RE Weight & See

* So, done the 1 month challenge. I am really enjoying how energetic I feel so will keep up the regime and can see me sticking with this as a way of life. In the month I have dropped just short of 12 lbs and best of all it has come off the places that I wanted it to - belly, butt and hips and not off the boobs -yay! The recipes, advice and support are all fantastic and I can honestly say that I have, and will continue to, enjoy the whole process.  Cat - mwah, mwah!!! AF

* defiently think i can have rice milk for breakfast for the rest of my life! i look forward to breakfast now. i have gluten free muesli, porridge oats & corn flakes. lovely!! x E

* Wow, I did really well! This seems to be suiting me and its not too difficult to do. Big thanks to Cat and also to **** for all the support .I need to stop now, I'm starting to sound like Kate Winslet at the Baftas!!  AF

*Hi. Still going good. Still sticking to it. I don't think about it anymore, not so much a diet it's just the way I shop and cook now. Easy...Weight is coming off slowly and steadily, lost 10 lbs now. Best of all I've lost 1 inch off waist and 2 inches off hips!!! Yay! Nothing off boobs so far so OH pretty pleased. lol. Gonna have to go out and buy a new pair of jeans soon (what a hardship...) JH

*There is so much information and research out there with regards to health, fitness and nutrition, etc... that it is sometimes mind boggling and who knows what to believe!!!! Weight and See has given me an insight into how to take steps to create a balance to improve my health. I may have not dotted the i's and crossed the t's on the course, but it has provided a foundation to which to develop....!
During the course, I have hit some hurdles as opposed to jumping them...but you have another go and you succeed, it may take a few go’s....but eventually you do get over!
I perhaps did put too much pressure on myself, but have realised that and know for next time...and there will be a next time! Motivation was the biggest hurdle.... but realising it I am determined to work on it!! With regards to nutrition... I know I need to work a bit harder on that front... but again, I need to take small steps to achieve the bigger goal!!! KW

*Many thanks Cat, for all the hard work you put into these courses. The information you pass on IS life changing. I have learnt so much and changed some very bad habits. I have lost a bit of weight, but more noticeable is that I have more of a waist now, and my clothes are more comfortable. Also, I have dramatically reduced my intake of red wine, and feel much better for it. Looking forward to the monthly catch up sessions to keep me focused. SS

*9 days now with no tea & coffee, no headaches, & not missing them at all now, started recipes on Friday, *& I must say they are fab, have enjoyed everyone i have had, my stomach feels
great, no bloating, i think this is the right diet for me, thanks Cat. xDW

*…the point I am trying to make is that this is a very sustainable way of eating for me. I know I would be a million times
healthier etc. but if I had to drink soya milk for the rest of my life I would
go and stick my head in a deep fat fryer! However with a few changes I've found
a level that I'm really comfortable with. I accept that this rather negates the
benefits of a total detox but I just wasn't disciplined enough to stick to it
so strictly for the final few weeks. I've made so many positive, permanent (
and enjoyable) changes to my diet and I'm really pleased! Thank you Cat! NP

*Thank you Cat for putting me on the right track to feeling amazing, who knew i could feel this good with out diet coke?
FMH

*I definitely have more energy, and I have not missed bread at all which I find incredible because it was definitely a problem
for me before. And drinking lots and lots of water; although I haven't lost any
weight yet my body feels "cleansed" already.
The next thing I have to tackle is the exercise. Although
I have increased the amount I do, it's not enough. JH

*I feel great & seem to have a lot more energy….I cannot believe since i have been on weight & see i have not craved for chocolate, or anything sweet. its a Miracle, & by the way we loved the circuit training Friday night,our legs are killing us at mo, lol, but will come again when i am back from hols. DW

*After 4 weeks I have lost another 3lbs.making 5lbs. in total, not huge but significant and I feel as if the weight lose has been greater.I have lost 1inch from my waist and the same from my thighs.Trousers feel much looser and in some cases too big even though my hip measurement appears not to have changed. Although I haven't lost anything in my bust measurement jumpers and tops feel more roomy which must be down to the improvement in toning. Ss

