Debbie's Success Story...

In only twelve weeks, a busy mom of 4, Debbie took us up on our challenge and lost 3 dress sizes, 15 pounds (6.8kg), inches from all over her body and has now been crowned our first Busy Mums Fitness Club Body Transformation Champion.

Debbie gained her excess weight during her last pregnancy, just over two years ago.  She says she felt ugly and unattractive.  She worried that her husband wasn't attracted to her, even though he would reassure her otherwise.  Debbie remembers that she hated being seen in a swim suit and especially hated being seen naked. She found intimacy really hard because she was afraid that her husband would touch her stomach, which was one of the areas Debbie felt most self concious about.  Debbie recalls that she had a wardrobe full of clothes that didn't fit her, and had to go shopping to buy larger sizes just to go to work in.  That emphasised her feeling miserable about her size.  She would cut out the tags in her pants so she wouldn't be reminded of what size they were! 

She had tried to lose this weight with various diets and exercise videos prior to our challenge, and saw short term results, but would break routine and put it back on again (yoyo).

So when debbie saw our BMFC Challenge, she knew that this was the extra encouragement that she needed.  Debbie instantly planned and began her transformation, through healthy eating and regular exercise. 

Debbie's Sample Eating Plan

Breakfast:  Healthy cereal or 2 eggs on toast Snack:  Granola Bar Lunch:  Healthy Sandwich Snack:  Yoghurt or fruit Dinner:  Whatever I was making the family

Debbie decided not to go on another "diet", but instead opted to choose healthy food choices and consciously avoid over-eating.  She said that she really focused on listening to her body, and not rush while she ate. She made sure that she would eat  slow enough so that she would stop eating when    she would feel satisfied, instead of full!  Debbie highlights the importants of good nutrition with her success in this challenge, recognising how good it would help her feel combined with exercise.

Debbie's Exercise Program

Monday:  3 miles run (5km) Tuesday:  3 mile run, 1 hour Zumba class Wednesday:  3 mile run Thursday:  3 mile run, 1 hour Zumba class Friday:  3 mile run Saturday:  1 hour soccer game Sunday:  REST

She also decided and maintained consistency with her exercise program to achieve her results.  Debbie set a goal to maintain her Exercise Program each week - which included doing something to ensure she sweat each day.  When she and her husband would run, they would do interval training, and progressed to include running hills, then eventually sprinting up hills - "not fun, but it felt amazing after!!". Debbie was running 3 miles in 29 minutes when she first started out, and can now brag the time of 25.39 minutes (8.33min/mile) - Congrats Deb on another awesome accomplishment! Debbie also notes that they always walked before and after each run as a warm up and cool down.  Debbie loved doing her "Zumba" dance class twice a week, and following the ab workouts from our Busy Mums Fitness Club site - "that really made me sore!".  She would also follow the weight workouts, using small hand weights, which she feels were effective in helping to reshape her body.

Debbie acknowledges her husband as her greatest support during this challenge. He got up each and every morning to run with her, and encourages her, even when she began to think negatively of herself.  "He pushed me when I needed it, and congratulated me when I did well.  I love him for that.  I think if you have someone to encourage you and workout with, it motivates you to keep going - even when it's hard."

Debbie feels that the key to her success was consistency. "I think that you can achieve just about anything when you are consistent.  I didn't do super hard workouts, I just worked out every day.  It is -18 degrees where I live at the moment and even though it is too cold to run outside, I still get up and run on the treadmill."  Debbie offers some great advice when she says "You can always find reasons not to work out, you just have to focus on your goals and the reasons to do it!"

She also mentioned how important it was for her to change her internal dialoge when it comes to her weight loss progress. Past experience has shown her that if she thought she couldn't be in control of her weight, that she hasn't.  So that change in mindset has been a great help.

Debbie is loving her refound body, especially being able to fit into her smaller clothes again.  "I feel more positive about being in public. I feel more attractive to my husband. I feel like I have more to achieve, but I am loving the new me!"

Debbie aims to maintain her current weight and increase in fitness, by continuing to be consistent with her healthy eating and exercise routine.  She has set a goal to run in the Ragnar relay in February 2010.  We wish her every success for this and would love to hear about her success.

"I believe that anyone can reach their goals.  You just have to believe in yourself, push through the pain and keep going.  It is worth it!"

Congratulations Debbie!

Your transformation has been nothing short of inspirational, and will lead many other Busy Mums to create their own challenges.

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