My name is Amanda and I am 36 years old and currently I am overweight. I was diagnosed with depression when I was 14 years old, major depression when I was 16 years old and like so many others, have led a life of constant weight gain and loss going from one extreme to the other. I have tried dozens upon dozens of diets, pills, supplements and medication and of course, none have worked. I could almost buy a brand new little car with the money I have spent over the last 20 years. I have photos of me so skinny that my cheekbones protrude and I have other photos of myself which are hidden away because I hate looking at myself and seeing the truth about my body. I have 5 children - 2 older sons aged 18 and 19 with multiple major disabilities and Intellectual handicaps who no longer live with me due to their need of 24 hour care, as well as an older daughter who lives with her dad, and my 2 youngest daughters live at home. Of the two daughters living at home, 1 has Asperger’s Syndrome and Anxiety Disorder, and the other has Congenital Heart Disease and Fertiligo Disease and I also personally have Cerable Palsy (moderate) and misaligned hips and ankles. Our family life is an ongoing but loving journey with its ups and downs. I walk/jog around Burleigh Heads Beach when I can and I recently joined a gym as I have made the decision to lose the weight once and for all, and tone up, but do it correctly so it will last. I want to be able to have a fit and healthy and toned body for my 40th birthday. I would like to lead by example for my children, to be able to run with them and play with them for hours without having to “have a rest”. I do not smoke, I rarely drink, I do not have high blood pressure or diabetes and I am leading a healthy mind attitude these days as well. I am however overweight and it is hard to buy clothing that fits and the clothing that does fit sometimes makes me look worse than I already am. The physiotherapist I used to see suggested no more walking or running and to have a full hip replacement however I believe that to be a band aid fix and not a reality to the problem. I am ready and willing to put in the hard work, sweat and tears and effort to change my life and my health issues will benefit from a healthier body as well. My friend at church has been attending your workouts outdoors, and I have watched as she follows your advice, your workouts, your suggested eating habits, and I have watched as she has slowly but surely lost weight and is looking great and not just physically. I have seen many people and their stories as they have followed your advice and plans, and their photos of proof that Ashley Bines works! I am a single mom, currently studying for a Diploma in Child, Youth and Family Intervention, and this means that financially it is hard to be able to be a part of these types of things, despite desperately wanting to. To be able to be part of the Ashley Bines Transformation Centre, to be able to access the most experienced trainers on the Coast, who could take my disability into account but push me harder and not let my disability be an excuse, to be able to work hard towards gaining fitness and healthiness I have longed to have for over 20 years, knowing that it will happen with the right motivation and people involved, would be a prayer answered. To be able to work hard towards this and not have to constantly worry about the cost would be a benefit for my entire little family. I believe excuses are just that, excuses, and trust me, I have made enough of them for many years, and hard work is required to “make it happen”. If I do not win this competition, I will find a way to continue at my current gym and work towards my goal, however to be blessed enough to be able to be given the chance to do this in YOUR Transformation Centre, and see results in my own body that I have seen in so many others? That would be dreams come true! We all have our own stories and travels and trials, and while I am eager to win this superb prize, and I do hope people will vote for my story, I would also like to send good luck wishes to the other people who have taken the time to share their story in the hope of being a winner! Thank you!