TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM TESTIMONIALS
Our participants love our retreats so much that they want to tell you all about their transformations. Many of them will even be happy to chat to you about their experience. Register your interest to find out about our next retreat.
Toni Geyer
Toni joined the program to finally prioritise herself, and it became a turning point. With 9.5 kgs lost, a huge boost in energy, and a major mindset shift, she’s now confidently making time for movement, strength, and her own well-being—proving that real change starts with choosing you.
" I started the Level Up program because I needed to do something for me. I had focused on kids, parents, and my husband, and it was my time. It looked like the perfect program because I could do it at home, on my own time.
I was very nervous about taking part. I had no self-confidence in my ability to control weight loss or exercise regularly. I needed direction, and I was unsure if I’d get that from the program, but I did. It was fantastic.
The gorgeous weather was one of the main reasons for doing it. This was my reward for completing the retreat and the program. I enjoyed the walking and doing strength work in the mornings. I absolutely loved the kayaking—it took me back to my childhood.
I lost almost nine kilos. Before, I often felt sick in my gut and would reward myself with lollies after work. Now, I go to the shops and reward myself with celery, which I love munching on the way home.
I have so much more energy. I can get out of bed and go for a walk, and I come home from work and go for a walk. My animals love that part too. I’ve lived in Goulburn for 28 years and to go out half an hour from home and do a bushwalk I hadn’t done since my kids were little was amazing. I did it by myself, which I thought was very brave. I also went swimming at Goulburn Pool for the first time since my kids were little, which was wonderful.
I fully recommend the Level Up program. When I talked about weight loss with doctors or dieticians, they just said cut calories without telling me how. The Level Up program was clear—cut carbs—and gave me numbers to work with, which was really good. The list of carbohydrates in foods was helpful too. Dieticians might say potatoes or pasta are okay but it’s what you put on them. I haven’t had pasta, potato, or rice, and I feel so much better.
The weight loss was a bonus. The real bonuses were the exercise and getting muscle definition—I think I have muscle definition now.
Mentally, the program made me focus on me. After the first week, my mental health and mindset changed, and it became easier to continue.
The mindset shift made me more aware of what I’m doing—looking at my day and thinking, I can go for a walk now or exercise now. Being dropped off in town with three hours before work and not going to a cafe for coffee but going to the pool and reading a book was wonderful.”
Tina Taylor
Tina used the program as a fresh kickstart after several attempts to get fitter and lose weight. With strong support and a focus on both exercise and nutrition, she’s lost over 10kgs boosted her fitness, and transformed everyday activities—turning long walks into regular, manageable routines with renewed confidence.
" I’ve been trying to get fitter and lose weight. I thought this was my chance because I’d been trying for a couple of years and hadn’t been able to lose any. I thought this was my chance to do a kickstart and try that because I’d tried other kickstarts that didn’t work. I’d sort of failed on all my other attempts. I thought maybe this time I could do it, and if there was some help rather than trying on my own, it would be good to give it a go.
I lost 8.75 kilos, so I’m pretty happy with that. It’s really just a kickstart, and I’m going to keep going. I was surprised that with the low-carb foods, I was actually eating more food but still losing weight. I think it’s the exercise and food combined that did it. Every time I’ve done it before, I haven’t done as much exercise as we had to do. I feel heaps better in myself and am able to do exercises a lot better. I can feel I’ve gotten a lot fitter during these six or seven weeks.
I think you need the support and help, like the weekly catch-ups. Rob would call me individually every time I got worried I couldn’t do it. There’s heaps of support, and it really works. I’d say go for it and give it a go. The treats are fantastic. It helped me stay more positive instead of thinking I failed. It gave me more determination because I knew it was working.
The daily win really helped me do a lot of self-reflection and stay positive. I’ve had really good days and no bad days while on the program. Before, 4K was a really long walk for me, and now it’s my regular walk. Five Ks is my mini walk. My daughter laughed and said, “Your short walks are 4.5 Ks?” I said yes. That was really good because before I was struggling to do about 5Ks. Today, we did 9Ks a couple of times, and I sit around 7Ks, which I can do more comfortably.
I’ve really come a long way with walking. With CrossFit exercises I couldn’t do before, I can now actually do some. Some I still struggle with, but others I’ve gotten a lot better at. I can feel myself being a lot fitter.”
Tracey Tyler
Tracey has completed the program three times, and each experience has offered something unique. This time, it was a deeper mental shift that stood out—bringing renewed determination, a stronger sense of self-belief, and a reminder that there’s always something new to gain, no matter where you're at in the journey.
“I was looking for another reset of my health. It was a personal thing. Every time I've done the Level Up Program, there's been a different outcome. It's not so much physical outcomes but mental ones. The first time I did it, I did it with Gary, so that was a good thing to do together. I learned certain things, and the next time I really enjoyed it more and felt I got more out of it.
This time there was a lot of introspective work I did when walking and thinking. On the third time around, I got more out of it on a deeper mental level.
Before Level Up, I was giving up on things a bit. It wouldn't take much for me to give up on something. This time, I was a lot more persistent because I knew there would be a good outcome. Post-retreat, I feel very capable and determined.
That’s the big difference. I’ve got the health benefits too—the physical and mental well-being side—but I’ve also looked at my personality and my belief in myself has been reinforced.
Of course, I’d recommend it. There’s so much to gain and many different stages of Level Up. Some people will get more out of it for weight loss and fitness; others will get more out of it emotionally or spiritually. You get a combination of bits and pieces depending on your gaps, and the Level Up Retreat will help with those areas. I definitely recommend it."
