Winners are grinners

PARTICIPANTS in the recent At the Bar Eight Week Challenge have reported inspiring results in both physical and mental health.

The challenge, run by director and founder of At the Bar, Nicky Walker, began on 31 May and concluded on 26 July.

“I am blown away by the transformation of my clients with each challenge,” Ms Walker said.

 

“The physical side is amazing, but it is the mindset shifts that are the most rewarding as a coach.

“When you unlock the nutrition piece and mindset shifts of clients, that’s when the real magic happens.”

Challenge winner Mel Matheson noticed a downward turn in her physical and mental health over the past few years and decided it was time to join the gym.

“I fell over five times in 2024 and decided it was time to take control,” she said.

“My personal goal was to improve my strength and balance and at age 61 I was aware of how important it was to have good balance.

“The Eight Week Challenge was an eye opener. I learnt how to eat a healthy, balanced diet without having to give up carbs or obsess about my weight which was something I’d done in the past with fad diets.

“I also built muscle tone and was able to right myself very quickly after a stumble. In the past I would have fallen to the ground.”

 

In 2019, Ms Matheson lost her daughter to suicide. “The sadness is overwhelming, even with loving family around me,” she said.

“Now I am able to manage grief in a more productive way… I have an outlet now.”

Luke Holmes initially thought the challenge was just about the scales.

“I was wrong,” he said. “Over eight weeks, I learned how to properly fuel my body, how to shift my mindset, and how to make changes that actually last.

“I finally understand how to eat in a way that supports my goals without feeling restricted.

“The mindset work helped me reframe how I think about my health, and to focus on what my body can do rather than just how it looks.”

 

For Vicki Little, signing up for the challenge was a chance to refocus after some personally challenging years.

“I really wanted to get back on track with my fitness and nutrition,” she said.

“The biggest hurdle for me came early on when I sustained an injury and learned I had arthritis in my knee.

“It tested my mindset.

“We adapted my workouts and one of the biggest lessons I learnt was that you don’t need to rely on endless cardio to see real results.”