Three-time Miss Fiji bodybuilding champion Elizabeth Maki, also known as Liz Maki, is hoping her story will inspire women to live a healthy and active lifestyle.
One look at the 40-year-old owner of a fitness training business and it would be hard to believe she was once overweight and lived a life of partying and unhealthy habits.
“I was very much into the party scene such as drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and eating unhealthy food,” she said.
“While living in Nadi in 2007, I attended a fitness program called Challenging Horizon and it transformed my life that I shed 33 kilograms in one year.
“I went from 84kg to 51kg.”
Maki, fondly known as Liz to those who know her, has not turned back since and now she considers training gyms as her second home.
“Since 2007 I’ve become so engrossed with leading a healthy lifestyle. I have the occasional glass of wine or two every now and then but my training regime is strict and I make sure I stick by it.”
Raised in Veisari by her great-grandparents, Liz described her childhood similar to other children growing up in the ’80s.
“I spent most of my childhood outdoors with my friends doing all the fun activities you can imagine from playing pani, swimming in the river and climbing trees with the boys.”
At 17 years of age, Liz moved to Nadi to seek employment and she found work in the freight industry while staying with an aunt.
“I stayed in Nadi for 15 years before moving back to Suva and it was here that I got the drive to start my own business in fitness training.”
One could say that her drive to pursue this particular enterprise probably stemmed from the fact that she is the daughter of former local boxer Anthony Naidu, a renowned boxer in the ’80s whose career spanned 44 bouts.
Naidu rounded off his boxing career in 1989 with a technical knockout win over Marika Binatagi at the National Stadium in Suva, taking his record to 24 wins, three draws and 17 losses.
“In 2016 I decided to leave the corporate world to follow my passion and start my own fitness training business; challenging myself to make a living out of what I love to do.
“Because I was able to relate to being obese and making a transformation, I want to help other women and girls who are struggling with their weight or lifestyle.
“For me, it’s about helping other people change their lifestyle because not many people know where to start from when they want to change, fighting unhealthy habits, whether it be obesity or high blood pressure so whatever it is, I customise programs accordingly to suit their goals.”
Liz won the Ms Fiji Bodybuilding competition in 2015 and 2016 and 2020 and is a two-time silver medallist at the South Pacific Bodybuilding Championships.
“The reason why I do bodybuilding is because for me I have been training for 16 years now and it takes me to a different level of discipline which I enjoy.
“I’m disciplined with my lifestyle. It keeps me grounded so I like to challenge myself every now and then.”
People interested in taking up the challenge of improving their health and fitness can contact Liz on 7689200 or find her at the Metro Gym Physical Fitness Centre at Gorrie St in Suva.
“I also recently launched my website called www.lizfitnessfiji.com and I also have a ‘Liz Fitness’ Facebook page that is used to draw clients and share details on how they can improve their physical fitness.”
