Multisport: Stepping out on a mission to rediscover fitness and healthy living

James Vunileva aims to get his weight down to about 150kg. Photo / Matt Jenke

James Vunileva is on a mission to get healthy, and he will take his first big step towards achieving this goal in this month's Partners Life Dual multisport event on Rangitoto and Motutapu islands.

Last year, the 29-year-old was one of 14 recipients of the first Dual scholarships.

The scholarships, worth $5,000, are designed to help people lead more active styles by supporting their participation in the Dual.

This support includes providing gear, advice on nutrition, and an extensive boot camp programme, which is now into its 15th week.

Vunileva weighs well over 200kg, and says he finds the weekly boot camp sessions in the Auckland Domain "really tough but rewarding".

He also trains at Temple Ministries in South Auckland under the guidance of his coach, Essendon Tuitupou, who nominated him for the scholarship.

The source of Vunileva's motivation is abundantly clear.

"I guess I just want to live - trying to break the bad habits, the eating patterns, trying to be more active," he says.

He says the training has helped, but he is realistic about how far he has to go.

"It's an ongoing struggle for me. It's really tough because the eating patterns have been going on for six or seven years, so it's something I'm struggling to break. It has improved a bit, but I'm looking to constantly work on it so I can improve more."

Vunileva says his lifestyle began to spiral out of control after his brother died in 2004.

"I got into a lot of drinking, not caring about myself, and not caring about what I was putting into my system. As the years passed I realised what I was doing to my body, and when I started changing my life and changing my focus I realised how much damage I had done to myself physically."

Vunileva doesn't have any specific health problems, but he knows they will come unless he turns things around.

"I'm trying to prevent health issues from happening. The only issues I'm having at the moment is getting up in the morning and going up flights of stairs [while] old women walk past me," he laughs.

"I want to get down to 150-160kg. My goal is to try my best and change my eating patterns."

Vunileva knows what it takes to work towards a goal, having already achieved academic success. In 2013 he graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Human Services degree.

He's confident the boot camp sessions will leave him fit enough to complete the 10km Dual course.

"It's been a good experience. It's a really diverse group," he says of the scholarship winners. "Multicultural and different ages as well."

Vunileva is keen to keep the momentum going after the Dual as well, and says he knows how to keep his motivation levels high.

"The most important [thing] is to surround yourself with people who are positive - who are willing to support you.

"Because if you surround yourself with those sorts of people, eventually it will rub off and you will walk the same steps they do."

Dual multisport

When: Saturday, March 28.

Course: Options include a trail marathon, half-marathon and other shorter distances, various mountain bike distances, and an off-road triathlon.

Website: For more information, visit thedual.co.nz.