Health of the Nation 2024: How Aussies have shed 100,00kg in just eight weeks

Aussies who joined Sam Wood’s free Health Club have seen stunning results with half a million workouts done, 160 million calories burnt and shrinking waistlines. See how they did it.

Shedding more than 100,000kg and walking more than a million kilometres is not a bad way to celebrate World Health Day on April 7.

The 33,500 Australians who signed up in February for the free Health Club with personal trainer Sam Wood as part of News Corp Australia’s Health of the Nation campaign have kickstarted their year with impressive collective results.

Half a million workouts completed, 800,000 healthy recipes cooked, 160 million calories burnt, and more than 2 million squats just to name a few.

Workout buddies Gary and Leigh Kitto exercised every Monday to Friday on the program and walked near their Brendale homes near Brisbane at the weekends. The father and daughter duo were stoked with the changes it brought.

Father and daughter Gary and Leigh Kitto saw pleasing results as part of the Health of the Nation’s free Health Club. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Gary, 68, lost 4.3kg of his 5kg target, lost 8cm from his waist, dropped his BMI from 36 to 34.42, dropped his glucose (7.5 to 5.3 mmol/L) and cholesterol (4.8 to 3.34mmol/L) into normal ranges.

“We loved it even though we had a few challenges along the way. Dad hurt his back pretty bad so he was taking it easy and adapting exercises for the last week and a half, and I had to go away for work a couple of times,” Leigh said.

Gary Kitto lost 4.3kg an 8cm from his waist on the Health Club program. Picture: Supplied

“But we still managed to follow the exercise 90 per cent and the food about the same. When I was away we checked in to make sure we were both accountable and we’d both done the workouts. It just shows how little bits of consistency can make all the difference.”

For 41-year-old Leigh, she achieved her goal to tone up (down 0.9kg along with lower glucose and cholesterol levels) and set a regular habit for exercise.

“I feel like I have to workout as part of my day now, I am back in the groove, which is great.

“And we can both feel the difference in our clothes. They are definitely looser.”

Leigh Kitto before and after toning up on the 8-week Health Club program. Picture: Supplied

The free Health Club offered daily workouts, recipes for family-friendly healthy meals, meditation and a social media community that encouraged members to keep going when motivation wavered.
“I read comments from one woman who was diagnosed with cancer during the challenge but she kept going with her healthy meals and the Facebook community showered her with positive comments. It really builds a community around you and you start to make friends in the group and get to know about each others’ lives,” Leigh said.

Wood said the biggest positive for him was seeing Health Club members simply moving more and eating better.

“I am proud, happy and optimistic with these results,” Wood said. “I love it when people have the lightbulb moment, when they realise a few simple swaps makes it easy to have more energy, feel better, it’s not as expensive as they thought it might be to eat healthy and it’s easy to maintain.”

Health Club creator Sam Wood feels optimistic the club members will continue to move more and eater healthier thanks to his program. Picture: Tony Gough

And learning that more than 100,000kg had been shifted during the program made Wood smile.

“That is really compelling. We all know how many illnesses are triggered by weight and these people are literally and metaphorically tipping the scales in their favour.”

Ben Smith, 39, couldn’t believe it when he lost 3kg and had to buy a smaller belt about two-thirds of the way through the program.

“I went down a notch initially and then said, ‘Hang on, I need to go down another’. Now I’ve gone down a size, which is a nice feeling.

“I wanted to be a bit fitter so I could play with my kids. I don’t have time for the gym with my work and family but with this I can do a quick workout at home, which made a massive difference for me,” the Melbourne store manager said.

Trainer Sam Wood with Ben Smith who went down a belt size while completing the Health Club program. Picture: Tony Gough

HEALTH CLUB RESULTS 2024

• 33,500 members

• More than 100,000kg lost

• More than 1 million kilometres walked

• Half a million workouts completed

• 160 million calories burnt

• More than 250,000 minutes of dancing

• 800,000 healthy recipes cooked

• 190,000 meditations completed

• More than 2 million squats

• 1.2 million push-ups

• Almost 1 million burpees

* Want to feel fitter and stronger in 2024? Find expert advice and easy how-tos at bodyandsoul.com.au/healthofthenation