It’s not just that Edith has halved her body weight through diet and exercise and it’s not just that Edith has been battling her own life threatening health crisis whilst continuing to care for others. This is all about how, through it all, Edith has maintained her belief in the value of being positive, persistent and philosophical about life, no matter what!
Currently helping adults and children who have lost homes as a result of domestic violence, Edith is at present, focusing on slowly regaining physical health after experiencing her own health emergency. Edith has come to believe that no matter what life throws at you, it’s important to remain optimistic, because the power to do whatever we want or be whoever we want to be is within us!
We recently learned of Edith’s story and the challenges she has faced and we were so inspired and moved, we asked if we could share her journey with others.
When something unexpected happens, Edith recommends yelling “plot twist” and moving on.
This is Edith’s story in Edith’s words….
When my partner of 10 years died, I remember looking into a mirror and saying all the negative things you could ever say about yourself, like “you are fat and ugly.”
I didn’t really know who I was or what I wanted to do in my Life. I felt like closing up and never letting anyone close again. This was when I realised I had spent my life taking care of others and not myself.
I knew I had to do something, that I had to reach out, but I had no friends and was living in outback Australia.
I remember meeting Janet, an online Personal Trainer from Sydney. We kept sending each other articles about different things and she wrote me my first weight training program. One day she sent me an article on this fighter’s diet. I told her “I am going to do this!”…
Six Weeks later I was 11 Kilos lighter – my journey had begun!
I then met another Personal Trainer, Kate on the Katefitz Facebook page who was running a competition. With her help, I learned I could still eat a lot of food and still lose weight and I lost another 6 kilos following this program.
Inspired by these two amazing Personal Trainers, I decided “that’s what I want to do – become a Personal Trainer.”
The picture below shows my little home gym…
I wanted to help others be their best selves, no matter what that felt and looked like to them.
After I completed a Certificate III in Fitness with TAFE, I decided I wanted more. I found Fitness Institute had a course for Children, so I RPL’d my Cert III and completed my Certificate IV in Fitness in 2015.
My mentor for my studies was Donna Curtis, who took me in as a work placement student (if I ever become 1/5 the Personal Trainer Donna is I will feel blessed). Not only did Donna help me get through the coursework she also become my friend.
I was so motivated, I commenced the Certificate IV in Weight Management, as I really wanted to learn more about food and what it did to the body as well as write food plans. Little did I know I wouldn’t be able to complete it at that time…..
I was told I had stage 4 Lung Cancer….
I had to be flown from my home town to Dubbo Hospital where it was discovered I had 2 Brain Lesions. I had to be flown to Sydney RPA Hospital the very next day. Surgery went well but results from the biopsy of the lesion showed they were metastasized from a lung cancer.
I did my best to think positively and stayed in Sydney for a while before I had to take the 9 hour train and bus trip home, which was good because within two days I was admitted back to Sydney RPA Hospital with Pneumonia.
Three weeks later, just when I was getting ready to go home, I had to be transferred across the street to the Chris O’brien Life house where I had five radiation treatments to ensure the cancer was gone from my brain.
I was fortunate that prior to being hospitalised I had developed more muscle and was in the best health and shape of my life. I had lost half my body weight, going from 110 kilos to 55 kilos by focusing on my diet and a plan set up by ISSA Certified Nutrition specialist and friend, Paige VanDemark.
Paige’s combined knowledge of strength, conditioning and nutrition was instrumental in helping me decide to do a weight management course in order to learn more about the body and how our diet affects it.
My Oncologist saved my life!
After I got home I met an Oncologist at Dubbo Base Hospital Oncology Department who helped me with a compassionate plea to start trial medications for my cancer.
I was accepted in the trial and six months later I was told I was Cancer free!
I had to continue treatment for another year but continuing treatment without the cancer triggered my Lupus and I broke out in rash and endured severe pain. My Oncologist took me off my treatments and I had to have scans every 3 months. I was able to visit him monthly where I lived, instead of having to make a 3-hour drive.
I also want to thank all my friends, especially…..
Tracy Ahern who was my rock.
Philip Sherriff of Fitness Institute whose support and caring truly demonstrates Fitness Institute is not just another Fitness school – it’s an Institute that believes in people, willing to help when someone has a problem or need.
And last, but certainly not least…my dogs of which I now only have one, Minimi, my life saver, who greets me with excitement and love no matter how long I have been away…..
