This project was an emotional experience not just for me but for all the contestants I’m sure. It was a nightmare for me when I found out that I first had to stop eating many of my favourite foods. And, I had to stick to this regime for about 9 months. To top it off, I also had to exercise and keep exercising throughout!
It was quite a tough experience for me as I needed to be prepared mentally and physically for this competition. However difficult it seemed to be for me, I laughed a lot! If you are wondering why I wasn’t crying instead, it was because I was happy having had this opportunity to go through a major transform which I would see in a few months. And true enough, as time passed, I could see the changes and felt a little bit lighter each day. I couldn’t wait to see the end result!
During the competition it was very hard for me to stop eating all my favorite food and it made me feel a little bit depressed. I had to hold back my cravings while I just watched other people enjoying their delicious and tasty food choices.
After the competition is was very emotional for me and I couldn’t hold back my tears when Xandria Ooi announced me as the winner for the Butterfly Project 2008 competition. I couldn’t believe I had actually WON! That was the happiest moment in my life, because I kept telling myself that after investing so much effort in this project, I deserved this!
It was not easy to overcome my emotional ups and downs. I just kept telling myself that I needed to be strong in whichever way I could and believe that I’ll be happy when the end result is out.
It feels great that I have actually won this competition. And I believe that the more effort you put in anything, the more you will receive in return, true enough it happened.
My friends and family were so shocked that they could see a huge transformation in me. A total different Alina was in front of their eyes, as they had never seen before. Some people couldn’t even recognize me with my new look.
The question I kept hearing was, “ WOW…. What happened to you? And what did you do? You look amazing!” :)
Blog 2: Mind over Matter, June 12, 2009
You can’t imagine how mentally strong one needs to be to overcome the challenges that we faced as participants of the Butterfly Project. As we went through the grueling months, I had one motto in mind. This favourite line of mine says “If other people can do it, why can’t I?”
Yes indeed strong determination was needed to get through the months. I kept telling myself that the chance to make a change in my life was one in a million and I needed to grab this opportunity by its horns and make it! In a way, one of the reasons I kept pushing myself in this competition was because I appreciated the opportunity and I kept reminding myself to treasure the experience. My motivators were real angels as well. They were always there to remind me of my initial goal and decision to join this project.
Apart from those, another personal secret is that I have a note (A4 size paper) stuck next to my mirror so that every time I look at the mirror, I will read and be reminded.
Here are a few notes to myself:
- Other girls can do it so can I!
- Strong Determination…… I can do it!!!
- No more chocolate, no more fried food. No more…No more!
- Just hang in there. We’re almost there! Another 5kgs to lose!
- *Drink more water, Do EXERCISE more!
( The list goes on and on……..)
This method works for me, and it helps that I can push myself to the maximum but for you other contestants, I would say, try to find something which can motivate you to go further. Everyone has a different method to do so.
Sometimes I feel like slumming and I need to pick myself up. To me chocolate is my vice and is just heaven to me. So whenever I’m slowing down I will eat a Kit-Kat or sometimes two. After all, their tagline is – Have a break! Funnily enough, this sinful act makes me want to work out more because I know I have to rid those extra calories from my body! Weird .. I know!
I do believe in the power of our minds and the idiom, Mind over matter! If you tell your mind that this is what you want, it will enable you to work together with your body to reach your goal!
Positive thinking is important for mental health. If you are not mentally strong, you will not be able to reach your goal or target. If your mind stops so will the rest of your body.
The most mentally challenging bit for me in the Butterfly Project was the exercising. I’m not a physical person and exercise is the last thing I would think to do. I rather not do it if I were given the choice. For me, I just had to tell myself that in order to be as beautiful as I wanted to be, I had to kick my own ass and get the move on! If exercise is that it takes, the exercise I’ll do!
All I have to say to the new contestants is this: “Just do it as nothing is impossible!”
It’s not easy to change your mindset. But you can do it by telling yourself that, I have always wanted a chance and now I’m given one so just do the BEST and I know I can do it!
The secret to success is listening to the experts, follow their instructions and not trying to be smart. If there is a concern or problem you are facing, approach them so that they can help you to find a solution.
Blog 1: In the Beginning, May 12, 2009
I always wanted to do something about my weight and my looks but I realized that I would have to incur a lot of cost (money) and time to transform to become this ‘beautiful’ person and I was just a full time student at the time.
And then, I came across FEMALE Magazine in 2008, I read about the Butterfly Make Over project. At first I hesitated to sign up, as one of the prerequisites was that I had to take two pictures of myself and send over at the entry level. I wasn’t that confident of my “old look”, and it took me quite a while to think through before I arrived on a decision. And finally I made up my mind, and I told myself “ Here it comes! All I have to do is to find time to fulfill the requirements IF ONLY I’m selected. And since money is not an issue and everything is fully sponsored an opportunity like this does not always come by! So, why not give it a try?” I told myself that whether I get in or not, it didn’t really matter when after all I’ve tried rather than regretting later on. And I kept reminding myself that, once I got selected I would then take it one step at a time, and no stress out.
I recalled a friend, who used to say that if you want to be pretty or beautiful, you have to sacrifice a lot of your time, money and energy. Nothing comes for free.
What pushed me to join the competition? I would say friends, loved ones and family members whose support was the final push that made me join this project because I knew if I got selected they will be my motivators and angels thorough out that tough period until the projects ends.
Apart from that whether I would be able to forgo all my favorite food types for a while, as I’m a food lover did in fact worry me. Once again, I keep telling myself “ If u want to be pretty and look good, you have to stay away from all these evil food types and stay focused!”
Going public like that with your physical imperfection was not easy. I guess you still have to like a considerable amount of your current physical imperfection and try hard at the same time to achieve perfection. This is achieved, I’m sure with perseverance. I’m sure one day you will reach the peak, and become that idea of a perfect person, I said to myself. Apart from that, I knew that if I was able to keep finding ways or opportunities like this to change for the better that one day the process will definitely seem shorter and result, faster. “ If there’s a will, there’s always a way!”
Most of my friends, family and colleagues were quite surprised as they never knew there were such projects and they said that I was lucky enough as my wish came true. Because I always wanted to transform and do a make over and I didn’t have the money to do so, I felt truly blessed. Since I was given a chance, they advised me to make full use of this opportunity and make sure I win this (or worst come to worst at least try to win 2nd or 3rd place as they thought it was a beauty pageant thingy). Everyone around was giving me their full support. So I told myself I better not let them down.
YES! Of course you should participate and join this year’s Butterfly Project and the next year’s as well! What I know is that this is once at the life time chance. This is a good opportunity to transform if your personal diet program is not working and you need experts to guide and help you through things like this. Plus, this definitely will be a good and memorable experience for everyone in future when you look back, like it is for me. I’ve never once regretted making this decision. In fact I would say I’m very lucky that I was chosen and was given an opportunity.
I would say FEMALE magazine knowingly or not, gives women some hope that anyone of us can be a butterfly and transform to be a confident person.April 30, 2009
Highlights
- Check out the Scrap Book for pictures, pictures and more pictures!
- Start the transformation process NOW! Click here to find out how.
- What is the Butterfly Project? Read our story here.
