So I
find myself at the top of a mountain in the Gold Coast in the presence of Steve
Willis, aka “The Commando” from The Biggest Loser Australia, one of my fitness
idols. When he entered the room, I
turned to jelly, a huge grin slapped across my face, all I could do was pinch
my mate Kayla who I’d dragged along with me. I’d been waiting for this trip all year, the day had finally
arrived.
Showing of my guns with Steve after the final 3 hour training session!
I’ve
always been very independent, never relying on others. I organise myself, my meals, my
training. I get the job done for
me. The first training session
included a fitness test from which we were split into four teams (Alpha, Bravo,
Charlie and Delta). This scared me
a little more than it should have.
I would be putting my fate in the hands of other people. People I’d just met. I realised during my time with Steve,
the importance of being in a team and how you have to trust and support each
other to make it through the tough times.
Yes I knew this before, I knew team work was important, but training has
always been me, alone, pushing for myself. I’ve always associated team work with a professional
environment. At work. At Uni. In schools. It wasn’t until I was faced with a HUGE
rope and a 300+ kilo tyre and told to drag it 500 meters up a hill and back down
again without looping the rope or letting it touch the ground, that I truly
realsied the importance of being in a team and working together. It was an insanely grueling task and
the mere thought of it had me in an absolute panic. All the old thoughts of “it’s not possible.” “Pft! He’s
kidding right?!” “I should just
give up now,” fleetingly flashed through my mind, but I know I’m stronger than
my excuses. I knew I had my team
there to support me. We did
it. We won the challenge! It was a euphoric moment. It wasn’t easy by any means, the rope
constantly slipped off the tyre, we kept stopping, had to wait for cars to pass
etc, etc… But we worked together and got the job done, of course with the
encouraging words of The Commando in front of us!
Tyre flipping, Commando style!
Dragging the tyre up hill...
I
did and leanred amazing things during the camp. It was during our second training session on the second day
(10am) that something simply “clicked”.
I can’t really explain it any other way than that I was in excruciating
pain, DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) but was pushing through… hey, only
for Commando! Something inside me
broke and I became a machine, some kind of demon I didn’t recognise. My face was crewed up in pain and
determination and I was making some foul grunting noises I’ve never heard before,
as I punched out a 2.5km run up and down hills, followed by dead lifts AMRAP in
20 minutes. That was followed by
50 dumb bell snatches, 800 meter run up and down a hill with a 15 kilo sand
bag, 50 more dumb bell snatches and another sandbag run… I was ontop of the
world! My heart was racing and I
was gasping for breath but I was elated.
I’d done it. I’d broken
through the pain barrier I’d set and smashed the workout. It was at that point I refocused,
remembered that I could do anything I wanted, and that I am SO MUCH STRONGER
than I ever thought possible.
I
came away from the camp totally elated yet absolutely smashed. I feel like I’ve changed. I got the kick up the butt I needed to
keep pushing, to push harder, give everything a go and always believe I
can. Thanks to Steve for bringing
out a side of me I didn’t know existed, for coaching me and working with me,
even after training had finished, when I’d gone back to give something a go
alone, Steve popped his head out and was there to help me achieve. Finally, to the incredible group of
strong women and men in the group who made me realise that it is never too
late, if you want something, work for it, go out and get it. To the ladies who pushed me through
each and every workout, when I was ready to quit or slow down and take a break,
they wouldn’t let me, encouraging me to keep going every step of the way. Finally thank-you to the inspirational Mums
who took it upon themselves to look out for Kayla and I! You guys rock!
Liz
Xox
The wonderful group, minus a few!
Kayla and I, disgustingly dirty, with Steve on the last day
I may have asked Steve to sign me ;) He he!
Unnecessary wall squat... the things i'll do for clean hair!!
