Fitkitchen is very pleased to announce the appointment of our new ambassador Bucky Popoalii. Below Bucky tells his story, 

“I am Buxton Popoalii. I am an ex Highlander, Otago and NZ sevens rugby player.

I was diagnosed with Rheumatic fever as a 10 year old. This was treated and once I was up and running again and began attending Wellington College. I made the first 15 in my 6^th form year however in this year I also started to feel extremely lethargic, it was picked up that the Rheumatic fever I had had caused Rheumatic heart disease and I would require open-heart surgery. Three months after my surgery I was playing again. I made the Wellington team in 2008 and I also got involved in Sevens Rugby. I made the NZ sevens team in which I played all around the world and was apart of the team that won the World Series. In 2011 I started playing for Otago and then made the wider training squad and debuted for the Highlanders in 2012. 2013 I become part of the Highlander’s squad.

In January 2014 I was prepared for my third season of Super rugby with the Highlanders. Hours before our first preseason game in Queenstown I was pulled aside by Coach Jamie Joseph and Team Doctor and was told news that changed my life forever…the news was I would need another open-heart surgery due to an unstable and life-threatening heart condition that had been picked up on a routine check. Leading up to the surgery there was still a chance I could play rugby again. That night I was faced with another devastating blow. The surgeon wouldn’t be fighting to enable me to keep playing rugby; he was fighting to save my life. Tests that day showed the extent of my condition was worse than initially expected and I was given a 50/50 chance of surviving.

I survived the operation with the support of god, my partner, my mum and my family and friends. My rugby career was over in a flash however I will be forever grateful to the cardiac surgeon who saved my life.

I have since completed a diploma in applied sport and exercise leadership graduating in 2015. For a year now I have been working at Les Mills as a Personal Trainer and Group Fitness instructor and I am passionate about motivating, supporting and encouraging my clients to reach their fitness and health goals.

As we all know leading a healthy lifestyle involves more than just exercise. Nutrition choices play a huge role in successfully fulfilling fitness and weight loss goals. Fitkitchen takes out the hassle of cooking whilst still providing fresh, healthy and clean food.

Bucky P

P.S Come and meet Bucky and the Fitkitchen team this weekend at Centre City New World Dunedin from 11am onwards