Member Story: Connor Jenkinson
Gosford member, Connor, speaks about his journey toward weight loss and better physical and mental health.
My name’s Connor Jenkinson and 2 years ago I was in the worst shape of my life, weighing in at a whopping 142kg with little to no fitness level to speak of. I was depressed, with no friends and in a very dark place. I was nearly at the end of the line, so to speak, in terms of mental health.
Thankfully, there was one light filled day during those dark times where I actually had a spark to go and do something about it. So, that day my ma and I signed myself up to a program called Head Space and started the journey I’m still currently on. Firstly, I got myself on track with my mental health, thanks to my councillor Belinda, as well as my personal helper Sam. After around 8 months I had improved drastically, from not being able to go outside thinking I was being judged about my weight by everyone on the planet, to being able to outside and actually do things without always watching my back.
I felt so proud of myself that I thought I could start my weight loss journey, because I had a shred of confidence lingering in there somewhere. So, I started doing some diets and then started getting depressed because I had no will power and they were too hard for me, until I found a diet that did work for me. The “5-2” diet, and by god it worked and worked and worked! I had lost 20 kg and 2 sizes the first year by just dieting and doing the odd bit of exercise. For me this was an absolute huge boost of confidence and morale.
I started to have more confidence with myself and could actually now talk to strangers for a short time without it being too awkward. This drove me think that there could be more and I could do better. During this phase of my life I actually started making quite of lot of amazing friends (you know who you are) who helped to keep me on track. They helped me quit drugs and cigarettes which I was taking to help take away the pain.
I was amazed how easily I quit those bad habits and it got me wondering how did I do it? Then it came to me that not only was I continuing to lose weight but I had grown more confidence in myself.
The year is 2015, the month around July and by now I had lost a whopping 30kg on the same diet, but had plateaued to around 112kg. Which is amazing, but my goal weight was 105kg so I had to think of a way to get there. Around this time I had even more confidence and my friends and family were really getting me on the straight and narrow. A friend mentioned to me (you know who you are) if I was interested in going to the gym, because she needed someone to go with. After a month or two of umming and ahhing I finally got the motivation to give it ago.
THAT IS WHEN MY LIFE CHANGED FOR THE BETTER.
I got addicted to the gym. Whenever I woke up until when I went to bed I was thinking of the gym. It got to the point where I was hounding my friend (basically begging) to go to the gym with me because I didn’t have a membership at that time, so I could only go with her. She was getting fed up (at least I think she was!) and told me to go and buy a membership because I was so into it. So, the very next day I went into my gym (Planet Fitness – Gosford) and signed up with no regrets.
The year is 2016 around February, I was trying to go twice a week and doing my all but I wanted more gains, I wanted more progress. I was getting addicted to the atmosphere and the gym family. So, I started putting in the hard yards and going at least 2 times a week. My body weight was now 107kg and I had also gained a bit of muscle.
A few months down the track and here we are. Going to the gym 5+ times a week and totally loving it. I’m now not ashamed of my weight, I have more confidence than I had ever had in my whole life and I am down to 103kg, lifting double and a half of what I could have when I first started. My goal weight is now 90kg and it’s within reach. Once I reach it, I will have lost a humongous 52kg!
My journey has been one of many ups and downs, but one thing I’d like to say that might help people to start their journey is this: You know you can do the hard work. Deep down you have it in you to achieve your goals, because if I could do it from where I was then you can. You just need to take that insanely hard leap onto the right road and then everything will fall into place. I just want to thank all my friends and my family, my helpers and also my gym. Planet fitness West Gosford, without you I’d be lost.