Pakenham horseman Moss Bourke enjoys a workout at Cardinia LiFE.NEVER having been to a gym before was not going to stop Pakenham’s Moss Bourke from getting on top of his fitness and controlling his life-long diabetes.
Moss and his wife Joy are well known across the district for their dedication to thoroughbred racing, having owned, bred and trained many horses with success at Pakenham over many years.
When the couple moved from an undulating farm to a house block, Moss, 65, began to gain some weight and noticed he could not quite keep up with his young grandson the way he’d like to.
He consulted his doctor who, he said: “Poked my stomach and said, ‘turn that into muscle’,” and decided to become a member at Cardinia LiFE, with the aim of reducing his weight from almost 94 kilograms to a target of 85kg.
“I was the last bloke people thought would join a gym. And I didn’t know what I’d be in for,” said Moss.
Four months on, Moss has lost around six kilograms and brought his diabetes under control, now relying less on insulin than before he started his fitness campaign.
When he first started using the gym, Moss said he was like a ‘fish out of water’, but after some help from the YMCA instructors in the health club, he is on his way to achieving his goal weight and enjoying the small milestones along the way.
“There’s a 1.5 kilometre walk around the area I live, and God I used to struggle. After four months in the gym, I’ve noticed how much easier it is to do that walk,” he said.
When he started as a new member Moss said he could only leg press 25kg, but he can now push 65kg on the leg press machine.
“It’s hard but it doesn’t matter, because I’m now fit enough to do it.”
Moss is happy to whittle away to achieve his goal of 85kg in his own time, but has been surprised at what he has been able to achieve already in a short time. He has also taken advantage of the family incentives at Cardinia LiFE and has inspired members of his own family to become members.
“My daughter Sandra is now a member, and so is Joy and my other daughter Julie and her husband David,” he said.
