How I lost 15.6kg / 34.4lb in only 12 weeks – My #F2FChallenge journey

I struggled a bit with the title of this post. I had a few options:

‘How I finally lost my pregnancy weight’.
My little girl is almost 4… about time, hey?
 
‘I won the #F2FChallenge’.
YES! I won! But I don’t really like this one, because I think every single girl who took part in this challenge is a winner.
 
‘How I got ‘me’ back… a weight loss journey’.
Not a bad one, but I needed the title to make you sit up and listen. A New Weigh deserves the attention.
 
‘How I lost 15kg / 34lb by eating pizza’.
Yes, you read that correctly… pizza! The A New Weigh approved ‘pizza’ was my go-to meal during this challenge and it’s damn good. Guess what I’m having for supper tonight??

 

The A New Weigh Fat 2 Fit Challenge is a weight-loss and fitness challenge that provides you with an eating plan, an exercise plan and amazing support.

The eating plan works for me 100%. I get to eat a variety of foods and I really like that. I have tried many other eating plans, but I could never stick to it. I like that I get to eat protein, starch and fruit & veg. You even get the opportunity to occasionally have some dessert. I have a terrible sweet tooth, but I didn’t have dessert once during this challenge. I just didn’t feel like it and that is because I ate good food and I felt satisfied. Clean eating for the win!

The exercise plan is especially handy if you don’t already exercise. It is a great guide to get you moving. Trust me, you’ll sweat. And you’ll love it.

At first I wasn’t too keen on the WhatsApp or (private) Facebook group (only because I’m already part of many), BUT it proved to be invaluable! We got to share, encourage, complain, ask for advice. It broke my heart when the groups were closed at the end of the challenge. You girls helped me stick to the plan and if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have made it this far. You are all spectacular and I have so much love for each and every one of you! YOU made all the difference.

I can go on and on and on about how this challenge has changed my body, my attitude and how I feel about myself, but I think these pics will say it all:

before...~2

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I feel like I finally have ‘me’ back. Thank you Gaelyn for helping me change my life.

The next challenge will start in Jan ’15 and I will probably see you there. I have a couple of kgs to go and loads of toning to do, and with the help of A New Weigh and the Fat 2 Fit Challenge, I know I’ll get there. Keep an eye on the blog as the details of the next challenge is coming soon.

xoxo

10kgs and counting…

I was looking for a ‘booyah’ gif to start this blog post off with, but they all make it seem like I’m bragging or gloating. And that is not what this post is about. Don’t get me wrong, I am damn proud of myself, but this post is about sharing a bit of my journey and maybe even inspiring someone to do the same.

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I started my A New Weigh journey when I joined the #F2FChallenge that kicked off on 15 September ’14. You can read about it HERE and have a look at my previous results posts HERE and HERE.

I have lost 10.3kgs to date.

As I mentioned in the beginning of this post, I am very happy with my results thus far and 10kgs is a huge milestone for me. But what I have gained on this journey outweighs the weight that I have lost (I am just full of puns today).

I have some of my confidence back. I walk down the street with my head held a little higher than usual. I am no longer walking around trying to blend into the crowd; scared that I may bump into someone I know. It’s not just because I feel better about the way I look, it’s because I am not carrying the shame around anymore. The shame of trying to solve my problems with food, the shame of eating in secret, the shame of eating to the point where my body can’t take it anymore, the shame of forcing food down my throat in an attempt to force down emotions, to keep them buried deep down inside. I feel like a tremendous weight (here I go again) has been lifted. This journey has helped me to redefine my relationship with food. I now see food as fuel and something to enjoy. And yes, I still enjoy eating, but food is no longer my escape or my crutch. My body feels lighter, as does my soul. It is a good feeling.

Thank you to Gaelyn, A New Weigh, and all the #F2FChallengers for being so amazing and helping me to get ME back.

10kgs to go! Watch this space!

xoxo