JULIE
JULIE’S POWERFUL 32KG STORY #145
“When Kim asked me to reflect on my journey on her programs, I was more than a little overwhelmed. How do I put into words what this program has done for me? How this amazing woman I have never met has changed my life? As much as I have now become very vocal on the private Facebook group, it is very different to put myself out here to the whole world. When it comes down to it, I let myself get into a terrible state of obesity and although I don’t think I have done anything extraordinary, I can finally say that I am proud of what I have achieved over the past 7 months. I can now actually look in the mirror without trying to blank the image out of my mind. I had done this to myself and it was my responsibility to do something to fix it. During the first week I suffered with terrible withdrawals from sugar and my previous lifestyle in general, however, from the moment I finally committed to the Kim Beach #noexcuses program, there was no looking back for me. I used this pain as motivation, as payback for what I had done to my body for so many years. If I felt like this as these toxins left my body, imagine what I had been doing to myself putting them in? I finally came to the (obvious) realisation that only I can control what I do, what I put in my mouth. I had been making excuses for years. Enough was Enough. TAKE CONTROL WOMAN.
I love eating out and cooking and entertaining. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to whilst committing to a weight loss program. A healthy weight/size seemed so far away. Unattainable even. I soon discovered that this program has a huge variety of food options and after the first 8 weeks, with inspiration from the KB team and other women in the private Facebook group, I started experimenting with the ingredients. I now have heaps of fun serving up gourmet plates of food that certainly don’t look like I am “dieting”. Eating five healthy meals a day is a habit that I will continue for life. I committed myself 100% to the food plan from the beginning and have barely deviated in the three and a half rounds (approximately 28 weeks). I can now go out pretty much anywhere and eat (or adapt to) an on plan meal. Once I got over the initial hurdle it became easy. Really easy.
To say I owe Kim something is the biggest understatement in the world. I owe Kim my happiness, my health, my life and my future. How can I ever repay that? I am a completely different person than I was in the middle of 2017. I have a renewed energy for life, confidence I have never had before and a self-love that only comes after having been through a journey like this. I have learned so much about health, about nutrition but most of all about myself. I really am a strong (stubborn) person. I need to trust myself more and believe in myself because I now know that I am capable of anything I set my mind to. The biggest thing I have probably learned about health and nutrition is that food is a fuel. That is it. It doesn’t help when I’m sad, depressed, angry, moody, or even happy so it shouldn’t be used in these situations. I need to fuel my body properly so that it operates at an optimum level and I will reap the rewards of that. I eat to live now. I eat to exercise now. Not vice versa. I don’t crave sugar. I don’t need sugar. I can’t imagine ever going back to eating the way I used to. My emotions don’t dictate what I eat any more. I have learned that I need to value myself. My health. I am important. I am worth it. I have never felt as good as I do right now.
My journey towards KB started with a visit to my doctor in early 2017. I had self-diagnosed and was certain I had developed diabetes. I had been eating really badly, was extremely overweight, my vision was blurred, I was tired all the time and I had no energy. The doctor did a myriad of tests and when they came back he told me that despite my size, my test results were not too bad, nothing that losing a bit of weight couldn’t fix. “Your healthy weight range ends at about 72 kgs, I certainly don’t expect you to get anywhere near there but you need to lose a few kgs”. Red flag to bull. Don’t expect me to get there? Ha. I’ll show you. It turns out the blurred vision was simply a result of needing glasses. I didn’t take offence as the doctor was right, I certainly needed to lose (more than) a few kgs. In the days following this, the Kim Beach program flicked up on my Facebook page after a friend had liked it. I read through the concepts and liked what it represented, clean healthy eating and regular exercising, no meal replacements, no calorie counting and no unreal expectations. I still procrastinated for a few weeks, lost a little bit of weight on my own but hit an emotional stumbling block and ate my way to over 100 kgs for the first time in my life. I was in a fairly dark place, didn’t like myself very much and wasn’t committing properly to my work or treating my family and friends very well. I had been making excuses for years. Excuses to eat badly, to not exercise, to not look after myself or to avoid responsibility for what was happening to me. The 100kg weigh in was enough for me to go back to the Kim Beach site and purchase the program a few months after my visit to the doctor. I was mentally ready. Finally. Really, what did I have to lose except a bit of weight? I haven’t looked back since. I completely embraced the eating plan from the very first day and decided that I would concentrate on the nutrition side for the first 8 weeks and walk as much as I could but not include any strenuous exercise until I was comfortable with the eating plan. I have exercised a lot in the past and believe that I used this as an excuse to eat more or eat badly. Kim says that 80% of the success of this program (and any weight loss program) comes down to what you put in your mouth (You can’t out train a bad diet). I can certainly vouch for that! I lost 15.5kgs during the first round, 9.7kgs in the second round and 7.1 kgs in my third round a total of 32.3 kgs overall! Starting weight 100.6 kgs, current weight 66.1 kgs, starting size tight 18, current size 8-10. It would be 25 years since I have been anywhere near this. For the first time this New Years Eve, I have not set a weight or diet related New Year’s resolution. I could not be happier with my progress. I felt results almost immediately after starting the program and that gave me the encouragement and incentive needed to continue. My skin feels amazing, I am sleeping better and my energy levels have skyrocketed. Being able to buy any size 10 off a rack is phenomenal. One of my first goals on this program was to buy something, anything off the rack. I certainly achieved that!