*I'm fine now, and VERY happy with this course, my stomach has gone down by ATLEAST 15% and i have only been doing it for 11 days:)(u can see my muscle tone again wooohooo) I have given up bread, crisps, sweets and lowered my alcohol intake. I am feeling very fit and excited as to what i will look like in 9 weeks time :):) BW

*Hi CatI took your Weight and See class at the Parish Hall in Hay, but I really feel that I need more ongoing support and so am thrilled that you have set up this online version. Is it possible to have this be an ongoing support program throughout the year?  ML

*I'm happy to kick this one off. It's only week 3, but I can see and feel changes already. On day 2 (yes, day 2), I felt a huge weight lift around my sinuses. I wasn't expecting that one. I didn't even know they had been blocked! And by the end of the week my energy levels were completely changed. Whereas before, I would have considered myself a night owl, I'm now up with the lark, craving early nights, feel really switched on and have loads of energy throughout the day.
The gym sessions have been great: hard enough to make you feel like you've had a good workout, yet easy enough to follow so that you stay interested. I'm enjoying it all so much that I even went out for a run on my own today for the first time in years.
The Weight and See group is fun too. Such a great group of people. Even though we're all mostly strangers, everyone's really great at sharing tips and advice, and offering support when it's needed. You don't feel as though you're on your own, which helps your chances of sticking with it and succeeding.
And the weight loss... Well, it's only week 3 and there's a little way to go yet, but I can already see a difference. My stomach has shrunk for one thing, and my jeans are feeling looser too. Bring on week 10!
Love-in over and out!

*The recipes are great and I am not missing meat or dairy products.

*..I, like Gemma have Cat's weight & See instant programme and the recipes are fab.  I can see I'm going to be up to my armpits in soups and humous this weekend. B

*I love salad with nuts for lunch and wil not be changing that.I intend to stick to herbal teas for which I have developed a real liking and I will only drink the occasional coffee,which,amazingly I am not missing at all.I have really ammended my wine drinking to almost nothing and plan to stick to this lower consumption.The 4weeks has been sufficiently long to establish new habits which I am pleasantly surprised at.I am totally addicted to exercise and feel much better after a strenuous session. Ss

*I will recommend this regime as a way to get more control of your body,to get
better toned,to feel good and to loose some weight.Who knows as I continue with
it I might become a mere shadow of my former self! Well done Cat its a really good thing to have instigated..Ss

*The first week has been a major change for my self as I love diet coke,I did have a slip up yesterday and drank some which I did not enjoy .I am now getting into the habit of drinking water reguarly which I am now starting to enjoy,I perfer it cold.So I can say there are some changes …my body feels different, much leaner and more tonned especially my tummy, and this has lead me to sieriously consider going wheat free forever!! I used to have thin days, bloated days and VERY bloated days but now i just have constant flat tummy and im loving FMH

*Cat has been a huge support since I signed up with the gym and has helped me work on so many areas that I never thought I could change. This plan is hopefully that little bit extra that I need. Watch this space and WEIGHT AND SEE!!!!SP

*That's great news Cat! I have been to other weight related types of meetings, but yours just seem more better:) I'll be in soon to re-start my membership! ML

RE: GYM

*Fantastic achievement Cathy to get this place up and running and making it so beautiful too! The friendliness of the little gym has not been lost and all the extra luxuries are a huge bonus. Well done for having the vision and dedication to make this happen. FH

*Having visited other gyms/leisure facilities and found them quite intimidating, Gym & Tonic is a revelation. Very friendly and inviting, with a genuine feel of interest in what is best for her clients. I am so pleased I finally got aound to coming along. AB

*Congratulations to Cath & Gym & Tonic for keeping me inspired to keep exercising (& fit) through my second pregnancy and after. Turns out, 3 months after my baby arrived, I weigh precisely the same as I did 2 years earlier. Cath has helped me have no extra baby weight within 12 weeks of having a baby. And I feel fab! Many. Many thanks for keeping me interested enough to keep at it. Now I’ll go home and have a biscuit – I’m 1 Ilb under my ideal weight! LH

