Lost 11 kilos in the 12 Week Beat the Winter Blues Challenge

I have just completed my very first challenge. At the start when my coach Sue explained it to me to register, I hesitated as it just seemed too far away and too hard. The next thing I knew I was registered and had to take my waist measurement and hop on the scales. Next I had to set a goal and had no clue so just came up with a number. After a week I said to coach Sue I think I set too high a goal and I need to change it. Well it was too late. I told myself that I will never get to this goal, it’s far too high.

Once I was well on my way in this challenge I had a turn around and told myself I can do this, just stay focused. “Jaden are you with me, are you there beside me on this journey?” (Jaden is my son who was killed and life is hard without him), I spoke to him and grabbed his hat and said to him “Can I do this?” He said, “Go Mum I’m here, you’ve got this.” About half way into this challenge I realised, yes I can do this. I changed my mindset and set myself some things to reward myself with. So far I have got a bracelet, so for every 5kgs I lose I buy a charm for it. I have had a mineral spa and facial. A full body massage is next on the list.

I started to see light at the end of the tunnel as I got closer to those numbers decreasing on the scales. I then started to see and hear support from others commenting, and, “No I have not had gastro bypass surgery” as some people would ask.

I’ve got a great supportive coach Sue, who is amazing and my husband started to see my results so then started to support me with my eating. When we dined out he made me realise I can still socialise and have fun on this plan and still lose weight. Jaden is with me all the way and it’s him that’s keeping me going and keeping me focused on this journey.

This challenge has got me trying new things like new recipes, baking etc and it challenged me outside my comfort zone to keep moving and drinking water, even on those cold days.

At the end my coach said to me “Well done, you have completed the 12 week challenge. Now take your waist measurement, and what’s your weight today?” This hit me and then I realised it was all over, I have now completed the 12 week challenge. Yes yes yes, I got to the end and completed it. Jaden I’ve done it, I have completed the 12 weeks and now weigh less than when I started and my waist it now smaller too.

I told my husband how much I have lost, so he said I will take you out for dinner to celebrate. I thought what am I going to wear and in the past I didn’t have a selection to choose from and now I do. Nothing has fitted me for many, many years so I tried on this top from overseas which was given to me 35+ years ago and it has never fitted me as when it was given to me it was far too small. Wow I’m glad I held on to it now. It was given to me from a student I used to host and I couldn’t believe my own 2 eyes when I realised I can wear this top now. It is fitting but it had lots of bling on it so I can shine in the dark. I then needed a pair of pants and every pair of jeans I put on fell off to my ankles, so that was when reality hit. I decided to go through my daughter’s clothes and try on her jeans, and wow, I fit my daughters jeans from her high school day. Wow this is incredible!

I am at the end now and seeing these results is great motivation to keep going as I received my goal plus more kilo’s lost. I am so excited about my results I can not express my feelings. I am so thankful for the great support from my coach Sue and my husband Karl, helping me along the way with everyday challenges to keep on going. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

I’m so pleased I did this challenge now and I am now a smaller size in centimetres and a lot lighter in kilos and feel amazing. I have been grieving the loss of my son in the process and managed to stay focused.

I now fit some very old clothes that were given to me. I have never been able to wear them at all but now I can. My neck is so small now and am having no more choking episodes so I am keeping out of hospital, and have decreased my medications.

I feel amazing now and had to buy some new clothes, lingerie is next on the list. I am now on less medication and feel so much better in myself and sleeping better. I am also keeping active every day as this challenge helped me to keep going, especially once I started seeing results and changes in my own body.

My coach Sue kept me on my toes. I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this without my coach and support from her.

Healthy Inspirations is awesome and very supportive. I would highly recommend.

Some things that have really worked for me are:

1. Weigh once a week only and the results you see will be rewarding.
2. Try new recipes, go on the website to look for new inspiring recipes to keep you motivated.
3. Bake and cook food and freeze for those days you are busy and it’s just a matter of heat and eat or thaw and eat on the run.