I had read stories of many clients of ‘Ideal Bodies Online’ and many of them stated that they had previously been a lot like myself, and had finally found a way off the rollercoaster. I figured that it was worth a go and it really felt like it was this or I’d give up completely.

 

I went into the challenge very clear on what I wanted. I didn’t want a quick fix, I didn’t want to smash myself for 12 weeks and see how thin I could get. I know what that does to my head and I wasn’t going there again. I wanted to learn how to look after myself properly, and find balance in my life. My goals didn’t revolve around numbers on the scales, they were about my behaviour and about the way I felt about myself.

 

 

One thing that really appealed to me about this program was the one on one mentoring. I had Leanne, who I could email with all of my questions, and I know that is what made this work for me. I could have read everything on paper that I was given and still failed miserably. But having someone to work through the issues with, someone who I could vent to, and someone who could remind me that one little slip up doesn’t mean I’ve failed. I needed that voice of reason. I have realised that I am a very ‘black and white’ person. I can be a perfectionist, and if I don’t do something 100% perfectly I feel that I should just give up. I have learnt that sometimes good enough is good enough. And that if I am consistent and eat the right things most of the time, then the occasions when I don’t won’t matter anyway.

 

The 12 weeks was certainly a journey. I was sick a few times, we had a trip to Bali, and in the last month I had to work long hours, many 12 hour days & I was exhausted. 

 

 

But having Leanne to help remind me that I had committed to this, I knew I had to do my best, and I had to learn to do this when real life gets in the way. When getting to the gym became difficult, I bought weights that I could do at home a couple of days a week, then I’d go to the gym for the rest. Training with my partner was great, as guys tend to be able to push themselves a lot harder, and I did my best to do that too.

 

 

 

The nutrition was the biggest learning curve for me. I had thought that I ate a pretty healthy diet (when I wasn’t ‘off’ it). But I had cut calories far too much. 

 

 

I have learnt to love protein and how important it is to have. I struggled a bit with the protein at first, but now I have found ways to have it that I love, and I am happy to continue eating this way. 

 

My partner couldn’t believe the amount of food I was eating, and I think he quietly thought that there was no way I could possibly lose weight eating this way. He didn’t say anything at the time though. But now he tells me he is amazed at the amount of food on this plan. 

 

 

I lost almost 6kg in these 12 weeks, and for the most part it just feels like it has been too easy. I have not been hungry, or had that horrible ‘shaky’ feeling that I had whenever I was losing weight before. I realise now that when I had cut calories before I was just slowing my metabolism down which just starts off a big viscous cycle once again. I’ll never to that to myself again. My partner was very supportive of me and is so happy that I finally have beaten something that was a real struggle for me. We now go to the gym together and the kids even join in at home too.

 

I feel happy to have finished this 12 weeks feel strong and in control.