About

I started a ‘new life’ in January, when I decided it was time to get off my arse and get fit. After giving birth to my youngest daughter 10 weeks early in July 2008, I spent most of the next 18 months at home trying to keep her well, and that meant a lot of time being inactive. I was unmotivated, unfit and basically just existing.

My BMI creeping into “overweight” territory coincided with the realisation that, at three years old, my eldest daughter was starting to notice ‘fat’ and becoming aware of the types of food we were eating, and the fact that her dad exercised every day but that I didn’t. It also hit home that, being on maternity leave for definitely the last time, this was the last chance I had to really focus on making this change without any distractions. Importantly, for the first time in my life my primary motivation was to improve my fitness and to be a good role model, rather than losing weight.

In January, I started training at the gym five days per week. In March, I joined Michelle Bridges’ 12 Week Body Transformation – an online program that really challenges you to push out of your comfort zone and do things you never thought you could do. In that time, I’ve gone from a couch/computer potato to someone who craves exercise. I’ve lost 13kg and hope to lose just a couple more. I’ve been transformed from someone who felt like they were going to die after their first 1km fitness test to a woman who just completed her first ever 5km run in 28 minutes. I’m more confident, more positive, have more energy – the fact that I can fit into size 10 jeans for the first time in about 15 years is just an added bonus.

After doing countless diets, I’ve affected real and sustainable lifestyle change by eating REAL food and doing REAL exercise. It’s not about prepackaged meals, it’s not about starving yourself, it’s not about easy shortcuts…it’s about learning the right things to do for your body and learning what your body can do. It’s about working hard and challenging yourself to be better and stronger than you ever thought possible. It’s about feeling ALIVE. It’s about being proud of the person you see in the mirror. And, dammit, I am…for so many reasons.

One thing hasn’t changed. I still love food. I still love to cook. And, yes, I still enjoy a glass or two of good wine… This blog is a demonstration of everything I’ve learnt nutritionally. I’ve found that food doesn’t need to be laden with fat to be delicious. I’ve learnt you don’t need bucketloads of carbs to feel full…so let me prove it to you. Each recipe I post will be less than 350 calories…there’ll be breakfasts, lunches, dinners and desserts. Maybe the odd hors d’oeuvres, even!

I hope they inspire you to experiment in your own kitchens…

Amanda