Knowledge gained, 20kg lost: About to train her first client, Gina Harris loves her more active
lifestyle and hope to help others feel better and live longer.

It didn’t take long for Gina Harris to find her passion for health, fitness and helping others who have also faced life’s challenges.

“As you can imagine, the years go by, you get older and you think: ‘What can I do?’ Then I saw a friend of mine in an EIT brochure and I just thought: ‘That’s what I’ll do! Health and fitness!’

So I went for it and I absolutely love it.”

By the time Gina started the 17-week Certificate in Health and Fitness programme she had already dropped 10 kilos. She is now also supporting her son Nikki, who has Down’s syndrome to attend the gym with her. She lost another 10kg during the course with the help of EIT tutor Ashleigh Seagar.

“It’s just been awesome. Ashleigh has got us eating well and exercising regularly, and the other students in my class are awesome, they’re so helpful, and Ashleigh is the best teacher I have ever had. She knows her stuff man, she really
does”.

“I love the knowledge I’m getting on how to work out safely, understanding how the muscles and bones work and how the choices we make in nutrition affect us in the long term with regard to disease and risk factors. You only get one body and you have to look after it. I’m learning so much about my own body, correct posture and exercise techniques”.

Gina is currently recovering from thyroid cancer and admits she was probably heading in the direction of diabetes before doing this course but said “I’m 54 now and I feel a lot younger.”

“When I enrolled I felt great. Everything has been really good, the ladies at the library have been really helpful, my classmates have been great – I’ve learned a lot from them but we’re on the same level at the same time. I would
encourage anyone no matter what age they are to enrol”.