Against All Odds

Mandi Tomic has conquered a problem that many people never overcome. An addiction. Whether it’s alcohol, drugs, or in Mandi’s case food, when something brings you so much pleasure sometimes you just can’t break the habit. This was the reality of Mandi’s life for almost ten years. Whenever she faced a personal or professional hardship in her life, food was the one thing she turned to, to bring her temporary happiness. Now the Body Blitz Grand Champion for 2002 has overcome her addiction and is looking to use her motivation to inspire others.

Just over 30 years ago, Mandi’s mother Kathy gave birth to a beautiful 11.5 pound baby. Being a chubby baby, Mandi was on the back foot from the beginning. During her teenage years Mandi retained this weight and found it difficult to lose the puppy fat. It’s not surprising then that she has always had an issue when it came to her size. Whether she was picked on by school kids as a teenager or when later in life she couldn’t wear the clothes she wanted to, these harsh school yard years seemed to stay with her forever.

Mandi isn’t the first to suffer from childhood self doubt. When victimised people reach their 20s, that doubt feeds off the negativity and grows stronger. Career choices, illnesses, family issues, financial responsibilities and new relationships become battles which you’re forced to deal with the best you can. During this time Mandi had to deal with a string of failed relationships creating a pattern of self-doubt which many women find reflect in their own lives. You meet a perfect guy, get excited, something goes wrong and it doesn’t work out. Depressed and unfulfilled, refuge is usually sought in certain substances – drugs, alcohol, exercise or food.

“I turned to food and I really believe a lot of women will be able to relate to this,” she explains. “You’re sitting in front of the TV upset and depressed stuffing down chocolate and you’re hoping the food can take the pain away. Food makes you happy for an hour or two, but then you’re stuck with the extra kilos. And it wasn’t just the failed relationships, when something went bad in my life or whenever I was down, food was my comfort. Some people turn to drugs and alcohol, my drug of choice was food.”

Mandi had become sick and tired of her yo-yo dieting life. For a couple of weeks she’d live normally, then during the next few weeks she pigged out, this was followed by weeks of strict dieting – all of which got her nowhere. She realised this behaviour had to stop, as it was running her into the ground.

Having asked herself these soul bearing questions and confronting herself, she summoned the strength inside and decided to make herself the focus. Mandi had to take responsibility for her own actions, she had to become self-sufficient and not let any guy or situation overpower her and lead her to binge eating.

“I had the choice to keep living life miserably or change my entire lifestyle and outlook on life, and that was the big motivator.”  

It was as if a switch in Mandi’s body had been turned on. No more would she allow the outside pressures of the world to control her, she was in control herself. Not only did she want to prove to herself she could commit to the Body Blitz challenge, she wanted to show to everyone else she had wiped the slate of the last 10 years clean. Soon they would see the new and improved Mandi, a woman with focus, determination and commitment.

MEASUREMENTS   BEFORE AFTER Weight 78kg 64kg Chest 98cm 90cm Biceps 33cm 28.5cm Hips 106cm 96cm Calves 40cm 36cm Upper Thigh 68cm 59.5cm Waist 81cm 71cm

Looking back over the last six months, if there was a weight loss group called ‘commitment’ Mandi would be the poster girl. After successfully completing the Body Blitz challenge, then becoming a monthly winner, Mandi increased her training regimen. When she began the challenge she did it in the knowledge that she wasn’t going to put in a 100 per cent effort for 12 weeks only to put the weight back on a few months later. She made a life altering commitment.

“When I finished the actual 12 weeks I kept training and it wasn’t long before I had actually increased my program. I was so determined to just keep improving my body. I had been very consistent throughout my training and I think that is the whole point of a challenge like this. Anyone can lose weight if they set their mind to it, but losing weight and keeping it off is a whole other challenge,” she explains.  

When I rang Mandi to tell her she was our Grand Champion we first chatted about how her training was going. She was so enthusiastic about where her training had taken her and what she had achieved, even after the 12 week period, she forgot to ask me why I was originally calling. Despite this, when I finally did tell her, she was lost for words.

“Are you serious?!?” she asked. Then the phone went silent...

She couldn’t believe it. Mandi thought she’d placed top three and although she believed she was in with a winning chance, there were a couple of others whom she thought could have pipped her at the post.

