I was approaching my 30th birthday and it occurred to me that for more than half my life I had been "on a diet". As a teenager I developed disordered eating patterns which carried through with me for 17 years. Ever since I can remember I've been on and off diets and lost, then gained significant amounts of weight. At the age of 16 I was diagnosed with anorexia. I was constantly conscious of my body image and consequently food and exercise, and it was a source of intense pain for me. I didn't know what it was like to just "eat normally", or even how to exercise "normally". I was in a vicious cycle of weight loss and weight gain. I was fed up with being unhappy with how I looked, and tired of constantly thinking about it.
For a whole year before my wedding in October 2006 I worked very hard to lose a lot of weight. I was not going to be a "fat" bride, however I couldn't wait to "pig out" after the wedding. I was hanging out for my wedding cake! I quickly put the weight back on after the wedding and completely undid a years worth of hard work. When I'd put on more than 20kg after the wedding, I was so miserable; none of my clothes fit, I felt unattractive and I felt as though I was a bad wife. I avoided going out or seeing friends as I didn't want them to see how much weight I'd gained. I couldn't even get a leg into the size 8 jeans I'd bought before the wedding and I thought I'd never see the day when I could squeeze back into my tiny wedding dress. I kept trying to go back on my diet and exercise plan I'd followed before the wedding but I would only last about two weeks and then just give in and pig out again.
A few months ago I had a check up with my GP and discovered I had high cholesterol. I was absolutely appalled with myself and realised that I had to lose weight for my health, not just for increasing my self-esteem. Even though both my husband and I are physiotherapists and know all the principles of exercise and good nutrition, I couldn't put myself on another diet and exercise program like I had tried in the past. Something had to really change in order for me to make this a permanent change and not just another yo-yo down and up for me. I knew I could lose weight as I'd done it so many times before, but the real challenge for me would be to maintain this weight loss and to change my mind set and attitude toward food, to put an end to my binge cycles. I also wanted to form healthy habits and attitudes regarding food and exercise before having children, so that I can be a positive role model for them. I just wanted to be happy with how I looked and stop being jealous of all those "skinny" girls out there. So after much discussion and consideration with my husband, and encouragement from two of the gym instructors at my gym, we decided that I should sign up for a 12 week nutrition and training program with "Ideal Bodies Online". I needed a professional to design a program for me that I could follow, and having to outlay money would also be an incentive to fully commit.
At first I was relatively negative about what I would achieve in 12 weeks. I was concerned that I'd lost and gained weight so many times that I may have lost my ability to lose weight. I was 75kg and my goal was to eventually reach 57kg. I thought it would be unrealistic to reach my goal in 12 weeks and that I'd still have a lot of hard weeks ahead of me after the challenge in order to reach my goal.
I faced many challenges over the 12 weeks. Eating out or going to parties became difficult. I would phone the restaurant ahead to ask whether they could accommodate my "dietary request" in order to stick to my plan, and felt like such a nuisance and very unsocial when I wasn't ordering from the menu. At parties I'd try to inconspicuously eat my salad that I brought with me. People would constantly be telling me "go on, just have one cookie, sausage roll etc, it won't make a difference", or "you can skip the gym tonight, it won't matter" and I was sometimes made to feel guilty for putting my exercise and diet first. I also felt terrible when most nights of the week I'd get home late from the gym and my poor patient and uncomplaining husband wasn't getting his dinner cooked until about 9pm.
Diligently following the program given to me by Sue at Ideal Bodies Online simply worked. Joining was the best decision I ever made and I can't thank Sue and my feedback coach Shelly enough. When I got on the scales at the gym on my final day, I looked down and said "holy moly..." The scales read 53.9kg. I never dreamed of achieving my goal weight in 12 short weeks, let alone weigh in under it.
I am so ecstatically, unbelievably happy and feel fantastic! I'm truly amazed at the change in my body, but also in my mind. I have had a total transformation inside and out, and I'm certain that I can maintain this. Previously when I've lost weight, like before my wedding, I was over trained, exhausted, hungry, and had constant cravings, dreaming about the food I couldn't wait to pig out on when it was all over. But following my program with this challenge it's been so different. I've learnt so much. I've formed such healthy habits and have completely lost my desire to binge. I attribute this to my program which was carefully balanced to ensure I was eating enough, particularly protein, to sustain my workouts and ensure I had plenty of energy. I came home from my photo shoot on my final day absolutely starving, but even though it was all over and I could relax I had no desire to pig out. Instead, I made myself my own favourite 12 week challenge meal - warm lamb Greek salad with wholemeal pita, and it was delicious! The fact that I didn't plan nor want to binge at the end of all this is probably the most important change, regardless of how much weight I lost.
I'm skipping along the road toward maintenance with a smile from ear to ear! For the first time in my life I feel completely satisfied with my body and how I look. For the first time in my life I've reached my goal weight, which I made much more realistic and maintainable. What an amazing feeling not to be on a "diet" or "trying to lose weight". I haven't had that since before I was a teenager, and it's such a relief! I now feel beautiful and confident and I'm absolutely loving being back in all my pre wedding clothes, including my size 8 jeans. And the icing on the cake - I tried on my tiny wedding dress...fits like a glove.
Footnote: I'd like to sincerely thank Sue for the huge difference she's made to my life through her program, and for all that she's taught me about training and nutrition. She taught me I can eat more and train less, that I don't have to feel hungry, that I can have plenty of energy... and still lose weight. I'd also like to thank my feedback coach Shelly for being there to answer all my questions and offering support and invaluable advice the whole way. And finally I'd like to thank my husband for being by my side every day.
