the weight wise blog
A few weeks ago, I shared on my social media platforms how much I’ve been struggling with my weight.
I wondered if anyone would be interested in following my weight loss journey, and the response was a resounding "yes"!
A Bit About Me
When I was younger (and by younger, I mean my teenage and early adult years), I was incredibly slim. In fact, my nickname at school was "Skinny." So, it really took me by surprise when the weight started creeping on.
The first time I truly noticed was when I was chief bridesmaid for one of my best friends. I had to order a larger dress than the other girls. Around the same time, I needed to use my clothing allowance at work and, again, I found myself going up a size. That was the beginning of a long, long journey of dieting.
Over the years, I’ve had moments of success. I joined a slimming club, which worked well for a time, especially when I got engaged. Having a wedding to plan kept me focused, and by the time I walked down the aisle, I felt fit and fabulous in my beautiful dress.
Then, a few years later, I had my daughter. By that point, I had already started gaining some weight, but after her birth, I managed to get back on track. Breastfeeding helped, and with the support of a slimming club, I reached a healthy weight again, feeling great both physically and mentally.
However, it’s been 24 years since I was pregnant and maintaining that weight has been a constant battle. My struggles really hit hard during the Covid pandemic. Like many others, I became increasingly aware of how important my health is, which was one of the reasons I decided to pivot from what I was doing in my life and train to become a trained coach in health and nutrition
Where Am I Now?
Well, I’m still classed as obese according to the NHS definition.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, but I’m determined to make my health a priority.
It’s a work in progress, but I’ve made a promise to myself that enough is enough. My main focus now is health management – not just for the sake of losing weight, but for my overall well-being.
As a coach, my goal is to help others make informed, evidence-based choices. That’s exactly what I’m doing for myself as well. The journey hasn’t been easy, and I’ve certainly had my ups and downs, but I’m making small changes, bit by bit. I hope that by sharing what I’m doing – from food choices to lifestyle changes – it might inspire you to make your own healthy decisions.
My Progress So Far
Let’s talk numbers, shall we?
3 weeks ago I visited one of my best friends who has had a stroke. He is making a fabulous recovery. Prior to his stroke he had lost 5 stone and it’s possible that this has helped his recovery. His wife has also lost 3.5 stone and is more agile with less digestive issues.
I had been sitting there thinking I have the knowledge and the wherewithal to do this but have been ‘playing at it’ a bit and not using my skills or that of others.
So I did tons of research looking at my own techniques and training, slimming clubs, protein shake programmes and science.
For the first week I cooked most of my meals from scratch and made conscious decisions when eating out. I avoided things like chips or dishes smothered in cream. I chose a way which didn’t depend pn counting or restriction. it involved just eating food I enjoy and considering the impact my efforts would have on my physical well-being and didn’t affect me emotionally by making me feel restricted and deprived.
The result? I lost 8lbs (3.6kg).
Week 2 This week was a bit trickier because I was on holiday in Devon. I was mostly eating out, but my host was understanding, and I managed to make fairly good choices. I did have two small glasses of alcohol and a bit of chocolate on the train, but overall, I kept my weight gain to under 1lb (0.4kg). Not bad for a holiday week!
Total loss: 7.04lbs (3.2kg).
Week 3 Normally, after a big loss in week one, I tend to slip up around week two. However, since that didn’t happen due to the holiday, I thought week three would be smooth sailing. How wrong I was! It was a tricky. I asked my daughter to pick up some chocolates from the local retail outlet and I ended up eating them every single day. On top of that, I bought some divine biscuits from a farm shop – and yes, I indulged in those daily too. I have enjoyed them very much. they did make me feel sluggish, though so luckily I also ate a lot of fresh stuff including fish, vegetables, lentils, rice, pasta, salad, fruits and vegetables. I weighed in and I stayed the same.
Total loss: 7.04lbs(3.2kgs).
My journey and YOU
The reality is, this journey is full of highs and lows. I’ve learned that setbacks are just part of the process. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about making progress, no matter how slow it might feel at times.
This journey IS one step at a time. Whether you’re starting your own health journey or just looking for a bit of motivation, I hope my story resonates with you and hope you will feel inspired to make changes.