“I thought I was in with a chance and I really set out to be Grand Champion. I put a lot of effort into the after shots, I went to a professional photographer, bought a new bikini and put on the fake tan. I thought if I don’t get to be Grand Champion it’s no big drama because I’m really training for myself, but I thought I would give it my best shot.”

Fast forward a few months and Mandi is finally in the make-up chair ready to grace the cover of her first magazine. As make-up artist Trudy Joyce worked away I asked Mandi whom she thought had a shot at the title.

“Definitely Sue Gilman, she looked fantastic... and Katie Towers. The photos of her on a treadmill proved she was in really good shape.”

After an hour getting her make-up and hair done it was time for Mandi to show us what she could do in front of the camera. To the delight of photographer Charlie Suriano and myself, Mandi was a natural.

“I didn’t realise how much was involved in actually getting the right shot, but it was a lot of fun. I was so excited about the day and it really lived up to my expectations,” she said of her first studio cover shoot.  

Mandi and I then discussed how she would like to portray her exercise program to the readers. Over the next year Mandi wants to help women who have suffered the same sort of problems when it comes to overindulgence in food. She believes that if she had a role model to look up to who had experienced the same things, it would have been easier to do something about her problems sooner. We shot detailed upper body and lower body workouts, and throughout the day while Mandi snacked healthily and regularly, she explained the principles of Jay Robb’s Fat Burning Diet (to order see page 103).

“I’ve been on his diet since the challenge and I just love what it does for me. I have a constant flow of energy and my digestive system is great as well. Since the 12 weeks the only thing I have changed is that I eat a little more now because I’m lifting heaver weights and I’m hungrier. I still follow the same principles, but instead of eating 50 grams of pasta I will eat 100. Not to mention I never feel guilty eating chocolate and pizza once a week.”

Mandi had already planned a special ‘pizza’ night with friends after her long day shooting. But that wasn’t the only excitement she had on her mind. A dedicated and organised person Mandi had already planned and booked her Body Blitz Grand Champions prize – a week at Phuket’s Club Med.
“I wanted the holiday to be somewhere that I had never been before. I was debating between America and Thailand. I decided on Club Med Phuket because there would be people my age – it’s a relaxing week away and everything is catered for.”

When asked of her plans for the next few weeks, Mandi laughs and mentions the dreaded three letter word... “EAT”. And why not? She’s done the hard work, she earned the holiday, she deserves it. But just because she is taking a holiday, she won’t falter on her training program.

“I really do want to keep active and I’ll definitely spend some time in the gym. I also want to try my hand at other sports like surfing, windsurfing and golf. I’ve never played golf before so I would like to try different sports.”

As a typical woman who would walk to the ends of the earth when it comes to shopping, buying new clothes is a definite priority in Mandi’s holiday plans, but she laughs at this and points out the fact it will include a lot of walking. Now a toned and sleek size 10, shopping is one of Mandi’s true pleasures. Anyone who loses a lot of weight gains more confidence and she explains, simply being able to shop and buy great clothes that fit well is worth all the hardships and sacrifices training and diet entail.

Despite her growing confidence, Mandi has also found she has become very disciplined not only in regards to her physique, but also in other aspects of her life. She’s found a new passion in her work as a financial analyst and relationships with family and friends have become stronger – she’s really seen a fantastic flow on effect.

As the 2003 Body Blitz champion, Mandi has no doubt in her mind what she wants to bring to the title. She loves the fact that when she’s asked about her diet, she can inform people knowledgeably about not only what works, but also what will be best for them personally. She wants to get across the point that it’s not simply about losing weight, it’s about reducing your body fat.

“Getting in shape is not about the number on the scales, it’s not about the typical commercial diets and seeing the numbers drop, it’s about fat loss not weight loss, and developing quality lean muscle. It’s about bringing your body to its best condition and constantly burning fat. I lost the weight for the challenge and now months down the track I have maintained it, and that’s so important.”  

Now she looks fantastic in whatever she wears and in whatever she does. One part of the day she really enjoyed was the fashion shoot at the beach.

“I loved the dress shots at the beach so I can show everyone that I do work out, go to the gym, follow a strict diet, but I’m still a normal person and enjoying my life – I’m just diligent and disciplined. I still have a treat here and there and a few drinks on the weekend, but basically I have incorporated the training and eating as part of my new and better life.”

With only one day of work under her belt as the 2003 Body Blitz Grand Champion Mandi Tomic proved she was the perfect candidate for the role and will continue to be an active role model and inspiration to all those who wish to follow a similar path.