Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all!

Have a fabulous start to the year, and don't forget the KettleBelleBody 6 Week 'Love Your Body' Valentine's Challenge starts Friday - so head over to Mission Slim-Possible to sign up and get started. This will start 2009 off with a bang, that's for sure!

Also, for those of you in Southampton (UK!) you can start the New Year with some fat burning and fresh air, as I am running bootcamps in Southampton Common on Mondays and Fridays at 12.30pm from 12th Jan! Find out more on my PT site: Perfect Fit Bootcamps.

Love Your Body Valentine's Transformation Challenge Starts Jan 2nd!

The next KettleBelleBody Transformation Contest is coming! This time we're running for 6 weeks, from Jan 2nd to Valentine's Day!

The Love Your Body Challenge is your chance to kick off the New Year in style, get into the best shape of your life in the first 6 weeks of the year, and in time for Valentine's Day! I have a romantic weekend away planned which will keep me motivated for the 6 weeks - I recommend you get something exciting in the diary for that weekend, buy yourself a new, smaller outfit to wear and keep visualising how great you are going to feel when you get to the end of the 6 weeks.

The finalists in the last challenge did amazingly in only 30 days, this is almost 50% longer so just imagine what is possible...

Head over to Mission Slim-Possible: http://missionslim-possible.ning.com/forum/topics/6-week-love-your-body and join if you haven't already, and head to the forum to announce your intention to take part, introduce yourself to the guys already over there and state your goals for the 6 weeks...

Then its time to think about your nutrition plan. You can use the Nutrition Guide provided in KettleBelleBody, or check out the following if you want even more detail:

I really recommend you try Leigh Peele's Fat Loss Troubleshoot: it's coming out, bigger and better, on Friday. You are in the driving seat with the FLTS and get to use Leigh's framework to create the plan that suits you and your goals. She has, however, provided a menu plan for those that like the hard work done for you (including counting the calorie levels so you don't have to).


I just want to emphasise that nutrition is vital and you must have some kind of plan, even if it is your own based on previous methods. I would rather you followed someone else's programme if mine doesn't appeal, than to just wing it and not get the results! I tend to follow other people's programmes in addition to following KettleBelleBody Nutrition, as that is the way that I eat anyway (just so you know I'm not giving you that info then doing something totally different!).

Other really good plans include:

Brad Pilon's Eat Stop Eat

Great for those who don't like strict food plans and menus, and who want to break free from OCE (obsessive compulsive eating!). I'm doing a modified version of ESE throughout Christmas to help moderate the excesses of the season, and plan to continue in the New Year for the challenge.

Isabel De Los Rios' Diet Solution Programme
A really fantastic holistic approach to nutrition, focusing on clean eating and optimal health.

Let me know if there are other programmes out there you are considering for the challenge and I will review them here, providing my thoughts on them so you and others can make informed decisions.

It's going to be great fun, a great challenge and the results are going to be incredible, so come and join in!

Happy Christmas and here's to the fittest, most fabulous year ever in 2009!

XCaroline

And the Winner Is....

Well, the votes have been counted and the winner of the first ever KettleBelleBody Transformation Challenge is....

NIKKI CAPUTA!

BEFORE: 9th November

AFTER: 9th December

6 1/2" Total loss: 3 1/4 inches lost off her waist in 30 Days!

Well done Nikki!

I'll be in touch to discuss the prize - options are online / Skype or one to one coaching with me over the next month!

Vote for the KettleBelleBody Transformation Contest Winner!

The entries are in for the first ever KettleBelleBody Transformation Contest!

The two finalists are.... (drum roll, please...)

Nikki Caputa and Kelly Swindell!

These guys have done sooooo well! Please read through this post to find out more about their results and experience - then please leave a comment with your vote!

Hopefully their fantastic pre-Christmas results will inspire you to join in the fun on Jan 2nd, when the Valentines 6 Week Challenge commences! That's 50% more time - could mean 50% better results than these guys - can you afford not to take part?!

Check out their results and vote for the winner now!

KELLY SWINDELL:

BEFORE: 9th November

AFTER: 9th December

Shed 6"

Weight 136lbs to 132 lbs

KELLY'S STORY:

Did these 30 days ever go fast. I'm so happy to report that i only missed 1 workout and that was this weekend, but on those days I was working out on my course :0) I participated in this challenge as this is a hard time of year to stay on track, I thought well even if I stay the same it will be much better than going backwards. I wanted to have accountability, and this site was exactly what I needed, not only to keep myself on track, but to also offer support to fellow participants.

I am totally amazed at the after pictures. esterday a few people came up to me at the gym and commented on how small I am looking. The thing is I could not see it in myself until I looked at the pictures. i am still having trouble believing it is me!

I have been working out with the Kettlebells at home and I do not have a mirror so I had no idea that I have 'muscles' !!! When I go into the gym I have only been doing intervals or a Crossfit themed workout so again no mirrors. I think that my brain still sees me as I was at the beginning of this year.

