She started in March. It's now September, our Creative Director Megan Vickery is still going strong. A year-long transformation under the tutelage of fitness guru Kristy Curtis wasn't an easy commitment to make, and at every step, Megan has been pushed through physical challenges and willpower battles. Finally, her body is beginning to budge, and investing in her fitness is paying off.

ETHOS OF SUCCESS

Megan has been striding into FORMA Battaglia every week for the past six months with one goal in mind: to feel like herself again. Kristy Curtis, former trainer at Biggest Loser Asia, long-time fitness media personality and current co-owner of FORMA Battaglia boutique gym in Brookvale, was on the case.

Kristy recognised that for Megan, regaining her strength and energy would require a mix of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), resistance sets, and fun. Targeting cardiovascular health is essential for anyone past middle age, reducing the likelihood of heart attacks later on.

"Resistance training is for the bones, a weak point for women in perimenopause, a time in which up to 20% of skeletal mass is lost. Pack them in with strong muscle, improve agility to reduce falls, and weak bones are far better protected."

And fun? That's for the mind. Motivation equals consistency, and the only exercise that will keep a fitness journey going is the one you enjoy.

THE NITTY GRITTY

"I'm in there four to five times a week now," Megan says. "Mondays it's Strength Class with Kristy, 45 minutes, we team up in groups of two to four and work through eight-minute stations. Could be weights one round, bodyweight the next.

"Tuesday I'm up for 6:30am Mobility, half an hour of stretching and balance, then I finish the morning with 30 minutes of HIIT on the bike and the ski. Sometimes we're chasing a personal best, sometimes a group one. Wednesday is PT with Kristy, then Core. Fridays, another PT session and 45 minutes of Mobility. And I'm trying to get two or three walks in along Curl Curl on top of that.

"Next up, I'm going to try the Cycling classes. Before I started at FORMA I had a lot of trouble even turning a wheel on the bike, my knees would lock up from past operations. I've built the muscle in my legs now, so that's my next challenge.

"Six months in, my strength has improved a lot, I feel like I can lift more than I ever have. My stamina's better and so is my balance. The classes are challenging, I rarely come out without a sweat, and my recovery has come along too. My flexibility is slowly coming back and I surprised myself being able to squat and lunge better than before. My clothes are looser, I can see the difference in my stomach and décolletage, and even my concentration at work is better. I'm enjoying giving myself the time to do something for me."

"I'm enjoying giving myself the time to do something for me," Megan.

PROGRESS REPORT

"When Meg started, she was training twice a week. She's now consistently doing four to five sessions, and you can see that consistency in the way she moves.

Meg is noticeably more stable through her lifts. She's not just moving more weight, she has better control and confidence under load. At the beginning, Meg would often question whether she could do something. Now she gets into position and gives it a go without needing reassurance.

Her clothes are fitting differently, but the biggest progress is that she looks and feels physically capable. We haven't relied on punishing workouts or quick fixes. We've gradually increased the training and allowed her body to adapt.

By the end of the year, I expect Meg's biggest change to be body composition, more muscle, greater definition and a stronger overall shape.

The next stage is about progressing her weights while maintaining the control and technique she has worked hard to develop. If Meg keeps training at this level, she'll finish the year lifting weights she wouldn't have attempted when we started."

"Meg's progress hasn't come from one dramatic change. It has come from repeatedly doing the basics well," Kristy.

Kristy's Spring Tips

If Megan's results are inspiring you to take your own fitness seriously, Kristy's tips can get you started on the right foot. Spring Clean Your Training, Not Just Your Diet:

Use the extra daylight. Move one session outdoors each week: hill walks, beach stairs, running, boxing, cycling or a strength circuit.

Spring clean your recovery. Look at what's actually holding you back: late nights, alcohol, under-eating protein, too many hard sessions or no proper rest days.

Increase your NEAT (Non-exercise activity thermogenesis). It's all the movement you do outside of exercise. Longer evening walks, gardening, walking to coffee, taking the stairs, the warmer weather makes incidental exercise much easier.

Train for something. Pick a spring goal: 5km run, heavier squat, boxing rounds, gymnastics skill or try Kristy's Spring Challenge.

If you are in your 40s, 50s or 60s prioritise muscle. Protein, resistance training, sleep and recovery become increasingly important. It's never too late to start building it.

Kristy's Spring Challenge

Two resistance-based workouts a week. Can be bodyweight, bands or weight work.

Aim for 2,000 extra steps a day more than your average.

Try to be in bed by 9.30pm with lights out by 10pm at the latest.

Beat your spring self. Pick one benchmark now: push-ups in a minute, plank time, 1km walk or run, deadlift, squat or row and retest in four weeks.

Improve your recovery by adding 10 minutes of mobility after a workout session.

Stand up and move for a few minutes every hour.

Check the basics you have been ignoring. If energy has been consistently poor, spring can be a good prompt to review things like iron, B12, vitamin D, thyroid or other health issues with your GP, rather than assuming you need to train harder.

Ready to find your jam at FORMA?

FORMA Battaglia is offering new members a 14-day trial. Starting from scratch or starting over, Kristy and the team will meet you where you are.

Words: Kristy Curtis and Megan Vickery

FORMA Battaglia | 2 Wattle Road, Brookvale | 0411 518 525 | formabattaglia.com.au

Photography: Violet Williams / FORMA Battaglia