The Right Choices For Enduring Success

Life is about making choices about what we should do, what we want to do, and then there’s what we actually do. Often, once people start a family and have to balance a partner, children, work, and social engagements, they push decisions about their own health and fitness down the priority list. When I met Melissa Crowther, 42-year-old military wife, mother of two boys, 9 and 11, business owner, mentor, and coach, I was impressed at how well she manages her time. She makes the right choices, every day, despite obstacles, in order to obtain her health goals. As her business name, Enduring Fitness, suggests, it is about consistently living a healthy life.

- Bradley Robert

When did you get involved in the fitness industry?

I first got involved as a teenager when a friend took me to an aerobics class her mum was teaching, then soon ventured into the weights room and loved it. At that time I was the only girl in the weights room (unlike now!). In 1998, aged 23, I pursued a career as an aerobics instructor. Once I started teaching in the fitness industry, I knew I wanted to be involved in fitness for the long term and have never looked back.

When did you start competing?

It was 2012. My husband deployed to the Middle East and I needed a goal to take my mind off him being away. I had two young children and over the years felt as though I had lost my way. I needed something to focus on, and competing was the perfect solution. Aged 38, filled with self-doubt, scared and feeling too old to compete against girls half my age, I had nothing to lose. I focused on what I wanted to achieve and went for it. It was extremely hard as my boys were three and four at the time. There were plenty of late nights or early starts so I could exercise while they were asleep, but this made it all the more memorable. I walked away with second place. I have now competed seven times and placed top three in every show. I won the IFBB state title and placed second at Nationals. This year I placed second at the Arnold Classic in the Open Bikini division, the highlight of competing so far!

What are your goals in the future for competing?