My work is very demanding and I work long hours. I am a neurosurgical clinical nurse consultant at a major trauma hospital. I look after patients who have surgery on their brain or spine and coordinate a brain tumour support group. My work is highly emotive; the patients can be very sick, and I don’t stop from the moment I walk in every day.
With the nature of my work as well as managing family life with a husband and two teenagers who play a multitude of sports, being time-poor is very much a part of my life. Fitting in time to exercise as well as finding the time to plan and be organised with my nutrition has always been a challenge. Undertaking the BodyBlitz challenge was no different and really tested my willpower and organisational skills.
Resisting temptation
Besides the everyday obstacles of time, another big obstacle I faced in the final week of my 12-week challenge was when I travelled to Japan to attend a nursing conference. I found myself without a gym, minimal control over the timing of my nutrition, the availability of way too much white rice for my liking, and irregularities in my routine. To overcome this I walked everywhere (instead of taxis), climbed as many stairs as possible, and chose my meals as best as I could (lots of fish, vegetables and green tea.)
Japanese cuisine is quite healthy, but their sweets are not, and having a weakness for all things sweet, I found this aspect challenging. My sweet tooth also challenged me throughout the 12 weeks with three family birthdays and the usual birthday cake temptations.
I exercised in the mornings, starting at 5am as this is the only time I could fit it into my busy schedule. Although a constant challenge, this practice has become embedded into my daily routine. Having a gym set up in our garage made this very convenient. I would sneak out every morning, in darkness, when the family were sleeping. My husband still refers to me as the Garage Gladiator!
It was freezing during winter (when I did the challenge), and there were so many times I did not want to go out there in the cold and dark, but it soon became my routine and I saw it as my time to invest in myself and time to let my mind be free and not worry about the stresses of daily life. I would also put my training clothes out the night before, so I would get out of bed as soon as the alarm went off, get changed and be out there before I had time to even think about it.
These days I don’t feel right when I have not exercised in the mornings. I love exercising and hope I can continue to do it into old age. When I am at work I never use the lifts, I always use the stairs, and I cover a lot of distance through the hospital, which enables me to stay active through the day.
Before and during the BodyBlitz challenge I also read a lot of health and fitness magazines, especially WH&F, and my husband was always pointing out articles for me. I also accessed health, fitness and nutrition websites and tried to learn as much as possible. I used suggested recipes, exercise routines and training and food diaries, which were very helpful.
I planned my meals every Sunday to prepare for the week. I would ensure there was a large variety of fresh fruit and vegetables available and make large batches of salads and vegetables in containers ready to grab. I took protein powder, tins of tuna and a large supply of water to work; I always had everything ready to go. I really enjoy eating healthy and how it makes me feel. I now know my portion sizes well and I am not even interested in processed, fat-laden foods. ‘Eat to live, not live to eat’ is my new motto.
I maintained my motivation throughout the challenge by focussing on my main goal to be the best possible version of myself that I could be. I want to be a good role model for my kids and my friends and family, and I want to be as fit and healthy as possible so I live a long and fulfilling life. It sounds silly, but I was also motivated by the concept that I never want to be a patient in hospital. They say nurses make the worst patients and I can vouch that I would do anything to avoid being one. I do not want to end up in hospital later in life with a multitude of chronic health problems induced by an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. This concept will continue to motivate me long into the future.
Throughout the Bodyblitz challenge, I was able to keep motivated by keeping focussed on my goals and compliments about how fit I was looking – people said I looked too young to have teenage children. My favourite motivator was when someone commented that my daughter and I could pass as sisters – I was very flattered. I am happier, more confident, enthusiastic about life, and am less stressed due to my new lifestyle. I really enjoy getting dressed up and going out because I feel confident, fit and healthy.
What I learnt during my challenge was that I can do anything I put my mind to with hard work, commitment and dedication. I learnt that I am very fortunate to have my health; I learnt a lot about exercise and nutrition and how my body responds and needs to be continually challenged, and I learnt that going through this journey has been a gift and I need to pass this newfound knowledge on to my children so they, too, can enjoy a long and healthy life.
Maintaining my new lifestyle has been achievable because it is embedded into my routine. It is the way I do things now! I enjoy starting my day with exercise, it is ‘my time’ for myself, and I much prefer a healthy diet of lean meat, fruit and vegetables. You could not pay me to eat processed sugary foods anymore.
My advice to anybody considering taking on the challenge is: What are you waiting for? Get yourself organised and just do it; you won’t regret it and you’ll come out the other end feeling proud that you have become a happier, healthier version of yourself.
MEAL PLAN
Breakfast: One egg and 200ml egg whites made into scrambled eggs
Snack: Protein shake with one serve of Greens antioxidant complex
Lunch: Cucumber, capsicum, corn and kidney bean salad with a can of sweet chilli tuna
Snack: Protein shake and three dates
Dinner: Lean meat with salad or vegetables
EXERCISE ROUTINE
Monday: Weights – arms/upper body and cardio (1/2 hour)
Tuesday: Weights – legs/lower body & cardio (1/2 hour)
Wednesday: Cardio – a mixture of stepper, stationary bike, rower or running on treadmill (1 hour)
Thursday: Weights – arms/upper body & cardio (1/2 hour)
Friday: Weights – legs/lower body & cardio (1/2 hour)
Saturday: Cardio circuit – including a mixture of stepper, rower, bike & treadmill with sit-ups, push-ups, plank and burpees.
Sunday: Rest
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