Hi my name is Ani, I started with Global-Mark in April. Before coming here I worked for the same company for almost 16 years, with a background in Real Estate & Finance. I felt it was time for a change, I was no longer challenged and felt I had achieved all I could within the company I worked for.
I am married, I have 3 human babies and 2 fur babies. I grew up in the Hills District however spent 2 years on the sunny Gold Coast before having my 3rd baby, and then decided to move back home. I love to travel, my favourite destination is Bali, I try to get there at least once a year. I dislike cold weather and if I could live somewhere that’s hot and sunny all year round I would. When people meet me, they think I am shy, quiet and reserved, but I’m actually quite loud, outgoing and a bit of a tomboy. People would also be surprised to know I listen to gangster rap. I love challenging myself, each year I take part in the Spartan Race, and I am always up for active adventures. Reality TV is definitely my guilty pleasure, oh and chocolate lava pudding!
Almost 8 years ago I welcomed my 3rd child into the world. My husband was a nightshift worker, my eldest son had just been diagnosed with Autism, I had a very active toddler and a newborn who didn’t sleep. My days were spent holding my baby who wouldn’t let me put him down and avoiding having to take him anywhere for fear he would just scream the entire time. Anxiety started creeping in and before I knew it I’d isolated myself from friends and family, I doubled my body weight and was feeling overwhelmed.
I was diagnosed with Post Natal Depression & Anxiety, the medication I was put on made me gain even more weight, and I was miserable. I joined the gym and did a few PT sessions, but the motivation just wasn’t there. I tried every diet you could think of, my “favourite” was the bro diet, you know chicken broccoli and brown rice (sigh). I couldn’t stick to any of them. A friend of mine joined F45 and encouraged me to try it out. I was hesitant at first because it looked hard core and I was unfit. After a few months of her pestering me I finally decided to give it a go (just to get her off my back) I signed up for my free week trial and booked in for a 5:30 am session the next day (anyone who knew me back then would tell you getting up that early was not my thing.
However I’d made a commitment to my friend so I dragged myself there, and I was surprised… I felt alive, I felt energised, I felt free, I felt like I hadn’t felt in years, like I was on top of the world. For that 45 mins, there was no kids, no housework, no responsibility, it was just me, the pumping music, and a great group of people, encouraging me and cheering me on. I loved that I didn’t have to think about anything, the whole workout was planned out for me, I just had to turn up and have fun (yes it’s actually fun) I went back the next day, and the next, and by the time my free trial was up I was hooked. I started to lose weight and started feeling good about myself.\
What I didn’t expect is that my Depression and Anxiety started to lift, and I started to feel confident. My goals changed from wanting to lose weight to wanting to change my body composition, so I started looking into what was required. I educated myself on the different types of training and the diet required, I learned about counting macros (macros are protein’s, carbs and fats that make up food), this way of dieting allowed me to continue to drop weight, and re shape my body all whist still enjoying all the foods I love (good bye bro diet, hello chocolate lava pudding).
Fast forward 4 years and when I look back on who I was before I started my journey I don’t even recognise that person anymore. I know this is a huge statement, but F45 changed my life, it gave me the start I needed to enjoy living again. It’s cliché but when you start out on your weight loss journey it often ends up being a personal development journey, it’s life changing because behind our weight gain is always something deeper. Exercise is no longer about changing my external appearance it’s about keeping my depression and anxiety at bay, taking time out for myself, having a better relationship with myself, socialising with the great friends I’ve made, and helping others with their journey.
Ani Managh, Certification Analyst
