Whakamarama woman transforms for Christmas

Whakamarama woman Vickey McLean has much to celebrate this Christmas, having lost a total of 34kg since beginning training with Chris Seymour and then completing no less than four 12-week challenges.

Whakamarama woman Vickey McLean has much to celebrate this Christmas, having lost a total of 34kg since beginning training with Chris Seymour and then completing no less than four 12-week challenges.

"I always used to wear baggy clothes and I've just bought a dress, and it is a size 10."
Vickey started training one-on-one with Chris one day a week, and would go to the gym five days a week in total.

"Chris knew how to push me which meant I could motivate myself to go by myself too. Sometimes I did swear at her."

Chris also helped her overall eating with a plan that she is still sticking to, which she says is clean eating and she has eliminated sugar from her diet.

Breakfast is two poached eggs on toast or homemade muesli, fruit and yoghurt. Lunch and dinner are protein and salad or vegetables, and she has two healthy snacks morning and afternoon. "I do have cheat days, like a strip of dark chocolate. But on the whole I have stuck to it."

Vickey has been doing back to back challenges with Chris and Ben for about a year, joining the session at 6am, four days a week, and has not missed one session.

"When my alarm goes at 5am I do have a moment when I think I just might stay in bed, but I think what gets me there is it is actually fun and I am enjoying it."

She lost weight at a steady pace at 1kg a week but says it is not only the change in her body shape that has changed her life, but in her emotional wellbeing.

"Before I started exercising I was stressed. "I find when I do my session, it sets me up for the day and I feel so much happier, less stressed, and losing weight too, that has been a bonus.

"It is definitely part of my life now and not something I dread - the opposite, I look forward to it."