Health & Fitness

At the start of 2014, I did a 12 week health/fitness challenge with my PT which gave me a brilliant start to the year.  I’ve been consistent this year in keeping up my fitness…except for the last 8 weeks. There are a lot of reasons for that: back problems, school holidays and just a lot going on here.  It’s been good in a way, to have some extra time to invest in other areas, but I have noticed less nutritious convenient foods have crept back in my diet in replace of whole foods.  I’m not sleeping as well and I’m far less energetic.  My clothes still fit but are just a little uncomfortable.

So, for the home stretch of 2014 I’m back on board and am challenging myself to do 3 PT group sessions a week and 1-2 short runs (5-7km).  When I did the challenge at the start of the year, I diarised and photographed ALL of my meals and jotted down some thoughts; I re-read over the posts this morning for inspiration. If you’re interested, you can find the series of the posts detailed below.

Week 1 – 5 Years in the Making

This is a slightly confronting post.  I wanted to challenge a few things I found unhelpful to my mindset over the years. I wanted to show how important small changes are over time. Before I even started on my 12 week health challenge, I had already achieved success by changing my mindset.

Read the full post here – Week 1: 5 years in the making

Week 2 – 4: Write it Down!

I wrote down all my food when I did the challenge. Everything. It really made me think about what I put in my mouth and kept me accountable.  I don’t always write down my food (ain’t nobody got time for that!) but if I find myself falling back into unedifying eating habits, it’s a great way to break it!

Ready…what 12 weeks of meals looks like:

Read the full post here – Week 2-4: Write it down

Week 5-6: Keep Asking Why

Finding what REALLY motivates me was a big part helping me with consistency and drive. 

Read the full post here – Week 5-6: Keep Asking Why 

Week 7: A Dress

Wearing a dress I hadn’t worn in a very long time. YAY!

Read the full post here – Week 7: A dress

Week 8-9: About Fitness (& the mind)

A few tips on how I trick my mind and push harder.

Read the full post here – Week 8-9: About Fitness

Week 10: Set Backs

I ran on top of a cruise ship so that was cool.  But the point of this post was to realise that set backs happen for a lot of reasons and how I overcome them.

Read the full post here – Week 10: Set Backs

Week 11-12: Finale

Looking back, from the start of the journey when I started to make small changes, to after the health challenge. The most satisfying thing about this process wasn’t the weight loss, but instead — forgive the cliché — the lessons and skills I learned along the way. 

Read the full post here – Week 11-12: Finish

Making sustainable changes means changing the way I think and that reflects in what I do. Keep on Kelly.