*I really can’t believe I have not joined before!! I signed up to G&T’s two weeks ago, after reading an ad in Wye Local. I have been losing weight and thought this would be the perfect way to see off that last bit I wanted to loose, and tone what was left – definitely the right choice – Cat was so helpful and helped me grow in confidence about my ability and how to work on area that I never knew could be worked on!! Due to medical reasons I have had limited ability for many years – all that is now behind me (I hope) , and with Cat’s guidance I now know my confidence and ability will go from strength to strength!! Two weeks in and I can seriously see improvements and I have even been brave enough to attend classes which I love!! (even though at times I am not very good)!

Never done anything like this before and I want to thank Cat for making it feel so easy and now I know I CAN!! S

(4 months in)....

 I still think about how much help Cat has been since I started, and what a difference it has made to my fitness levels, tone and waist band. I am so glad I signed up, and still wish I had done it sooner – with Cat’s help I have found everything so natural and DO-ABLE!! S

*Love coming early in the morning when it’s empty and singing along to my ipod very loudly and very badly. K x (oops my secret is out)!

Re: The Fat Wall:

I have found it really cathartic, and it has reminded me of lots of things that I had just forgotten.

I am feeling ridiculously emotional this weekend, and keep blubbing. It's either due to my massage with Jay on Friday, or I have been drinking too much water!!! A good long walk would be good I think and the weather is fab today.

Cat I really think that I am at the start of a complete life change, and can only thank you for the encouragement, the expertise and your generosity x x T.M

This is fantastic hun!!!!! Im sure going to try and keep to this programme. :-) x RD

For anyone doing this is is not as hard as is first thought. Have done the weight and see programme with Cat and surprised myself at how much sense it makes and how your body doesn't ACTUALLY crave 'bad' food....your brain just reckons it does! 

Will power has been the hardest thing to crack for me...once I said no to something that first time, I found that I could control it. I feel so much better for feeling in control of what I eat, rather than thinking that my stomach controls me!

Good luck to everyone doing it....I'm gonna nail it again after all that Christmas stodge!

LG

Since starting Weight and See - the inspiring and empowering lean version! - I have definitely increased my water intake and drinking more herbal teas; I have greatly reduced meat, sugar and bread, caffeinated drinks and alcohol. I have increased my seafood intake and raw green veg. But getting enough Sleep and good rest continues to be an issue due to family stresses. However, I am de-stressing more.. and am going to drama, doing knitting and crochet, listen to relaxing music and inspirational tapes, singing karaoke, and doing other creative things, getting detox massage from Jay at the gym.. Still need to get back to moving more, but have joined weekly beginners pilates, which I've surprised myself with being able to do a lot of moves that I thought I wouldn't be able to do since my knee operation. I also do workout at home more than before, getting on bike and doing small weights. I'm going to make a wheel of life this week and work on that, but looking at the other things I've missed ML

Re: Bootcamp:

*I joined Cat's Fitness Boot Camp last Saturday morning, and I have to say it was a fantastic experience. I struggle to get in to the gym during the week (not giving up because I am determined to get fit while losing weight, I have lost about 5 pounds in the last 2 weeks) but the Saturday morning early rising to get to the boot camp was great! Boot camp was very motivating but I think I needed another organized out door activity the next day, so next time I am going to plan to go for a swim the next day.

*I have had a 10 year struggle with weight and fitness. The process has been quite demoralizing as it coincided with starting a family. At first I didn't worry about the weight gain, as I had always been able to manage my weight without really seeming to think about it. Now I struggle to stay motivated even though I have good reasons to want to lose the weight. My doctor said that it's hard to lose weight unless your headspace is right or if there is a lot of stuff going on in your life, but boot camp was a good step towards motivating myself. Helping me clear my head. Thanks Cat!

