When am I most likely to put myself first?
Fiona’s honest answer changed everything, from early morning walks to training for Mt Kosciuszko.
For years, I had this idea in the back of my mind that I’d like to walk the 1000km Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia. But I never pursued it because I had no idea where to begin. When my youngest finished school last year, I decided 2025 was the year I’d finally put myself first. I had two main goals: to lose weight and get fit.
Recovering from an injury, I started small, just walking to the end of my driveway at first (about 500m return, as we live on a rural property). The weight began to come off, and the distances grew longer. With a family visit and a trip to Esperance planned, I had plenty of motivation to keep going.
But after the holiday ended, I found myself slipping back into old habits. My walks became a chore, the same paths felt repetitive and I could already feel Winter creeping in. I knew I needed something more to keep me accountable. That’s when I saw the Women’s Fitness Adventures Couch to Mountain program on Facebook and decided to send an expression of interest.
I joined Women’s Fitness Adventures for motivation. I needed a reason to get off the couch, with the hope it would give me the courage and skills to follow that long-held dream. Right from the start, reading the stories of others who had done the program, gave me the confidence to get out there. I began exploring beginner-level trails, packing a small backpack with essentials and venturing out into the bush.
I felt empowered. More than that, I rediscovered joy. The simple joy of being outdoors, carefree and wild again. The stresses of everyday life faded. When I got home, nothing around me had changed, but I had. Now, when life feels overwhelming, I put on my hiking boots. Being in nature puts everything back into perspective.
Through Women’s Fitness Adventures, I’ve learned to plan my days around what matters. As someone who works full-time and travels an hour each way to the office, I had to ask myself; when am I most likely to put myself first? The answer was early mornings. Getting up in the dark isn’t easy, but I love hearing nature come to life. The sense of achievement lasts all day.
WFA has given me structure, confidence and connection. It’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one who gets nervous or out of breath going uphill, and that pace doesn’t matter. Consistency does. The friendships and support within the group have been such a highlight. It’s knowing there’s a whole community behind you that keeps you going, even when the training gets tough.
The best part of Couch to Mountain has been having a clear plan. Knowing that if I follow the program, I’ll reach the summit of Mt Kosciuszko. And beyond that, have the skills and confidence to take on more adventures.
To Yvonne, Jane, and everyone at WFA, thank you for the motivation, the challenges and for helping me find my mojo again.
And to anyone thinking about it, well don’t overthink it. Just start. You’ll be amazed at what you can do, especially when you have a group walking beside you.
To learn more about becoming a Member of the Women’s Fitness Adventures Community, click here.
