break up with chocolate for a month

It's not you, it's me.

Could you break up with chocolate for a month to help change the lives of people battling mental health problems, addiction and social isolation?

congratulations

Ten weeks ago, many of us in the Whitsundays along with over 134,000 Australians pledged to lose over 1.6 million kilos! It’s been a hugely successful, results-driven adventure, and it’s all been thanks to you too. A BIG congratulations and heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us on this fabulous, community challenge within the nationwide journey to better health and happiness.
Australia ended up with 134,168 challengers. And 1,650,480kgs pledged.
Overcoming deadly factors such as poor diet, smoking and a lack of exercise should take top priority in the fight against a growing epidemic of chronic disease. Do we REALLY need to wait until we are so unwell, at the doctors, reeling back in great horror at what we have become and wondering how to fight off the illnesses we have created, to START making a positive difference for ourselves.

easter eggstravaganza ...

The Easter period holds a myriad of temptations for the chocolate lover but with a little focus and motivation, you can resist that enticement and continue with a healthy eating regime.
An important thing to remember is that you are not missing out on anything! Surprisingly Easter isn’t the only time you can eat chocolate. It’s sold every single day of the year! Yet, after a great start many people feel it’s carte blanche to throw all their good work out the window and overindulge in the chocolate goodies! If you don’t want this to be you then having a plan of attack will help. Keep focused on all the hard work you have invested in yourself, and question is gorging on an egg or three, really worth it?

prioritise your health ...

Experiencing my own weight loss journey I personally understand what it feels like to be  overweight (read obese!) tired, lethargic, unhealthy and overall not happy with myself.
It’s easy to look at someone else who is overweight and judge them. We wonder how they ‘let that happen’, vowing we would never allow it to happen to us. But at the end of the day we are ALL human and often neglect our own health while putting our kids, family, career or other people and ‘things’ ahead of ourselves. However, if you want to take care of others, you HAVE to take care of yourself - FIRST!  Can you really give someone something you do not have? You?
If you know you’re not happy with something in your life, then you need to decide what changes you wish to make EXACTLY - if it’s to lose weight then how much? Is it to exercise more frequently? How often? Improve the health of your lifestyle - then in what way? Once you know what your goal is then you can use your awareness of it to create an action plan. Turn the big step, into little steps. Otherwise it all becomes overwhelming and you don’t make it past the first couple of weeks. Include in those mini goals your steps towards reaching that main goal - exercise, nutrition, personal achievements along the way.
Then, you need to change your thoughts, attitude and negative habits.  Create a positive mental focus.  Why is it so important to you that you achieve the goals you are after? You’ve got to really think about that answer and how your changes are going to enhance your life. Nutrition and exercise are critical components to your success - but without the right mental focus you’re never going to succeed. You’ve got to be ready to make proactive changes because no matter what your end goal, it’s often going to be hard work.

disappearing food ...

As eaters, we often make naive and mindless choices about our own eating. We eat inattentively, for the wrong purposes, and without a sense of power or control. How often do you think you haven’t eaten much for the day - only to discover - that you consumed a WHOLE packet of chips while watching tv, or a packet of biscuits as you were driving to or from work? Easy food, bad choices, huge consumption, with no focus!
You’ve been working hard on a project on the computer, and it’s time for a treat. You’ve been holding off, waiting for the delicious taste of - here, please fill in the blank. Ice cream? A piece of dark chocolate? A donut? A fresh slice of toast laden with butter? Some fresh strawberries? Chips?
You take the first bite. Very yummy! You take the second bite. Still yummy, maybe a little less yummy than the first bite, but never mind. You glance at the computer and something catches your eye. A celebrity scandal, a political gaff, a weird and wacky video. You click on it, watch, and continue eating. Disappearing food!
Suddenly you look down. Where did that treat go? Your fingers are sticky and there’s still a trace of flavour on your tongue, so it must have disappeared down the hatch while you weren’t looking... or smelling, or tasting, or enjoying. Disappointment and dissatisfaction set in. “That one just vanished! I’d better have another one.” Next the internal critic voice pipes up “What are you thinking? One treat is enough. You know you’re trying to lose weight/eat better/stop grazing/etc.”
I’m occasionally guilty of that mindless eating, myself. Eating totally unconsciously, and ignoring hunger and satiety feelings.

