Why did you decide to join the KICK17 course?

At the end of the summer GAMES I had a serious case of post GAMES blues, I was really in need of something to perk me up and to get me motivated and focused again. It was different this time though, no group challenges, just a huge individual one that was going to tackle my love for all things sugar. A much more daunting prospect somehow... 28 days without sugar…?

My training has always been good, I’d go to the gym every day and I’d work hard, but I knew to get the results that I wanted, my diet had to change - massively. My diet was shocking and I was not taking good care of myself. Eating lunch was the biggest issue for me - lunch never happened. Instead, i'd spend the time between 10am and 4pm grazing on all things sugar coated, spending most of the day feeling fairly lethargic and trying to manage sugar highs and lows (with more sugar)! 

If I was to get one thing out of this course I was to eat three meals a day, I couldn’t cheat and I wouldn’t. I was answerable to someone else apart from myself, including Richard Keyworth and his calipers!

What did you achieve during KICK17?

In the couple of weeks leading up to the start of KICK I had already had a word with myself about cutting out sugar. I’d already started to make small changes like replacing a few (or more) squares of Dairy Milk in the evening with just one square of dark chocolate. So, when it came to cutting out everything I loved in the world I think it was less of a shock. I didn’t get the day three headache that I’ve had in the past when attempting (and failing) to cut out sugar and I weirdly wasn’t even missing it. 

I very quickly started to see changes, I was losing weight (albeit in places where I would rather of kept it!) and my clothes were feeling looser. 

I planned meals, I knew in the morning what I was having for breakfast, lunch and dinner and I made time to make, sit down and eat them. I had boundless energy, I could think clearer and I felt happier. Bizarrely, I seemed to need less sleep, I would stay up later and wake up earlier. I didn’t feel tired, just really really well. 

How was the overall KICK17 experience for you?

In a word, mixed.

From the start of KICK, my main goal was to eat lunch for 28 days and this is what I did. It was a revelation! I planned meals and found new foods to snack on. I always made sure I always had cooked chicken in the fridge for whenever I was hungry, this was like a go to staple. Flax seeds twice a day become somewhat exciting, they get stuck in your teeth until you found them later, they truly were the snack that kept on giving!

Giving up caffeine and alcohol was easy for me. I don’t drink tea and I don’t drink coffee so I was already winning! I’m also not a big drinker so found this a breeze. The couple of times I did venture out though, a glass of icy water just didn’t cut it - even with some fresh lime it didn’t have me feeling particularly rock and roll!

Two weeks in and I felt really really well. I was continuing my class a day with one PT a week. I was winning!

Then… the three day juicing happened! Day one was ok, and I have to say I really enjoyed the juices. They tasted good, I didn’t feel hungry, I wasn’t missing food. And... I was still able to embrace my new love for flax seeds (we were still allowed these twice a day). Bonus! 

Day two is where things started to go downhill quite quickly, I started to feel really really cold, tired and hungry. By day three I felt horrendous, for once in a long long time I didn’t take myself to the gym, I was so so cold, so hungry, so miserable, angry and super emotional. Even Beyonce made me cry! So, enough about juicing, I think it’s safe to say it just wasn’t for me. 

The following weekend was great, food tasted amazing and I very quickly started to feel back to my energised self. Overall I loved KICK, it has been amazing and has taught me so much. I’ll definitely be doing it again next year, just perhaps omitting the juice part!

How did you find the community support at FITISM during KICK17?

Everyone was so so supportive, encouraging and inspiring. Even those not taking part in KICK. The WhatsApp group was great, it kept me motivated and focused.

How did the KICK17 course compare to other courses, diets, plans etc you have tried before?  

I’ve never tried anything like this before. Apart from a three day juice several summers ago (which I surprising coped with better) this is the first diet based course that I’ve ever done. As individual as it was, it was great to do it as a group, you never felt like you were on your own. 

What would you say to anyone wanting to do the next KICK course?

Go for it! Don’t even think about it. You'll come out of it feeling fabulous, you'll break habits, you'll make good friends and you will get the most enormous sense of achievement afterwards. 

Do you have anything else you would like to say about KICK17?

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have taught me to eat well, to consider what I’m eating and make good choices, to not eat out of comfort or boredom and most importantly to set a better example to my children. 

(*NB: Watching ‘PS I Love You’ during a three day juice is never a good idea!)