It's funny how when you mention to people the challenge you are doing, that they all become some of kind of experts on the topic.
Honestly, I've been offered all sorts of advice from people who haven't even set foot in the gym before.
Worse still there are those that are telling me of the 'danger' I am putting my body in by losing body fat.
How ridiculous is that?
Oh and not forgetting those that are telling me there's no way I'll be getting to my goal. Charming!
So, you can imagine my relief when I bumped into Sian Toal at the Gravesend body building qualifier event a couple of weeks ago.
I wanted to know first hand from someone who actually competes of what my body sculpting journey was going to look like.
And I'm so glad I did because not only has Sian given me renewed confidence in my goal but because there were similarities in her body sculpting journey.
Sian like myself too was overweight once upon a time - a size 14 - and lost weight.
But then she wanted to go that one step further and reduce her body fat per centage even further and really go for that super lean look.
She's doing so well that she is competing on stage. What an inspiration!
Her story was just what I needed to hear after some of the negative feedback I had been getting.
So, onto tips then, I said. Anything to help me get to my goal, legally of course!
Nutrition she said was key to achieving the body I'm after because what I put in my mouth will account for a whopping 80 per cent.
She said she'd cut out wheat, all sugars, processed foods out of her diet.
She also said that it was important to eat 6 (gulp) meals a day ensuring that I have protein at each one.
The key was to plan ahead. Most of her food is cooked, chopped up, placed in containers on a Sunday ready for the week.
That way she said it's easier to stick to the path and takes away the faff over what to eat through at each mealtime..
Her workouts are tailored to work on different parts of the body - shoulders and arms one day, legs and abs another and chest and back on the other day.
She said she didn't do much cardio although it was ok to do that - perhaps on the rest day.
I was dying to ask her about a cheat day or a cheat meal!
I've heard it's goo d to have one of these to keep you sane and on track.
I mean I really am enjoying the fresh organic food I am eating but I do like a few glasses of wine now and then.
So I was dead pleased to hear that it was ok to have a few glasses of wine just one day a week.
Even though Sian is not a big drinker herself - she's confessed to being a chocoholic - she said she knew girls who compete who do have the odd few glasses one day a week.
As long as you get straight back on to the strict diet the next day and it's a 2 or 3 glasses and not 3 bottles!
She said it was ok to do that now but when I have a competition date next year, I would probably have to give that up a good few weeks before it.
To me that sounds sensible enough. I mean when I get my competition, I can live without it for a few weeks.
But this is a journey for me and not a marathon at this point and it's a lifestyle I am adopting for the long run.
We talked a bit about supplements and I was advised that the main ones were omega 3 fish oils and a multi-vitamin and magnesium.
She said if I stuck to her advice and did what I was told, there is no reason why I can't get to my goal my Christmas.
And having a date in my mind is the focus I need especially when there is so much conflicting information out there about how quickly you can reach such a challenging role.
As I said, I want to do this properly and in the most healthy way possible.
Countdown to Christmas it is then.....a great healthy body will be the perfect present!
And I will be drinking to that.