Do you have a head filled with excuses?

Excuses are something we all use throughout life for many occasions. We justify them. We live with them. And we certainly have an endless supply of them on hand. Especially when it comes to ... exercise!

By far the most common excuse I hear is “I don’t have time”.
Fact is, we all have the same amount of time allocated to us and we are all ‘busy’ - so the real issue is how we prioritise and utilise the time we each have available to us.
So before you use that excuse, look at your weekly schedule and see where you can make time for exercise.
Try creating space in your schedule by sacrificing just an hour of TV time.

sabotage

Do you have friends who unwittingly distract you from your goals?

Getting fit through diet and exercise creates big changes in your life - changes you welcome.

But for some family and friends who aren’t in the same mindset, they can be jealous and uncomfortable with your transformation. They can become - your greatest obstacle.
Saboteurs!
Sometimes they mean well (or at least think they do!). At times they may appear a tad malicious, but often they can be oblivious and have no idea how they are sabotaging you, or that they even are...
It can seem, every time you take a step forward to gain control over what you eat, they’re offering you cake, a chocolate or want to take you out for (a fat laden) lunch!

whitsunday winners article



Ann with participants Margaret Cox and Kelli Reid
who are going extremely  well in the nation-wide
1 Million Kilogram Challenge.

The Whitsundays is on its way to creating a healthier community and the proof is in the high number of locals signing up in this year's 1 Million Kilogram Challenge.

The challenge involves teams from all around Australia pledging to lose more than a million kilograms collectively, within 10 weeks.

Now in week five, Whitsunday Winners team creator and personal trainer Ann Parrott said more than 30 locals have joined up to the challenge, making them one of the biggest teams in Australia.

So you want to lose weight?

Before hitting on the right solution for weight loss I was easy prey for every diet pill and magic tonic that came my way. Well, I actually hunted THEM, out. Trying every new product that became available always hoping for that ‘magic cure’. I only always wanted the quick fix. Don’t we all. Unfortunately. There are none. I went through years of pills and potions, promises and lies... taking off 20kgs, being elated, then putting on 25. Taking off 30 kgs, putting on 40.... ad infinitum. Does that quick fix process work? Well, I think most of us who battle with weight issues, can be testament to a similar story of yo yo dieting. Me? With what I thought was the solution, ended up finding myself instead, sitting at 120 kilograms. The brink of being morbidly obese.

twenty dollar buys

One of the most common debates I have with people is about it being too expensive to eat healthy, compared to eating a packaged food diet. Unfortunately many DO make food decisions based on price. It’s funny how most of those people though, have no challenge finding the extra dollars for alcohol. Or soft drink, ice cream and takeaway!
So is it actually more expensive to eat healthy?
The question is relative of course and the answer will vary greatly depending on who you ask. There are definitely some things we can all cut back on as consumers in order to be able to spend a little more on the food that nourishes our bodies. Step one? Easy example. Eliminate soft drink!
This week I set about finding out exactly what $20 buys here in the Whitsundays in the way of fresh produce.

how many calories?

The most common question I have been asked over the past couple of weeks is “How many calories should I be eating to lose weight?”

It’s such a very open ended question. It is true that calories matter but, calorie counting, isn’t always necessary.
There are numerous positives and negatives to counting the calories we consume. Having been a HUGE counter of every morsel of food that entered my mouth in the past, it’s a bold statement for me to say that there ARE negatives because I used to think it was the only solution. It worked. Yes. But remember everyone is so individual. Plus having to weigh or count everything you eat can be very tedious.
Your metabolic rate depends on so many factors.

win a training session

WIN your own personal training session.
Simply send me an email saying why YOU should be the winner! Or, why someone you know should win! That easy!

