Pursuit of healthiness
’Start simple’ and go from there
MARK Thompson’s fitness journey took him from pre diabetic to Kokoda Track conqueror in the space of a year.
The Hamlyn Heights resident weighed 122kg when a doctor’s grim assessment of his future spurred him into action.
“The doctor said you need to make some lifestyle changes, lose some weight and take care of yourself,” he said.
On that advice, Mr Thompson joined Weight Watchers and began walking daily using a fitness tracker to count his steps.
“I started eating better, healthier foods, not so much quantity and then being active,” he said.
A short time later the Bethany employee put his hand up to participate in the youth Kokoda program his company sponsors.
“I put my name in for that because I’d already been losing weight and feeling good and I got picked,” he said.
“I might not have got chosen had I not already been on that journey.”
The 55-year-old’s fierce determination has since had him recognised as one of four winners of the GMHBA Pursuit of Healthiness competition.
As part of his prize he won a free health assessment, a free Run Geelong entry and a motivational session with GMHBA ambassador Cameron Ling.
The Cats premiershipwinning captain shared stories of his own health journey which evolved from training to be fit for footy, to fit for life.
“I’ve always loved being healthy but for so long it was my job, now I just enjoy feeling good and feeling that I can get out and run around with the kids,” Ling said.
“I still love going for a surf occasionally, I still love going for a run, taking the dog for a walk, simple things like that.
“I like doing them but I also like the feeling I get after doing them.”
Mr Thompson’s advice to those looking to get moving is to “start simple”.
“It doesn’t take money, I didn’t have to join a gym or anything like that I just started walking,” he said.
“And you don’t have to think of it necessarily as exercise you can get involved in a charity walk or run and think of it as being social instead.”
Having only returned from Kokoda a few weeks ago, where he carried his own 19kg backpack for the duration of the hike, Mr Thompson is looking for a new challenge.
“In the beginning it was a chore, now I enjoy it,” he said.
At his recent GMHBA health assessment Mr Thompson weighed in at 99kg — his first time under 100kg in 25 years — and was deemed to have a metabolic age of 43.