The NEW YOU 12-Week Challenge is something I have been aware of for quite some time after seeing the ads and testimonials in some of the fitness publications I read such as Women’s Health and Fitness and Oxygen magazines. However, I always scoffed at the idea of online personal training thinking it was for gullible people who had reached such a point of desperation that they would part with their money for any old quick-fix and yet... those before and after shots were so compelling, especially on the IBO ad, that I kept being drawn to it and eventually went to the web site.

I ended up reading all the success stories and was stunned to discover what prompted everyone to sign up was MY story. Spiralling weight gain, overtraining, poor eating habits, confusion that old methods no longer worked, bingeing, guilt and low self esteem. Still I was reluctant, I’m not much of a gambler and unless I have nothing to lose or am 95% sure of the outcome I don’t take chances so the money back guarantee was the deciding factor.

The weight just seemed to fall off!

I was so excited when my programs arrived! It seemed so simple, all I had to do was follow the instructions on the sheets and in 12 weeks I would look the way I wanted. I was very dubious, especially as the sheet said to eat more and exercise less! Imagine my surprise and elation when the weight just seemed to fall off!

I was pretty sceptical about supplements also as I had never used them but then I thought that everything I had tried wasn’t working so I should throw myself fully in the program and show a bit of trust. My MRM supplements arrived in the second week so after spending the first week hobbling around with DOMS I started on the glutamine and never had them as bad again. I tried a common brand protein shake which was the foulest and weirdest thing I had ever tasted and gave me strange headaches so I was pretty relieved that the MRM products not only tasted great but they didn’t have these side effects and helped with my sweet cravings.

Who would have thought pizza and wine could HELP my results???

The only hurdles I really encountered were due to my erratic work commitments, I really had to plan and pack meals carefully and make time for workouts and rest and when it was impossible to take my own food I had to make choices as close to my nutrition plan as possible. My other main hurdle was the dreaded plateau that occurred around week 8 but Sharna my feedback coach got me through that with her support and Kristin by suggesting I had a cheat meal. Who knew that pizza and wine had the power to jolt my body back into weight loss? I feel so much better about the way I look and feel now. It’s like my body is “sorted” now I’m free to concentrate on other challenges.

My tips for success:

• Write all your training and nutrition down, keep a journal, everyone says this because it works.
• Do a clean out of the fridge and pantry before you start so that all you have left is things on your food lists, that way if you do have a binge a few nuts and some spoonfuls of jam won’t be anywhere near as bad as a triple cream brie and a cheesecake.
• Mention hunger and tiredness to your feedback coach, you aren’t having a whinge it is more than likely that your body is trying to tell you something that can be fixed.

As far as favourite recipes go I can’t go past Sue’s pancakes with banana and maple syrup, I also like that “snickers” recipe that is going around but my variation is to add 40g raisins and ½ tsp of imitation rum essence to make Rum & Raisin. However I know how good it is to get some variety and try a new recipe so here is a salad I have for lunch, it’s loosely based on a recipe I found in THE LOW GI Diet Cookbook:

SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN SALAD (serves 2)
 

Ingredients:

• 12 green beans, trimmed
• 8 thin asparagus, trimmed
• 12 snow peas
• 200g poached or grilled chicken breast, shredded
• 80g baby rocket leaves

Sweet and Sour Dressing:

• 1tbs white wine vinegar
• 1tbs flaxseed oil
• 2tsp lemon zest, finely chopped
• 2tsp splenda
• Freshly ground black pepper

MInted Quinoa:

• ½ c quinoa prepared as per packet instructions
• 2 tbs finely chopped mint

Method:

1. To blanch the vegetables, bring a saucepan of water to the boil. Put the beans, asparagus and snow peas in the pan and cook for 1 minute. Drain under cold running water to cool quickly. Put the chicken, rocket and blanched vegetables in a serving bowl.
2. To make the sweet and sour dressing, combine the dressing ingredients in a screw-top jar, season with pepper and shake well to mix. Pour over the salad and toss to coat in the dressing.
3. Fluff up the steamed quinoa grains with a fork and stir in the chopped mint. Serve with the chicken salad.