Here at 12WBT, we’ve always said that our goal is to transform not only your ‘body’ but your health, your habits and your lifestyle too. By teaching you what’s really going on when you feel like you “can’t lose weight” or “can’t get fit”. It may say 12 weeks in our title, but really, we’re here for as long as you need us.
This is likely why so many of our members stick around far longer than 12 weeks! To feel connected as a community, to continue to learn about their mindset, nutrition and fitness, and remain in control of their path and see success in their scale and non-scale victories. We caught up with three such beautiful members, to tell their 12WBT story in the hopes it may motivate even just one of you! So stick around to read what Anne, Kylie and Mel have to say about their 12WBT experiences, their highs and lows and why they’ve made the switch to 12WBT Lifestyle and committed to a healthy lifestyle journey on their own terms. Ladies, over to you!
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How did you first become a 12WBT member?
Anne: It was back in 2014! had watched The Biggest Loser, so I had seen Michelle in action on TV. I saw an advert for 12WBT and thought that perhaps exercise was what had been missing from my 30-year yoyo dieting habit. After reading as much as I could online, I decided to give it a go.
Anne
Kylie: I did my first round of 12WBT in 2001 and did 3 rounds back to back. I had come to 12WBT completely broken. My marriage had fallen apart and I had lost myself in a year of postnatal depression. Coming through those 3 back to back rounds, I felt like I had come up for air. I learned that eating less and moving more was just the tip of the weight loss iceberg. It was about changing the language I used and how I approached my health.
Kylie
Mel: It was back in 2015. I was 130kgs, an ex-chef and trying to finish my PhD. This meant I was sitting for long stretches of time and getting almost no exercise but still eating like a chef. I had seen 12WBT advertised and almost signed up half a dozen times. Then a good friend told me about her experiences with the program and, with a final nudge from hubby, I signed up.
Mel
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What are some achievements or changes you’re proud of that are a result of being on 12WBT?
Anne: I have run 10km, I have lifted weights, I can jump, I can skip, I am fitter than I have ever been in my life (and I was reasonably athletic in my youth.) I have maintained my goal weight (give or take 2kgs) for 2 and a half years and feel confident that my days of yoyo dieting are over.
Kylie: In my first round, I was in the top 10 transformations. I also was acknowledged last year in May as a transformation winner. I had started that May round in a really dark place mentally and full of self-doubt. But I came out the other side feeling fantastic. I knew I was still working towards my goals but I had my head held high and was on the path to achieving them.
Mel: Wow! Where to start?! I mean, importantly, I start with my son. We had tried for nine years to get pregnant. In losing weight with 12WBT (40kgs in all), and with my better health and fitness, I was able to fall pregnant. We had started to think was just never going to be a reality for us. It was a miracle. I also ran a marathon (the Great Ocean Road – that’s 44kms!), I completely changed the way I cook, I learned how to structure fitness into my world. I transformed more than my weight and fitness, I transformed my whole outlook on life.
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How do you feel the 12WBT Lifestyle Membership helps you better maintain your health and fitness?
Anne: In 2017, I re-joined the program after a break where I put on all the weight I’d lost in 2014. I decided then and there that this would have to be my lifestyle and not another 12-week quick fix. Now that the Lifestyle membership has been introduced, that mindset has been cemented with a 12-month commitment. I know Lifestyle will keep me focused on eating well and exercising, regardless of what else is going on in my life or the world.
Kylie: Lifestyle doesn’t feel like it’s a ‘race’ and like I only have 12 weeks to jam in as much as possible. I’ve just got my rhythm and I am kicking goals. I’m working on lifelong changes and always have the resources at my fingertips.
Mel: When I first did 12WBT I was completely immersed because I could be! But now that I have a toddler, I just don’t have the time or space. I need something more gentle – not a 12-week transformation, but support to improve my lifestyle. And that’s what the Lifestyle Membership is giving me. I work full time, have a long commute, a high pressure, stressful job and a toddler. I don’t have time to design a meal plan. I certainly don’t have time to go through recipes and write shopping lists. And, left to my own devices, our meals drift slowly towards hubby’s favourites which, to be honest, are mainly all “sometimes” foods.
This membership helps avoid the drift and keeps me on track. A fridge full of food means less temptation to buy takeaway and ensures we are getting nutritious food into our bodies. So that’s a major win. It’s about useful tools that help me to stay organised, exercise plans I don’t have to think about (or pay a gym membership for) that I can do literally any time of day, and access to professional guidance from the training crew whenever I need it. There is less pressure, less guilt and more balance.
