Vannessa Maddocks - Hitting Rock Bottom

It all started 18 years after I had my first child. When I was pregnant I managed to gain 33kg yes a whopping 33kg. I did finally lose that weight but then my second child came along and on went another 30kg. This time I managed to lose this weight within 8 months. It wasn’t long before 20kg was gained again through bad habits of skipping meals and eating out and a few drinks here & there.

I cannot tell you how many times I have been on a calorie controlled diet and lost the weight and within 4 months gained up to 20kg of what I had lost. I continue this yo-yo cycle for about 8 times over a 15 year period!

"The crunch came in April this year when I tried on 8 pairs of jeans in my wardrobe and not one of them fit me."

I went into the bathroom and cried. I had hit rock bottom. I was weighing myself everyday and all that was doing was making me more and more depressed. I’m usually a very social, confident person and I noticed because I felt so bad about my appearance that I stopped socialising. That same day I said to myself I am the only one that can fix this.

I have been reading the “Womens Health and Fitness” magazine for many years and had admired every person who had completed the 12 week challenge. I read the “New You” magazine from front to back not once, but twice, admiring each person's great muscle definition and their body changes.

A few days later, I was at the dinner table & told my family that I was planning to try the challenge. My husband said "This is what you have been talking about for so long now, so why don’t you go for it!" I would look at the before photos in the magazine and a lot of them had my exact body shape. I thought there is nothing stopping me from achieving the goals I have always craved.

At week 6 of the program, I started to receive a few compliments giving me even more reason to achieve those goals. The first few weeks on the program were the hardest just getting the body to adapt. By week 8 it all become second second nature and I started to look at food more as a fuel source.

During the 12 weeks, exercise was in my diary as an appointment and not once did I miss that appointment and I gave every workout 100%. My weight training & cardio was done first thing in the morning even if I had to get up at 5.30am to do it. The extra cardio that I had time for was done in the afternoon. As a retail owner life can become very hectic at times so being organised just makes the day go so much smoother. I ensured all food was sorted out the night before. If I’d go out in the morning I’d take my tuna & fruit with me.

"I believe organisation = success."

My husband Damien is my best support. He is always the first to give me words of encouragement and pick me up when I had doubting days.

"I finally feel more confident and enjoy socialising again. My energy levels are fantastic and 6 of the 8 pairs of jeans fit."

I plan to do certificate III and IV in fitness in the near future. I also plan to continue this way of healthy nutrition and exercise as I believe after all these years I have finally found what works.
 

Just a word to others: Never let peer pressures get in your way. Give yourself credit when its due & reward yourself, not with food of course.
“If you think you can, YOU CAN!”

A huge thank you, to the Ideal Bodies Online team: Sharna, Kristin & Sue. Without them I wouldn’t be feeling as fantastic as I do today and I’m now closer to having that "ideal body" that I’ve wanted for years. I’m looking forward to completing another 12 weeks on the program.
 

Vannessa's Favourite Meal

SALMON STACK

100g Salmon pan fry on non stick pan
120g Cooked & mashed sweet potato
½ cup Baby spinach
½ Spanish onion sliced
11/2 cups steamed broccoli, beans, asparagus
sprinkle lemon juice & pepper

Place sweet potato on plate, top baby spinach, Salmon then Spanish onion.  Sprinkle with lemon juice and pepper.
Serve with steamed vegetable. YUMMO!

*Also great with grilled chicken breast done in garlic.