Rebecca Hopper
This program gave Rebecca the push and accountability she needed to finally tackle goals she’d struggled with for years. With strong support, clear nutrition guidance, and daily intention-setting, she gained not only physical results but a renewed focus and pride in herself—showing that success comes from commitment and planning.
" When we first talked about the program, it seemed like something I needed to give me a push forward and be more accountable. I didn’t really know what to expect and didn’t expect it to be so intense. The support throughout the whole challenge was really strong and that was one of the best parts. It kept me very accountable — it wasn’t just, “off you go, let us know how it goes.” It was more like, “no, you need to do this this week.”
I had a goal of losing seven to ten percent of my body weight, which I’d never achieved before. It’s always on my list every year, but it never happens. I realised that nothing changes if nothing changes, so something had to give. I was a bit unsure at first because I didn’t know each week would get more challenging, but by week three or four, I understood and got on board.
The support from Emily, you, and Hayley was amazing. The nutrition info was especially helpful — I didn’t realise how many carbs were hidden in foods or how my little treats were undoing everything.
One thing that really clicked was setting a daily intention and committing to it. Without that focus, it was wishy-washy. I now make my health a priority over everything else. Socialising used to be a roadblock with lunches and dinners, so I decided to get a grip on that for the next four months and find ways to stay social without always eating.
Now I feel stronger and proud of myself. Writing down my wins each day — workouts, walks — makes me feel good because I don’t want to be disappointed in myself. I also know I need to reward myself, so I’m prioritising infrared sauna, massages every few weeks, swimming, and walking outside — even if I’m still getting used to doing it on my own.
I definitely recommend the program. You learn a lot about nutrition and what it takes to reach your goals, but also a lot about yourself. I loved the “I am” statements and have them printed on my fridge because they were powerful reminders. Scheduling my workouts and commitments on my phone calendar helps me stay on track, even factoring in travel time — without that, nothing would happen.”
Michael Pinkpank
Michael came into the program feeling stuck physically and mentally, but with strong support and practical tools, he achieved a weight loss of over 10 kilos—and gained a brighter outlook on life. His experience shows that meaningful change is possible when you commit fully and connect with others along the way.
"Before Level Up, I was really stuck physically and mentally. I was going backwards with weight and mental health, like being stuck in groundhog day. I needed a shot in the arm to get out of that, and the program really helped lift me out.
I lost over 10 kilos, the first sustained weight loss I’ve had. I shifted the dial and now have methods to continue. Mentally, it changed my days, gave me something to do and people to talk to, shifting my mind. Tomorrow isn’t necessarily the same as today anymore.
I was hesitant at first but got past it quickly. The eating plans looked difficult, but once I got into it, it wasn’t a problem. I demonstrated to myself how to get rid of weight that crept on and am on the right trajectory.
Meeting people online and in real life helped, especially after COVID lockdowns when social contact was limited. Just being with others, even without socialising, is good. I’m glad Irma reached out to join a walk early on, which helped me get moving.
I’m out of that rut in many ways. Previous advice felt out of reach, but now it seems possible. Losing 10 kilos means I can move easier, and it will get easier. The connection with people has helped too.
I’d recommend Level Up to others. I’d tell them not to worry about changing everything overnight. It’s as radical as you want. Don’t be scared — give it a go. Put in what you can because those who go all in get the most out.”
Kate Stobie
Kate joined the program to reset and reinforce healthy habits she’d let slide, finding that the group support and nature walks rekindled her motivation. With practical nutrition guidance and ongoing encouragement, she regained her passion for fitness and mindful eating, setting sustainable habits that fit her lifestyle.
"Mostly, I wanted to reset or bring in the information I learned last year to really compound it again this year because I’d sort of dropped off track a bit. It was really good knowing that when you’re with a group, it helps motivate you to push yourself instead of doing it by yourself. It was to make that knowledge a lot more sound and embedded in my mind.
Having Irma and Michael close so we could catch up regularly and continue regular walks is wonderful. The company and camaraderie make it a lot better. I managed to get back up into a step where I can continue moving forward. The retreat helped me get back on track to move forward.
Getting back out into the bush and nature again, which I’ve always loved but dropped off, reminded me how invigorating it is and great for the mind and fitness. It motivates me again and drops off worries and other daily life stresses.
Even though I don’t like cooking much, I found the cooking sessions and meal plans better. I’d have a couple of meals each week, then cook larger amounts for extras. That was more invigorating than last year. It brings back the passion that gets lost in life stuff.
The support and knowledge in the meetings were really good. There was stuff I was aware of but forgot, so revisiting it was important. There’s so much support from you, Emily, and Hayley in cooking. The weekly feedback was valuable because sometimes you think you didn’t do well, but you can break it down clearly and get succinct advice.
This program is wholesome, giving skills and knowledge to improve food and fitness holistically for sustainable gains, unlike short diets. It helps with weight loss and fitness and embeds knowledge that makes following it easier. Carb awareness has been huge for me.
Despite setbacks during the program, since finishing I’ve gone off the rails but the cravings are gone, and I feel lighter without bloating or puffiness. That feeling makes me want to keep the momentum going.
Many people walk around without knowing they feel better after changes. Once you try this and feel better, you have something to compare it to. In younger days, I was fitness conscious with ballet, running, and army routines, but the last 10-15 years life distractions moved me off track. The retreat reinvigorated me and got me back on track. Not everyone needs to do it every year, but the initial program gives solid knowledge and support to keep going.
I’m doing daily meditation, some mindfulness pauses, and more walking, aiming to get back to cross-country skiing, which requires walking to prepare. Carb consciousness is really big now, and I’m making more spice blends without processed sauces full of preservatives.”
