to start her own personal training business.
Today, Melanie feels fitter and healthier than she was in her 20s.
Here are Melanie’s top tips for completing Shannan’s Challenge.
1. Exercise with a friend
“You have got to move it to lose it. If you can train with someone it really helps to keep you going. We have a group of 5 ladies who train at my place at least twice a week.
2. Dream big but take it day by day
“You have to dream big to achieve big – I dream big every day now. Also, small steps can lead to big things – making small changes everyday and adding to them will see you on the road to a healthier lifestyle.”
3. Keep visual reminders
“I have ‘before’ pictures on my phone as a reminder and motivator for when things get tough and I don’t feel like a workout – that soon gets me moving again.”
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Motherpedia has one complimentary place to give to a lucky reader to participate in the next 8 Week Fast Track Challenge starting on 8th April, valued at $149. To enter, tell us in 25 words or less what your primary goal would be in taking part.
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