"The Fittest I've Been in 30 Years"

John Williams is living proof that life begins at whatever age you choose to start it. Aged in his 50's, John says that he is the fittest he's been in 30 years and last year completed a lifelong dream - walking the Kokoda Track. It was a spiritual and physical goal that, two years ago, John would have said was impossible.

John's wake up call came when, overweight and with looming heart problems, his Doctor "threw him out of the consulting room" saying "no more pills until you lose weight". He reacted to this stark ultimatum by joining a weight loss program at the Wesley Weight Management Clinic.

He was given a medically supervised eating and exercise program designed for him and supported by weekly monitoring and coaching sessions with the Clinic's team of Dietitians, Exercise Physiologists, Psychologists and Doctors. With help from this team, John lost 32kg in five months. He says his weight loss occurred just as much in his head as in his body.

"My weight loss program brought about a transformation in my way of thinking on a number of levels," he said. "I've learned about setting goals and becoming more participative in what's going on in life - I'm not a just a spectator anymore."

When John started feeling better about his slimmer and fitter self, a world of possibilities opened up. His personal goal to walk the Kokoda Track became one of enlisting fellow Rotarians to go with him, which blossomed into regular group training sessions and gaining sponsorship for the walk.

John spearheaded the raising of $46 000 of funds, enough to send 30 Legacy teenagers on an Outward Bound course in July and send Kokoda Track veteran, George Palmer of the 39th Battalion, on his first trip back to Papua New Guinea for a memorial service for war photographer Damien Parer.

John walked the 96 km Kokoda Track with 16 Rotarians, the oldest of whom was 69. "It was a personal achievement and a very emotional achievement," he says. Walking, some days up to 10 hours, on the notorious jungle track caused John "absolutely no problems. I'm ready to go again".

For more information about the Wesley Weight Management Clinic's medically supervised weight loss program or to book your obligation-free initial assessment with one of our Dietitians, call 1800 567 348 or complete our online enquiry form.