My name is Melissa and I am from Prince Edward Island, Canada. This is my third Turbulence Training challenge! I have so much faith in Craig Ballantyne's TT workouts that after slowly sliding back into old habits I knew this contest was all that I needed to get my head back in the game.
In November 2012 I had decided that enough was enough. I was fed up with everything. My already large clothes were getting tight yet again, I was inactive, irritable and unhappy at where I'd let myself get to. I went to our local gym and signed up for one year! I was introduced to Turbulence Training at that time. I entered my first TT contest that December with a lot of coaxing from our gym owner. At that time my confidence in myself was quite low but thankfully he saw something in me that I didn't. I'm grateful he had faith in me - 12 weeks later I won first place in that contest in my age category! I lost 24 pounds and 24 inches. I was excited but most importantly it kept me motivated to keep pushing forward. The next contest that I was eligible to enter again was almost exactly one year later and I won second place! I lost 26 pounds and 20 inches.
Here we are, another year later, and I've just completed my third Turbulence Training contest! Last summer and throughout the fall I found myself starting to slide back into old habits. I was getting discouraged. I found myself replacing whole, good foods like eggs, almonds and fruit/vegetables with processed foods like granola bars, cereal and frozen foods. Without really realizing it my TT workouts were ever so slowly getting replaced with just lifting weights and doing cardio.
It was a slow, gradual change that eventually caught up with me. I started to regain the weight that I had worked so hard to lose. However, it wasn't about the climbing number on the scale or my clothes not fitting well anymore. It was how I felt about myself. I had less energy, which of course made me struggle through workouts which in turn made me not even want to workout some days. I was making excuses. I wasn't seeing any results and was getting frustrated.
I realized just how easy it was to fall back into old habits. I began to panic. I'd put so much work and dedication into changing my life and I was terrified of going back to the inactive, unhealthy person I used to be.
In December 2014 I registered for this TT contest. It was my Christmas gift to myself. Several people frowned upon it. How was I to do this right in the middle of the holiday season?! It didn't matter what anyone thought or said to me. I knew I could do it. I believe we can do anything we set our minds to. I went back to eating the way I knew I should. I went back to my large supply of TT workouts. I had forgotten how quick they are! I'm in and out of the gym in about 35-45 minutes.
Who doesn't have time for that?! Because I was a past turbulence training contest winner I have online access to all of Craig's workouts. I print them off and now have a binder full of TT workouts and pull something from there each workout! I have enough of a variety that I never get bored with them. Our gym owner is certified in Turbulence Training and puts on classes almost every day of the week. When I'm feeling unmotivated I just go to class! The group atmosphere helps me push that much harder and I get the positive reinforcement I need to keep moving forward.
This TT contest has helped motivate me to lose 23 pounds and 13.5 inches! I'm a huge believer in finding various means of motivation to keep going. It is different for everyone. Some days are harder than others. It's a journey not a destination. To help keep me on track I continue to do things I love like sticking with my TT workouts, attending gym classes with friends, trying new healthy recipes, reading inspirational fitness stories and surrounding myself with positive, like-minded people.
Turbulence Training has shown me that when done correctly and efficiently exercising can be fun, rewarding and life changing. I truly believe I have found a lifestyle that works for me and one that I can continue to build on.
