I, of course, have been going to the gym as much as possible and eating as well as I possibly can, like a true dieter hoping that seven days will make a huge difference - man I really hate reality.
I've had many chats to people who have stopped me in the street to ask how I'm going and how they love reading my column, to the point where I think I'm going to miss writing.
Who would have thought my weight loss idea would help so many people and show me my new-found love for sharing my experiences with everyone?
This week has been about preening myself for the photos, essentially planning the girly stuff, tanning, haircut, nails and bikini shopping, which I left till the last minute I might add!
I have been a true woman who dyes her own hair from the good ol' supermarket stuff to save money, goes op shopping for the odd bargain and gets a haircut once in a blue moon with the standard order: "Don't cut too much, all I want is a 2mm trim all round please."
Well Brett changed all that, I sat in the chair and he told me how well I was doing and of course I beamed with a smile and said, "Thanks".
He then turned my chair to face the mirror and said the most profound words: "Do you love what you see?"
I was thinking Huh? And he said, "Take a look, do you love you?"
I said "No" without even thinking!
He explained that my hair represented the old me, which it did. I never thought of change, I have always just had plain, boring long blonde hair, just ask my friends.
Now, it's been dramatically changed and has even made my face slimmer, I feel foxy again. Thanks heaps Brett, you're a star.
I had my first spray tan and it was awesome. It was so funny driving home knickerless and braless but I got there in one piece.
I do love the new me now and have higher aspirations for the next chapter, which involves more change.
I am going to stick to my meal plan that I'm on but have one naughty dinner a week consisting of sushi, plus the odd sneaky latte.
Seriously, coffee is such a horrendous addiction, but tastes sensational!
My final words are to my trainer, Brett, who has transformed me into this crazy gym bunny.
Thanks so much dude for all your hard effort and putting up with me when I was having a moment, which was every day, stressing if I had lost any weight or not, for supporting me when I felt like I wasn't achieving results, picking me up when I was down, telling me it was okay when I was sick and couldn't go the gym and for helping me lose an astonishing 14.85kg body fat all in 12 weeks.
You are a sensational trainer and I'm so glad I have you for the next 11 months - haha, poor you - to get me ready for my first competition.
It is so nerve-wracking and horrendous to be standing in my bikini for all to see.
To me it is not a perfect body like social media shows us on a daily basis, but a normal 35-year-old woman's body who has gone through a huge transformation in a whopping 12 weeks.
Thank you for all the kind words of support, I really did appreciate it.
Vanessa went from 37.2 per cent body fat, in the obese range, to 20.92 per cent body fat (athlete range), during her 12-week challenge.
Vanessa would like to thank Emma Fraser at Allure Nails, Sarah at Refresh Beauty for her spray tan, Lillybeth makeup and Langton's for her bikini.