As I hadn’t really set myself any firm goals at the beginning (I didn’t think I would succeed, didn’t do pre-photos or measurements), after a suggestion from a close friend, I had a body scan at my local gym in November. I was midway through round 2 at the time. From then, I used the “ideal weight” from the scan as my goal. Reaching this weight in the last week of my third round was so exciting. Waking up one morning and for the first time in my life not needing or wanting to lose weight was surreal. As a habitual weigher prior to starting the KB programs, I have finally learned to use the fluctuating number on the scales only as a guide. It doesn’t tell me how good I am feeling, doesn’t tell me my measurements are shrinking, that I’ve gained muscle, how much better my clothes are fitting me, how much stronger and healthier I am etc. I am loving the weight training on no limits and the new strength and shape it has given me. It is very empowering. After #nolimits, I am going straight to #noexcuseslife and can’t wait to start experimenting in the kitchen with Kim’s hundreds of amazing recipes. The 80/20 rule still scares me a bit but I’m sure I’ll get used to all the extra food eventually!!
I have an incredible support network of a few close friends and my three beautiful daughters Ashleigh, Georgia and Alyx. They have put up with a lot over the years and they inspire me every day to be a better person. I have finally realised this inspiration. They are happier because I am happier and healthier. We are now sharing much more quality time together. They are also excited as we all now pretty much wear the same size clothes! My 16 yo daughter told me the other day that she had noticed since I had changed my lifestyle that there are no longer arguments at home. Wow. I definitely feel more even tempered. My 18 year old daughter is an expert with KB recipes. All three daughters have adopted aspects of the KB lifestyle and are feeling fitter, healthier and happier than ever before.
To my conscience and always supportive friend Kirsten and my business partner who have both seen me yo-yo diet unhappily for years, thank you for hanging in there. Although sceptical at first, (who wouldn’t be with my colourful history of dieting) they have always been incredibly supportive and are now even eating some of my meals and snacks. Iced long blacks with or without a dash of almond milk have replaced lattes at our catch ups!
When I first contemplated joining KB, I read a few of these superstar stories. I loved them but deep down thought, are these real? These women look fabulous, amazing and are exuding confidence. Surely it couldn’t be this simple. I found it hard to believe that they achieved these results with what looked like a simple, affordable plan but seemed too good to be true. Not only 8 weeks of specific daily menus including detailed weekly shopping lists, there are also daily exercise plans. With so many “diet” or weight loss products on the market, how do you choose? I am here to tell you, from my perspective, if you are looking for a lifestyle change, if you want to improve your quality of life and therefore your future, you are definitely in the right place with KB’s program. I know that I have learnt skills that will last a lifetime, I know I am never going back to where I was, I am loving life (and shopping) way too much!
