This is how I went from 1200 to 2500 calories

So where do I start with this blog? I guess I should explain how I overcame the idea that the only way to lose weight was to starve. I understand it's hard to believe unless you experience it yourself. So I have to put it down to my amazing husband Nath for showing me that being healthy has nothing to do with strict diets. A good coach is a coach who won't prescribe you a cookie-cutter 1200 calorie meal plan. A good coach is someone who will put in the work with you so you can achieve your physique goals AND enjoy your lifestyle too.

1200 calories to 2500 calories

Starvation mode - it's a dieting mentality that was drilled into people years ago, and somehow the notion has stood the test of time. Men and women are still resorting to starvation or serious restriction today for weight loss. I get the principle. In order to lose weight whether it's 2 kilos, 20 kilos, a certain number of cm around your waist or a dress size - you need to be in a calorie deficit. However, a calorie deficit that is neither maintainable or reasonable for your health is never a path you should take. 

Let's go back to my first competition ever.

I was that person. Living off next to no calories - that chicken and broccoli lifestyle. Here's a flashback to my first competition back in 2012 compared to my physique now in 2018. If you asked Nathan today... He'd probably tell you that through consistently and constantly under eating, I had reaaally screwed up my metabolism. I was not only eating in a way that had no long-term goals in sight, I wasn't training effectively either. Considering that I was training 5-6 times a week, 1200 calories was not nearly enough. No one had ever taught me that I could maintain my weight and physique (and a lean one at that) and eat more!

So how did I build my calories up?

It takes two key things:

• Consistency, and
• Time.

Nathan didn't have a secret meal plan ready to go that would transform my eating and body within a few weeks. We had to grind at it for years. Under his guidance, we designed a training program that would help me build lean muscle mass and have me training effectively, not excessively. I'm at a point today where I only train 3-5 days a week which works well when juggling business, kids and a gym! On the nutrition side of things, at a snail's pace, I increased my food - very, VERY slowly. At such a low starting point, that was the only route I could take. I had reduced my calories to such a low number that in order not to disrupt my metabolism or have it respond by blowing out completely, I added more calories in SUPER slowly. In conjunction with training (hard), I am where I am today: Eating 2500+ calories daily, maintaining a lean physique year-round, training no more than 5 times and usually 3-4 times a week.

I want to teach you how to eat your way to your goals.

Nutrition is a way to fuel yourself and help you achieve anything from weight maintenance to fat loss to muscle gain. I'm definitely not the exception to the rule - you too can build your metabolism up and one day eat 2500 calories! It won't be easy, but with the right support it can be done. Join me and thousands of men and women for the second round of the year.

THE BOD Restart Round 2 for 2018 kicks off Monday, April 30th!

You can purchase any of my programs starting from $89.95. Each program is catered to your specific fitness level, and you can follow the set meal plan or track your food like me! Check out The Bod here. Sophie xx