Irma Goothius
Irma joined the program with a real desire to take control of her health without relying more on medication. Thanks to the low-carb way of eating, regular exercise, and amazing support from the group, she lowered her blood sugar levels, stopped feeling hungry all the time, boosted her energy, and even got off her medication. Now she feels confident and empowered to keep living a healthier, happier life.
"I’ve got a strong family history of insulin-dependent diabetes — mum, dad, grandma, sisters, aunties. I’ve always been aware of the risks. I work in intensive care and see what diabetes can do to the body, which made me determined to avoid that outcome.
Six months ago, my endocrinologist told me I was on the max dose of Metformin, a blood sugar medication, and suggested I start a weight loss drug, but I didn’t want that after reading about side effects. That motivated me to join this program.
Since starting, I’ve slowly weaned off my medication, and for the last eight days, I’ve been off completely — which is incredible. Before the program, I was sluggish and constantly hungry, which annoyed me. A few weeks in, I started checking blood sugar more and saw nighttime levels drop below ten for the first time in probably three years. I felt more energetic, and hunger pains almost disappeared. Occasionally, when I exercised more, I’d get a bit hungry late in the day, but nothing like before.
Three of us formed a walking group and will keep it going. I feel like I have the tools to keep this lifestyle. I know there will be hard times, but I’m determined and will remind myself of how far I’ve come. I’m grateful for the support and meeting others who share the same goals — it’s broadened my friendships.
I’ve lost some weight — more than 5% — but that wasn’t my main goal. I hesitated about joining because of costs and travel, but the online format suited me. I considered the in-person retreat and think it looks fun, maybe next time.
What surprised me was how much I learned — not just about exercise, but food, mindset, sleep, and stress management. I’m applying this knowledge at work and sharing it with colleagues, which feels great.
The individual support after weekly surveys helped when I doubted myself. Hearing from others in the walking group made me realize I wasn’t alone, and the encouragement helped me shift to a more positive mindset.
I’ve recommended this program to women I’ve worked with who had similar doubts, telling them to do it with support — they’ll feel the difference quickly.”
Helen Delany
After 18 months of training, Helen was ready to take things up a notch — and Level Up delivered! She dropped 10.92% of her body weight, cracked the carb confusion, built new healthy habits, and rediscovered her love of walking (audiobook in hand!). Now she’s feeling stronger, clearer, and more motivated than ever to keep going!
"After 18 months training with TBFT, I thought I was ready to take part in the Level Up program. I had achieved a lot of goals within that time, but I just could not lose that last little bit of weight I really wanted to shift. Also, I wanted the challenge to know that I can do it, and do it with a group of like-minded people, which was really important.
I wasn’t nervous because I had already built-up trust with TBFT. They’re just amazing to work with. For those who might be nervous, everyone puts everyone at ease. We’re a diverse group from all walks of life, and it’s very cohesive, which is lovely.
What really surprised me was when we started the education about food, especially carbohydrates. I learned that foods I thought weren’t high in carbs actually were. It was eye-opening—I realized I had been doing it wrong for years. But I ended up really enjoying it. It wasn’t a chore.
Before, I probably drank wine a lot of nights, not every night, but quite often. COVID really affected me. When I was younger, I was fairly good at exercise and keeping my weight under control, but once I hit menopause, the weight slowly crept on. It’s hard to shift once you hit menopause.
Also, I joined TBFT because I hurt my shoulder and realized how weak my upper body was, which I’d never experienced before. During the Level Up program, I lost 10% of my body weight, which was exactly what I wanted.
I’m motivated to lose a few more kilos and will stick with what I’m doing now. My biggest wins have been getting consistent with walking, exercising, and getting up early in the morning to do these things. It’s given me motivation to stick with it and not give up.
Mentally, any exercise is good, and this program helped me discover new ways to enjoy it. For example, I now love audiobooks. I don’t like walking alone because it’s boring, so I get my headphones, go to a nice spot, and enjoy a 5K walk while listening. I walk longer because I want to find out what happens next.
I highly recommend this program to anyone thinking about it. You’re in safe hands with Rob and TBFT. They make you feel very safe no matter who you are or what you do. It’s a safe space, and I highly recommend just doing it.”
Gary Tyler
Gary jumped back into the Level Up Program for a second round — this time focusing on rebuilding fitness after surgery. With daily tracking, expert support, and his wife Tracey by his side, he found fresh motivation, crushed personal goals, and proved to himself that it’s never too late to start again and feel stronger than ever!
"The success of the first time I did the program weighed heavily on my decision to do it again. I find I’m more motivated when I’m with a group or working with my wife on the same project. She wanted to do it, so it didn’t take much to convince me it was time to take it up again.
Sometimes you lose track of what you were doing before, and I thought I needed to be recalibrated. It was good to revisit what we were doing and calibrate our dieting together. It’s been really good for both my wife and me. We were doing five or six weeks leading up to it online, so it didn’t really matter to me. By the sixth week, it would have been nice to catch up with people, but since we were still seeing them online, it didn’t matter I wasn’t there face to face.
Most of the time is spent online checking in and monitoring progress. We had a little piece of paper in the bathroom to record our weight regularly. We’ll probably keep that going, not every day, but at regular intervals, which I think is important.
What I’ve found is that you can blow out easily if you don’t keep tabs on things, especially at our age. Once you stop working, you stop exercising or using your body as much. When I was working, I would do 10 to 15,000 steps just by being at work. When you retire, you can’t guarantee that, so you’re automatically behind on exercise.
For me, it was about trying to increase exercise and get into a routine. The program motivated me to do the exercise and meet goals, which might sound corny, but it worked for me. I was challenging myself, not others. The first time I did it, I lost more weight, but this time I achieved greater fitness.
Before, I was agile and could run anywhere. This time, I was recovering from an operation, starting from zero with back pain. I took my first walk during the course, so it was a big step up for me.
