Keeping the Weight Off -- What a True Transformation Looks Like

It is perfectly possibly to achieve complete breathtaking physical changes to your body in 12 weeks. All you need to do is sign up for a challenge and count off the 84 days of food restriction and exercise consistency. If you are committed and determined, you will get to the end of the 12 week challenge a great deal lighter, fitter and healthier.

As a women who spent my entire life overweight until I was 40 years old, I can attest to the fact that an actual life changing transformation takes a little longer. I don't want to alarm you, but mine has taken almost 5 years!

So how do you know if you have achieved true transformation?

Friends

Your friends have changed over the past few years. Some have dropped away, and new friends with their own weight loss stories have replaced them.

Your old friends have stopped offering you cake, suggest coffee instead of lunch and don't try to arrange anything during the early morning when you are occupied at the gym.

Partner

Your partner has moved beyond thinking you are having a mid life crisis and are searching for a younger man, and has accepted your new lifestyle. He demonstrates his love by buying exotic vegetables and expensive seafood delights. He knows your favorite brand of protein powder and the only place to buy that low calorie ice cream that you love so much.

Sleep

You are no longer a night owl but a confirmed morning person. Sleeping in means getting up at 6am instead of 5am. You are rarely out in the evening because you are nodding off by 9pm. You don't often sleep straight through the night because you always have to get up to go to the bathroom.

Weight

You have been through at least 2 rebound episodes where you regained more weight than you felt comfortable with. Although it wasn't easy, you managed to get back on track and returned to your ideal size. In the past you have needed a support group, or a personal trainer to keep you track, but these days you are doing it on your own.

Resilience

You are truly transformed when you have worn out at least 2 pairs of trainers, a heart rate monitor and a pair of lifting gloves. You have renewed your yearly gym membership more than once and have had to replace your smallest clothes through wear and tear.

Your changes are officially permanent when you get your diamond rings re-sized smaller.

Body Image

Although you have loose skin and stretch marks you love your body. You have probably recently got your navel pierced and a new tattoo. The thought of wearing shorts or a swimsuit no longer terrifies you. When you look at photos of fitness models and sportswoman you no longer feel envy.

Pain

You love the feeling of your heart beating out of your chest, gasping for air, and sweat pouring down your back. You purposely push yourself until your muscles are flooded with lactic acid, and welcome delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) as a sign of a successful training session.

Contentment

You no longer spend hours scouring the Internet for the latest diet, the magic supplement or the ideal training program. You have figured out the eating strategy that works for you and you rarely stray far from it. You have first hand knowledge of points, portions, meal frequency and carb cycling and employ all, some, one or none of these plans.

It Gets Easier

It is clearly going to take longer than 12 weeks to transform from an overweight women into someone who is lean and athletic for the long term. The good news is that it gets easier and easier every day that goes by. Eventually the battle turns into a truce and you look back and realize that you have achieved what you set out to do ~ you have transformed your body and your life.