“How do you do it?” That is a question I was asked A LOT over the last few
months…. So as I come to the end of my journey of my first ever PREP for a
Fitness Model Competition, I thought I would share my story and hopefully
inspire some other women (or even men) to start DREAMING, BELIEVING and
ACHIEVING…
And Begin to LIVE LIFE to the
FULLEST!
I am a 29 year old single mum of an 18 month old little
miracle man. Harrison came into my life in November 2010 and has been a part of
my journey/prep – every single step of the way. I have a lot of support, friends and
family, around me, but for the most part this journey has come from planning,
organizing and prepping – followed up with commitment, dedication and
persistence. To those people that don't know me and even to those that think they do, and who say - 'Oh, but you are a stay-at-home mum, so you have the time to look like that'.... Read on...
I work two jobs – this first being as an Accredited
Exercise Physiologist for a Corporate Health and Weight Management Company and
the other developing and growing my own Health and Fitness Business - Calma Health -in the city
of Brisbane.
I first thought about competing in a Fitness Model competition
back in 2009 when I got a taste for weights training while living and working
in South Korea. My personal trainer at the time put the idea in my head and I
held onto it for a long time…
While I was pregnant with Harrison in 2010 I gained 24kg
and learnt that feeling that heavy was not comfortable for me. I then learnt
that becoming a mum gave me an unbelievable amount of internal courage and
strength that I had never really felt before. Those that know me will say that
I have always been a fairly positive person and into my health and fitness,
however having Harrison has given me more focus and motivation and helped me
become even more determined and driven….
So, once Harrison was born (November 2010) and I could
get back into exercise (February 2011) I did just that. I started walking,
started back into yoga and started back into activities that I generally
enjoyed, but nothing ‘crazy’ as some people have asked. In May 2011, I started
back into running (with Harry in the pram, of course).
I finally decided to begin my prep for this
competition in February this year...
-
‘Light’ weights
training at the end of February - (12 weeks out)
-
Diet at the end
of March - (8 weeks out)
- ‘Heavier’
weights and cardio in April - (about 5 weeks out)
My GOALS were:
- To be 59kg
- 10%body fat
- Increase my
lean muscle mass (didn’t know from what and to what)
- Get a bikini
made for stage
- Practice my
posing, AND
- Somehow find a
MASSIVE amount of confidence in order to get on stage!
I made a PLAN, contacted some coaches for nutrition and
training advice and started to surround myself with positive people that knew a
little (or a lot) about the industry. (Some of those people may tell you I
stalked them until they helped me, but it worked! And others approached me, which I am so grateful for!)
I then prepared for every day of the week. Every Sunday
I shopped and prepared my food for the week ahead. That included cutting,
weighing, bagging – even down to writing times for each meal on the containers.
I wrote down a plan for each day’s training, when I was going to fit in my
cardio and weights around my work, my clients, around Harry’s sleeps, around
house work and cooking and cleaning, not to mention sleep and some kind of
social/family life!
It sounds like it was hectic, and again, a lot of people
have said to me that I sound really busy but I think life is about the CHOICES
we make and I am happy when I am busy doing the things I love. I have SO much
more energy from the CLEAN DIET and PLANNED EXERCISE then ever before.
“Be miserable or motivated…. Whatever has to be done, it is ALWAYS your
CHOICE.”
I CAN understand how people can say, ‘How do you do it’,
especially other mums because as women we tend to put ourselves on the back
burner. And with the fast paced, want-it-now society that we live in, it is
hard to learn to put yourself first and become clear on your own goals. But to
other women, mum’s or even guys out there that want to change but either doubt
themselves or haven’t taken the next step – I say – Just.Do.It.
Stop making
excuses and start believing in yourselves....
There are no
secret pills, magic tricks or miracle drinks. Fit and healthy bodies are achieved by
exercise, a healthy diet, consistency and perseverance. Start making small
changes in your diet and include daily activities that you can turn into permanent
positive habits. Start believing in yourself and surround yourself with people who believe you and won’t hold you back. Have a CLEAR GOAL in mind, plan and
prepare, take actions steps towards that goal daily. Employ professionals to
help you along the way if you need. And NEVER GIVE UP.
Calma Health – my own Health and Fitness business’s
philosophy is about finding the balance in life through clean eating,
corrective exercise and doing what you love in order to achieve your individual
goals. When we make the right choices with our own health we can live a peaceful and fulfilled life which in turn leads to happiness within ourselves and rubs off on those around us. I believe it really is that SIMPLE.
So, in response to comments I have received over the
past few months including – ‘Oh, you must have always been this way’, or ‘You
must just have a good metabolism or genes’….
Ahhhh. NO! The photos below clearly show that I have NOT
always been this way, but with the help of clean food and correct exercise YES,
I have sped up my metabolism… But mainly - I have worked my butt off! And LOVED
every minute of it!
ANYTHING IS
POSSIBLE IF YOU HAVE A GOAL AND BELIEVE…
I am a sucker for motivational quotes and photos (as you can
tell by my Facebook pages). Here are some of my favourites photos and quotes
that I had plastered over my bedroom wall and on my Iphone to get me through
prep.
- "Go as far as you can see. When you
get there, you'll be able to see farther…"
- "You
don’t get it by STARING. You Don’t get it by WISHING. You don’t get it by
DROOLING. You don’t get it by HOPING. You don’t get it EASY. You get it by
GETTING OFF YOUR ASS AND WORKING FOR IT."
A picture tells a thousand words…. A
little visual snapshot of my journey…
 |
| Starting 2012 with some clear goals... and BELIEF... |