You’re working with people who have knowledge of this situation, like you and your team, who know what to do to improve fitness and weight loss. Having experts around was good. Also, having accountability was good for me. Some don’t like accountability, but I found it motivating, not threatening.
The encouragement from everyone was another factor. Everyone was positive and supportive, which is something you lose contact with over time. All of us were trying to improve our fitness and health. I thought I was more independent before and could do it myself, but as you get older, you need assistance.
There are many solutions out there on the internet, advertising, and exercise machines, but this program strips it back to the simplest, most likely solution to achieve success. It really does work. I understood the logic behind it.”
Deborah Blake
Deborah loved Level Up so much she came back for round two — and this time, she nailed new habits like daily walks and better sleep while still dropping 5 kilos! She’s proof that the program’s support keeps you motivated and making real, lasting changes every time.
"I decided to do Level Up for a second time because I really enjoyed it and got so much out of the first time. I wanted to concentrate on other aspects of my fitness and health and get that extra support.
Last time, my main priority was to become more active and stay active. I wasn’t really focusing on my weight because I thought it was okay, but I ended up losing 10% of my weight. After losing that, I realized I had been carrying around weight I didn’t need, which made me feel fantastic.
This time, I concentrated on setting some habits that I couldn’t before, like drinking 750ml of water in the morning, which is now just part of my routine. I go for at least a half-hour to an hour walk, usually in the afternoon because mornings are too cold. My eating habits are on the right track, and I’ve also focused on sleep, mindset, stress, and ways to improve those.
Last time, I lost more than 10%, and this time I’m tracking around 6%. I’m under 70kg for the first time in many years. I have a performance uniform from 2015 that was tight before, and last month when I performed in it, it fit much better.
I would definitely recommend the program to anyone who wants to lose weight, be more active, eat better, or just feel better in themselves. It’s about feeling good within yourself physically and mentally."
Note: Deborah lost 5kgs in this round (8.03%), and 10.12% in the first round. She is now at her goal weight and has strategies in place to maintain her weight and prevent the yearly holiday weight creep.
Viqui Gras
Congrats Viqui! This program is for anyone wanting to feel better about themselves and their health. Not everyone has a weight loss goal, but like Viqui discovered, stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to feeling stronger, more positive, more energised—and sometimes even losing a few unexpected kilos along the way!
“I guess what I wanted to do was push myself a little bit further. I was already doing exercise quite a lot, and when I saw that it was quite holistic—just including diet and everything—I thought, oh, maybe that’s the way to go and push myself.
Obviously, the treat of going to Varandai was a big thing to make me decide. I was a bit doubtful because I didn’t know exactly whether it would suit my needs—especially since I didn’t really need to lose a lot of weight; that wasn’t my focus.
So I had a chat with Rob about it, and I just focused on more than weight priority—more like my general well-being and just feeling well. What surprised me most was that I’ve actually lost 4 kilos, which I never thought I could lose. I feel really strong and healthy. The result has been that I have pushed myself, and it’s shaped me a little bit for the future. I think I’ll continue doing what we’ve been doing—walking more and eating low‑carb—and that was a bit of a surprise, actually.
It’s been great to incorporate those walks because walking in nature is really helping me feel more positive about everything that’s happening in my life at the moment. Just walking and being in nature—it’s been really good. Pre‑program, it was same old, same old, no changes—so a bit stagnant with my health. Whereas now I feel more excited about the journey.
I would definitely recommend the program. It’s not the usual just training. The program is a very holistic one where they look at health from all perspectives, and that’s what really makes the difference.
Just having the chance to share three days of the experience with other people is a real bonus. You discover some really nice relationships and friendships. So I would definitely recommend it.”
Deb Morland
For Deb it was all about making time for herself and setting boundaries in order to achieve her health goals. Deb has successfully maintained a positive attitude towards her health and fitness goals. She regularly stays active and enjoys creating the meals she loved during the retreat. She built incredible momentum across the retreat week where she was able to 100% focus on herself!
"The biggest two or three things that I've gotten out of the program would be taking the time to assess what my goals are, what my purpose is, why I'm even committing to it and what I want to get out of it. This helped me to plan - and I kept coming back to it when things weren't going potentially 100% how I wanted it to look like.
A reset - just correcting some habits that I've fallen back into, getting back into, getting my eating back on track and just committing to daily exercise.
Before the program life was pretty hectic, so making a decision to drop a job and making myself a priority meant that it was a whole reset for myself. Focusing on my boundaries and what I want to achieve and not what everyone else wants me to help them to achieve.
Going forward, being able to know what's been working, and remembering to reset, to go back to that, change my way of thinking, and see everything as an opportunity not a challenge.
I love that we can see the bright colorful healthy stuff is choice. I've loved getting to know everyone, Emily, Rob and the whole group of women! Seeing that we've all got stuff that we bring through and sharing stories. Everyone else's stories helps you to know that you're not alone, we all experience similar things.
I've loved the mediation under the stars, I could not fault that - setting us up for a nice restful night's sleep.
Surprisingly my percentage of weight loss was 8.7%!
(Note: Deb actually achieved a 10.02% weight loss upon final weigh in taken after this video was recorded).
Kerstin Massen
Kerstin was doing our Transformation Program for the second time. She loved every minute of it. She had a wonderful time participating and appreciated how the activities were paced to accommodate different fitness levels. She plans to come back again next year!
"A great benefit of the program was that I have lost weight. Now having done the program last year and this year, I'm back on track and will continue to stay with the healthy eating and exercise and keep going.
I had done the retreat last year. I was committed to it and doing quite well, and the circumstances of my family threw a spanner in the works, and I went off track. So when it was coming up again this year, I decided to do it again and get back on track, so I can continue to live a healthier lifestyle and lose more weight.
