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Day 42

Half way there! Has it been a sprint for you or a marathon so far? Maybe both in some ways so hopefully, you have done your best so far, despite the many ups and downs of such a challenge like this.

What you will have noticed so far is that sometimes you have done really well, and sometimes you have fallen off the wagon and things have gone astray. This is not unusual and we all know life throws spanners in the works sometimes, and sometimes we get a lift up when least expected.

When all these events happen to us in life, the one major area which is critical is our emotions.

Emotions control all our lives and allow us to create change for the better or worse.

Emotions can make you get inspired, or they will make you get depressed. How many of us when describing our week give an answer of “well, it was up and down a bit”! This is the typical response and if you made a graph out charting your emotions compared to your eating and drinking, they would follow each other pretty close.

If some stress comes into your life, many people turn around by eating their way out of it, the term “stress eating” comes from such actions. If this continues, the changes in one’s life can become long lasting and even permanent.

We all know people who started off eating one selection from an indian takeaway, then they select two choices because they simply “wanted to have a variety of tastes”. The two choices soon becomes normality, and to cut a long story short, it can soon become a banquet when it comes to takeways, who has been there?

The negatives to this sort of behaviour leads to obvious weight gain, and this weight gain always leads to a negative self-image. When the self confidence goes down, you are likely to go out less, buy less clothes and because you are in more, you guessed it, you eat more takeaways and you become so much of an expert, that you don’t even need the menu any longer! I have heard this story quite a lot!

Emotions will always control the way we think, therefore the way we act. How many of us have had a few too many drinks, and done something we severely regret? I know i have! Alcohol controls and changes emotions extremely quickly and can be highly destructive to not only the way you behave, but the rate body fat piles on to your body, as discussed many times perviously.

Another example would be reading this, i really try to create some positivity from this, and for you to take some positive action of course. Shaking you into action is sometimes a shock, but if it does the trick, then that’s all that matters. Emotionally, you should be on the way to being uplifted, and your actions will keep you uplifted the rest of the week, because everything you do now is aimed at creating a better quality of life for yourself.

We all get days when we feel sorry for ourselves, have opportunities we don’t take because we weren’t bold enough, we all have days when the scales don’t move as we like (they can be emotionally destructive!), the trick is not looking down at our shoes and thinking that is our lot in life, but to practice taking action, and promise ourselves that the next time an opportunity comes, we will grab it with both hands, and those opportunities will surely come, so be ready to take them!!

Twitt
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Thought for today

“You gain courage, strength and confidence by every experience in which you stop to really look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you really think you cannot do”-Eleanor Roosevelt.

Twitt
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Day 41

How’s your saturday’s going now that you are changing or even changed your lifestyle?

For some people, it used to be a few pints tonight, last night and maybe tomorrow too. Throw in some fast food, and maybe a couple of takeways, and this would usually mean an avalanche of calories!

Some of you have changed this, some of you are doing less of it.

I think it’s always good to unwind on a weekend, whether it’s a saturday, friday or sunday, whatever day it is for you, the problems always begin when it’s a binge from friday to sunday every week.

On top of that, it’s always a double whammy if you do binge the whole weekend, then seek solace with those close to you because you “were stressed”! The need for self-pity is one of the weaker human traits, and some people play on it more than others. The reality usually is that those close to you may be fed up of it too, but are too afraid to tell you. Let’s get out of all that rubbish and do something positive and whineing about how life’s so bad at times, listen here, it’s bloody not so let’s get out there tomorrow after your big night tonight!

The reason usually for this is trying to get attention for your actions, whatever the reason. This is the opposite of taking responsibility for your actions, the opposite to making progress and it some circles, it’s called being “a drama queen”!

To make this programme really happen, you have to take responsibility for your actions. For example, if you want a few drinks tonight, don’t make the excuse of staying in bed the next day feeling sorry for yourself. Get your behind out of bed and get out there and run, cycle, walk with purpose, anything, as long as it’s active and you can get a good workout out of it.

For every action, there has to be an equal and opposite reaction so the saying goes. So if you pile all those sugary calories in, you’d better be prepared to quit making those excuses, and you’re out there tomorrow come rain or shine!

Schedule it in early too, as you’re leaving yourself open to yet more excuses. If you’re making the effort to get up earlier, you will feel BETTER earlier too!

Most of you have come a very long way now by now, let’s keep up the momentum, have plenty of fun tonight, and hit it early tomorrow morning, and you WILL feel better for it!!

Twitt
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Day 40 Vicky’s first four weeks

This is a fantastic post from Victoria, as it says it all really and i don’t have to add a thing! A great story so far!

