By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
THE onset of the years crept up on George Acheson-Thom, with the weight layering on until he hit almost 135 kg.
The 52-year-old East Geelong man said he lived with the weight gain until last year when a “switch flicked on in his brain” and he decided to take action.
“It was a kind of epiphany, I suppose, and once I started, it kept growing to the point where I am now going to participate in Run Melbourne half marathon next month,” he said.
“I’m aiming at the Melbourne Ironman event next March and that will be quite a challenge.”
George said he was now 96kg but aimed to be 85kg for the ironman, a loss of 50kg.
“I’ve always been reasonably active but that didn’t stop me putting weight on,” he admitted.
“There are never any excuses not to get fit and healthy, although they’re easy to find. The best way is to simply decide to do something, and do it, without overthinking it.
“Geelong is a good place to get into sports and has the facilities to help people get out and get fit – there’s the river, the hills, the ocean, lots of bike routes, running tracks.”
Once a non-swimmer, George is now ready to tackle triathlons, swimming 7km, running 65km and riding 190km as part of his new weekly training regime.
“I’ve started to monitor my food as part of it. I didn’t really set out to create a weight-loss program but it’s been a natural part of wanting to be fit and healthy.”
