Meet the Aquarius Life Challengers

SIAN ROWLANDS

Sian, 31, has recently given up a career in interior design to concentrate on running her own company, my ex-wardrobe

Sian wrote, “I’m kind of stuck in a bit of a rut at the moment. Emotionally, I feel quite drained and haven’t felt like myself in a while. I know I need help to sort out some of the emotional stuff in order to feel like myself again, but I don’t really know where to start. As I run my own small business I can’t afford to spend any money on myself as things like rent and bills take precedence. On top of this, my energy levels are getting worse and I find it harder and harder to exercise. So now I’ve gained weight, which just makes me feel more self-conscious. I know I shouldn’t, but I have found myself taking my frustration out on my family who are only trying to help, and distancing myself from some of my friends. I need a complete overhaul so I can rediscover my motivation and find the energy to continue to develop and grow personally and professionally.”

We say, “Sian, you are a powerhouse of determination. Once we’ve added a strong shot of confidence and
self-esteem to that mix, there’ll be no stopping you.”

AMBER DALE

Amber, 35, is newly married  and currently works full time as  a communications specialist

Amber wrote, “I feel the main reason I need this challenge is to help me to break down barriers and push myself forward. My personal issue is that I find it hard to make friends. In social situations I sometimes get lost for words and panic, which has really begun to dent my confidence. That in turn has had a knock-on effect on my health. I used to do yoga regularly but lately I have let that fall by the wayside. For a really long time I have been thinking about improving my eating habits and would really like to move forward with that. Ultimately, it would be great to get fit and toned while improving my diet and lifting my self-esteem.”

We say, “Amber, we feel your pain! There’s nothing worse than being tongue-tied. Fortunately it won’t be for much longer because the Life Challenge is going to give you the much-needed confidence boost you’re craving.”

ZOE CAIRNS

Zoe, 34, is married with a two-year-old son. She works part time in the mornings and does some freelance work in the afternoon

Zoe wrote, “I feel as though some life decisions are on hold – like I’m in limbo. I want to start my own business, but I lack energy and motivation. Even though I’m really excited at the thought of it, I’m not really sure where to start, which I think is a confidence thing. I’m keen to get running again and get that buzz that comes with feeling fit and healthy. I also want to help motivate my husband to work out and eat healthily again (sorry Cameron!). I feel so disappointed in myself for losing my shape and fitness after having a baby two years ago. Baby weight is hardly an excuse any more, is it?”

We say, “Zoe, you’re a mother, a part-timer and a freelancer – someone with three jobs obviously ain’t lacking in energy or enthusiasm! We hope the Life Challenge equips you with the self-belief you need to identify your priorities and to chase them, so you can go out and achieve all the great things you want to do.”

DEBBIE SHAW

Debbie, 38, is a property specialist and mother of two (aged 17 and 20)

Debbie wrote, “I had my 38th birthday recently and it was a real knock to my confidence. Having never been afraid of age, I suddenly found myself asking, ‘Where did the time go?’ Right now I feel as though every day is the same – I wake up, go to work, come home and go to bed. In social situations I feel invisible and lack confidence when it comes to meeting new people. Plummeting self-esteem has also affected me physically. A year ago I was exercising regularly, doing spinning and body pump classes, and I was even on a dragon boating team, but over the past 12 months that has become a distant memory. I’ve put on weight and I feel more like a frumpy mum than ever. I want to get myself moving and feel excited about life again.”

We say, “A knock to the confidence can have a domino affect on your life. The good news is that the Life Challenge is going to whip you into shape and give your morale a serious shove in the right direction.”

BELINDA FREEMAN

Belinda, 35, is a mother of two (Aged seven and four) and runs her own greeting cards company from home

Belinda wrote, “I do my best to please my hubby, my kids, pets, family and friends – not forgetting my clients, customers and retailers – but it’s really hard to keep everyone happy all the time, no matter how hard I try. The one area that definitely gets ignored is devoting time to myself. I never seem to have time to buy clothes, I end up dying my own hair to save time and my body has never looked this bad. I get very stressed due to feeling overloaded with housework, being a constant driver for the kids (which doesn’t bother me but it is time consuming) and being a business owner (which I love)... I have a very supportive husband, but as most mothers will tell you, my life revolves around my children. I need to find balance. Also, I want to make my parents proud as they always supported the fact that I am artistic, and encouraged me
to follow my dreams. So I put a lot of pressure on myself and need help with things like workaholism, late nights and stress.”

We say, “Wow, Belinda – we feel tired just reading what you do in a day. Sounds like you need a Relax Challenge rather than a Life Challenge! In two months time, we hope to see you’ve learnt how to put aside some time for your needs and turned a bit of that nurturing attention you have in abundance on to yourself.”