So what did I do? I followed Carolines workouts exactly, I did Kettlebells 4 times a week and then I ran my intervals 2 times a week, one day on the weekend was hard exercise free. Now I also walk my dogs twice a day and also walk my children to school, so I do get some extra steps in. However I do not add this as exercise into a journal as it is something that I have to do no matter what day, but I thought that I should add this on here now as it is extra compared to someone without kids or dogs :0)

Caroline's workouts are amazing, you get such a workout, I still have a love hate relationship with TGUs. I have been able to really target my worst area, I am sure this is because the KBs are unstable so you are firing your core all the time.

These workouts are not just for girls !!!

I am going to still follow this programme as Caroline has so many different programme cards and at the end of this week I will have completed the first one, there are many different exercises that I have not even attempted yet.

I followed the warm up and cool down, I loved the cool down part as I find stretching relaxing, I also learnt some new stretches! I also followed the Elimination diet. The hardest part was giving up coffee and tea, after the 1st few days the headaches were gone but the cravings were still there, but I stick with it Dax says 100% or nothing, so that is what i did. I found that I could eat many different foods, I was never hungry or feeling deprived of anything. I found that when the TOM came my chocolate cravings were not as bad, and I just had some fruit for the sweetness. When I got to day 21 i added bread back in and I'm ok with that, but when I eat wholewheat pasta i feel super bloated so from now on, I will just eat spaghetti squash in place of the pasta.

I believe that I had a light bulb go on in my head over the last month, I have followed other programmes before and I know that I did not give 100%, this time I did and it shows you what you can do when you are committed to it. Even if I didnt feel like working out I told myself it was only 30 days and I can do it. I had day 23 of the Elimination Diet in my head and it was my mission to at least get there and then I could add some bread and pasta in. Once there it really was not the big deal, then all that was left was the last 7 days.

At the beginning of these 30 days I never thought that I would change my body this much.

Stats:

Bicep 10 1/2 10 3/4" increase 1/4"
Chest 36 1/4 35 decrease 1 1/4"
Waist (smallest part) 27 1/2 26.5" decrease 1"
Waist Navel 31 29" decrease 2"
Hips 37" 36 1/2 " decrease 1/2"
Thigh 22 1/2 21 1/2" decrease 1"

Total inches down 6"

Weight at the start was 136lbs, my weight today is 132 lbs

Over the last 30 days I have met some amazing people on here and I'm sure that the support will not stop now that the challenge is over. I have found that when you stick to something it works. It is not easy, but everyday you have to get up and tell yourself that you can do it and that you are going to do it. and no im not going out for coffee :0) the cravings are done !

NIKKI CAPUTA:

BEFORE: 9th November

AFTER: 9th December

6 1/2" Total loss!!!!!

NIKKI'S STORY:

When i started this challenge i decided that my goal was, that as i had not long ago turned 40, i wanted to get back the figure i had in my 20s!!! I suppose having twins has altered my shape but i always used this as an excuse to not do anything about it.

The challenge has helped me more than you can imagine, in just one month i have done more positive than i have in the last 8 years!! It has been fantastic to have the support of all the people on the challenge and especially my husband who has as ever been amazing. He too was stuck in a rut and we have motivated each other to just get on with it!!! As well as the amazing positives, i have also found some people who are negative influences but have learnt to rise above their comments and WOW look at the results.

I have totally stuck to the KB programme, doing either 3 or 4 workouts a week mixed in with boxing and body combat. I have mixed up the workouts so i got to sample alot of the exercises and have to say i totally love the whole thing!!! Food wise i followed my own plan and cut out coffee tea and alcohol completely (give or take the odd slip up!!). My eating is so much healthier now and i dont plan on letting it slip back even with Christmas around the corner.

I went and tried on a pair of skinny black jeans size 10 today just for the hell of it ....and they fitted!!! So i am on my way to dropping a size!!

As i said on the forums before i dont want this to stop, so will be carrying on (maybe not so strictly!!) until the next one. Thanks so much Caroline and everyone. xxxx

Waist now 28 3/4 = 3 1/4" loss
Hips now 35 1/2 = 1 1/2" loss
Thigh now 20 1/2 = 1 1/2 " loss.

6 1/2" Total loss!!!!! (Over 3 sites only...)

So, now it's up to you!

Who are you going to vote for? It's a really hard call as they've both done so well! Bear in mind, that these two were actually pretty lean to start with, and as they always say, it gets harder the leaner you get, so these two really have done amazingly to be the two finalists.

Leave your comments at the end of the blog!

LINES ARE NOW CLOSED! RESULTS WILL BE CALCULATED SHORTLY!!!

The Fat Loss Troubleshooter

If you are struggling to get the nutrition side of things nailed, then you need Leigh - the Fat Loss Troubleshooter!

