Victoria has had 1:1 Online Coaching for 3 years, she has worked incredibly hard over this time to build her confidence and achieve a truly wonderful, life changing transformation. In her words below she explains the how’s, why’s and what’s to her journey. She speaks very openly about her struggles and her achievements over this time and how she has come to where she is now. I think it’s very important to look back, celebrate our successes and to really allow ourselves to see change, not only physically but mentally too. Thank you Victoria for taking the time to write such a beautiful blog post, and I want to say a huge thank you for trusting the process, for digging deep, for showing up when you felt like hiding and for always being such a pleasure to coach. I am not only proud of you, I am so incredibly happy for you, you deserve to feel truly happy, well done and thank you.
So, this is my story it’s not one of an overnight success but more a rollercoaster ride of trials, errors and a collection of small milestones along the way. Over several years of trying to lose weight, and I’ve tried a lot of different weight loss diets and even the odd gimmicks! Here’s just a handful of things I’ve tried: Weight Watchers, Protein World Slender Blend, Joe Wicks 90 Day Plan, Weight Loss Pills, Juicing etc. They all worked for a month or so, I just didn’t find them sustainable. I’d say I was your typical “yo-yo dieter” lacking in any substantial long-term results.
About six months after having my son I joined David Lloyd, brought myself a Fitbit and downloaded My Fitness Pal – I was going to try my hand at calorie counting (I didn’t really understand it but thought why not?) with a mix of exercise alongside it, for the first time in a long time I was actually heading in the right direction of weight loss. However, I was only really comfortable using the Elliptical Cross Trainer, I was scared of the weight machines, I found the thought of classes intimidating and the free weight area? Not a fucking chance. Everyone always seemed to know what they were doing, and I just… didn’t! Weight loss became non-existent, I spent a lot of money on coffee and over the summer months, I got a wonderful tan sitting by the outdoor pool and reading! During the summer of 2017 my mum introduced me to Angi (Get Peachy) and nearly three years later I haven’t looked back.
These photos were taken six months apart, from October 2017 – April 2018
“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire”
I have learnt so much about myself. I’m doing things I never thought I was capable of – instead of being scared to try new things, I’m eager to take advantage of new experiences. Angi has got me hooked on weights and resistance training, I’m no longer afraid of the gym floor – it may have taken me two years to get there and a few expletives on the way, but I did it! One of the biggest things for me though, is that she gave me to confidence to pick up a hockey stick again. I hadn’t played hockey in 12 years and it was something I wanted to do for myself but was scared, scared I wouldn’t be good enough, scared I wasn’t going to be fit enough but last summer I went to Wyre Forest Ladies Hockey Club for their Back to Hockey sessions and I haven’t looked back.
Don’t get me wrong it’s not all been plain sailing, I’ve had ups and downs. I’ve lost weight and put it back on and I have occasionally forgot the number one rule! You cannot compare yourself to somebody else, because everyone is different, and everybody’s fitness journey is different. However, after spending so much time stressing over my body image, the number on the scales, I finally stopped and looked at myself in the mirror and I liked what I saw. My fitness journey will never be a finished product but if I’ve learnt anything it’s a journey of finding out what works for you at that moment, and inevitably what makes you happy.
““If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit” ”