I loved the social connections and the food. The food preparation is great because then you learn recipes, how easy it can be and it's not really tiresome having to prepare the food and that it can be quite easy.
And also the social connections! We're all the same age-ish we've all realized that we've got the same issues. Just the comradery of being able to talk about the challenges we've had, and getting on track, and what brought us here, and motivate each other. That is a really really big highlight!
I would definitely do this again next year. Everything about the retreat was great, being the time of year, the fresh air, going for the walks (unfortunately due to an injury I haven't been able to do this year), but I'll definitely be back next year and enjoy everything about the retreat.
Tracey Tyler
Tracey was undertaking the Level Up Transformation Program with us for the second time. One of the things she gained from her second experience was the meaningful connections with the other women who were completing the program. She is eager to join us a third time. With a different headspace on this Program Tracey was able to achieve things she didn't think possible and was so very proud of herself at the end of the experience.
"The key benefits from the program have been for me: mental health; my attitude to things; I feel a lot happier, a lot more peaceful and a lot more settled.
The pre-program started a bit hard, then it became a bit easier, and then the next layer was added. I felt a sense of accomplishment at the end of the pre-program and felt quite proud of what I had done.
And being here with all the other ladies, there has been a lot of bonding going on. There has been getting to know people really well on walks. Chatting about our situations at home and our past experiences. I'm sure I've made some lifelong friends out of this, and it's been a great thing!
I did the program last year, but I was in a different headspace. So last year after the retreat I kept moving forward. I addressed the problems that I recognized I had. And when I did the program this year I was coming at it from a different direction, and I wanted to have another experience with the program from that perspective. I've had a few health challenges on the way. I think I have got my ducks lined up in a row now. I know what I need to do. The pre-program has redirected me, reinforced what I have to do, and I've just gone with it. The retreat itself has consolidated everything for me, and it's been such a joyous experience!
I've loved getting out and doing the hikes. Last year I felt a bit physically challenged, but this year because I've been more vigilant at sticking to the pre-program, I felt more capable of doing the hikes. I've enjoyed the hikes. I've loved being out in nature, and the companionship on the hikes.
The food has been amazing, even though I've been eating that type of food in the pre-program, you've been able to give other meal options and add more variety on top of what I've been eating at home. So that's been great!
And the support! There's been great support from yourself and Emily, and there's been great support from the group. We've realized we've got similar backgrounds. Some similar experiences. Our outlook might be different on how we view things, but the support has been amazing.
Yve Holmes
Yve had eyes on the prize the entire 6 weeks of our journey together. She did everything that was asked for her and never took a short cut. She followed everything to the letter and was rewarded with a 13% weight loss! She was able to completely conquer her goals, get her mojo back through her rediscovery for her passion of the outdoors and was an inspiration to all those around her! Well done Yve - you earned it!
"The thing that I've gained from the Level Up program and the retreat is firstly, my mental health. Even through a lot of the program is focused on losing 5-10% of your body weight, that wasn't up there for me, it was more about my mental health. I feel that eating the good food has totally changed where my thoughts are at.
The other thing which I've mentioned before is I feel like you have given me permission to go for a walk. That's encouraged me to get out amongst nature a lot more. And instead of saying "I can't, I've got housework to do" or "I can't, I've got shopping to do", yes I can! I can go for a bushwalk, and this is me time. And everyone can find that time.
I feel before this program my alcohol intake was excessive. It probably has been throughout my life. It was easy, the culture is alcohol related, so to have a wine or whiskey is the norm here. That can escalate and that can creep up on you very quickly. I wasn't getting hangovers or headaches; I was functioning quite well on a lot of alcohol. It was quite a shock to find out that part of the program was about decreasing alcohol and I thought I can't do this. I thought I needed the alcohol to function. No, I don't! The food, the exercise, getting out in nature. I've surprised myself that since the start of the pre-program I haven't touched a sip of alcohol and I'm quite proud of that!
While away for the retreat I was able to switch off and having someone else to organize everything. I haven't had to think about what I am I going to shop for, what am I going to eat, what am I going to have. That's been absolutely amazing to have meals shopped for, prepared, and even though we are helping, it's predominantly you sorting the menus out. So that has been fantastic.
Even so far as having the organization of the walks. I don't need to think "Where is this walk going to take me?", I just blindly followed Rob and Emily. So that was amazing to actually switch off and not even think about those sort of things so I can totally focus on meditation, strength work out, yoga, walking. I can totally focus on me without even having to worry about what I'm going to eat.
The other thing that has been amazing, is that I'm not a social person but the girls that have been here have just been fantastic and doing those planned sessions - we have done an awful lot of mobility and stretching. It was everything that was in the pre-program but life got in the way a bit so I couldn't do the mobility because I had to go food shopping, and I couldn't do a stretch class because of this excuse - whereas this retreat it has been amazing because at this time we are doing this, and we go off and do it. And it's not compulsory, if you want to do it, you do it! If you don't, you don't. But why come here if you're not going to give 100%?
Although the percentage weight loss wasn't the big focus for me, I hit the ground running. I had the mindset during the last retreat, that I want to do the next retreat, so I had that mindset that this was going to happen. So when I came to your studio at the start, I listened to Emily's suggestion of emptying out your pantry and doing the shopping literally that day. So I did that. I think I've been lucky because I started a year ago in my mind, and having focused on exactly what you've told us to do, and I've literally followed that to the letter, that I've lost 12% of my total body weight, which is AMAZING!
Note: This video was filmed before participants completed their final weigh in. Yve finished the program with 13% weight loss. She received a cash back reward for this achievement.
