Brave Casey shapes up for fight of her life

By Lillian Saleh and Justin Vallejo
April 26, 2007


FALLEN Australian Idol Casey Donovan has found her own idol in former ironman Guy Leech.

The unlikely duo have teamed up to help the troubled singer shed the kilos and resurrect her stalled music career.

Leech revealed he has helped the 18-year-old shed 13cm from her waist over the past five weeks.

And he said her rejection from reality show The Biggest Loser last year was the best thing that could have happened to her.

"I don't think at her age and her mindset that she could have handled The Biggest Loser at the time," Leech said after cycling 58km of the last leg of the Pollie Pedal charity ride.

"The thing with weight loss is that you look at losing between 1kg and 2kg a week - that's the weight the body is happy to lose.

"When you are talking about 5kg to 6kg as they are doing on The Biggest Loser, the body doesn't want to lose that much weight a week."

The pair teamed up after Australian Idol judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson suggested that Donovan could use Leech's help.

"A lot of the time so far with her has been spent undoing all the things and thoughts in her head that weren't right," Leech said.

"When you've got a kid being told by people she should be able to trust like doctors that she can't lose weight and will always be big, that takes a lot of undoing."

Leech said he had devised a six to nine-month program for Donovan to help her shed the weight safely.

Her "rescue plan" includes walks six days a week, replacing her favourite softdrink Coke with water and cutting out late-night snacking and takeaway food.

For her own part, Donovan is keeping up her end of the deal - which includes modifying her eating habits and giving up smoking.

When The Daily Telegraph caught up with her yesterday, she had ditched the Coke and greasy food for lunch in favour of a bottle of water and bread roll.

"Since taking on a commitment to train with Guy, my fitness level is up and I feel more confident than ever before," the singer said.

"I feel great at the moment and I can't wait to bring out my next album."

Far from living the pop star life, Donovan is working at the Botany Medical Centre as she toils on her album.



http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21620468-2,00.html


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Good for you Casey! What a great start. :)