Twenty Shoalhaven women teamed up to achieve their personal goals and defeated rival teams in the Aboriginal Knockout Challenge funded by NSW Health and NSW Rugby League.
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Through Waminda, the Dead or Deadly team was exercising up to five times a week doing boxing, resistance and circuit training and making simple dietary changes.
The women supported one another online via Facebook and were provided with free access to the Waminda gym programs and personal training.
Waminda also assisted participants and their kids to set up long term healthy eating plans.
The winnings will go towards a new training gym in Plunkett Street.
Dead or Deadly team member Shana Hampton weighed 107 kilograms 18 months ago.
Aboriginal health is a big issue, we’re trying to break that cycle
- Nowra's Shana Hampton, after losing 34kg
She now weighs 73 kilograms, and is nearing her target of 66 kilograms – her weight before she had three children.
“I just wanted to have a healthier lifestyle,” Shana said.
“I have two children with heart disease, I wanted to lose weight so I could do more activities with them.”
Shana took it upon herself to motivate her team mates in the 10 week challenge.
“I wanted to help other women in my position, help them achieve the goals I've already achieved, to say, ‘look I've done this, you can do this too,’” she said.
“They are starting to feel physically fit and want to do things they couldn’t do before.
“If they can't run, they can get on the bike, or on the rower, we try and make it easier.
“Aboriginal health is a big issue, we’re trying to break that cycle.”
Team spokesperson Willow Firth said the initiative has significantly changed her life.
“It wasn’t about going on a diet, but making simple permanent changes to eating behaviours,” the Milton woman said.
“Fad diets don’t work so we set up long-term healthy eating plans for participants and their kids.
“During this journey there has been an increasing feeling of interconnectedness. It’s all about team work and supporting each other and making that pathway into a healthy life accessible, easy and fun.
“We’ve learnt that exercise and eating well can make so many other positive changes to your life – whether that’s improving mental health, feeling more positive and happier as well as increasing motivation, self-esteem and energy.”