Being the mother of twins and a full-time carer, Josie Gagliano found it hard to make time for herself. But the busy mum has turned it all around with a new outlook on life and new found love for herself.
As the mother of six-year-old twins, a daughter and a son, who has mild autism, and the carer for her mother who has a rare blood disorder, Josie hardly had a minute to herself.
At a difficult time in her life when things where getting all too much, Josie underwent a major life change – she shifted focus and started looking after herself.
“It’s a cliché but you must love yourself first, before you love others,” says the Sydney-based mum.
“When you care for others, it is easy to say you are not worth it. Adding some time in your day just for you, whether it’s fitting in some exercise or preparing a healthy meal, is in line with feeling worthy and loving yourself.
“Soon enough, that mindset becomes part of your life because it makes you feel happy, and you don’t want to change that for anyone, especially not that ‘old’, sabotaging inner voice.”
Josie, who is a freelance journalist and writer, found a new way of viewing herself worth and her life when she signed up for the 90 Day Project – a 90 day personal challenge combining a “quickie” 30 minute workout and a metabolic jumpstart diet.
The program not only helped Josie lose an impressive eight kilos, but also gave her a new lease on life.
“Project 90 from Fit n Fast has given my life a new purpose and direction. It sounds dramatic, but it’s true,” she says.
“I accepted the challenge when my life needed a shake up, I needed to lose some weight, and I wanted to feel more positive and confident.
“It turned it to be even bigger than that, providing me with a refuge and time out from the hardships and turmoil surrounding my life including being a carer and the difficulty of a death in the family.”
Before accepting the challenge, Josie said her life was full of excuses and she would just give up when “life got too busy and emotionally exhausting”. But she happily says that’s now all changed.
“I have the same amount of time I did before, but now I insist on carving out some of that time for me, and making no excuses for it, especially to myself,” she says.
Josie, who has exceeded her goal weight, is continuing the program because she loves the change to her life.
“I’ve lost 8kilos and didn’t think it was possible, but I know that was just my usual self-doubt talking,” she says.
“I want to keep going, and I am. I have lost a further half kilo since the program officially stopped, but I am still enjoying eating right and visiting Fit n Fast for my workout sessions.”
And while she has seen results, Josie says it has taken a lot of hard work and determination to get there.
“I learned very quickly a rule of thumb that works every time: if it’s not in the house, I won’t crave it,” she says.
“Also, stocking the pantry and fridge with the right foods eliminated my bad food choices at meal and snack time. If I was hungry, the right food was always within reach, which meant unhealthy meals were far less likely. I soon realised it was all a lesson in probability, really.”
How the program works
The 30 minute workout is designed for those who can’t’ find time to exercise. With a personal trainer guiding you through the workout is tailored to individual needs. This exercise is teamed with leading Australian dietician, Matt O’Neill’s Jumpstart diet, the program offers a structured program to reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle change.
To find out more about Project 90 visit www.fitnfast.com.au. Fit n Fast memberships start from $9.95 per week.