FOUR weeks into the programme and four inches off my waist…
Not to mention my shrinking hips, thighs, calves, arms, neck, and shoulders. I can hardly believe it.
A month of hard graft, healthier eating, a few hiccups here and there and still smaller measurements all round.
As I look at my flatter and more toned ‘mum tum’ and my lack of ‘love handles’ I am really excited at the prospect of what the remaining eight weeks will bring.
With only a third of the way into the programme, and such positive results, it’s hard not to get excited – especially if someone had told me a month ago how my last four weeks would have been…
Running up steep hills (Denham Avenue and Penyfai Lane – my legs are weak at the thought), 15 minute-jogs round the water park, bench presses, boxing, sprints, lunges, weights, sit ups, rolling around on balls and press ups..
Don’t be soft I couldn’t possibly do that…?
Well, actually, no one is more surprised than me.. Because I can, have and will continue to improve with the help of a little patience, give and take and will power.
Previously, I would have chuckled at the thought of the above … but now, I’m chuckling at the results – which is far more satisfying. I have come to realise that only one thing really holds us back in life.. And that’s us.
If we THINK we can’t do something, it doesn’t mean we REALLY can’t. I am proof of that.
Before this opportunity, I would never have thought it possible to fit in regular exercise, most of which I do either at home, or around the area I live, and during my lunch hour! Who’d have thought?
My routine is fitting in nicely around the rest of my hectic lifestyle as a single, working mum with a baby and toddler to care for… not to mention the daily washing and cleaning, food shopping, bin changing… the list goes on!
By exercising at home, I have cut out the ‘need’ and ‘worry’ to find babysitters.
The children watch me in the throws of my new lifestyle, laughing when I can’t quite get it and smiling when I finally do.
They can see that as well as being quite tiring – exercise is actually rather fun and enjoyable – so much so they try to join in.
Keri’s patience has been much appreciated in working around my personal circumstances which has made it possible for me to fulfil my ambitious streak to give this programme 100 per cent – well, most of the time anyway!
No one’s perfect. We all get tired, stressed and ratty, lose a bit of faith in our ability to do things- but it’s short-lived and being aware of that, I know these feelings will pass and how fab I feel after a work out.
Can you imagine exercise more addictive than a bar of chocolate??
Well, it can be and a lot more satisfying as well.
A number of exercises that Keri has taught me over the past four weeks could comfortably be done at home without the aid of necessary ‘extra’ equipment.
Such as the arm dips using my kitchen chair, the stairs to run up and down, the floor to conduct sit ups, lunges and various stretches.
Tins of food can be used as an alternative to weights if needs be…
On the subject of food, over the past month, my taste buds have had the luxury of being tempted by a far wider range of things to eat than ever before including fresh fish, greek yogurt and nuts – not all at once of course!
Although, I am aware of what things I ‘should be eating’ and which ‘are better for you’ I am human and make mistakes. Life is all about rules, some we make, some we break and some we bend…
At the end of the day, we need to break a few of them at times to learn from them.
One of the most important lessons I have learnt is that compromise is key to any lifestyle change if it’s to be a success.
If you’re tired don’t hammer it, take it easier…
If you’re hungry don’t binge, have something to hand that satisfies that craving until you get home.
As a food lover, I have been known to succumb to the rather ‘naughty but nice’ treats and meals as opposed to the better, healthier and more nutritional dishes.
Now, as an adult, in control of what I eat, there’s no excuses why I binge, it’s my own personal choice..
Some may say a habit, and as we all know bad habits die hard. I am no exception to this rule.
However, I may be an adult, but I’m also a mum, which over rides everything else.
That is why the last few weeks have helped me considerably.
Being introduced to a wider variety of fruit, making an effort to cook freshly prepared meals from scratch as opposed to the, at times, more convenient, and not half as nice, microwave meals.
We’re all guilty, at times, of choosing things which we know we shouldn’t always but with stressful lives, and from experience, it can be hard which is why preparation is key. Now instead of mulling around the house after the boys go to bed, I lay out the breakfasts ready and get to work on something simple for the following day’s lunch.
So, after zipping home from work for my training session, to jumping in the shower when I’m done to tucking into something tasty that I have prepared myself so know it’s all good – to retuning to work for the afternoon shift- before the night shift with the little ones.
This may seem like hassle but so is rushing around to buy food before my session which means I’m hungry late afternoon and wasting cash because ‘I haven’t got time to make anything- I’m flat out!’. 
Well, I’ve leant a lot about preparation and the advantages of being organised and this works a treat for me- allowing me to have a treat.
The last month has also seen a couple of (rare) social occasions crop up- which could have thrown my training and will power into disrepair. This includes a charity meal for the Haiti appeal in a local Indian restaurant famed for its yummy food (how could I refuse, it’s for charity!) and my dad’s milestone 50th birthday (well, a once in a lifetime celebration- say no more).
Now, I love Indian food – tikka massala has always been a favourite – and vodka and diet coke was my tipple… any calorie hunter will know this is the ‘best option‘… well, maybe not.
As Keri has taught me, it’s quality that’s most important … so instead of a tikka massala, I opted for chicken tikka and boiled rice.. Which turned out to be just as delicious.
Leaving aside my vodka, I was told wine was a ‘cleaner’ drink and – low and behold – a night on the wine spritzers left me surprisingly hangover free!
So, tasty food and a lovely drink.
Main lesson learnt is the fact that life goes on – so no matter what healthy lifestyle you lead..
A little rule bending and compromise goes a long way.
Having had such an enjoyable time and far from being restricted which would have seen me go ‘off the rails’ I simply ensured that the remainder of my training went well. I got my head down and it’s clearly paid off.
One happy mummy indeed! Life doesn’t seem so hard anymore.
Surprising what a bit of inner confidence in your ability to achieve your dreams can do.Eight weeks left and counting…
Welcome the new me
Twitt
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DAY 39 Let’s bloody make it happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Challenges are coming your way thick and fast now, and most of you are starting to question your own abilities, and then some of you are taking action, going back to what you know now to be true, and rescuing your challenge and getting yourself well and truly back on course.

