Hello Beautiful People,

My name is Alana and is my journey so far.  My journey is far from over, but each and every day is a gift and I intend to make 2018 my year.   As a young person, I was very fit and healthy, sport of any kind was my main focus, but at the age of 15 I had an accident which nearly cost me my life.  My parents were told I may never walk again, but after spinal surgery and lots of physio I not only walked again, I ran.   I married the love of my life, settled on the Sunshine Coast and had 3 amazing kids.  I was happy and I was too busy being a good wife and Mum to worry about my own health, so my weight ballooned.  I began the never-ending life of a Yo Yo dieter, I tried everything on the market.  I’d loose some weight, but gain it and some more back.

In 2013 my oldest son got married, the family photo was beautiful, but I hated how I looked, I felt like a short fat oompa lumpa beside my tall stunning family – I HAD TO CHANGE.  I joined a gym, started doing PTs and classes and by the end of 2014 I was so close to my goal weight, I could see myself in my recently purchased bikinis, I had lost 54kgs and I felt fantastic.  But life had other plans for me.  In February 2015, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, boom my life took a drastic turn.  I quit my high pressure, demanding job and began to fight for my life.   After surgery and chemo, I had won my battle, but sadly I’d gained back 27kgs and mild depression came upon me.  At the gym, I was just a member, I needed more, I needed someone to help me emotionally as well as physically.

A friend introduced me to Mel and MAB Personal Training & Adventures.  I started training with Mel at least twice a week and she was exactly what I needed.  Training became fun, I not only began to loose weight again, I began to find my inner strength, determination and fight.  I was once again feeling fantastic.  It’s funny how life works, they say you’re only given what you can handle, I thought I’d been given enough hurdles in my life, I didn’t think I could handle much more, but once again in July 2016 the big C was back.  I ran away from my life, I’d had enough, what was the point in trying to be healthy, what was the point in trying to be fit, what was the point in fighting and I came dangerously close to giving up on life.  Now this is why I love Mel so much and why MAB is such an awesome place to be.  Mel didn’t let me give up, she messaged me and rang me constantly until I finally spoke with her, Mel not only cared about me as a person, she knew how important it was for me to not give up, to not give into the depression I was falling into.  Mel stood by me every step of the next 6-month journey of gruelling chemo, I lost my hair and I struggled with the effects the medication had in my body.  I continued training with Mel throughout my treatment and I managed to not put on as much weight this time which was awesome.

Mel has taught me so much, I am a strong woman but sometimes my mental health needed more attention than my physical health and that’s such an amazing gift Mel has, to be able to talk you through life’s hiccups and show you there is a light at the end of what seems an endless tunnel.    As I said I still have a long way to go on my journey to being the best possible version of me I can be, but I know I can and I will do it.  Having Mel and the entire MAB family supporting me makes the journey a whole lot more fun.

Live Big

Love Big

Dream Big and do lots of star jumps because life is totally worth celebrating

Alana’s Family 2013

Alana Training Dec 2017

Mel & Alana After Hill Sprints