The entries have been whittled down for our Get Fit Plymouth 2019 and ten finalists have been selected.
There were more than 50 entries to win three months personal training with Mark Smith, from Total Fitness and Health, but there will only be three winners.
Ten women have made it through to the final stage and each will receive unlimited gym and classes for one month, regardless if they win the full package.
We heard some heartfelt reasons why people wanted to get fit and improve their health, including increasing their chances of getting pregnant, helping overcome mental health issues, and losing loved ones to illness.
The final three winners will be announced on Wednesday, February 20 and their fitness journey will begin on Wednesday, 27 February.
Mark came up with the competition as he wanted to offer a helping hand to those who really want to slim down, or those who are determined to get into peak physical condition.
The 44-year-old has had a 25-year career in the Royal Navy as a personal trainer and has helped transform the lives of many.
He opened his Mutley-based gym in August 2017 and said he is looking forward to working with the three winners.
The three people chosen will be given one personal training session a week which will last for three months, along with unlimited access to the gym and classes on Mutley Plain.
We'll also be following the progress of the three winners throughout the challenge on Plymouth Live, which will hopefully inspire more people to get fit in 2019.
Josie Morrison - 35
Josie entered the competition as she suffered with postnatal depression after having her son two years ago.
She said her self-confidence hit an "all time low" as she made the transition as a new mother.
She said: "I really feel that this prize will help me become the better mother, wife and have the confidence to also love myself."
Kelly Faulkner - 38
Kelly entered the competition as she has signed up to challenge herself to two 10k's and one half marathon this year.
She said: "I would love this to help me achieve my goal of not only losing weight but also toning and pushing myself to another level.
"I have signed up for three runs this year new Tamar 10K, Plymouth Half and Plymouth 10K all in aid of St Luke’s which is where sadly my dad passed away just before Christmas.
"He wanted me to lose the weight and live a healthy life which is what I tend to achieve in 2019. With your help and my determination I know I will achieve this."
Kristina Carter - 28
Kristina entered the competition as she is getting married next year, and wants to make time for herself to reach her fitness goal.
She said: "I would love to get the chance of being pushed to limits I don’t even know exist yet!
"I am well into my weight loss journey now after following Slimming World, but I need to start exercising and have no idea what I should be doing for what parts!
"I get married next year, so this is my year to make time away from kids/partner/work and reach my goal."
Sheena Adams - 35
Sheena entered the competition as she wants to lose weight, and finds it hard as she is juggling being a mother-of-two with a husband who is away in the Royal Navy, as well as being a nurse.
She said: "I’ve been overweight my whole life! I’m 35 now and with 2 children, a career as a nurse and a husband in the Royal Navy, I would love the chance to have some ME time whilst getting healthy!"
Alice Gunn - 36
Alice entered the competition as she is trying to conceive as well as improving her asthma.
She said: "I could list lots of reasons I'd like to win this; trying for a baby, improve my asthma, lose weight... the list goes on. But the main and most important reason is to feel better about myself & achieve something positive!"
Jo Pole - 45
Jo entered the competition as she has lost a considerable amount of weight and now feels confident enough to attend a gym.
She has lost both of her parents to cancer, and is watching her sister fight cancer and wants to run the Race for Life for them.
She said: "I would love to win, as last year I lost 3st 7lbs and now feel confident enough to actually attend a gym. I would love to be able to run the Race for Life 5km this year.
"Having lost both of my parents to cancer and watch my sister continue to fight it, I think this would be a small challenge in comparison to theirs."
Jess Manners - 35
Jess entered the competition as she wants to get fit again.
She ran the Race for Life in her sisters memory after losing her to cancer and wants to make her proud.
She said: "I would love to win. I joined a running club last year after losing three stone in weight, but then life got in the way.
"We lost our beloved sister to cancer at the young age of 39 leaving behind a husband and 2 beautiful children. I ran the race for life in her memory but since then the weight has gone back on and I've stopped running. I want to do it for her (and for me)!"
Emma Stanton - 39
Emma entered the competition as she wants to get her fitness back on track after a stressful time and cannot afford a gym membership as she is a single parent.
She said: "After going through a stressful marriage break up and divorce I lost 2 stone and for the first time in my life was actually semi happy with what I saw when I looked in a mirror.
"Having got myself to a happy place in life, the weight has slowly started to creep back on and I can feel myself not wanting to look in the mirror again.
"I had a gym membership and I loved going but being a single parent I couldn't afford to keep the membership up. I am back on my healthy eating regime so to have a personal trainer alongside this would be amazing!"
Viv Wilson - 56
Viv entered the competition as she has recently been given the all clear of kidney cancer and hopes to regain her fitness and live a long and happy life.
She said: "I would like to win as last year I was diagnosed with Kidney Cancer. After three surgeries and chemotherapy I am blessed to have been given the ALL CLEAR.
"This I Hope is my year to regain fitness and be able to live a long happy and healthy life for myself, my daughters and my beautiful grandchildren."
Amber Bishop
Amber entered the competition as she wants to improve her mental health.
She said: "Personally don't think I deserve to win because I am considered a young person with no kids and not gone through the hard experiences that most adults have gone through.
"However I would like to win because 2018 was a harsh year for me and my mental health, and I just want to feel myself and feel in control again."
Good luck to everyone who has entered and we will announce the winner on Plymouth Live on Wednesday, February 20.
Anyone who wishes to try Total Fitness and Health Gym is offered a free week trial.
To enquire, call 07779021427 or click here.
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