Two years ago, Sydney father-of-three and business owner Anthony Simonetta felt like he was running on empty.
At 130kg, constantly stressed and working long hours across two companies, the now-34-year-old admits he barely recognised himself.
Yet within a few short years, he completely transformed his lifestyle, losing over 30kg and rediscovering the energy and self-belief he’d long thought he’d lost.
‘I was feeling unhealthy, overweight and tired,’ he told Daily Mail.
‘My days were spent mostly sitting at a desk and working extremely long hours. I knew I needed to make a change.’
He had tried to lose weight before, cycling through strict regimes and short-lived bursts of motivation.
‘I’ve yo-yoed for years with my weight, since I was in my early teens, to be honest. So, I really wanted to adopt a lifestyle that I could maintain.’
However, what ultimately changed everything wasn’t a punishing bootcamp or a harsh diet, but a place of stillness – the sauna.
Two years ago, Sydney dad and business owner Anthony Simonetta (pictured) was constantly stressed, weighing 130kg and barely recognised himself
Yet within a few short years, he completely transformed his lifestyle, losing 30kg and rediscovered the energy and self-belief he’d long thought he’d lost
‘I’ve loved using saunas and ice baths as they’ve always made me feel rejuvenated and clear-headed,’ he explained.
‘They are a great way to settle down, lower your cortisol and take time for yourself, leading to better behaviour.’
The sauna became Anthony’s entry point to reclaiming his health, both physically and mentally, which he credits for calming his nervous system enough to feel capable of change.
‘For me, my weight has always been a challenge since I was a child, so exercise came with a lot of shame, so I needed something to make me feel good about sweating. The sauna was always that for me,’ he said.
As Anthony started feeling clearer and more grounded, the motivation to move more came naturally. He began running short distances on his lunch breaks, just 2km to 4km at a time, and added in resistance training a couple of times a week.
He also kept returning to the sauna and ice bath two to three times a week, describing it as the anchor of his routine.
But it was food discipline that kept the weight off; intermittent fasting and skipping breakfast proved the most effective for him.
‘I try to stick to whole foods, almost never a packaged meal, and I eat 150-200g of protein while trying to stay within a calorie deficit,’ he added.
‘I can run five kilometre’s without stopping, I don’t have aches and pains in my back, and I now feel younger than my age, which, by comparison, I felt 10 years older,’ he told Daily Mail
As well as gentle ease into exercise, it was food discipline that kept the weight off; intermittent fasting and skipping breakfast proved the most effective for him
Even during the busiest weeks, running his agency and XtraClubs while parenting three children under six, Anthony refused to let nutrition go.
‘In all honesty, there are weeks when there are fires to put out and I don’t make it to the gym, but I always keep my diet in check – which is why I haven’t slipped up and started stacking the weight back on,’ he said.
‘That’s the crux of my journey. Even under immense pressure, I don’t lose sight of the nutrition that allows me to get back to training when things calm down at work.’
Today, Anthony has lost more than 30kg and says the change has transformed more than just the number on the scales, in the form of greater productive and less anxiety.
‘I can run five kilometres without stopping, I don’t have aches and pains in my back, and I now feel younger than my age, which, by comparison, I felt 10 years older,’ he said.
Regular sauna sessions also became Anthony’s entry point to reclaiming his health, both physically and mentally, which he credits for calming his nervous system enough to feel capable of change
He says the biggest wins are energy and presence too, especially with his wife, children and the people he employs across his companies.
Interestingly, Anthony also credits his wellness routine with his dramatically improved immunity, admitting that he can’t remember the last time he was sick.
‘I believe this is due to the balanced diet, regular sauna use and gym attendance,’ and the knock-on effects are flowing into his home as well, as he and his wife raise their children to make movement their default,’ he said.
‘My children are three under five years old, and my wife and I are very focused on minimising screen time – so much so that all three of our little ones choose to be active when they seek entertainment, which we hope will lead to them naturally managing their weight throughout their lives.’
Anthony says his greatest gains from losing weight are increased energy and genuine presence with his family. He also credits his wellness routine with boosting his immunity, and can’t recall the last time he was sick
Anthony’s renewed health even reignited his entrepreneurial focus. When he realised there were no late-night or flexible sauna spaces available, he decided to build his own
Anthony’s renewed health even reignited his entrepreneurial focus. When he realised there were no late-night or flexible sauna spaces available, he decided to build his own.
‘I wanted a place where I could go at any time, stay as long as I liked, and access premium wellness facilities without paying for overpriced single sessions.’
He partnered with friends and opened two XtraClubs locations in just 14 months and now he’s planning to expand nationwide.
‘Sauna, ice bath and steam have had a massive impact on my life, and I want more people to be able to experience it,’ he said.
Anthony still plans to lose another five kilograms, but now his focus is longevity, not urgency, as he trains strategically to keep the weight off and maintain his muscle mass.
‘Energy and focus are the biggest wins for me here,’ he said.