(this is from a Bootcamp we run occasionally at the weekends - if you are interested in a Bootcamp with accomodation for the whole week please go to the links page - Cat)

*I weighed myself this morning on my own scales and according to my scales I have lost 5 1/2lbs! Went into work this morning and a few people commented that they could tell I had lost weight and looked glowing! Thank you, Thank you! VL - from the residential Bootcamp over 3 1/2 days

*Well done all of you! Everyone is doing so well. I too got home and weighed myself again this morning and I have lost half a stone. Simon said I looked noticeably slimmer, and my tummy feels taught. The feeling is so addictive I am off to the gym tonight for a run and a class to keep the effects going. The food was what I struggled with most, so I have kind of adapted the foods recommended and added back some of my own as I don't react to wheat in a bad way at all. But the exercise regime is definitely staying with me. I have my uggs with me to go for a half hour walk at lunch time too!The most fun I have had sober.Love and huge support to all!
"The Reluctant Achiever" JV From the residential Bootcamp over 3 1/2 days

RE; PILATES

Freestyle Pilates is the class I started for when the Summer heat stole my clients away from Aerobics. It was supposed to be a business decision. Little did I know that I would become as hooked as my clients! (and that I can go slow)!!. The feedback from these sessions is the most positive fom my entire fitness career, and I've made it 'my own' (that's what Freestyle means in essence). I love also what it has done for my flexibility, strength, and creativity. As it is 'mindful', there is lots of time to give out quality teaching points, and the time to consider working in lots of different planes. This means I have evolved a massive range of movement and patterns, which I can then transfer back into my Aerobics & Bootcamps, adding richly to their content in turn. Brilliant. I will try to get the ladies from F/S Pilates to comment here. Their kind words ensure I will be doing 'zimmer frame' pilates as we all age together!! Cat

*Pilates really works! 3 months, 1-2 sessions a week and my torso had gone from egg shaped to egg timer shaped! Love it, thanks Cat. V

*Loved pilates today - we must look so funny lying on those rollers!!

*Yep pretty tough, but fun as always. And no pain no gain. Think I might ache tomorrow! SS

RE: THE SWAMP (STEAM ROOM)

* An ideal way to complete your visit to the gym after working out as it helps to relax the muscles, get rid of the tension caused from exercise, and leave you blissfully chilled out when closing the door DG

*After another hard work out what better way to finish off than a visit to the swamp – well that’s what Cat kept saying so today I finally did it and it was worth every penny. Not only was it simple to use (it looks complicated but it’s really not), but it was also a very high standard steam. There are lots of products and I even had some music playing (it is set into the unit). I am totally relaxed now and already planning my next visit to the Swamp. For anybody who is thinking about it, then take the jump because you will love it!! And as ever Cat is always on hand to help you out if you’re stuck. SS (Stacy is a real steam aficionado too)!

Re:TABATA:

*Just thought I'd let youi know the tabata last night did not leave me with aching arms as a result of the Tricep push ups like we thought. Mind you it was tougher than doing the usual pressups. But there again, anything that gives you a feeling of achievement and not pain must be good. BH

*This tabata exercising starts of with you really thinking it's going to be easy. after the first 20 second exercise you get out of breath and have a short break. You then start the next 20 second exercise and get even more out of breath trying to keep up with the music. by the time you are getting to the end of the 4 minutes you are desperately trying to keep going never mind keep up. THEN! It's all over and you slowly feel as though you really have achieved something more than just running on the treadmill or pedalling the bike. You slowly start to feel good about it and decide that you can do it next time as it must get easier. After all it's only 4 minutes isn't it? BB

*Yay, although this was a rough week for self care, I did manage to do Tabata training once last week!!!! Yay me! hehe, but I really think it helps.. My tummy is starting to tone and I'm sure it's a combination of drinking more water, Tabata training, free weights and acupuncture.. ML

We have LOADS of Testimonials on the NING site if you wish to see them"

http://weightandsee.ning.com/forum/topics/testimonials-here-please

http://weightandsee.ning.com/forum/topics/testimonials-from-the-wsi

http://weightandsee.ning.com/forum/topics/testimonials-1

In 2006 Cat won the Fitness Instructor of the year (Wales)

and in 2010 Cat made the final 3 in the Sports Category
for the IWA awards (Inspire Wales Awards).

In both instances, this was based on testimonials from her clients.