Fitness really does change lives.
Just ask anyone who has been prepared to stare down their demons, shut out their insecurities, and admit to themselves that their lives could be improved.
New sneakers, new attitude, new life.
Someone who is walking proof of this is 35-year-old Scott Sutton, who recently decided that it was time for a life change, after packing on well over 100kg throughout his troubled life.
"At the age of 14 I was diagnosed with anxiety depression, which developed into a secondary personality disorder" says Scott.
Basically, I became what people had labelled me."
And things only got worse.
"I had become a very bitter and angry person, I lost my soul" Scott says.
"Depression led to many issues for me, it made me vulnerable to myself and others. That vulnerability led to bankruptcy and a failed suicide attempt. My life had come to the point where waking up in the morning was hard."
"My life had come to the point where waking up in the morning was hard."
But then, Scott discovered fitness, and slowy and surely, his life changed.
"In 2012 I lost my Mum to breast cancer, her battle and courage was amazing. During her battle and through her strength and courage - I learnt just how powerful the mind really is" Scott reflects.
"It also made me realise how much I had let others influence my life and how little I respected my life" Scott says.
And things didn't get any easier.
"3 weeks after my Mum passed away, my wife left me" Scott says.
But instead of putting his head in his hands - Scott Sutton looked forward.
He found the silver lining in one of the lowest points of his life.
"It was then I knew this was my opportunity to change my life" Scott says.
And so it began.
Through hard training, and gradually learning about diet, Scott Sutton miraculously dropped a whopping 73 kg in 16 months.
Yep. 73 kgs in 16 months.
"I needed to understand that this wasn't about diet, it was about lifestyle" Scott says.
"With my eating habits I started slow, one meal at a time. I came to understand that I had to fuel my body with only what I need. I read and sought to understand calories and kilojoules."
And like everything, there was plenty of trial and error.
"My early weight loss days consisted mostly of cardio work and a lot of walking and cage fit classes. But I have always done what I could maintain."
Then, Scott Sutton stepped it up a gear, taking on a 200km bike ride to raise money for cancer (below).
Then, it was time for the iron.
"As my weight came down I moved towards weights, as I found out they are a great form of cardio themselves," explains Scott.
"Now I'm in the toning phase, I have a mass of loose skin in which I'm working towards trying to take up with muscle. I could go and have the loose skin removed, but to me it's a battle scar and a reminder never to go back."
"I could go and have the loose skin removed, but to me it's a battle scar and a reminder never to go back."
"The key is that everybody is different and what works for them may not work for you, but may give you ideas. My journey is far from over, but it's well on it way," says Scott.
Scott Sutton quickly learnt that a better life via fitness is for anyone, and he too could do it.
"Over the years I had tried to diet and lose weight, but I always put it in the too hard basket. What I hadn't realised was that everybody is different and I needed to understand my body."
And now, there's not ONE regret in the world of Scott Sutton.
Fitness has completely changed my life, I feel like a kid again. Point blank I feel Re-born!" Scott boasts.
"People treat me different, no longer are they laughing or calling me names. They are looking and admiring."
"Also, I no longer take any medication and I'm expecting my 1st child with my new partner. 12 months ago this wouldn't have been possible."
And so after 16 months of intense work and NO short cuts, Scott's life took a turn for the better.
It doesn't matter WHO you are, how OLD you are, or what GENDER you are.
If you're desperate for a life change - fitness CAN and WILL take you there.
Just ask Scott Sutton.
Author
Dayne Hudson