Entering Karly’s Psyche

I took one piece of advice from Tony Robbins years ago (not personally, but from his book) – which was something along the lines of:

If you want to be successful at something, the easiest way is to find someone already successful at the thing you want – and…… copy their methods!

Let me be clear, I am not aiming to plagiarize some-one’s life – but I had this idea that if I sought out people who are triumphing over life aspects that I struggle with, interrogate them, enter their psyches,  something, just something might strike a chord…  (not asking much really, am I?!)

So, I put the call out on my facebook page to see if any among you had the fitness and health thing down pat.

I tend to yo-yo my way to glory and then back to whatever the opposite of glory is.

I felt compelled to find somebody who had been where I am at and jumped the hurdle.

Funny gal and Blogging pal Karly Nimmo put her hand up.

Karly is a voice-over queen who lives in the very beautiful Mid-North Coast of Australia…. I am grateful for her witty,honest and inspiring answers – hope you will get something out of them too.

This is Karly! A picture of good health and good fun!

Has nutrition and health always been a way of life for you or have you ever been a yo-yo bad eater / non exerciser? If so, how did you overcome this?

As a child and in my teens I was an avid dancer.

I was never interested in team sports, in fact, I kinda sucked at them – netball and basketball especially.

During Primary School we’d have to do a 1.6k run every morning and I’d come up with any excuse under the sun to get out of it!

Asthma was popular (for the record I did suffer from Asthma).

In regards to diet… I’ve been a yo-yo dieter since my early 20s.

I’ve been to weight watchers more times than I can count on one hand.

I’d get down to my ideal weight and somehow lose the plot… pile it all back on and more… then feel really shitty and punish myself for months on end, before reluctantly heading back and sign on again.

I’ve also been prescribed by a Doc appetite suppressants – which didn’t really deal with the real issue at all (which has been self esteem and self love issues).

About 4 years ago I married my fabulous husband Micko. Prior,I’d been on the liver cleansing diet and dropped about 10 kilo’s. My skin glowed, I felt healthy and looked fab.

Then, 6 months later I’d piled on a staggering 17 kilo’s – thanks to giving up the ciggies and moving to the much cooler climate in Vic. It was then, when my size 16 jeans almost cut off the circulation to my ever expanding gut, that I decided to enter the scary world of the gym.

Illogically, I’d been putting off starting gym until I dropped a couple of kilos.

What does an average day of food look like for you?

Hmmmm… Diet isn’t my strong point… although it’s not usually too bad.

I’m a toast and vegemite girl mostly (usually wholemeal or wholegrain).

Often I’ll mix it up with a couple of weetbix, honey and soy milk or my favourite, a soy, banana, honey and all natural peanut butter smoothie. mmmmmmm

Looks good.....!

Lunch consists of a salad sanga, or rice cakes with cottage cheese and salmon.

Micko is my personal masterchef and we usually chow down on fish, chicken, or meat and salad.

We also eat lots of kangaroo – it’s lean and much better environmentally.

He also makes a mean chicken and mushroom risotto, Ossobucco or his special Spag Bol.

The weekends are usually my downfall.

Too much wine… Too much beer… Too much Vodka and Cranberry.

I also have a weakness for soft cheeses. Along with grog, my period is the other downfall!

I’ve been known to eat a jumbo bag of white choc raspberry bullets (after which my jaw hurts for about a week) followed closely by a bag of TV mix.

(Ok well clearly I do not want to enter your psyche re: the lollies because, well that is where my psyche is at too! NOT LISTENING, NOT LISTENING LA LA LA NOT LISTENING!)

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What does an average day in exercise look like for you?

A gym sesh to start – boxing is my favourite.

If not boxing I like a 20 minute run on the treddy, followed by 30-40 minutes on the spin bike – I make up my own routine of jumps, sprints and tough uphill battles to a soundtrack of hard rock, funk or dance.

I then run my dog on the beach for an hour (or roughly about 8 k’s) or an hour long walk along the river or beach.

Sometimes, if I’m feeling sporty, I’ll go back to the gym and do bootcamp (although I have lighten these nightly gym sesh’s to once a week – wine tends to win out).

Karly lives on the Mid North Coast - seems pretty compatible with running...

What is your philosophy on nutrition?

It’s all about balance. I work out so that I can enjoy my food without too much guilt.

I have learnt that constantly beating myself up is totally not healthy… or fun!

I’ve learned what can happen if you let food… and that bitch inside your head rule!

How do you indulge? How do you find a balance that works ?

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I don’t do much in halves. I work hard so that I can play hard. I’m here to enjoy my life and if that involves sometimes having my cake and eating it too, so be it.

I’ve discovered I enjoy sweating it out. The feeling of pushing myself to my limits gives me a great deal of satisfaction. It also gives me clarity and focus – which I then apply to work.

Exercise has become like meditation to me… gives me peace.

What advice would you give somebody who is in yo-yo health and fitness land?

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When I started out I joined a small personal training studio/gym. The class sizes were restricted so you’d have to book in prior. This worked for me. Booking in meant that if I didn’t show up, someone might have missed out.

I also love having a gym partner. If you can’t commit to yourself, try starting out by commiting to someone else… . I also find exercise naturally leads to healthier food choices.

Yummiest nutritious meal?

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My Thai Fish cakes… one of the few meals I cook and, if I do say so myself, do a fab job of. Delish! My other favourite is a smoked salmon, spinach and pine nut salad.

Funnest form of exercise?

Boxing! That and drunken dancing, haha!

Ahh good to see that its not all fishcakes and runs along the beach!

Do you have non-negotiable rules health and fitness wise?

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Get of my arse at least once a day. At the very least take the dog for a walk for an hour.

Final words of wisdom?

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It’s all about how you feel – size and scales are irrelevant (but a sure fire way to keep you on track).

Feeling shitty? Then you are the only person that can change that.

Seriously… what’s it going to take?

A little exercise, cutting out that piece of cheesecake (mmmmmm) or drive through Macca’s on your way to work.

Is that worth feeling good about yourself?

We all know how that bowl of chips is going to make you feel… sluggish and probably a little guilty.

If you have to have the chips, go to the gym as a trade off (it won’t burn all the calories in a bowl of chips but at least you’ll be counteracting a portion of it).

Sharni is right when it comes to the shed… ain’t nothing good in there (similar to after 2am – nothing good ever happens!)

If my lazy arse can do it… anyone can!

Thanks so much Karly, I like your easy going and fun-seeking attitude to it all. Getting fit and healthy can be a ‘end of life’ kind’ve feel or it can be … well exactly how you seem to make it appear. Appealing – fun – ability to enjoy cake and then burn it off!

How about you? Do you share any of Karly’s philosophies? Have any nuggets of wisdom of your own?