Success Tips
Remain focussed and disciplined to make healthy eating and exercise become a habit and part of your lifestyle, rather than feeling like a chore.
It is possible to stick to your program even when social occasions arise. When dining out phone the restaurant ahead to check whether they can accommodate your dietary request. When going to friend's homes take your own meal or ask them prior if they're able to prepare something for you from your program. Chicken breast and salad is no hassle! A good friend will support you and help you.
In order to prevent cravings and possible binges, don't allow yourself to get too hungry. Eat every three hours.
Protein shakes, glutamine and multivitamins! I attribute a lot of my success to these supplements. Protein shakes (MRM Low Carb in chocolate is my favourite!) helped prevent hunger and sugar cravings and aided the muscle repair following weight training. Taking glutamine meant that I suffered minimal muscle soreness despite lifting heavy weights. Daily multivitamins ensured I always had plenty of energy and didn't get run down.
Be consistent, stick to your program and you will see amazing results at the end!
My favourite 12 week challenge recipe
Warm lamb Greek salad
Ingredients:
4-6 cos lettuce leaves, chopped
½ tomato, sliced
10cm cucumber, sliced in fingers
50g avacado
6 kalamata olives
½ onion, sliced
1 clove garlic, chopped finely
¼ zucchini, chopped into small pieces
¼ red capsicum, chopped into small pieces
100g (when cooked) lamb, diced
½ tsp McCormick garlic salt
½ tsp McCormick garlic and herb mix
Pepper
Olive oil spray
1 tbs skinny Tzatziki
Balsamic vinegar
Method:
Prepare salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, avacado and olives. Stir fry lamb, onion and garlic with seasonings in non stick pan with olive oil spray until cooked, then add zucchini and capsicum and stir fry until soft.
Place lamb mix on top of salad and top with balsamic vinegar and Tzatziki
2007 NEW YOU Runner Up - Troy Pedretti
On my usual trip to the local milk bar to get the paper I decided to buy an issue of Australian Ironman (Fighting Fat). In the magazine I came across the article by Sue Heintze "Training your body and mind". The article struck a chord with me, especially one sentence: - "the twelve weeks will pass anyway". Of course they would, thirty nine years have passed and I had not achieved all I was capable of. Thus I joined Ideal Bodies Online and the New You Challenge to see how far I could go and to see how much I could improve myself. I was sceptical at first as I had already tried another online personal trainer which did not help as I expected. However the advice, plans and support I received has helped me to achieve above and beyond my initial goals.
I have had a condition called psoriasis for about twenty years now; this has impacted on many of my hobbies, interests and every day life leading to bouts of depression and anxiety. The type of psoriasis I have not only causes me to have painful scaly unsightly lesions on my body; it also affects my joints with a form of arthritis. Embarrassment stopped me from joining a gym so an online trainer was a great option for me. After trying all sorts of treatments and remedies to control psoriasis I had found a specialist in Melbourne who recommended diet modifications and stress relief were some of the keys to controlling it, I wanted to make changes but my depression and anxiety made it difficult to maintain motivation and to stay on track.
The eating plan recommended for my psoriasis tied in well with the regime recommended by Ideal Bodies Online. Throughout the challenge I grew stronger and more determined, time management and organisational skills had to improve (which they did), to fit in weight training and cardio sessions on top of the immense physical labour required in beekeeping. The cardio and weight training were also difficult at times due to the arthritis and a dislocated kneecap threatened to derail me, I used the success stories of others who had competed in the challenge and my feedback sessions with Sue and Rachel to maintain my motivation to continue to achieve my very best.
As my weight decreased the pain in my knee joints lessened substantially, this made the workouts more enjoyable and I am feeling younger, stronger and fitter than I have in years. My self-esteem has improved; the regular exercise has helped with my depression and anxiety, externally my psoriasis has improved immensely. Everyone who has seen my ‘after' photos has been blown away with the improvement in my physique and I am ecstatic with the results.
Dealing with Sue and Rachel has been a huge benefit to me, they are such positive individuals you can't help but be motivated to achieve your best and I am looking forward to achieving greater results internally and externally.
Success Tips
Surround yourself with positive people; don't let negative people bring you down.
Don't just set one major goal, set achievable goals everyday
Love yourself
Favourite Recipe
Breakfast is my favourite (love those carbs)
Hibran Wheetbix with low fat natural yoghurt, low fat milk, LSA, and protein whey
Supplements
I used MRM supplements which tasted great, were easy to use and really helped my recovery. The online ordering system was so easy and delivery was always prompt. I have not used supplements before and now that I have, I look great.
A testimonial from Troy:
Hi Sue
After being inspired by an article you wrote and finding your website I decided to give ‘Ideal Bodies Online' a go. I was a little sceptical at first as I had previously tried another online personal trainer which had not met my expectations. Your program and service went above and beyond my expectations. From the food plan to the weights and cardio program to the amount of input I had from you and Rachel in refining my program was impressive.
A twenty year psoriasis problem, while not completely gone is 80% improved which is remarkable. I am lighter than I ever thought I could be, more muscular and fitter; the results are outstanding I can not believe the person I see in the mirror, neither can my wife. The looks on peoples faces when I have shown them my ‘after' photos has been ‘priceless' and the number of positive comments I have received has been tremendous. With your guidance and my hard work I have achieved the results I have dreamed of for twenty years. I hope that you can help me with further goals, as I am very well aware your program and advice works well for me and my money is very well spent.
In a word your program is brilliant.
Thanks
Troy
*Troy was also named an Australian Ironman Body Blitz monthly winner in 2007
