PAULA SHOWS PATH TO FITNESS AND HEALTH
I love helping people … I’ll put my hand up every time
PAULA POOL
TWENTY years ago, this Townsville mother was “30kg overweight, drank like a fish and smoked a pack a day”.
Now she’s been recognised as the city’s best personal trainer.
Paula Pool has been a star of the fitness scene in North Queensland for two decades, but she began from the bottom before the fancy photo shoots and national bodybuilding titles.
“I was a fatty. I was overweight and my husband asked me to marry him,” Ms Pool said. “I was 30kg overweight, drank like a fish and smoked a pack a day. But there’s nothing like a wedding to pull your head out of your a---. I got a PT and started on my fitness journey. Within the first week, I gave up alcohol and coffee for a month, and doing that helped me kick the ciggy habit.”
Ms Pool married Paddy in June
2002 and became a personal trainer soon after.
“I just love helping people and seeing them go from a couch potato to 100km trail runs or not having high blood pressure and more energy,” she said.
“It’s not just about weight loss, it’s all over. Healthy mind, healthy body.
“People come in and train for their mental health. It’s important for me to make my clients laugh.
“We all have a laugh in my little studio,” Ms Pool said.
The mother-of-two said she woke at 3am every day and did not stop until almost 7pm between her personal training, charity work and looking after her kids.
“If you really want to do something it becomes a non-negotiable and you’ll fit it in. I love helping people … I’ll put my hand up every time. My husband is really supportive, I couldn’t do it without him.”
Ms Pool said she was grateful she was voted as the city’s best PT by Bulletin readers. “It’s so sweet to get that. I’m a bit of a dinosaur in the PT space. To be recognised is fantastic.”