She's just about to release an update to the excellent Fat Loss Trouble Shoot Manual, and has a rather compelling trailer to whet your appetite (or not...): VIEW TRAILER

She is also launching her healthy 'eats' book: Body By Eats in Feb - you can even get a taster (ha ha) with some absolutely delicious recipes here, now: GIVE ME HEALTHY RECIPES!

Leigh is especially interested in rebuilding spent metabolisms, shot to pieces by women intent on overtraining and undereating to lose weight. Her Metabolic Repair programme is perfect for anyone who has brought their calories down and is training hard, but not seeing any results. I highly recommend it - in fact I have taken some time out of training following Leigh's advice and feel all the better for it (plus have dropped a few lb already!).

I try to give myself adequate rest anyway, and those of you who have my KettleBelleBody programme will know how much I advocate intense training coupled with plenty of rest and recovery.

But it's all too easy to ignore our own advice! I kinda trick myself into thinking 'vacations' are rest enough from a rigid training plan and are therefore the only time I don't follow a set training programme. But my holidays always involve windsurfing, surfing, kitesurfing, snowboarding, mountain biking and daily ashtanga yoga (plus I do all these activities at the weekends, which should really include a full rest day!), so it was not a surprise I needed a bit of time off.

I actually realised I have not taken a full week off training in a few years - I even got back into training after a knee op in about 2 days, which I knew was silly but just couldn't help myself! I would caution clients against that sort of behaviour, but conveniently 'forgot' to give myself a break!

Funnily enough, my weight has stayed the same since that knee op, despite aggressive training and strict nutrition. I realised rest was in order as per Leigh's instructions - it all suddenly made sense. But it took someone else to give me that advice! It was actually through advising a customer that I reminded myself of Leigh's programme last week in fact, as I identified the signs in someone else that I was failing to see for myself - it is so easy to delude ourselves sometimes.

So, whether you are not seeing results because you have not got the finer details of fat loss nailed, or because you have been overtraining / undereating, Leigh will be able to tell you exactly which side of the fence you are on, and exactly what you can do about it.

I can't recommend her books highly enough - she has re-inspired me to tighten up my nutrition and work on taking a more long term training approach, allowing myself more planned rests!

Those of us into kettlebells tend to be quite focussed and want to train hard, thinking that rest is an evil word - which is why I think we all need this book.

Would be really interested in finding out what results you get on the programme, so keep me posted!

Red Carpet Ready TV - Cool New Online Show!

I've just found out about Valerie Waters' cool new online TV show. If you don't know Valerie, she is the ultimate Hollywood trainer!

Now, usually, trainers roll out their one celebrity client or B-lister at this point, to try to impress, but check Valerie's client list out:

Jennifer Garner, Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale, Steven Dorff, Matt Dillon, Benicio Del Toro, Jim Carrey, Richard Gere, J-Lo, Charlize Theron, Cindy Crawford plus many others...

Pretty impressive (jealous, moi?!). So, in true celeb style she now has her own weight loss reality TV show: Red Carpet Ready TV

You can watch in 'real time' as the participants go through the struggles we all encounter on their weight loss journey - only they get to face the cravings in full view of the world!

The show airs 5pm Tuesdays PST, but you can check out the first 4 episodes right now: Red Carpet Ready TV

30 Articles in 30 Day Challenge: Easy. 30 in 36hrs: Done!

I was set a challenge to write 30 articles in the 30 day month of November. An easy task, one a day, no problem.

But I didn't actually take the challenge on until Friday! I suddenly decided I wanted to complete the challenge, as I had a client-free afternoon for once, so I set myself up at my lap top and got started!

I did calculate beforehand that I was likely to fail - logisitcally I didn't actually have enough time, and I wasn't going to sacrifice my weekend for it, I just thought at least getting 15 done would mean I was better off than having done nothing!

The concept of 'Fail Forward Fast' was on my mind - something I'd recommend you consider trying. Better to set a lofty goal and fail (e.g. aim for 30 and manage 15) than set a 'realistic' or 'achievable' goal that doesn't push you, in this case I could have set myself the challenge of writing 5 articles and easily managed it. I would have succeeded in meeting my goal, but been less successful than failing at a harder goal!

So, tip tapping away on the lap top, stopping for a KettleBelleBody training session and a meal Friday evening, I managed 15! I was really pleased, and half thought I'd leave it there and enjoy a weekend off....

But of course, the challenge hounded me in my head, and I thought I could at least get to 20... Or 25... So after training clients and a day out on Saturday, starting at about 4.30pm, I sat on the sofa and continued with the articles. I stopped for yoga and a meal, but then got back on it, and by 10.30pm (36 hours after starting the challenge!) I had managed it!

So, I now have a larger selection of articles, on a range of topics, available for you to peruse at: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert_bio=Caroline_Radway

If there are any topics you'd like me to cover in future articles, let me know! I'm going to try to write an article a day from now on (which means I need to get on and write one today!) so I'll appreciate ideas on what you'd like to read...