Entries need to be received by 5pm Monday 20th February 2012. email ann.parrott@optusnet.com.au

challenge week three

Thank you Wendy... and thanks to her
hubby Andrew making it difficult! :)

Beginner challenge - every day
This week we introduce a little bit of running. Don’t get put off by that word! When you’re out doing your half hour, simply add some easy pace jogging into it. Walk for five minutes, run for one! You KNOW you’re capable of that! :)

Plus... the extras! We work in a time frame this week - one minute of each exercise, twice through - morning and night if you can!
      • lunges - alternating legs
      • squat and press
      • modified pushups
      • crunch and twist (alternate sides)

Take a quick breather during the minute if you require it but then press back on. Total time is only eight minutes!

join in now

Great nutrition, consistent exercise and a positive mindset are crucial to losing weight in a safe and lasting way!

If you have weight to lose - it doesn't matter if it's 5 kilos or 50 ... and still havent joined in the weight loss challenge... what are you waiting for? You get the benefit of free access to weekly menus, shopping lists, recipes and much more...
Right now is the time to change your life. Click on the weight loss challenge tab above. Sign up and start shedding those unwanted kilos!
Make now the beginning of your future!

excuses

When you have a lot of weight to lose, it’s easy to come up with excuses rather than get yourself off the couch and into motion... this past week however, has seen quite a few make a change. That’s impressive!
You have taken the initial step of heading into a world of action. A pro active choice towards getting rid of the part of you that has become an expert in excuse making and procrastination, choosing instead to work towards a new, healthier you... what  a fantastic commitment

challenge week two

Thank you Margaret!

Beginner challenge - every day
This week hit your 30 minutes walking ... every single day! You KNOW you CAN do it!
Plus... 50 repetitions, each exercise - morning and night!
        • Squats - hold low for a count
        • Wall push-ups
        • Crunches (knees up!)

Take a break as needed, but complete the 50 before you head to the next exercise! That’s a total of 300 for the day! How AWESOME are you!

the challenge

The challenge is set Whitsundays!

Are you ready to become a new, healthier version of yourself? Fitter. Stronger. With more energy?!
61% of all adults are considered overweight or obese in Australia - the percentage rising rapidly. If that figure doesn’t scare you, it should. With a huge cost factor to the nation, obesity with its associated illnesses affects us all.
Returning to a healthy weight range isn’t easy, but accomplishing it is one of the most worthwhile things you can do for yourself.
If ever there was a time to begin - it’s now. Let’s get it done!
Stop procrastinating.
Stop creating excuses.
Stop just ‘thinking’ about it.

challenge week one

Great thanks to Maria, Whitsunday
Hair Studio ... playing, model :)

Alongside great nutrition, exercise is an integral part of being healthy and feeling absolutely amazing.

However, if you haven't exercised before - or haven't in a long time, then you need to begin by building a base. We all start somewhere! Head out into the fresh air each day and start ... walking. Start with 15 minutes and build on it. 10 minutes if that's all you can accomplish!!
And when you return, attack the second part of the challenge. Time yourself. Whether it's 2 or 20 of that exercise in the 30 seconds, build on it each day and be proud of your achievement as you see yourself improve. It's not simply about being overweight or obese, it's about becoming fit and healthy.

Beginner Challenge - EVERY day

Brisk walking - starting at 10/15 minutes and building to 30 minutes.
Yes! You CAN do it!

Then ... 30 seconds of each of the following exercises ...

towards one million ...

Let's all encourage each other towards a fitter and healthier community.

Be a part of the Whitsundays weight loss challenge and shed unwanted kilos. It doesn't matter if it's 5kgs or 50kgs you need to lose! Through the website, and through our weekly column in the Whitsunday Coast Guardian we will promote healthy eating, exercise, hints and tips and share stories to help keep you inspired and motivated along the journey. We will even throw in challenges along the way to keep you moving .... ;D

One million kilograms is the nationwide goal.... I wonder how much weight we can contribute as a community towards that astounding figure ... :) Let's see.

What do you have to do to join in?

To work towards a healthier you, then head to this link. Click on 'register myself' and pledge your kgs - after completing your own details - make sure you write in the team name - I have registered " Whitsunday Winners " as the team name for the Whitsunday locality. (Why? cos we ARE!!! :D )