Anne Clement - Determined to NOT turn in to an apple!

I guess my challenge began when my doctor told me that “after 50 everyone turns into an apple”... "hmmm" I replied “I am now 54, that’s something to look forward to!”

I enjoyed going to the gym in the past, but that was years ago. I have a bench and free weights at home which I have used off and on for many years but I had never stuck to any sort of programme and although I thought I knew the right food to eat, I was doing things all wrong, which I  now know!

While browsing the newsagency one day I stumbled across a copy of Oxygen magazine and took it home. After pouring through the magazine from cover to cover and gaining inspiration from the beautiful, fit, female bodies in the magazine I decided it was time to get into shape. I was just not sure where to start.

I came across the Ideal Bodies Online advertising feature in the magazine and it looked very inviting. After reading a success story I decided to do a little homework and look at the online websites. Ideal Bodies Online, to me, seemed the best place to go for help and inspiration so I signed up for a 3 month training and nutrition package which included a Feedback Coach.

My 55th birthday was just around the corner and the thought of being an apple did not sit well with me. I decided to commit! If I was going to do this, I was going to do it right, so I also signed up for the 12 week New You Challenge as well.

I suppose my biggest hurdle was eating 5 times a day and fitting this into my lifestyle. Working full-time shiftwork, going shopping for the right foods, preparing ahead, taking healthy foods to work and stopping everything in front of my colleagues to have yet another meal. I also found adding good fats to my diet was hard to remember - anyone who has ever attempted a fat loss programme before will probably confirm that they always say to “leave the fat out!” I found I had to leave post-it notes on my bench top to remind me to add the good fats.
 

Another challenge for me was the gym, so I started my challenge at home with my free weights and trusty old bench. Well that didn’t last long as I soon realised that if I wanted to do this right I needed to challenge my body even further with different equipment and heavier weights, so my next hurdle was joining a gym. Doing weights at the gym has always been a bit intimidating for me as the guys seem to gather around in the areas I want to utilize. I was determined not to let this distract me from my goal so I would walk in proudly and complete my programme. To my surprise it would feel like I had just started training and I would be finished.

This was too good to be true, "I hope it works" I would think.

Now I just love going to the gym. So thank you Ideal Bodies Online for giving me the correct programme for my body, which in turn gave me the confidence and inspiration I needed.

I was told to take my measurements and record my weight, well to my surprise, things were changing. The tape measure and scales do not lie and a picture tells a thousand words.

Wow! Another kilo gone and another inch disappeared, this is working! 

My feedback coach, Maxine, always gave me lots of encouragement and helped me overcome my hurdles. I also found I had more energy and I was getting compliments from friends I hadn’t seen in a while.

I have finished my programme now and have found it easy to maintain my lifestyle of going to the gym and eating correct, nutritious food at the right times. These things have become habits for me now. Should I ever fall off the wagon which I do not intend to do, I know Ideal Bodies Online is there and I will sign up for another program in a flash.

I guess for me the inspiration that kept me on track was goal setting. I had made up my mind and nothing was going to deter me from achieving what I had set out to. I was always thinking ahead and preparing my meals in advance, I made sure I always had plenty of nutritious healthy food on hand. My work bag and handbag now always contain a can of tuna, a protein bar, some almonds and a protein shake, just in case I get stuck. I am always prepared!

I find my nutrition plan to be quite delicious and my sugar cravings have totally disappeared as the next meal is always just around the corner. My favorite Ideal Bodies Online recipe is Pancakes made with whole egg, egg white, cottage cheese, oats and I like to add cinnamon. When I am not working an early shift I always have the pancakes for breakfast before I go to the gym. They taste like a scrumptious, wicked treat. I like to enjoy them with a squeeze of fresh lemon and sliced banana. I found I could even have my fovourite coffee once or twice a day made with carnation milk (light and creamy of course). Another treat for me is the chocolate whey protein isolate shake which I have post workout, Yum!

 If I can do this and be proud of the results I have achieved so far, anyone can!