Juls Abernethy, 51, is the founder of a wellness company.
I was 39 years old when I ended up in a mental hospital for three months and that experience was a huge wake-up call that my life needed to change. I was working in human resources and very stressed. I’d work, come home for lunch, which was takeout since it was usually late, have a bottle of wine and a couple of vodkas, and try to get some sleep before going back to work. I thought I was coping, but my body had other ideas and one day I had a panic attack at work.
The advice from the hospital was that I needed to take some medication and embark on talk therapy, but I knew I needed to change my lifestyle. I had 16 stones and even though I had always been big, I wanted to feel more in control.
I started very simply by moving my body more, doing things that I enjoyed. At first that was just walking, then I started a class at a local gym called Body Balance. Although I used to see exercise as penance for the things I had eaten, I began to see it as something that could be pleasurable. I met Julie Brealy, a personal trainer who really helped me and taught me the kettlebell, which is so important for building strength.
I also addressed my eating regimen. I had been a serial dieter, but always fell off the wagon. When I was most stressed, I lived on a diet of sugar and caffeine. I often had a Red Bull for breakfast, then had chocolate or chips when my blood sugar dropped. I met a nutritional therapist who gave me some advice and the first thing I did was address my sugar addiction. Once I eliminated my regular sugar fixes, my natural blood sugar levels improved and I didn’t feel like I was lurching toward the next sugar fix. I then started eating more protein to fill me up and help build muscle, and more fruits and vegetables to improve my gut health, which can also help improve mental health.
The effect was huge: I lost five and a half kilos and have kept it off ever since. That was 12 years ago and when I look back at the woman that she was, I see that someone just existed: she lived to work, came home and fell asleep. I now feel energized and balanced – the difference has been life changing. I knew I needed to help other women in my position and together with Julie we founded The Withdrawal of the Body in 2010. I think it really helps other women to hear my story and realize that they too can make these changes.
my training week
I swim four times a week in the sea, which gives me a high. I also hop on my Rogue indoor exercise bike (which works arms and legs at the same time) for 10 minutes and follow that up with a 10-minute kettlebell session twice a week, along with some stretching.
what i eat in a day
- Breakfast: Smoothie made with banana, nut butter, yogurt and milk, flax seeds, collagen and a shot of decaf coffee; that keeps me going all morning
- Lunch: fried broccoli, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach with avocado, fried egg and sauerkraut
- Dinner: red lentil pie with vegetables on the side
- Snacks: An apple with a teaspoon of nut butter
lifestyle assistants
- Carbs: Yes, but mostly slow-release carbs. Then, at the weekend, I have a couple of toasts with jam; I’m a big fan of the 80/20 rule, where you allow yourself a few treats 20 percent of the time.
- Caffeine: First I drink two Earl Gray teas and then no more as it makes me nervous.
- Alcohol: I do drink, but only on “high” days and holidays.
- Sleep: Menopause is having an impact right now, but before that I slept up to eight hours a night and woke up feeling refreshed.
Have you ever experienced a “wake-up call” that made you want to change your lifestyle? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
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