I had recently turned 30, and although I'd no problems with the age, I realised that I had spent the last 10 years never fully being happy with my body even after trying various training regimes and diets. 

"If I ever whinged about my weight, people would always say but you don't need to lose any weight or you're tall, you look fine."

They didnít realise that I didn't LIKE myself, that I knew I wasnít healthy and that yes, I am tall (188cm or 6'2") but that's not an excuse I want to use for the rest of my life.  So I decided early in the New Year that I wasnít going to let another year go by where I wasn't happy in my own body and that it was now or never to make a change.

I was flicking through an issue of Women's Health & Fitness magazine when I saw the story about Ideal Bodies Online and I decided to look into it further.  I spent approximately two months reading the success stories, and even signing up to receive some of the complimentary work outs.  I finally decided that no time was gong to be the "right time" so I went ahead and signed up for one of the 12 week tailored programs.

It worked out that I would be interstate on holidays for the first 2 days of my program, but I had made the promise to myself that I wouldn't let anything get in the way.  One of my first meals was grilled fish while my friends had theirs served with hot chips, the smell was torture!

I returned from holidays with a severe allergic reaction to sun cream that caused chemical burns on my legs.  This prevented me from starting my training for almost two weeks, but I was able to continue with the nutrition, and eventually add in some low impact exercise from home.

"I was blown away when I managed to lose 2kgs and I hadn't even started training properly!"

It just goes to show you how eating more (and I mean lots more!) of the right foods at the right time, can kick-start your metabolism.

Once I got into the training at the gym, I started to feel better - both inside and out.  I was getting stronger again, and remembered how great it felt to work out and actually WANT to work out.  I also was sleeping better, my skin improved, and my clothes were starting to get too big.

Like most, I had some days where I ate something I shouldn't have, outside of my "free choice" meal but I knew that it was just a small setback and that I would fix it at the next meal and that I would just train a little bit harder.  I have also learnt not to beat myself up over making an incorrect choice but now I'm not eating because I'm stressed or upset or just because someone else is having it.  Most people can't believe how much food I do eat and how often I eat!

"At around week 8 of my program I came down with a virus and ended up being sick for almost 3 weeks. I was devastated!"

I had gotten into such a great routine where my training and nutrition had become habit, that to get sick and not be able to workout felt like I was being cheated.  I learnt from my feedback coach that you couldn't make up for lost time, you just had to get on with it.  Once I got back into training, and regained my appetite, it was like I'd never been sick.  It made me happy to realise that maybe I had begun to see this as a new lifestyle, not just a "diet" that I would only do for the duration and then revert back to my old habits.

I'm happy to say that now that I've finished my program, depletion week and all, I'm still following my nutrition program and enjoying my workouts.  I now schedule the rest of my life around my workouts, and my family and friends understand that this is the new me, and are happy for me, because they can see how happy it's made me.

Natalie's Top Tips

• Preparation!  I was taking my cottage cheese and apple to work and was struggling to find the time to cut up the apple.  My feedback coach told me to get it all prepared down to the cut up apple mixed in with the cottage cheese.  It really does make a difference.
• My appointments with yourself to workout.  I used to get caught up with work and used it as an excuse to not workout.  Now I make sure that if I haven't been to the gym in the morning, that I reschedule for that afternoon and this makes me leave work on time.
• Social outings - eat before hand so you aren't tempted, take along your own meal or suggest something where you know you wonít be tempted.   Catching up with friends in the park is great, as you can take your own snacks along.  If you have a free meal, plan your outings around this so you don't feel like you are missing out.