Margaret Raglus
Margaret was a unique participant in our program having recently had a fall and some challenges walking. With our guidance and encouragement and the support of the whole crew she regained confidence of being able to move again. Rediscovering the joy of moving and hiking and her ability to feel good in her body when exercising was all life changing for Margaet. Margaret was incredible proud and amazed by her percentage of weight loss.
"The greatest benefit is confidence in myself to be able to walk again without falling over. Also the importance of drinking far more water than I ever thought was necessary. And the mindfulness. My mind has been my own worst blockage, and I'm on that journey of unblocking that mind of mine to be more positive about what I can do.
Before the program I was a more negative unhealthier person. Now post program I have a better understanding of the future, health wise. As I've said before, I've gone into this not as a short-term game, I've gone into this as a long-term behavioral thing. And while I have a long way to go, I've made inroads on improving my health, my mindfulness and my mobility.
The things I've enjoyed most about these 5 days away are learning that the Margaret in my head is not alone. There are other ladies that feel exactly the same as me. And feeling supported that we're all in our dark moments, we're all thinking the same thing. Learning that its ok - and we're all on the same journey. Learning the wonderful different menu options that you've provided us with.
We're in a wonderful environment - the weather has been perfect for hiking up and down, and I can do it! I haven't fallen over and damaged any part of my body.
My percentage weight loss - I'm absolutely blown away with the 5.3%, because in all honesty I didn't think I'd get there with my lack of confidence in moving and not having anyone at home to walk with me. So I am quietly chuffed that I have achieved 5.3% and I plan in the next few months to improve that.
When are we going to book the next one? I have a list of friends who want to join me! I'm looking forward to next year wherever it may be!"
Kate Stobie
Kate has had amazing success on this program and has used the transformation program to get back her mojo and energy. This has been a great reset for Kate and she can now go out and about doing what she loves! She has found a way to keep a regular health and fitness routine that fits comfortably with her lifestyle and has a new perspective on her goals!
Kate had lots to say about the benefits of the transformation program!
"The knowledge of the food, better food choices and the prepping and the planning, which I am going to continue. I didn't do so great at the start, but it's given me more variety, because I was just getting so bored with food. It's also allowed me to feel the benefits of the food regarding my energy, just how I feel in myself, just so much better.
Also doing the pre-program, the benefits of doing all that and then coming to the retreat, it's just nailed it! If you just had a week, it wouldn't be enough. But it's nailed all the benefits of what you've done in the pre-program and then you've actually put it into place at the retreat and really got the benefit of that 4-6 week pre-program. If you hadn't have had that you wouldn't have taken away as much. So it's actually laid the foundations and the retreat has topped it off.
Years of nursing and covid and looking after the family had me severely fatigued and burnt out. I had lost my mojo. I've also had huge motivation and been a fitness fanatic - I lost it all. Now, after doing the pre-program and the retreat plus all our exercise sessions, has really brought my motivation back, my energy back, I've got my mojo back. It has allowed me to feel the strength and more mobility to be able to go back out and do what I love doing.
What I loved about the retreat? One: The social connection. Two, the fact that we are all on the same page, and being with like-minded people, we are not alone, trying to do this on our own. Three, I've really noticed the fitness, mobility and the strength and I've really pushed myself again, and I've felt all that benefit of the pre-program.
My percentage weight loss during the pre-program and the retreat was 7.5%. I'm absolutely wrapped! Because I've tried stuff before on my own, and I've always either given up, let myself down. And I've actually felt useless that I can't do this, and I've actually finally done it! So it feels great!"
Deborah Blake
Deborah not only lost 9% of her body weight, which was an amazing result, but she gained so much from the structure, accountability and support of the coaches and other participants. She exceeded her own expectations of what she could achieve and is now thriving in life as she carries on with her improved health habits!
"The greatest things I've gotten from the program is accountability, because that's made me be very particular about what I was doing. My number one priority was to be active. So the accountability also helped because I decided I was going to walk more, and then when the program started you guys were giving us a schedule of walking and for how long, so I was able to easily put that into what I was already doing. But it made me accountable because some mornings I didn't feel like doing it.
My neighbors and my husband have gotten into it too because they've become my walking buddies and they make sure that I do it, so it's a nice connection as well as the accountability.
The other thing is drinking water, I was hopeless at drinking water...It's now no problem at all and I suddenly feel fantastic, as I didn't realize how having that much water and walking, and then adding in the diet you've put us on would make me feel.
So my first priority was activity. And if I lost 5-7% weight I was going to be extremely happy, and I've lost more, so I'm ecstatic!
The problem is I was at a desk job, so I needed to do more. I was putting on weight, I was getting enough exercise, and I certainly wasn't eating properly. During the program I lost a lot more weight than I thought was even possible. I had a hip replacement in 2019, and the surgeon said to me "Deborah I've done a fantastic job on you, make sure you don't put on any weight, that way the hip will last longer". Now everything is working so much better and I'm feeling so much better. It's a totally different Deborah.
It's been really supportive to be in a group of women that are similar age, we have similar issues, concerns, desires and working out strategies with them of how we're going to move forward with our positive aging and achieve what we want to achieve as we do get older. I didn't think I'd get as much out of being in the group that I have. The group dynamic as we are walking and talking, there is no way that I was going to stop.
The second thing is the support of Rob and Emily, how you've put the program together and the little goals that you've given us along the way have been significant because I've achieved most of the goals which I would not have expected.
I've lost close to 9%. It makes me feel so fantastic. I have to admit that with the diet, I didn't do the intermittent fasting, and mostly kept to the middle zone, so I never felt hungry. I can't believe that I actually lost that weight. I was expecting to lose between 5 and 7%, so to lose 9% that's fantastic!"
