Mark said, All my adult life I have gone through what I call fat to fit and back again. I would yo-yo between being very fit and burning myself out. I’d let myself go and then start the process all over again.

My habit was always to go hard early and get everything right straight away. The problem with this is that it wasn't long before I’d burn out and get sick of what I was doing, Mark explained 

Mark went on to say, I work for a community transport company transporting clients to doctor's surgeries and major hospitals. I noticed during this time the amount of morbidly obese patients and just generally unfit people I was seeing. I realized that this was a view into my future if I didn't do something soon. It was like having my very own crystal ball.

I knew that many of these folks could have avoided their health issues if they had only done something sooner. I wasn’t going to push my luck any longer.

Mark knew that approaching things the way he always had was not the answer. He was ready for something that would change his health once and for all; something he knew he would be able to sustain; something that would have him feeling healthy, happy, and energetic.

Mark’s top tips for avoiding the back of the ambulance:

1. Be consistent. Good habits will always beat good intentions. If you do what you've always done you'll get what you've always got. You need to find a way to ensure that you build changes into a new lifestyle. Slowly, one step at a time- that is the only way to make it happen.

2. Preparation is key having your meals done in advance will make meal times easier and will save you heaps of time! On top of that being prepared keeps you on track and helps you to avoid grabbing anything you know won't help you.

3. Stop wasting time, act now!  Stop procrastinating. Make a deal with yourself-get all your food prep and workouts completed before doing anything else. You’d be amazed how much time you really DO have.

4. Stay focused & Keep Perspective don't let one bad day ruin weeks of focus and dedication. Before you put that muffin or chocolate in your mouth, ask yourself, “Do I really need this? Will this help me get where I want to be?"

5. Remember your ‘why’. Every so often ask yourself, “ WHY am I doing this?” Keep those reasons at the forefront of your mind. Place reminders in places where you will see them- at work, on the mirror, on the refrigerator. My why's...

To have a great quality of life
To be a role model to my family – “do as I do, not merely as I say”
To look, feel and function fantastically for the rest of my life.

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