12WBT Blogger Challenge: Week 5

This weeks challenge is all about food, glorious food!

What were you like before embarking on this journey to become a healthier version of yourself? 

What were your old food habits like? How did you feel?

What has changed since starting 12WBT?  What are your new eating habits like? 

How do you feel now? What is the difference? How it is changing your life? 

It can be hard at times! But tell us why it has been and continues to be worth it?

Image via HERE.

I've battled with food pretty much my entire life. My biggest problems were self control, serving sizes and emotional eating. I can remember as a teenager, somehow always being on a "diet". I was always bigger than my friends and I felt extremely self conscious. At university I was on Weight Watchers and ate pretty clean. As an adult, my food was mostly good.

My big problem was...

I was a closet eater...I would binge...and eat and eat until I felt sick. I would eat when no one was around and it would mainly be on sweets, biscuits and pastries. I would punish myself with food. It was a vicious cycle and I hated what I was doing to myself. I knew that...

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...but I couldn't stop. I would get emotional, upset, angry and punish myself with food...PUNISH, not SOOTHE. This would also happen when I'd be close to reaching my goal weight. The negative voices would tell me that I wouldn't achieve them and I'd sabotage my efforts.

So, what has changed this round? Well, the biggest change that I can see is my mindset. I am strong and I'm not letting the negative voices be heard. I feel in control and I believe in the program and in myself. The difference has been incredible! I haven't binged in 6 weeks - and that's a huge achievement in itself. I'm not punishing myself with food, I am treating my body like a machine and am fuelling my body with the right stuff...fresh, healthy food. If I have a treat, it's simply that...a treat. I don't give myself permission to overeat and the fact is, I DON'T WANT TO! Im satisfied with the serving sizes and I'm not linking my emotions with food. Food is FUEL, food is NOT my friend.

The biggest difference I have made is the way I think about food. I'm not allowing it to rule me...food is what it is...

Image via HERE.

What is your relationship like with food?

12WBT Blogger Challenge: Week 4

This weeks blogger challenge is all about reflecting on the past four weeks...

What were the highlights for you? 

What have you found the hardest or the most challenging? 

Do you have any new goals that you would like to achieve in the next four weeks big or small?

Image via HERE.

On reflecting over the first four weeks of the challenge, I'm extremely proud of the fact that I have stayed true to my word. I have believed and trusted in the program and have had great results. I'm enjoying the meals and loving the exercise...yes loving the exercise! I'm beginning to think of myself as an athlete, not just a woman who wants to lose weight. This is my new way of life, it doesn't end at the end of the 12 weeks.

The most challenging thing over the last few weeks would have to be my health. I've had the flu and am battling severe stomach pains and bloating. I've got gastritis and have been put on medication, to try and ease the burn in my tummy. I will need to have a test in a few weeks to check for helicobacter pylori...hopefully I don't have it, otherwise I'll be on more antibiotics. 

Looking ahead at the next four weeks, I want to be able to run for 2km without stopping and also last 20 minutes on the elliptical. I want to have shed 8% of my starting weight, which means weighing 74.3kg. I plan to take part in a SWSyd event - Blue Mountains 1000+ Steps Walk and start training for my first triathlon! 

Image via HERE.

What are you looking forward to over the next four weeks?

12WBT Blogger Challenge: Week 3

This week's blogger challenge is all about motivation...

What motivates you? 

What drives you to be a better version of yourself? 

What is making you just get up early with no excuses and just getting 

out there getting your workout done and eating healthy meals?

What makes you push that little bit harder?

Image via HERE.

The quote above describes my mindset this round. I'm just so tired of starting over, that this time I am DETERMINED to reach my goals. 

I'm amazed at how different I've been feeling over the last three weeks...and I don't just mean physically, I mean mentally. My motivation to start was quite different, but my motivation to continue is that I'm...

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 I can smell it and I can taste it...and I want it! I want to succeed and I want to achieve! I'm focused and determined...and that's why I get up to train at 5:30am each morning and my nutrition is top notch. I used to give in to my emotions and I would binge...but that is not happening now. I'm working hard and I'm proud of my achievements...I want to continue and nothing is going to stand in my way!

Image via HERE.

What is your motivation? What are you hungry for?

12WBT Blogger Challenge: Week 2

This week's challenge was to share where we workout, what we are completing and would like to complete this round. I thought the easiest way to do this was to "show you"...so sit back, relax and enjoy watching my first vlog!!

Hope you enjoyed my first vlog! Hope you all have an amazing Week 3...I'll be releasing another print this week so stay tuned!

If you live in Sydney and are looking at purchasing some exercise equipment, go and see Mario (my beautiful brother) at Workout World Penrith. He's the manager there and is a qualified exercise physiologist...so he knows his stuff! Tell him I sent you!  

Where do you enjoy completing your workouts?

12WBT Blogger Challenge: Week 1

Jayne @ On a Mission to Prove Anything is Possible! has started a 12 week blogger challenge for those who are documenting their 12WBT journey. I think it's a fantastic idea and look forward to the various topics she'll post each week! Head on over to her blog and join in the fun!

This week's challenge:

Introduction

Introduce yourself?

Tell us why you are here? 

Why did you decide to join Round 2 of Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation? 

How have you prepared for the challenge?

For those new to my blog...Hi! My name is Marianne and welcome to Life is a Journey. This is a blog dedicated to my journey in discovering the fit and healthy {ME}!

I'm 30, married to a wonderful man and we have two adorable daughters, aged 6 and 3.

I've struggled with my weight pretty much my entire life. I've gained weight, lost weight, maintained weight...you name it, I've done it!

I'm determined to reach my goals and become happy with who I am. This will be a hell of a journey, but I'm ready for the challenge ahead!

I completed 12WBT R2, 2011 and shed 10kg. I was extremely proud of my achievements, but knew deep down that I could have pushed harder. I went back to Weight Watchers after the round, but after a stressful time at work, I turned to my old habits and turned to food for comfort.  

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During the months that followed I managed to gain back all the weight I had lost. I had a miscarriage in January and I again turned to food for comfort. I gained more weight and I knew I couldn't go on like this, especially if I wanted to have another child. 

- Was I disappointed in myself for gaining back all the weight plus more? YES 

- Was I frustrated with myself for always turning to food for comfort? YES 

- Am I sick of going on this roller coaster? HELL YES!

....So here I am, ready for another challenge and this time I plan to give it my all. I need to change my mindset and learn that when the going gets tough...DON'T TURN TO FOOD!

I know it's only day 5, but I can already feel that this round is going to be different...and I think it is due to the commitment I made during Pre-Season...

My commitment is to TRUST in the 12WBT Program and follow the nutrition and exercise plans wholeheartedly. I commit to JFDI!

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I'm planning more this time round, and TRUSTING in the program. I know I didn't trust 100% last round, so I'm following the nutrition plan, working out hard and staying accountable.

Here's to a great round and...

Original Image via HERE.

What will you trust in this round?