Explore what a 12WBT Lifestyle membership has to offer!
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What are your long term 12BWT Lifestyle goals? Do you have anything you want to achieve over the next year?
Anne: They’re simple really! I want to stay at or within 2kg of my goal weight by following a healthy food plan and exercising regularly to maintain my fitness.
Anne wants to maintain her current weight
Kylie: I want to achieve consistency and really bedding down healthier habits. I want to achieve my goal weight and learn how to maintain that. I also want to work on my mindset and the language that I use when talking to myself.
Kylie wants to build healthier habits
Mel: I just want to feel fitter again. Post-baby, I am heavier and less fit than I would like. I want to be able to run 10km consistently. I want to re-install my healthy habits and manage my stress better. Ideally, some weight loss might come too but, to be honest, if I can be exercising regularly and making healthier choices for my body and mind, then I will be happy. The rest will come.
Mel wants to work on her post-baby fitness
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What is your favourite 12WBT recipe? Or maybe, your top 3!
Kylie: In all of my time with 12wbt there are still plentyyyy of recipes I haven’t tried and I still discover new favourites all the time! Ones that spring to mind that either provide comfort or just feel so good to eat are: Chia Berry Overnight Oats, Chicken Rice Bowl and the Speedy Moroccan Meatballs.
12WBT Chia Berry Overnight Oats
Mel: OMG so many. How can I narrow it down to 3?! And I love different recipes for different reasons too!
- Sausage Burritos – because they are super quick and easy and really good for those nights when I want takeaway.
- Vegetarian Spaghetti Bolognese – it’s super veg packed but you wouldn’t know it. That means the toddler eats veggies and I’m full and satisfied!! Yay!!
- Cream Cheese, Strawberry and Maple Bagel – It highlights that healthy eating is about balance. Before 12wbt I never thought I could eat a bagel for breakfast, let alone one with vanilla and maple syrup! I love this dish and it still makes me happy!
12WBT Vegetarian Spaghetti Bolognese
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What would you say to 12WBTer’s just starting out on their journey?
Anne: Find your real reason for doing this. Why is it important to you? Write it down and put it somewhere you will see every day. Imagine what the healthy you will look like and then don’t stop till the person you see in the mirror each morning matches that image in your head.
Kylie: Trust the process (even if you thinking it’s not working one week, the results catch up as long as you trust and stay consistent). Plan, plan, PLAN and break down your goals and then tackle them a bite-size at a time. If you put in the work you are guaranteed results and you will feel amazing. Oh and connect with the amazing 12WBT community in the program and on Facebook!
Mel: The best results you can get, the lasting results, come from a place of love. Do this because you care enough about your health to try, because you deserve to be fit and healthy. This is not a punishment. You can not hate yourself healthy or thin. But what you CAN do is engage with the mindset videos, be gentle with yourself on the journey, reach out for support when you need it. You can do this thing and you are worth every bit of effort to make it happen.
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Would you recommend the Lifestyle Membership over an individual 12WBT round?
Anne: I recommend Lifestyle to anyone who has 10+ kilos to lose and/or plans to do 3 or more rounds in a year. From a cost point of view, it’s a no brainer. It’s half price! Also for all you serial dieters (like I was); you need at least a year for the brain to catch up with the body and know that you won’t put the weight back on. You need more than one round to keep the motivation going!
Kylie: For first-timers, I would say give an individual round a go and see how it works for you and then look at committing from there. In saying that, if you have long term goals and more weight to lose (like I did) then I think it’s worth doing Lifestyle to keep the momentum, commitment and accountability going. Kind of like getting your car serviced to keep it running well.
Mel: It really depends on what you want. If you want a fast transformation for an event, or you need to train for a specific fitness challenge, maybe you just need a single round. 12 weeks to reset, transform or get the training you need to reach your specific goal. But if you want a lifestyle change, something with less pressure and sustainable nutrition goals… then I’d go for Lifestyle. Lifestyle, for me, is something you can rely on everyday, longterm. And maybe help you run a half marathon on the way 😉
Keep your health and fitness goals on track with unlimited access to 12WBT for a year for just $9.99. Do 12WBT your way by either doing four rounds of 12WBT back to back, or just pick and choose the recipes, workouts and plans you want to do. Explore what a 12WBT Lifestyle membership has to offer!
