Danijela thought her exercise and eating habits were ok, but could see she was getting out of shape. Now she’s freshened up her lifestyle and has at last achieved a figure befitting a fitness instructor
Danijela's story...
Stats
Stats
Height
Weight
Chest
Waist
Calves
Arms
Hips
Before
169cm
68kg
91.5cm
89cm
33cm
25.5cm
101.5cm
After
169cm
61kg
90cm
73cm
35cm
26.7cm
88.9cm
This is a story about choices – the choice to make a difference in my life. For the past four years I have been reading the numerous articles from previous WH&F BodyBlitz winners, and kept saying that one-day I would enter. The question was, when? There was always some excuse – I’m too tired, my kids are restless, I’m injured, and on and on. Having been pregnant four times, over a two-year period (two healthy children and two consecutive miscarriages) my body was subject to ‘lots of growth’, especially in the belly region. But the time had come when I realized I had to do something different.
My motivation was explicit. I knew I had to seize the moment and resist the temptation to create negative thoughts. I set myself a plan that included diet and exercise. In fact, it was a plan about lifestyle. The word ‘diet’ has very negative connotations and suggests a short-term solution. What I was planning was a lifestyle change, a path I could follow even after the 12 weeks were complete – a path that would be realistic and yield results.
Someone once said to me that it’s 80 per cent food and 20 per cent exercise, but I wasn’t really listening. I thought my diet was good. I knew my exercise was great. So, what was the problem? It wasn’t until I started to write down ‘what I ate’ and ‘how much’, that I saw the faults.
Having been a group exercise instructor for seven years, I hoped the aerobic classes and weight- training I was doing would suffice. It proved me wrong. I fell into a vicious cycle and typical philosophy of ‘I exercise, therefore I can eat whatever I want’. Wrong. You need to do the correct type of exercise and co-ordinate it with the correct eating plan to yield the best results. Hence came the eating plan. I began to substitute the high-sugar, quick-fixes to more filling, longer-lasting protein shakes or berry mixes. My main meals were pre-planned and readily available so that I wouldn’t have to resort to unhealthy meals. I used the standard domestic cooking for the whole family and modified my portion of the meal. For example, if I was making chicken schnitzel and mashed potato for the kids, I would grill my portion of meat and steam some vegetables. Easy!
Then came the exercise plan. I used my existing exercise regime to achieve the results I needed. With five high-impact cardio classes (Body Attack®) and five weight classes (Body Pump®), I knew I was going to burn the calories and tone at the same time. I gave myself one rest day to help recover and replenish the muscles. In fact, it made me a better instructor. For the first time in seven years I was passionate about the program I was teaching and understanding the benefits it was providing. At the same time, I was motivated to perform at my maximum. I was practising what I had been preaching, and the weight was coming off.
At around five weeks, I began to show signs of body change and clearly remember all the fantastic comments I was receiving. And the best thing is the compliments keep coming. It made me try harder and work harder, to commit to my goals. As with any story, there were hurdles. In the middle of my 12-week program, both my daughters’ birthdays arrived, as well as my husband’s. I was able to resist the cakes and party food, however, I did have the occasional BBQ. I’m only human, and the key point is to not ponder on the hardships but to continue with the goal. I managed to pick up where I left off and stayed committed to my results.
So regardless of the 12-week Body Blitz challenge results, I am a winner. I have won a trim and toned body and, above all, a healthier and happier lifestyle. c
Daily Diet Plan
Meal 1 – Porridge OR Special K with low-fat milk OR 2 Boiled egg whites with English muffin and sliced tomato (or grilled mushrooms) Meal 2 – Berry mix (strawberries, blackberries and blueberries), OR banana Meal 3 – Tuna and salad OR Vegetarian sushi OR Lean Beef Burger Meal 4 – Protein shake OR fruit and nut mix Meal 5 – Grilled chicken and Vegetables plus large garden salad OR grilled fish and homemade salsa salad (tomatoes, red onion and balsamic vinegar) and baked potato OR spaghetti bolognese (more meat sauce and less pasta) Meal 6 – Protein shake OR Yoghurt
Sample Exercise Program
Weight-training sessions were 1- hour Body Pump® classes, and cardio exercises were 1 hour Body Attack® classes. MON – Weight-training, cardio TUE – Weight-training, cardio WED – Cardio THUR – Weight-training FRI – FREE DAY SAT – Weight-training, cardio SUN – Weight-training (lighter weights to allow for recovery), cardio
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Danijela's
This Months Winner is Vanessa Harman 
This Months Winner Dean Jenner 
This Months Winner John Cross 
