Imagine feeling the fittest you’ve ever felt without even stepping foot in a gym. For full-time caravanning mum Renee, it’s a reality she’s enjoying while living the adventure of a lifetime on the road exploring Australia.
From swimming with turtles in Western Australia’s Ningaloo to camping amongst sand dunes in South Australia’s rugged Eyre Peninsula, Renee’s unique lifestyle doesn’t fit into the cookie cutter mould of strict workout schedules and hours of meal prep in the kitchen.
Instead, no matter how remote or off-grid her location, three times a week Renee sets her alarm to wake before her kids, heads out to a peaceful stretch of beach or bush and kickstarts the day with a workout from Train With Ash.
After a year using the Train With Ash program, Renee, 33, is the “healthiest, happiest and fittest” she’s ever been – a far cry from the former yo-yo dieter who “put everyone else’s needs first”.
“I lacked motivation,” she admits. “Travelling Australia, you can get sucked into socialising, eating and drinking. I got to a point where I stopped working out, and I wasn’t really prioritising my health or fitness.”
Now nearing her fourth year of caravanning and juggling homeschooling her kids Harlow, eight and Vance, six, while studying energetics, Renee knew her lifestyle wouldn’t change, so her approach to health had to.
“I was on a hike and my husband took a photo of me,” she adds. “I didn’t realise how big I’d gotten – my whole confidence was so lacking and low. I was like, ‘I can’t keep doing this’.”
A fateful meeting with Ash Lane, the founder of female-led program Train With Ash, at a WA campsite came at just the right time, inspiring her to try the Free 5-Day Challenge and experience the coaching and education first hand.
Designed with flexibility in mind while focusing on training less and eating more, Renee instantly knew Train With Ash was the “sustainable approach” she’d been looking for.
“It was the first [program] I’d done with having goals to hit with calories, protein and workouts,” says the Gold Coast local. “Being able to eat what I want and focus on those targets was a total game changer. I’ve never had these results from anything [I’d tried] before.”
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Inspired by the “big motivation” Train With Ash provided, Renee was hooked and knew she “wanted more”.
Able to completely overhaul her routine despite every day being vastly different, Renee trains three times a week using the app and minimal equipment, as well as going for walks with her kids to get her steps up.
“I bought a $60 dumbbell kit from Kmart, which you can change to whatever weight you want. That’s literally all I’ve used the whole time,” she says. “If I had to do five days training in a gym, I wouldn’t have lasted this long. Being able to have that accessibility to do it in a caravan and anywhere around Australia has been so handy.”
Train With Ash has also transformed Renee’s “outlook on how I can be healthy and still eat what I want”.
Rather than restrictive dieting or making separate low-calorie meals she can’t share with her family, Renee now saves time and effort by knowing the best way to fuel her body.
“This program has made me able to look at my weeks ahead and plan for it. I’ll meal prep all my lunches for the week – it’s one less thing I have to do. Not having to think is just such a game changer for me,” she says. “We’re all eating the same thing – I’m not making this hard.”
Protein is a priority on the program, so whether it’s her favourite chicken and veggie pizzas, spaghetti bolognese or steak and veggies, Renee is “still eating the things I love”.
“I love my chicken parmies, and I’ve had them throughout this whole challenge – it’s worked in with my goals,” she says. “I have a Caramel Koala every single day, that’s my little sweet treat.”
Handy Train WIth Ash features such as the tracking app to quickly scan meals at a restaurant mean Renee can effortlessly stay on top of her daily calorie requirements, while the “next-level” community has been essential and inspiring support, no matter where she is in the country.
It’s the mind, body and soul improvements that make Renee realise how far she’s come – and proud of the example she’s setting for her kids.
“I have so much more energy than I did a year ago… I love being able to hang out with the kids, be active and play cricket if they want to,” she says. “My mindset has been the biggest game changer of the whole actual program. To be able to keep pushing through and do what needs to be done to get these results is just amazing.”
“I am the healthiest, happiest and fittest I’ve ever been. I now have the energy to truly be present with my kids, make memories and enjoy all the things we love doing together.”
Train With Ash’s next free 5 Day Challenge kicks off on August 31, and you can register for it here.
If you or someone you love is struggling with body image issues or eating disorders, contact the Butterfly National Helpline at 1800 33 4673 for free and confidential support, or email or chat with the team online here.
Disclaimer: This story is based on one person’s individual experience and is for general information only.
This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results may vary. Always consult your health professional before making changes to your diet, exercise, or supplement routine.
Allison YeeCasual eCommerce Shopping Writer