My fitness journey truly began way back in my college years but I really only began taking it seriously a little over two years ago. This first picture (below) is one of the first “progress pics” I ever took. Now I will say that I never ever thought I was over weight – but I was never body confident. I used to hide under baggy clothes and I was always very hung up on feeling bloated, sluggish and swollen. I had no shape and yet I would easily run 8-10km up to three times a week. I did a little in the gym – maybe two days of weight training – but looking back now I wasn’t lifting anything that was challenging me in any way. I was spending hours every week trying to achieve the body I wanted and getting no where fast. I would go to bed EVERY night hungry abiding by a rule of no food after 6pm which was crazy. I had very little carbs in my diet and was constantly tired and low on energy.
In December 2013 I decided to take on a 6 week challenge to kickstart the “new me”. Dave helped me with a plan and I got to work exercising 5 days a week with weights for no more than 50 minutes to 1 hour per day. I followed a gym plan that was easy to maintain and my food plan was more than satisfying. I should point out however that there was absolutely NO alcohol during this six weeks but it was a small price to pay!!
In just two weeks I noticed a BIG difference in my shape. I began to see definition and that was literally ALL the motivation I needed to keep on going. Taking progress pics like these was a big help. I used to line them up side by side and pat myself on the back!!! Seeing the changes right there in front of you is a big help to keeping you on track.
By March 2014 – after a SIX WEEK TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE I was delighted with the results. My body had shaped up nicely and I was beginning to see the benefits of building a little bit of muscle. I loved the feeling of being strong and that was an additional driving force for me.
Since that time my body shape has pretty much stayed the same. My diet is not the same day to day, I definitely like mixing it up. I love the routine of some things but for dinner I do like a little bit of variety. I eat 5-6 times a day and always feel satisfied.
Right now I have definitely found what works for me. Sure my bodyfat can creep up from time to time – there are weeks when my training can suffer due to the nature of the work I do – but for me I now KNOW how to get to and stay at a place that I am more than happy with with a little bit of planning, preparation and hard work.
Foodwise I usually opt for the following:
Breakfast: 2 Full eggs, 1/2 Avocado, Flaxseed, Coffee
Snack: Protein Shake + Fruit OR Vegetable Juice
Lunch: Chicken salad with Sweet Potato OR left over dinner
(Sometimes if I have just trained I’ll go for Pro-oats at this time)
Snack: Low Sugar Protein Bar
Dinner: Protein source/Carbs
Snack: Proyo
At the weekend I am less strict and I do tend to have a couple of cheat meals and even a few glasses of vino! My number ONE rule is that it HAS to be sustainable for you….
Learning what works for me has changed my life – because for the first time ever I am happy and content with my body. I feel good from the inside out and I still get to “live” my life.