Note: This video was filmed before participants completed their final weigh in. Deborah finished the program with 10.12% weight loss. She received a cashback reward for this achievement.
Neriman Kara
Neriman had already made amazing progress with us before taking part in our very first Level Up Transformation Program. She had already lost 15kg prior to our program, and then lost another 5 during her time with us. She was so excited to use this program to get her to her next weight loss goal.
"I was on a bit of a journey...For me it was about how I can embed what I had already discovered and close the gap in the knowledge areas. It was aligned to what I was already doing. It was also a 6 week program that would drive me to do a little bit more exercise than normal."
"Going into the pre-program I thought there wasn't a lot I could learn that I hadn't already figured out, but honestly, I found it so beneficial. Even the food component, having the food list, and looking at holistically in terms of sleep, and stress. And all the other elements that make up the program."
"I joined every single education session and found that every single time it was reinforcing what I was already doing, but covering all the gaps that I perhaps wasn't aware of."
"Coming into the program I was a little apprehensive on whether I could keep up. And I set myself a hard task...I've proven myself wrong. I've loved every bit of it and was able to keep up with the boys!"
"The every day benefits for me from the program is being mindful of everything. From food choices, to water intake, to activity, to going to bed early. It's really making sure that's top of mind."
"It's given me my self-confidence back. I now focus on the activities I can do and all the clothes I can wear."
"It doesn't matter if, you can or can't do it. If you've got the right mindset, you just need to trust the program."
Matt Vella
Matt had been training at TBFT for a few years and decided to take part in our first Transformation Program. He had such a wonderful time that he still can't stop talking about the benefits of the program. He lost over 10% of his body weight while on the program, so we were so happy to give him his $500 cash back reward.
"Before I started this program, I was exercising quite regularly, and had tried for many years to lose weight. I had lost a little bit of weight, but at the same time my eating had become worse, so I hadn't lost a lot of weight and was feeling quite disappointed with my lack of progress."
"I thought the work was going to be done while we were away. But what I learned is that all the work was done in the pre-program. So much education. So much effort. So much intensity. And so much amazing results during that pre-program. That the week away was really just the icing on the cake."
"One of the things I've struggled with was accountability. Over the program it was first about being accountable to you, but certainly over the 5 or 6 weeks I have taken that on myself. So I'm very confident I can maintain that accountability. Because I have systems in place. And now with zero effort I can keep on track and maintain accountability."
"The week away was the icing on the cake and where the education and implementation of the education came together. The food and the variety has been amazing. The facilities, the company and the conversations all amazing. Conversations have been focused around health so it's been concentrated. I've made friendships that will continue beyond the retreat."
"The biggest positive for me has been the education. To help me understand what I've been doing wrong for 25 years. The really good thing for me is the education has been around things that I'm very confident I can continue with ongoing."
Gina Mammone
Gina has been on a really big weight-loss journey while at TBFT (lost 30kg+), and took part in the Transformation Program to help accelerate her progress.
"I was at a time when I needed another challenge. I wanted something to push me up another level."
"The fact that we got to do it with other people, similar ages, similar motivation, similar values, made me feel much more comfortable about it, because I'd been doing everything on my own before then."
"The pre-program gave me information, it gave me the format and did make me more accountable to others. It was easier than I thought it was going to be. I didn't find it daunting."
"The week away at the retreat, I've been able to meet similar people. Similar ages, who set goals, achieve them, but are also challenged by similar things in life. This was really significant to me. I got a lot out of the other people. Participation in the food, and the exercises, the walking and the weight training. It was fun, we were all very different but similar as well."
"The weight loss has been significant, but I'm also getting that shape again."
"I feel much more alive. I don't feel hungry very often. The intermittent fasting has been a good learning experience. And I'll take that with me."
"I'd say to people who are wanting to do this, is to invest in yourself! It's a huge investment into your long-term future. And to grab it with every ounce of your body. Every ounce of your mind. Spend some time on yourself. It's never too late to start."
Kerstin Masson
Kerstin has lost 6.5kg over the time she's been on the program, is physically better at tennis now, and is feeling physically more fit and healthy.
"I had started taking medication for migraines and had put on a lot of weight. I was feeling frumpy, unfit, unhealthy. I really wanted to lose weight to feel fit and healthy again."
"I was apprehensive at first because of my workload and wasn't sure if I could take the time off. Originally, I said 'no' but then I made the commitment, and with your help I was going to manage to attend while enabling me to work when I needed to as well."
"Having the Trainerize app and being accountable, having all the information on there, helped me be focused, and helped me start getting fit and losing the weight."
"It's been the best experience I've had. I've loved every minute of it - the walking, back to nature all the time, challenging myself on the walks, the canoeing and the food has been amazing. It's been the best week, and the best people here as well."
"I love the accountability - what I don't do is recorded, what I do is recorded and that makes me accountable, and you guys look at it. That was really important to me."
"You weren't pushed to do things that you weren't physically able to do. Every person was treated as an individual based on their abilities. You weren't forced to do anything because you were here to enjoy it as well. You were challenged and it was really rewarding when you succeeded in those challenges.
"Do it! Do it! Do it! It's been the best thing, and I'll definitely be back for the next one."
Anthony Tyson
Anthony lost over 10% of his body weight on this program so we were so happy to give him his $500 cash back reward. Before the program he could never get it all together regarding nutrition and exercise and was the same weight for 6 or 7 years. He needed to learn what to do, and how to do it.
"For me it was all about the knowledge of the program. The fact that it was an all-encompassing program education piece."
"The pre-program was fantastic, the sheets of the food gave us a clear guide of what you can and can't eat. There was a wide variety on there. I found it easy to adapt from that point, to set up my food structure."
