Julie Backhouse, 55, had a total aversion to working out, until a harsh wake-up call challenged her to transform her lifestyle and lose weightt. Through healthy nutrition and a new found love working out, Julie has become the healthiest version of herself and still continues to ride the fitness bandwagon. She said Express.es What.
She began, “I started my fitness journey after seeing a really bad vacation photo from 2016. I wasn’t feeling well and after my recovery I found out I weighed around 25 stone.”
Julie knew she had to do “something”, but what?
When a friend suggested he take part in the local 5K Run for Life, he started training right away.
Already feeling happier and healthier, she decided to “completely” change her diet as well.
Julie admitted, “I caught the fitness bug,” and now weighs 13 stone and five pounds, almost half her previous body weight.
And his tremendous physical progress hasn’t gone unnoticed: “I ran my first marathon last September on my treadmill and have done a lot of challenges during lockdown.”
The NHS reported a spike in downloads of the Couch to 5k app when the pandemic hit the UK in March 2020: “From March to the end of June, there were almost a million downloads: 858,000 compared to 448,000 during the same period last year. a 92 percent increase compared to 2019.”
In addition to exercising regularly, Julie has changed her diet for the better and is much more mindful of what she eats while also enjoying carbohydrates.
She said: “I have a strict but simple weekly portion-controlled vegetarian meal plan consisting of lots of vegetables, quorn products, and potatoes or pasta.”
And her husband, “a talented cook who can make amazing dishes with simple ingredients,” is available throughout Julie’s ongoing weight loss journey.
To avoid reaching for unhealthy snacks, Julie makes her own vegetable soups.
“It really helps when I feel like snacking, which has been a big problem during lockdowns.
“On high-volume training days, I have a protein drink and extra servings of fruit.”
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On her journey to become fitter and more health literate, Julie has discovered some nutrition secrets.
She attributes her increased energy to “eating a healthy, simple, balanced diet.”
She also found a supplement that helped her achieve her fitness goals: “I use New Zealand blackcurrant supplements: CurraNZ. I accept them because they help in muscle recovery. I used to suffer a lot with DOMS, but since taking them, I have no more problems. They help me train more often. Now I couldn’t manage without them.”
Because she’s still on her weight loss journey, Julie is careful not to overdo it when treating herself.
She explained, “Because I have another couple of stones to lose, I’m still careful what I eat. There’s a tendency for people to reward themselves with high-calorie snacks after a race that can undo all the hard work.”
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Instead, Julie just has her “usual meal” after a race and saves her treats for Sunday, a “no diet day” when she would normally do races.
“I’ll always have some cake and a big cup of hot chocolate.”
His main advice to other people on their weight loss journey is to run slow and steady.
“I believe that a health and fitness journey is a long-term program. Quick fixes, fad diets, and low calorie diets are unhealthy and totally unsustainable. A diet should be something that fits your life in the right way. simple and easy process.
“Be patient with yourself, reward your achievements with anything but food, and find an exercise regimen you love.”
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