New You Reader's Choice Award Winner - 2011

"WOW I CAN’T BELEIVE YOU CAN EAT ALL THAT" - Alicia Branson

I decided to sign up for the NEW YOU 12 week challenge after reading an article in women's health and fitness magazine I found myself in awe of the transformations that were featured.  My first thought was how could they have eaten so much and still achieved such fantastic results.  Why was I starving myself??  I had to do it!!
 

"I have also banished some demons that I have carried for years!"

After doing some research I came across Ideal Bodies Online which a few past body blitz winners had joined. I was impressed with what they had to offer so I joined and received my nutritional guide and exercise program and I never looked back. With their (Ideal Bodies Online) invaluable advice and support, I not only reached my goal on completion, I am the healthiest, happiest and the most comfortable I have ever been with myself. I have also banished some demons that I have carried for years. I'd always had the mindset that to lose weight you pretty much need to starve yourself and exercise like crazy. I now know the complete opposite is true.

After my second child (I have 2 boys aged 4 and 11 months) I struggled to lose the final few kilos I was still carrying I thought it was going to be impossible to get my body back to e way it once was. I can now say it is back and better than ever. I am fitting into clothes that I wore on my honeymoon 8 years ago. I have a new lease on life and so much more life to live with my 2 boys and very supportive husband. Who has had to endure some household task as I do my training sessions. Throughout the challenge I started to see results quite quickly and then other people started seeing changes which then spurs you on to achieve more and more. Its the best cycle you could be on. 

"I loved the weight training the changes were noticeable within a few weeks and by doing this it was definitely the key to my body transformation and my new fired up metabolism." 

The nutrition plan I followed was very easy to stick to, I never felt deprived and the protein shakes and bars were a definite help with my sweet tooth.  It’s probably the most food I have eaten in years without the added kilos. I had to overcome the urge for chocolate at Easter as that was mid way through my challenge I was given a couple of bunnies which I put to the back of my fridge for the end of my challenge. But I had my first slip up when one night one bunny snuck out I managed to pretty much inhale it as I ate it that quickly, I woke the next day straight back on routine> To know that I slipped up but was still able to keep going made me stronger. Just to let you know the other bunny is still in the fridge I don’t feel the need for it now :) 
 

"These 12 weeks are now the rest of my life!"

Alicia's Top Tips:

1. Don’t Let Others Bring You Down
2. Look Ahead Don’t Dwell on the Past
3. One Day At A Time, What Ever the Day May Bring Never Give Up
4. “Fail To Plan = Plan To Fail”
5. Dedication

My favourite Recipe was a thing I called a Protein Ball:

I would mix half a serving of protein power (Choc or Cookies and Cream my fav) with a little water to make paste add 15 chopped Almonds and  15grams Protein Crunch mix into ball freeze for 30min. Virtually Chocolate Crackle! Yum!