Competition Winner

OMG! I entered a competition in the Sunshine Coast Lifestyle magazine called Profile. It was to win a 12 week challenge where you work with a personal trainer to win a new body. The progamme was being offered Exclusive Personal Training. http://www.exclusivept.com.au/. I had to write in 50 words or fewer why I needed a total body trasnformation.

I wrote:

My family moved from England in December. I’ve gained 20kg through stress eating. I put my kids and other people’s needs before my own. I want to learn to look after myself, rediscover confidence, start working, become a desirable wife, a yummy mummy and enjoy life on the Sunshine Coast.

I received a call on Friday to say I was down to the final three and I had a chat with Sam from Exclusive Personal Training. I had to say again why I wanted to win, what was important to me and what commitment I would give the programme.

The top picture on the right is me when I turned 40 and when I was about 20kgs lighter than now. The picture below is me in Noosa in June, which is actually quite flattering considering my weight gain.

I was so chuffed when I received a call back to say I was the lucky winner for July. My twelve week challenge is worth $1200 and starts tomorrow at 9am down at Glass House Mountains. My two girls (6 and 11) will walk to school and they have promised to help me by being ready and independent and allowing me to get organised on the days I am training.

I am a bit nervous. I know I am having a 'before' and 'after' pictures and I will be featured in the magazine when I have completed the challenge, but I am really commited to doing it. I have 20 kilos to lose and if I lost 1kg a week doing this, I will be well on the way to getting a new body for Christmas!

I have decided to write this blog as a record of what I am doing. I hope it will benefit me as I can write down my thoughts, my achivements and also write when I am struggling and it will help me to get through it.

We went out for a meal last night, not because I don't think I can go out for a meal again, but it was a nice thing to do. I shared a bottle of wine with my husband, some garlic bread with the kids and a lovely plate of homemade gnocci with sweet potato in cream sauce! I know I will still be able to enjoy a meal out, but next time it might be something lighter and hold the GB!!

The thing I am looking forward to doing is actually learning to enjoy and make time to exercise. At the moment, I struggle to put on socks, ache in the morning getting out of bed and have made little effort to be active since our arrival in Australia. So much for wanting to enjoy the outdoor life. My life over the last seven months has been hectic, moving house three times, trying to start up a business, having visitors for over a month and between all the unpacking, packing and organising, I tend to sit on my bum at the laptop. So many things are done on line now, meaning some days you can shop, bank, pay bills, chat to your friends (even in the UK) all with your butt on a chair whilst eating chocolate!! Not a healthy lifestyle at all. So why am I now writing a blog??!! Hopefully after today I can just write a quick note each day saying how I am doing and so friends, family and supporters can check to see how I am doing if they want.

Wish me luck!!