Success Stories

Hi Monica....
some good things about the challenge:
- feel very proud of myself for sticking with it so far
- goals are set for exercise to be completed each week
- save money on alcohol
- feel great
- eyes seem clearer, wider and brighter!
- no hangovers
- making healthy eating choices that should carry on past the challenge
Shannon Curley
Age: 30
Occupation: Business analyst
Suburb: Northcote

Hi Mon,
Having spent 10 months up to June following a fairly strict eating plan (and losing almost 30 kilos!), I have felt justified indulging my food fancies during July and August. Doing the food challenge has been a timely wake up call and revealed just how much I have been indulging - to excess! I am determined that at the end of the 14 day challenge I will be more moderate in my food and alcohol choices and maintain the behaviours that I have worked so hard to adopt.
Thanks for your support,
Lucy Gannon
Age: 34
Occupation: Environmental planner
Suburb: Flemington

I am loving the food challenge, I feel really good. Would be hopeless doing this on my own, would cheat on myself all the time, but the commitment to the program with heaps of other people, and all the info you’ve provided make it so much easier. Thank you thank you thank you
Ann Maree Ellis
Age:35
Occupation: Barrister
Suburb: Kensington

Hi Monica
Today I woke up feeling FANTASTIC and my workout this morning was so much better! Usually by 3pm in the afternoon I'm ready for chocolate, coffee and a nap but its nearly 4.30pm and I'm cruising along... After a month of putting rubbish in my mouth, I have really paid for it over the last few days while my body flushes out the toxins and adjusts. The challenge and your guidelines are excellent and very easy to follow. The check-list is a great reminder while I re-train my mind. Until you do something like this, you don't realise how much rubbish you are putting in your gob - what have I been thinking?!!!!!!! I'm looking forward to my weigh-in on Monday but in particular, adopting this way of eating (and thinking) permanently. Thanks again for throwing out the challenge.
Leanne Walker
Age:35
Occupation: Executive Assistant
Suburb: Kensington

Hi Monica
I just finished the 14 day challenge! I have started to develop some positive habits which I will have to concentrate on over the next couple of weeks to make sure they stick Thanks for all of your assistance and encouragement, this is certainly something I would not have been able to experience without you. On that note, I also want to thank you for everything you have helped me achieve in the last 12 months. Your whole slogan "change your body, change your life" is so true. Losing weight and changing my body shape is only a small part of what I have achieved. My confidence has increased, I feel so much more in control of my life, not so uptight and have learnt so much about nutrition! I have worked in the fitness/recreation industry for the past 10 years and have never encountered a facility that is so customer and results focused. You are all amazing!
Louise Denton
Age: 33
Occupation: Recreation Co-oordinator
Suburb: Kensington

Hi Monica
Thanks for checking up on us! Still going strong and I am really enjoying feeling clean. I think today was a hard day as I was in a training session where the trainer supplied chocolates, chips and lollies that kept circulating the room for the entire 3 hour session, luckily for me I had a guy next to me that didn’t indulge either.
Anne Durham
Age: 32
Occupation: hospitality trainer
Suburb: Flemington

I am a bit lighter 3 to 4 kg after 14 dyas and saving lots on no beer & wine – that’s the good part !
Bruce Chaplin
Age: 47
Occupation: Facility manager
Suburb: Flemington

Matt, Mon
Kept rigidly to the rules & managed to give myself a great start to eating correctly again with a view to reducing weight/body fat. Managed to lose approx. 3.9kg over the 2 weeks – totally stoked. The one area I did fall down slightly in, was not always managing to drink the water 30mins before meals – sometimes the time ended up being slightly shorter. I found it so good, I am going to continue following the basic principles.
Denise Smith
Age: 49
Occupation: support worker
Suburb: Kensington

Hi Monica,
I thought the challenge was great - a good way to ease into healthier eating. The one good thing about it was being able to give up the 6 cups of coffee and the hardest thing was headaches from giving up the coffee. I'm going to stick to decaf from now on.

Robyn Smith
Age: 39
Occupation: nurse
Suburb: Ascot Vale

I'm noticing a change in my mood when I get up in the morning - I'm definitely getting a better nights sleep. The weekend was the most difficult part for me - not being able to have a few wines with dinner on the weekend really tested my will power - but I pulled through ok.

Desia Coxall
Age: 28
Occupation: -
Suburb: Maribyrnong

I have definately noticed a big change......I have much more energy, and I find getting up in the mornings so easy, as i'm getting a good night's sleep.  The most difficult part of the challenge for me has been not being able to have all my coffee! I usually have 4-5 a day and now having none has been quite difficult, especially in the mornings when i always love to have a latte! I think this challenge will definately help me to cut down my coffee to 1 or 2 a day.

Maria Rannelone
Age:32
Occupation: Accounts officer
Suburb: Travancore

Howdy Monica
I’m going well with the challenge. Surprisingly, the thing I find most difficult is drinking 2 litres of water. What I’m enjoying most is the break from coffee & alcohol, and the unconscious snacking on junk at parties etc. What I notice is generally feeling more calm and grounded. I haven’t been struggling with the challenge because I wanted to do it, and having ‘signed up’ meant the decision was made for the 2 weeks. But without a doubt there’s no way I’d have lasted if my commitment was only to myself. I would have let myself off the hook for just one glass of wine, or just that one piece of homemade caramel slice, etc, etc. I’ve been very aware of that so I’m really grateful for the motivation of the challenge. But the second week is a little harder....bring on Monday!

Hi Monica
One good thing about the challenge is that it is great for setting you on the course for better eating going forward and as for finding it hard, its a close call between not being able to have a social drink and finding the general hospitality industry extremely uneducated in terms of healthy eating. See you soon!

Hey Monica
The challenge is going great. Have lost 1.3kgs so far, a bit of a bonus really! I am finding the foods easy to follow, as I've done a couple of detox diets before, so it's not that different from them.What I am struggling with a bit is the sugar thing. There has been a couple of occasions that I have had a chocolate craving and had a bar in the house, but have resisted!!! A huge achievement, as far as I'm concerned! But it has showed me that I CAN resist, so that's good.
Thanks for the emails.
Jade Miller
Age: 24
Occupation: nurse
Suburb: Kensington

Hey Monica.
· You have to stop and think about what your eating, so it actually reduces the binge eating or eating when your worried or distracted through out the day.
· How regular I am and light I feel!
· You have to really thinking about dinner and what artificial things go into the many bottled sauces out there. We actually started making sauces etc from scratch which has a lot more flavour and lighter feeling.
· As I am monitoring what I'm eating, it is easier to work out what is bloating me.

As you said though, its 14 days out of your entire life, so it will well be worth it in the end.

Thanks.
Belinda Nation
Age: 27
Occupation: project manager
Suburb: North Melbourne