Weight-loss drive becomes journey to stay fit for life

Derek Goforth says he’s on a different fitness journey from the one he started out on. The high school teacher was told by a doctor when he was in his early 40s he would need to change his lifestyle if he wanted to make it past 50. After a few years trying to lose weight, he is now focusing on function over form, and worrying less about the scales than about specific goals. Speaking before heading to Perth for his first Crossfit competition earlier this month, he outlined his ambitious targets. “The comp is called Chasing Better Throwdown,” he said. “I am in the beginner class and the other two (local competitors) are intermediate. “But the beginner class this year has some complex movements like toes to bar, and a lot of running and lifting. “I am actually pretty sure I won’t be able to pull one of the movements off, but I am not deterred: if I fail, I will fail on my feet, giving it every ounce of energy I have. “So my fitness journey has transformed, I guess. It’s not about weight loss — as a matter of a fact I could not tell you how much I weigh at the moment. “It’s about being fit for life, it’s about functional fitness (and) I have all new goals now, like wanting to deadlift 200kg one day and wanting to do an unassisted pull-up. “I need to commit to a life of change, good habits, discipline and perseverance.” He said he knew achieving his goals would “never happen overnight”, and said competitions such as this month’s gave him a goal to aim at with exercise, context, and an opportunity to prove progress. Local competitors Courtney McLeod, a pharmacist, and Sarah Sly, a vet, have competed before, and the group will travel to Perth with Crossfit Geraldton coach Dirranie Kirby.