Question: How did you first meet Donna and what was your lifestyle like before?

Emma: I've known Donna for a very long time now, which is interesting in itself in that I've observed the progress and development of Donna's lifestyle & personal & professional philosophy on exercise & diet. We first met when Donna was training at a body building gym back in the mid to late 80's. I was working in breakfast radio, tired & overweight and the exposure to training and Donna's approach began a long interest for me. Though I'd have to say that for the years since I've really only adhered to a certain extent and therefore though quite fit & healthy still carried quite a bit of excess weight that never seemed to budge.

Question: How have your lifestyle and food choices changed?

Emma: My mum brought us up on a very healthy diet of fresh food and I studied Physical Education so I'm fortunate in that I've always had this behind what Donna says! With the challenge that Donna recently asked me to take, resulting in my having appear on national television, I thought - well I'm not going to do that unless I do it properly! - so I have made various changes which through that commitment I've found remarkably easy to stick to. It's been around 4 months and I've simple cut out all the processed carbohydrates loaded foods and a couple of the more starchy carb foods and I feel better than ever, more energy and with the resulting weight loss -finding all things much easier to do! I eat great sized meals, I'm never hungry and I really don't miss the pastas, bread, sugar, noodles (well a little!), rice (also a little!). I can easily continue eating the way I do, because once you start "thinking outside the square" there are so many different things you can do with a nice portion of protein and plenty of vegies or salad!

Question: What do you consider to be the most significant benefit from the changes you have made?

Emma: I never thought I'd hear myself say it, (I've never even owned a set of scale!) but the weight loss! For the first time since I was at school I'm slim, clothes actually look good on my but above all I feel brilliant. In fact it's been proven more than ever this weekend just gone. I took out kids out of school Thursday and Friday of last week to take them camping to a great old friend's property in the High Country, about 3 and a half hours out of Melbourne. David, my husband was unable to come, so I was on my own - with a couple of families, but I did all the setting up of our tents and the camp, slept outside under the stars and we didn't stop all weekend, moving sheep, swimming in the river, very early mornings up with the birds, helping in the sheering shed - an all round farming weekend, packing everything back up and driving back the 3 and a half hours yesterday. I would normally be so shattered with tiredness, but I'm not! I thought I'd be nodding off while driving but I was as alert as can be and even went out to dinner when I got back. I can't believe how fresh I feel!

Question: You are a great cook Emma - do you have to be a gourmet expert to survive on this plan?

Emma: You really don't, but my favourite way of looking at it is - "think outside the square" - there's no need to limit yourself, there's always different things that you can do. Think of different cuts and types of meat. Look hard in the green grocers - and try new and different vegies or salad - one of my favourites is the Asian cabbage - or wombok - it's delicious as a base for a salad, shredded finely - a basic coleslaw or add different herbs and anything you like to mix it up, and the harder, white stems close to the base are divine in a stir fry with other vegies!

Question: What advice would you give anyone reading this who would like to successfully change their body and health?

Emma: Make a commitment and simply do it! Processed carbs are by their very name - not necessary in your diet, they're made by processing (God knows!) and have no nutritional value by comparison to the great carbs that fresh unprocessed foods contain! It's not extreme in any way, you can eat far more food than you ever would on some silly calorie restricting diet an once you're committed and "thinking outside the square" about what and how you're going to prepare your food, it becomes a very manageable lifestyle.