Chris L who has done so well in losing over a stone in the first month feels he has a major roadblock in his way, and feels as if the “wheels have come off the wagon” in a big way as he says.

He now works in Newport 15 hours a day, to put food on the table for his family, so he feels as if this challenge is over for him, despite his amazing progress so far!

He asks me what to do, and here’s my response.

First of all I tell him how fantastically well he has done so far and he ought to be proud of his achievements. Then the next step is how to salvage the rest of this challenge for him?

We have 45 days left and he had amazing progress in just 28 days, so I think 45 days is enough for a major transformation against the odds especially after the great start!

A couple of things happen when you work away. You are tempted to go out for a drink after a long hard day, its be expected in some circles. Then, you are eating rubbish you just grab here and there, and the thought of a workout at the end of a 15 hour day is not the most appetising thing in the world!

So let’s take it back and start from scratch for Chris and any of you who are struggling with the “lifestyle” imposed on you!

First of all Chris, remember why you are up there, to earn money for you and you children, that has to be number one I would guess.

Number two, if you want to save more money again, stop eating the rubbish in shops etc and start doing a weekly, or daily shop in a supermarket. Get your wholemeal bread as your job is labour intensive, no margarine or butter (useless calories), buy some cans on tuna in brine, mackerel, salmon, they are very cheap around 70p each, or a cooked chicken and make it last a bit in the fridge.

Buy a ready to eat bag of veg every two days, they are very cheap too and there’s always some on offer. Buy some fruit too every two days. And drink a big bottle of water throughout the day you have filled up in the morning.

Your workouts? Remember what I am always banging on about working out in the morning first thing, because things always “crop up” later, and you won’t feel like working out later in the day or evening. This takes many excuses away for all of us at times.

The home workout you can do in your room and there’s no excuse for your numbers to go down, you have performed really well so far and I believe you have plenty of fight in you so let’s do it, and really crank it up!!

The alcohol thing? In my experience, everyone I know who has worked long hours or worked away and drunk every night looks usually 10-15 years older than they actually are by the time they reach 45-50! Is that where you want to go? It’s not glamorous with these guys, men bitching about life by an empty bar every night? Doesn’t sound too great to me!!

Let’s get back to your children again, are you going to make them proud and tell them the time that the time you went to work away for them to put food on the table for them, you had many challenges come your way, and instead of “joining in with the crowd”, you actually turned it around and worked on your body, you worked on your health and you actually came back with more energy the weekend, so your time with them was higher quality, because you wanted to watch them growing up properly?

And, you put even more money in the family’s bank account by not sending yourself to an early grave or being a burden to your family in the future through ill health, you fought back and you lived the next 45 days like a man possessed and got another stone off? You regained your old strength, your lung capacity and your old sense of drive and enthusiasm??!!!!

Do you really believe this can happen and are you ready to MAKE IT HAPPEN?!! I know you can do it Chris against the odds, and keep inspiring people on this site like you have already.

You have to get life strategies that work in any situation and I have offered you the opportunity to follow them. I don’t wake up every morning at 4am and feel TOTALLY motivated, I have strategies that get me that way.

I eat well, I never drink in the week, I exercise inside and out in the fresh air, and all this helps me sleep well. THEN, I get motivated by most people’s progress, and trying to turn around sometimes so called “lost causes”, that REALLY gets me motivated!!

You have these choices too, you won’t be working away forever and when you do get back home, it will lay down the foundations for you becoming even more successful!

Good luck and make the right choice for you! Let us know your weekly progress, don’t “settle” in life Chris for mediocrity, your future is in your own hands and it looks very good to me!!!

Twitt