"I now know what to do to be able to stay like this. And if by chance I happen to fall back a bit, I know how to get back. The knowledge is the biggest thing for me. I know what to do and how to do it now. I can adopt it easier."
"I'm sleeping better, I'm less stressed at work, I'm more measured, and I'm more in controI. I just feel 100% better. I can do more in the gym than I've ever been able to do. I can run faster. I'm just better in every way. I'm recovering quicker. I feel the best I've felt in 10 years!"
"If you want to commit to a change, this is the program for you. It's transformative, it will change your life. It's changed mine".
Gary Tyler
Gary has lost about 7% of his body weight, and feels like he can continue on with this way of life without too much trouble. He has embedded some great habits and has a sensible plan of how to move forward towards better health. He was a novice to both good nutrition and exercise, but came with a great attitude and consequently got so much out of this program.
"I was aware I needed to lose weight, but didn't know how to go about it. I had no plan."
"My wife talked me into it. She didn't want to do it alone. I'm really pleased with how it's gone".
"The pre-program was great as it gave me an insight of what to expect. You can't make a switch over night. It has to be a staged process. It is as much about knowledge as it is about physical activity. I learned a lot during the pre-program so I was well equipped when it came to the retreat."
"I thought it was useful to be able to work out and record it. I could actually see the incremental changes. I could see the weight changes, and my fitness rising."
"So my wife talked me into it, but I was just as enthusiastic as her in the end."
"You learn in the education sessions, but you also learn through other people. It makes you feel better. I learned that losing weight is not linear, it goes up and down, but it's the trend that you need to look at."
"I didn't come into this program with any experience in gym work. So just learning how to do exercise safely and effectively was a big takeaway."
"It's a really good feeling when you set out to do something and you achieve it. I didn't have lofty ideals or think I was going to lose a certain amount of weight. I didn't set goals that were too demanding, but the most positive thing for me was that I could do it. I didn't think I'd be able to do half the things."
"My sleep patterns have improved and my hydration. I've made drinking water part of my habits. My water bottle is an extension of myself now, which has made a huge difference in my health and sleeping patterns."
"I've learned a lot more about myself and my body, than I had before."
"My wife said to me ''give it a go, don't be cynical". You hear a lot of things about different programs, but I found this program to be a lot of fun, educational, and over the whole time I was doing it, I was moving towards a positive goal, and the skills and knowledge that I've taken have been very useful."
Tracey Tyler
Tracey joined our Transformation Program to reset her lifestyle, and to reverse her recent weight gain and declining health. Through the pre-program preparation, she established new habits and mentally prepared herself. During the retreat, she enjoyed tasty food, tried new things, reconnected with nature, and experienced a mindset shift, prioritizing internal health. Feeling happier and lighter, Tracey now values nourishing food and meaningful experiences.
"Before the program started I was the heaviest I had been in my life. Not even when I was 9 months pregnant. And health-wise I was on a downwards trajectory. I didn't feel healthy even though I was doing some training."
"I saw my health declining and saw my husbands' health declining. So I thought this was an opportunity to reset. I knew there were things I should have been doing, but I wasn't doing them. Time to take our health in our hands and move forward."
"I felt the pre-program was absolutely vital, it gave me time to think about what I should be doing and put new habits in place. To prepare myself on a physical and mental level."
"The food has been awesome. It's been great to have fresh food, been great to participate. I've tried things I wouldn't normally try. I've liked that."
"The activity has been great. I haven't been looking at my weight loss as much as reconnecting with nature and just getting out and about and doing things you wouldn't normally do."
"It's been good to see people open up about themselves and you find a connection there. The group has been great."
"The greatest positive for me has been a mindset shift. I started the program with a weight loss focus, but I'm ending the program with a focus on internal health. And I know that if I nurture myself with the right food, and give myself the right experiences with nature, it's better for my mental wellbeing and spiritual wellbeing. And if I get these things right, the rest will follow."
"I think I'm happier. I feel lighter. I don't know whether that is a mental cloud lifting, or if my physical health is improving. I just feel better in so many spaces. If I tried to look at this as just about weight loss and physical ability, then that's restricting the benefits I'm making. I've had a mind shift around that. I've appreciated just going on a walk and appreciating what I see. I feel that the food I'm eating is the best food I can be putting into my body, and my body will respond to that."
"Do it, you have nothing to lose, but so much to gain. Just do it!"
Kelly Sharples
Kelly joined our Transformation Program with the goal of giving herself a health re-boot. She got that plus more! She connected with like-minded, similar aged peers and soaked up valuable knowledge. She did her thing at her own pace and found her groove through cooking up healthy meals, finding inner peace with meditation, and taking care of herself.
"Before I started the program I was at a bit of a stand-still. I'd lost 14kg, then I gained 3 back. I just needed a reboot for my mental health, to get back on track and consider adding more exercise in my weekly schedule."
"The education side and listening to a lot of the stuff you spoke about. I was a little familiar with. But then there were bits that were really beneficial."
"For me coming away has been good from a perspective that I have actually had to relax a little bit. I didn't have all these things going on in my life. The food has been brilliant, and I've made some really nice friends and connections. Getting to know you two trainers has been great."
"The positive I've taken out of this experience is that I can go at my own pace, not feel guilty about it and not feel that I have to keep up with everyone."
"I'm looking forward to establishing some of these recipes and things I've been learning with my family. Just to know that I can cook healthy for the whole family, and that it can be enjoyable. I don't have to feel like I always have to be in a rush for it. This was the most beneficial part for me, the food prep, because that was what I needed to reboot."
"The health and mindset benefits that I've noticed, is that I have been taking time to do some meditation. Focus on breathing, focus on trying to repair myself."
