A Letter To Myself.

6 weeks ago, I joined up for the June round of the Michelle Bridges’ 12 Week Body Transformation (12WBT). The past 6 weeks have been the “pre-season” and involved 2 tasks and a weekly challenge each week to mentally and physically prepare you for the program.  Yesterday was the first day of the program, in which you are provided with a weekly menu and exercise program.  Like the pre-season, each week there is a Weekly Challenge and as Michelle says “In order to know how far you’ve come, you need to know where you started”; so this week the challenge is to write a letter to yourself.  I decided to write my letter here on my blog.  That way I am putting it right out there.  Keeping myself more accountable than I could otherwise!!!  It’s also easier for me to look back on at the end.  So here goes….

Hi!

So, the 12WBT is underway!  How am I feeling?  Well, honestly, I’m scared…I’m scared of failing.  Of losing motivation and momentum and just giving up.  Of giving in to temptation…

BUT I am also excited.  Yesterday was day one and I smashed it!  I made breakfast and lunch from the recipes on the menu plan and they were delicious!  And for lunch, I was out and about so instead of making the sandwich on the menu myself, I went to a sandwich shop and ordered it there.  I could have easily made some excuse but no, I didn’t and felt super proud of myself afterwards.

I guess that’s the reason I’m scared… in the past I’ve given up… I’ve made excuses and I’ve given in to temptation.  Hence why I’m here.  In April last year I completed a 5km fun run without stopping – now, I can’t even run 1km anymore!!  I’ve put on the weight I lost and I’m not feeling healthy.  I am determined to get back to where I was.  I’ve done it before, so I can certainly do it again.

The biggest challenges I am going to face will be my willpower!  Talking myself out/around things.  I need to stop that!  I need to cut the crap and excuses and JFDI!!!!  Organisation is also going to be a challenge as I’ve never managed it for long previously.  So my diary is going to play a bigger role than ever.  And ensuring I have done the grocery shopping for at least the next day.  It’s really not hard – I need to tell myself that!

The achievement that will make me the proudest will actually be cooking some decent meals!  Getting out of my comfort zone and actually learning to love the kitchen!  And of course hitting my goal weight.  That would be a HUGE achievement for me!

For me, I need support; and the biggest support of all are the people I see regularly.  My partner, my family and his family and our friends.  The problem is – all of these people can potentially be saboteurs too.  I need them to encourage me – I thrive off being told I am doing a good job.  I am not so good with criticism.  I guess most people would be the same!  The hardest thing is when a friend or family member says “Would you like a [cake]… come on, one won’t hurt!” – they may think they aren’t doing anything wrong but it’s really difficult and not fair!

Michelle mentions that it can be hard to give yourself the advice you need and asks what words of encouragement would your best friend or loved one give you as you start this journey, so I think they would say to me, “You can do this!  You just have to believe in yourself.  Stop doubting your ability and just do it!  I have faith in you”

And that’s it.  I CAN do this!  (Look how I’m going with my Dechox challenge!!)  I just need to trust and believe.  It’s not about the destination…. it never is.  It’s about the journey – and I want to make this the best journey I can for me. 

STOP WISHING.  START DOING.

Spelt Bread!

2 posts in one day I hear you say!  You betcha!  Today has been a great day so I wanted to share with you all what has gone down!

Recently, my brother and his girlfriend came to visit and his girlfriend – let’s call her Sally for the purpose of the blog – mentioned she had lost 20kg over a 4 month period.  I was shocked as I didn’t think she had 20kg to lose!!!  She showed me a before and after photo and the results spoke for themselves.  I was amazed and very impressed!  I then asked her how she had done it and she said “I cut out white carbs and starch mostly.  So like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, pumpkin etc.”

She then continued to explain that she makes her own spelt bread as an alternative to normal bread, she also purchases a special type of pasta called “Slim Pasta” – which is apparently no carbs and is available at Woolworth’s and for rice she uses cauliflower grated up and boiled (a recent discovery from another friend of mine who also does the same thing).

The spelt bread sounded like a good alternative to normal bread and so I asked if Sally could show me how to make it some time.  I have never even made bread before so I was quite excited.  Today, I visited Sally and she showed me how to do it.