It took me a long time to contribute to the online group but once I did, there was no stopping me. I could post anything or ask anything, without risk of ridicule. It is the biggest and best support family ever. I say things I could never say to my best friends or my family because as much as I love them and I know I have their unconditional support, they just wouldn’t understand the importance of or be interested in seeing a photo of what I was having for meal 2 or the excitement I felt when salmon was on the day’s menu plan, what I should do if I missed an exercise session or how I felt when I had a bra fitting. All very important in my world at the time! And completely understood by all the other women going through the same things. My family and friends shared in my successes and fully supported me every step of the way but I didn’t want to burden them with needing to support me through this all day, every day. I have the KB private Facebook group for that. Knowing this certainly made a difference. Knowing that others were having similar issues or celebrating similar successes made the first 8 weeks fly by. I know for a fact that I wouldn’t have had the same success without the support of this group of inspiring women. I laugh, cringe, joke and cry most days with the girls in the group where we celebrate individual achievements and try and support each other when needed. I am certain that I have made some friendships that will extend way past our individual journeys on the KB program. (Having been lucky enough recently (twice) to meet some of the women who have inspired and supported me through this journey, I know I have made friends for life). I can’t see myself ever leaving the security of the #noexcuses Facebook network. This, together with the 24/7 support from Kim and her team is invaluable, a lifeline that sets this program apart from all others.
To anyone contemplating the Kim Beach programs, just do it. I want everyone to feel as amazing as I do. It will be the best $99 you will ever spend. How do you value your happiness? Your life? Put a price on your future? Losing weight, getting healthier and fitter and changing your lifestyle is as much a mental challenge as a physical one. Take control. Why not give it a go? What have you got to lose? Some weight? Self-hate? Health issues? The list goes on. There is so much you will gain. No excuse is worth giving up a future full of promise. You will reap the rewards both now and for years to come. This is not a diet. It is a lifestyle. A fabulous lifestyle that will give you so much more than you originally went looking for. I jump out of bed every morning with energy and excitement about what the day will bring. Previously, I struggled to get through each day, focusing only on work and the welfare of my children. I was always tired, cranky, had aches and pains galore and felt much older than my 47 years. I simply existed. Now I live. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me. I have started coaching basketball again. I feel 20 years younger! I hate to think how much I have saved on junk food, on eating out, on future medical bills. That is all irrelevant though. I would pay anything I have to feel the way I am feeling right now. I am a much happier, stronger and better person and my personal relationships have all improved exponentially. I am just disappointed in myself that I didn’t do this sooner.
I have taken control, I have confidence, I have an amazing life. It is really difficult to put into words the gratitude I feel for Kim (and John), Claire and Hayley and what they have done for me, what they have given me. I will be forever grateful.
Julie
Post script:
Being healthy is everything.
In the weeks following reaching my goal weight and in leading up to the KB #superstar lunch, my life was turned upside down. My eldest daughter (27) was rushed to emergency and discovered that her kidneys were in the process of shutting down and could not be saved. After an overwhelming few days of seeing nurses, doctors, specialists, various tests and information overload, my daughter is now facing dialysis treatment whilst waiting for a kidney transplant. Hopefully from me. After extensive discussions with the transplant specialists, I was informed that had I been overweight, or my heart health been in bad shape, I wouldn’t/couldn’t have been considered as a transplant donor. Now I can be. What a godsend. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. I was drawn to this program and it has been successful way beyond my expectations. (I couldn’t even take pleasure in the shock shown by my doctor when I presented even lighter than the number he had mentioned and well within my healthy weight range. I thanked him for the part he had played in my decision to improve my life).
All my other health and lifestyle benefits aside, I have fingers and toes crossed that the KB program has also provided me the ability to give my daughter her “normal” life back. I am eternally grateful for having made the decision to change my lifestyle on KB’s programs. My health, mental strength and support from family and friends (including my extended KB family) has been invaluable in supporting my daughter through this very challenging time.
Now how do I thank Kim and her team for giving me this opportunity? I can’t. I will be forever indebted. Having now met Kim, Ally, Anni and Geraldine in person, it has absolutely confirmed to me that I did the right thing by putting my trust, my life, my future in their hands. I fully committed to trusting Kim’s programs and all the advice the girls gave me. I am so glad I did. In person, they are even more sincere, gorgeous, genuine and inspirational than their online persona (if that is even possible). And they care. They really do care.
This is not the end for me. It is just the beginning”