Renee Browne

I’ve always had reasonably physical jobs but I certainly didn’t partake in any structured exercise until after the birth of my daughter. I took a gentle approach with aqua aerobics, which I loved, and then discovered running and working out with my partner while on a family holiday to the Gold Coast, leading me to join Curves, a women’s only gym utilising resistance based machines. These days I’m

smashing out reps with barbells and kettlebells, Olympic lifting, tearing apart vicious workouts, and training Muay Thai and martial arts. After years of battling depression and using various meds I quickly discovered exercise to be the most effective medication of all, enabling me to ween myself off and, soon after, kick the meds for good. Exercise is my best defence in the battle against depression. And some days it wins but, for me, exercise keeps it restrained. Exercise is great stress relief and it makes me feel good. I love being able to do things I never thought possible. I may not lift the heaviest or run at the speed of an athlete, but I sure as hell train like one. And that’s the best part, because YOU CAN TOO!! It’s not about trying to be like or better than someone else. It’s about you. You and the clock, the barbell, the pavement, your emotions, you psyche; going hard and getting it done. And afterwards knowing that YOU are a machine and can do anything!!