Results Archive

Winner: Manda Giddens
Results: Lost 12.5 kilos, 42cms and 6.6% body fat down

Wow! Where do I begin? After moving to the Hawkes Bay with my partner in January 2016, I thought long and hard about taking a different approach to my healing. Three years ago I experienced a treatment injury. I thought I was going into hospital for a minor operation, but unfortunately mistakes were made which resulted in seven more surgeries and major life changes.

In March this year I decided to search the net for “Yoga” places in Napier. I spotted “Modern Yoga Napier” and opened the web page and then for some crazy reason (or because I like a challenge), I clicked on Bikrams Biggest Loser. I liked the sound of it and promptly emailed Kristina. 24hrs later I received the warmest, kindest and most supportive reply. I was in!

My first session which was also the first time I had ever experienced yoga, was a mix of fear; fear with a side serving of fear! Was I going to puke? Pass out? Have a hot flush and then pass out? Trip over my own feet and then break bones or somebody else’s bones? Of course none of that happened. What happened was this; a huge wave of awesomeness! I was grinning from ear to ear and saying to myself… “I did that!” Me! My body didn’t collapse, it felt strangely fabulous, and sweaty! Very, very sweaty but fabulous ! No hot flushes at all!! Bargin!

So my 13 weeks began! I changed my eating and I changed my mindset regarding the choices I made with nutrition. I cut out alcohol…..(until my 50th birthday ). I stopped eating bread completely and I drank water….lots of it! I ate my main meal before 3pm and then in the evening I ate a piece of fruit (normally a grapefruit) and I had a cup of tea. I cut out potatoes and only had a little bit of rice every couple of weeks. Porridge and stewed apple for breakfast with a pinch of cinnamon and a pinch of tumeric. A protein bar for mid morning snack and then my main meal which consisted of either chicken or beef in big salad or as it got colder I would have chicken and veges in a hot tomato based sauce.

I did go out for dinner…lots of times, but I made sensible choices and for the first time in my life, I stopped when I felt full.

Honestly, it wasn’t hard to do once I got my head around it. Actually, I quite enjoyed it. Apart from eating well and going to Yoga, I didn’t do much more than just going out and walking my dog. That’s it!

Kristina has asked me about what I have learned along the way. Well, I definitely have awesome willpower and I definitely needed to alter my way of thinking. But I think that my greatest learning is that the most important healing comes from within. That I couldn’t go to a “place” to heal and no “person” could “fix” me! Yoga has shown me that every single moment of every single day is different and my thoughts and my body are constantly changing, but always moving forward in a positive way.

Pretty darn crazy awesome really. I will continue with my yoga as I can’t imagine life without it. I bloody love it! If you come to my house for a visit, all you will hear is…..Yoga this….Yoga that…..! Even the dog now does “downward dog” really well!

Thank you Kristina for opening a door which has been firmly closed for 49 years. Not sure why you didn’t open it 25 years ago!!! You really are a blessing. Thank you to the rest of the gorgeous Modern Yoga teachers for your support, your encouragement and your loving energy.

Finally, thank you to all those I have met on my journey. It has been a privilege. You all totally Rock!!