STORYBOOK STORY 1

As we are nearing the end of the year, I can think of nothing better than sharing this wonderful testimonial of one of our dear members with you today, proving that storybook endings and success stories are not only for movies and novels and fairy tales…

Carien is a normal woman, with a normal life, a normal job, a normal marriage, a normal weekly routine, in a normal town – but her story is a PHENOMONAL one and I’m honoured and proud that she has agreed to share it with the world…Here it is, in Carien’s own words…

“For at least 15 years I had battled with my weight – it was an emotional constant weight struggling journey…My average weight used to be between 59 and 62kg.  At age 37, I started to gain weight, slowly but surely.  At first, I wasn’t really concerned – I simply thought there was something wrong with my scale.  Then I blamed the weight gain on the fact that I was in my late thirties and consoled myself with the idea that my metabolism was slowing down and my body shape was simply changing.

Looking back now I realize how bad my lifestyle was…My water intake was zero, and although I hadn’t eaten a lot, my food choices were really, really poor.  I tried to convince myself that if I simply deprived myself of food, I would drop the unwanted kilos.  I continued in my same old ways and the number on the scale just escalated higher and higher…

I started to feel discouraged and behind my smiling facade developed a very low self-esteem.  Shopping for clothes became a very bad experience, and I hated the image of myself in the mirror.  My wardrobe became so limited and, reaching an all-time high weight of 95kg, I became desperate.  ‘When would this stop?’, I asked myself…

Something needed to be done…I went on a diet and dropped my weight with 7kg, but that was it.  I was stuck.  With a few attempts I manged to drop 2 or 3 kg just to pick it all up again.  I realized that dieting, with all its do’s and don’ts was not the answer – I needed a lifestyle change… 

In August 2016 I joined Janet’s Health & Wellness clinic in Ermelo, which also included colonic treatments.  For many previous years until then I had dealt with a lot of emotional issues due to circumstances, with a handicapped daughter and a husband who was diagnosed with cancer four times.  In retrospection I know that all this, together with the after affects on his health also played a huge part in my weight gain cycle.

With the help and patient ear of my good friend Janet, I started to empty my emotional cup.  I talked my heart out and gradually my whole mindset changed.  I faced and dealt with these emotional issues and over the course of 16 months lost a staggering 25kg.  It was an amazing experience for my body, soul and mind, but something was still missing…Being skinny only is not good enough.  My blood pressure was still high…I really had the urge to become fit…

I visited Mirna’s Aerobic Studio’s website and simply knew this is where I wanted and needed to be.  To me it seemed like the perfect place to exercise.  I joined Mirna’s in March 2018, and immediately felt at home.  It’s the most welcoming, fun-filled, professional studio, with the best owner and main instructor, Mirna.  (Dankie Carien!).  The studio offers the best workouts, choreography, variety and choice of music in every single class – there`s really never a dull moment!   I have never experienced so much fun while exercising, and my life has just gotten so much better after becoming an active member at Mirna’s.  Mirna’s Aerobic Studio is my Happy Place and “Wegkomplekkie”.

Up to date I have lost 30kg in weight, and today I am less than 2 kg away from my goal weight.  The skinny lady inside me has been freed at last…She can now look at small sizes when shopping for clothes.  She can look at herself in the mirror and feel confident and sexy.

Gaining all that weight was a bad experience, but the journey these past few years have been worth every step.  I have learned that EVERYTHING is possible…one just needs to start breaking boundaries 500g at a time…

Joyce Meyer says: ‘If you keep on doing what you’re doing and nothing changes.  Then change what you’re doing…’  That’s what I did.

If anyone still wonders about joining Mirna`s Aerobic Studio… Don’t think.  Just do it…Join and become part of this incredible fitness family.  Mirna’s has so much to offer – from a group of amazing instructors, body assessments, fitness challenges, fun-filled award functions and new friends, to an encouraging environment helping you obtain a healthy, beautiful body! ☺☺☺”

                                                      Carien Bester

…I have asked Carien a few questions, this is how she replied…

What was the inspiration behind your dedication to lose weight?

• Seeing other good-looking women my age made me realize – I had no excuse not to look good as well. I thought if they could do it, I could too.
• I realized that this was not the way I wanted to grow old.
• I wanted to be able to reach my feet to put on shoes!
• I desperately needed to feel better about myself, which was definitely not the case with my size 40/42 body – make-up and a good hairstyle couldn’t compensate for my overweight body, I wanted to feel good body, mind and soul.

What was the toughest change you had to make?

My mindset had to change.  My lifestyle had to change.  It came at a price.  I had to compare the need to eat to the need to lose weight – it comes down to this question: Do you want to enjoy food, or do you want to enjoy losing weight?  Obviously losing weight was my main concern, so I ended up cooking for my family, but preparing my own food separately.

Your physical appearance has changed so much – what else has changed about you?

Firstly, my inner being feels so much lighter as well.  My confidence on a scale from 1 to 10 has increased from a 3 to a 9!  My fashion style has changed – today I can wear clothes with so much more confidence.

What are your goals moving forward?

I have never thought about it in such a way before, but I would love to grow old being fit and healthy, maintaining a healthy body weight.  I would love to inspire others to do the same, and I would love to be a member at Mirna’s forever…

Do you have any advice for people who desperately want to lose weight?

• A mind switch is the most important thing. You need to remind yourself constantly what is best with every slimming choice you make.  Don’t rely on slimming products – teach your body to do its own work.
• Detox your body, then find a lifestyle that suits you and that you can stick to for life.
• Don’t think too far ahead – set your mind breaking 500g barriers at a time.
• Exercise regularly at least 40 minutes per day.
• Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water per day. Don’t like water?  Take like medicine: down 500ml of water 4 x per day.

Do you have a favourite healthy meal or snack?

• Grilled steak and Greek salad with Balsamic vinegar.
• Biltong/nuts or a fresh fruit salad.

…Why have I decided to include testimonials in this weekly Blog?  Because, here, in our own town, right under our noses, there are many storybook stories, and they should be heard.  Hopefully Carien’s story inspires you as much as it did me.  EVERYTHING is possible when we put our minds and hearts in a task.

If you can see and feel the dream in your mind, then it’s possible.  If you want 2020 to be your year, then you need to commit to yourself and your dreams now.  Stop putting things off until you feel more ready, or the time is perfect.  Decide that you ARE ready, and this is your time… 

As Randy Pausch writes in “The last lecture”: “Anything is possible, and that’s something we should never lose sight of.  The inspiration and the permission to dream is huge…Give yourself permission to dream, and then, work hard…” 

Yours in fitness

Mirna

082 779 0507