Lost 10.1 kilos and 10.1% of her body weight in the 12 Week Beat the Winter Blues challenge
There were many reasons why I entered the challenge but the main one was that I felt older than I am, and I was tired of feeling this way. I had put on quite a bit of weight over the last few years from using food as a crutch, using the issues with my body as an excuse not to exercise, and not putting myself first. I had been trying to lose weight for a long time but didn’t want a quick fix to solve the riddle of why I can lose weight and then end up putting it back on. I wanted to make a sustainable lifestyle choice that I could continue with for the rest of my life.
Before Christmas we found out that we were going to be grandparents for the first time. My Dad was the same age as me when we had our first daughter (the offspring in the story) and he could run, climb trees and still act like a child, and he was 30 years older than me. There is no way that I would have been able to do those things with my grandchild like he was able to do with mine. I tried to lose weight on my own before the baby shower came. The baby shower came and went. The weight was still on. I needed extra help!
I joined the 12 week challenge as this was the help I needed. I wanted to have the support emotionally and physically of the wonderful ladies at Healthy Inspirations and be able to talk to them about the things I don’t talk to others about. Having this shorter 12week challenge to set me up with good lifestyle choices would mean that I can create the lifestyle I want, and about setting steps in place to ensure that I can keep myself accountable in the long run. I wanted to learn how to plan my weeks and set up contingencies for any challenges that I would face with food challenges, and also the support and advice on how to get my husband and friends to support me on this. Prior to the challenge I would think that little bit of something didn’t matter, but it always did in the long run.
I have re-found my healthy wellbeing centre again and am looking at food choices that enrich me and make me healthier, I am celebrating what I can do instead of being upset or disappointed about what I cannot do. I always used to attend gym and was quite fit and strong. Over the years I have developed issues with different joints as well as osteoarthritis in my knees, also plantar fasciitis in both feet and bunions (just to make it harder to find nice shoes lol). Each exercise class I find ways to incrementally improve and increase what I can do, and secretly sometimes I position myself next to another lady that is able to do more than me so that I can tap into her energy. I do this for myself if I feel like I have reached a plateau and need to have that little extra push for myself to keep moving onwards with feeling stronger, more flexible, more me! If we are doing planks, I try to do more each time and celebrate what I have accomplished and share it with the coaches. They truly are our biggest champions.
During the weekly coaching sessions, I can share when I am able to do some thing, or I feel better. Saying it out loud and singing your own praises I feel helps you be more positive and spurs you on even more. I loved being able to say that I no longer feel my stomach in the way when I am doing crunches or figure 4 stretches, I can do mountain climbers (and have not been able to do them for years). I am progressing from knee planks to full planks and getting stronger 5 seconds at a time. I can do lunges and am increasing the weights I use. I can run, I can do jump squats…. and for the first time in years, I was game and confident enough to do box jumps. This was on to the kerb in our carpark so not very high……but I did it!!!!
The coaches help me to improve and are there for help and assistance for alternatives if I am injured or if I have obstacles in my life, or I need to come up with ideas to help me navigate life. I have gained a lot of weight over the years, and they know that I have been keen to remove it, and it is now finally working! I am 200g off 40% and feel fantastic! Thank you coaches!! Thank you ladies for caring, and not giving up!
My Top 3 Tips
- Be prepared with your food and meals. You will always have something to grab if you are time poor. I prepare all my dried food, snacks and any kind of food that can go in plastic containers or bags every weekend. I do once a week fresh vegie preparation for lunches and weigh and bag up my frozen berries for breakfast. Everything is ready to grab and go. The only thing I do not prepare in advance is dinner. This means that my day is mainly all arranged but can be flexible and spontaneous at night. I have a couple of on-plan meals in the freezer just in case I am time-poor at night.
- Find an exercise buddy! Exercising with a friend keeps you accountable and it is so much more fun! Speak to your coaches and plan what your goals are and what you want your body to be able to do for you. They will help you when you need assistance or guidance.
- Celebrate every win, whether it be making the right choices for lunch, saying no to a biscuit with your cuppa, whether it is that you choose to be the driver when a bunch of friends are going on a wine tour, or when you get up early in the morning and go for a walk before the sun comes up. Every time that you attend a class or do that little bit more. When you lose a bit of weight, when your clothes feel better. Celebrate what you can do and let go of what you can’t.