Retiring from AFL after 13 years of representing the Melbourne Football Club, Russell Robertson found himself at a loss. On the surface, Russell’s struggle wasn’t evident but internally, the professional athlete was dealing with a new reality – the unknown.

Believing life would be the same as before, Russell wasn’t prepared for the mental struggle ahead of him. “There are some serious challenges for a professional athlete retiring from a sport they have been involved with for a decade or more,” he explains. “I thought it would be easy and that I’d be ready to move on but I felt a huge sense of loss. I felt like I had lost my identity.”

With a desire to find his place in society again, Russell was looking for something that’d give him the same zest for life that AFL did. “My partner, Peta, introduced me to Isagenix® after it was introduced to her by some of the mums at kinder drop-off,” he shares. “She had noticed the energy of some of the mums and wanted to know their secret.”

It took some convincing for Russell to finally get onboard and try the products for himself. “As someone who played sport professionally, I thought I knew better when it came to nutrition,” he admits. “I did eventually agree. Peta knew it’d be good for me and she was right.”

Letting go of what he thought he knew, Russell opened himself to the possibilities and his belief paid off. “Once I let go of the know-it-all attitude, I began to learn new things about myself,” he shares. “I started on the Weight Loss Premium Pack and although I was in pretty good shape already, I released 11 kgs in my first 30 days. Even better, I was sleeping great, waking up feeling rested and ready to tackle the day and my energy levels went through the roof!”

Not only did Russell receive a great response about his overall appearance and demeanour from friends and family, his fans were also noticing. “I love that people stop me on the street and say I look fitter and younger now than when I played,” he laughs. “It has been eight years since I retired and Isagenix has been a game changer for me with ageing healthily.”

Now 1 Star Silver Circle, Manager, Russell involves himself in the Isagenix community as an active member of Team Isagenix. “I wish I’d had these products when I played professionally,” he says. “I love showing people how Isagenix can help them take their performance to the next level and love motivating people and contributing to their health and wellness. Taking control of my health allowed me to understand that I am in control of my destiny and that makes me feel liberated.”

Proud to be part of a team again, Russell is passionate about being a Team Isagenix Athlete and uses the platform to show others how to live a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle. “Isagenix is not a fad, it’s a lifestyle,” he says. “I love being a role model and Team Isagenix gives me purpose and the ability to reach a wider audience, particularly those who need the same type of direction that I did before Isagenix was introduced to me.”

*Weight-loss results depicted here should not be construed as typical or average. In a study performed in 2012 by University at Chicago researchers, subjects lost an average of 4.1 kg with an average of 0.9 kg of the loss from visceral fat after 30 days on an Isagenix System. The subjects also had a greater level of adherence and had more consistent weight loss from week to week compared to subjects on a traditional diet. Always consult your GP before making any dietary changes or starting any nutrition, weight-loss or exercise program.