Coach Belle Ryrie Journey

I thought I was healthy until….I realised I wasn’t.

 

I had been gluten free(ish) for a while and I knew I was dairy intolerant from a young age but never actioned eliminating dairy from my diet as I simply put it straight into the “too hard basket”, we all have that basket. So I put up with bloating, diahorrea and some serious sharp pains in my abdomen and guess what, I too thought it was “normal”. Normal discomfort that most people endure when they eat things they shouldn’t. I never dreamed of eliminating it altogether, in order to feel better (insert slapping your forehead emoji here). I have been a healthy human being for the majority of my life however when I started working at real fitness my world and knowledge on “health” in general was turned around, a complete 360. To the point where my Mum has even said to me on a number of occasions “I’ve noticed you don’t get sick anymore Bella!” or “You’re energy levels are so much better than what they used to be!”. There is no way in the world I could have survived getting up at 4am and going to bed at 9pm back when I started here. My body just wouldn’t have allowed it. Why? Simple. I wasn’t feeding it the right nutrients to survive my 24hrs. Why? Because I never focused on macronutrients when it came to my nutrition, I just ate relatively “healthy” which mind you was probably three meals a day, pasta every now and than, weet-bix as a lazy breakfast and milk in my coffee even if I couldn’t stand up straight afterwards from the abdomen pain. UNDER EATING was another habit of mine and under nourishing my poor body that was trying to keep up with my daily activities plus more.

 

So what have I changed? A LOT. Nearly everything.

 

• Gluten free(ish) to no gluten.
• Incorporated yoga into my exercise routine
• Dairy to zero dairy
• Increased protein intake
• Increased daily water from 1L to 3L
• 5-6 serves of greens a day
• 3 coffees/day to 1 (that has been a big one for me)

 

And that is just simply in my nutrition. My outlook on movement and the human body has shifted to a more holistic and caring nature. I now move and train for the benefits of my body and my mind, rather than looking at it as something I have to do. It is something I want to do and if I don’t my persona wont be the same for the rest of the day. I most definitely train more efficiently and effectively as my knowledge has grown since becoming a coach at RFT two years ago. And with the more I learn the more my passion for health and fitness has exploded.

 

Believe it or not when I walked into my interview with co-founder Mitch, I secretly had a knee guard on my left knee. I was struggling majorly with a bad knee for the past couple of months and it was flaring up and swelling quite badly so I had brought a knee guard from the chemist, a band aid if you will to cover the problem not to actually fix it. That day was probably the last time I wore that dam knee guard. I actually threw it out, as surprisingly enough I don’t need it anymore. Not surprising at all actually, I have dramatically changed my diet and my movement and care for my body a lot more. Now that I am no longer inflamed from gluten or dairy, my sleeping pattern has improved because I am less irritable at night because my body is still try to process all the caffeine in my system and my metabolism works like clock work now due to a healthy focus on macronutrients. I was definitely one of those people who said, “Coffee doesn’t affect me!” yet I would toss and turn at night and wonder why I would stay awake for 3hrs after going to bed. Cut back to one coffee and whola! Not magic, logic. Giving the liver a rest from processing caffeine, refined sugars, alcohol & additives and preservatives it has more time to burn fat efficiently which is one of the main important functions the liver is there for. However when it gets a toxic overload from

C – caffeine

R – refined sugars

A – alcohol & additives

P – preservatives

It wont work as effectively as it should and processing fat will become harder and harder.

 

So here I am two years later writing this article I thought I never would because I thought I was already “healthy”. My body and my life has dramatically changed and I am so excited to see how much more I have left to go as I think being strong and healthy is a journey that never stops. Yes, we set goals for ourselves to achieve and smash out of the ballpark to keep us motivated and determined but we never stop learning or growing as an individual. And that goes for my health as well. My health is something that will forever be growing to always be the best version of myself as possible. My health, mindset and knowledge is forever growing and expanding. Any piece of advice I was given when I first start my career at Real Fitness Training, I took it and ran with it and guess what!? It NEVER let me down, hindered me nor did it lead me down the garden path into the unknown. Instead it improved myself either physically or mentally which has helped me to get where I am today and I couldn’t have allowed it to do that if I wasn’t open minded to new things. How can you go wrong when the advice you are being offered is from a holistic, genuine, healthy and researched based background??

 

Physical changes

– 23.1% body fat to 17% body fat

– Gained 3kgs lean muscle

– Clearer skin/complexion

– Muffin tops gone

– I have a backside now (once again my mother tells me so, constantly!)

– Much more flexible

 

Emotional Changes

• Positive mindset
• Better self-talk
• Increased serotonin
• More intuitive with my body (more aware of my aches and pains and what foods feel right)
• Less mood swings
• I read and learn a lot more than ever before (by choice now)

 

 

How can you benefit in the same way as I did? Easy. Come along to our seminars that are held monthly here at RFT, ask more questions in your personal training sessions, take that advice and run with it because statistics show that it is from the knowledge and personal experience of your coach not them guessing what is right for you or may work (but may not). From them having actually experienced the same things that you, yourself are going through. So speak up and even talk to those around you in the gym because at the end of the day KNOWLEDGE is key.

 

NOTE: The reason I’am holding a small 3kg medicine ball is because in my time here at RFT I have seen an increase on the scales (SHOCKING?? I think not!) because that 3kg increase has been from lean muscle so now I can burn fat more effeciently. I have also lost 6% body fat. Onwards and upwards.

 

If you are in the Hills District area including Castle Hill, Kellyville, Bella Vista, Baulkham Hills, Glenhaven, West Pennant Hills, Dural, Rouse Hill and surrounding areas contact us to help you get started on your health and wellness journey.

*Results may vary from person to person.  Proper nutrition and movement is essential to losing and maintaining weight loss.