First Lifestyle Change Update!

     Hi Pretty people!


    Sorry this post is a bit delayed, I meant to post on Thursday, but I was really busy with moving my stuff up for college and unpacking. It's really exciting but so scary too! I am moving into my grandmother's vacant house, so it is a home from home, which is nice. I've also being setting up a mental health 'toolbox' for myself to keep well in college which I will do a separate post on later. At the moment lack of sleep and nightmares are a problem, but I'm working through it:)


                                   

   So, on to the lifestyle change! I found it quite hard at first. The night I wrote the last article I got up and went for a walk, which I really enjoyed. That Friday night I was suffering with hormones and I did eat a bit of chocolate, but not as much as I normally would, which I was happy with! I have been going for brisk thirty minute walks most days, which has been working up a bit of a sweat and getting my heart rate up, which is an improvement. I also downloaded an app called FitCommit, where you can set your goal in either how long you exercise for everyday, or how many calories you want to loose a day. You can add any type of exercise and the app will work out how many calories you have lost depending on how long you have performed it for. It puts a tick on every day you reach your goal and I find it great encouragement to look at the calendar and see how many days I have reached my target, which is thirty minutes of exercise every day. This may not work for every one, but so far I have found it very useful. I think if you have your phone constantly around, it's worth looking into apps which might be practical and provide you with reminders and incentive.


                                     

FitCommit App

   The last time I posted my weight I put it in stone, but as it's easier to track any loss, I have changed to Kilos. As I was just over nine stone the last time I was 58 kilos, and on 28 August I was (drum roll people!!!) 

Waist: 26 inches (loss of 1.5 inches)
Hips: 36 and 1/4 inches (loss of 1/4 inch)
Thighs: 22.5 inches (gain of 2.5 inches)
Weight: 56kilos (loss of 2 kilos or 4.4 lbs)



                                       

   I am delighted and amazed at this!! I am not too worried about my thighs as I know that this will be the hardest place to loose from and I decided to measure them at the widest part this time. I'll be honest, I didn't starve myself and I didn't kill myself going to the gym. I just made slightly better choices, less chocolate, a little less bread, slightly smaller portions and walking and getting up when I can. I have been trying my best to change my attitude towards physical activate,y for example if something was needed from up stairs I'd go and get it, and walk short distances which I would of once wanted to drive. Basically what I'm saying is, we don't all need to become gym bunnies, don't get my wrong, my aim is to be fit, but we can start the process here and now, by making small every day changes to our lifestyle. This week has been proof of that to me more than ever! I did have a cheat day on Saturday, where I had fish with no batter and chips and banoffie pie, but instead of having a whole slice to myself, I shared it and only had a few mouthfuls. 


                                         

 
    I also find as well that seeing the weight loss there in black and white on the paper is a huge help. Sometimes we can't see the changes in our clothes, or in the mirror, but to see it somewhere, to see a goal being achieved, it can be the best incentive ever. I think it is important to discover what your own incentive is when it comes to loosing weight, is new clothes, is it a family get together? Or is it like me, you simply want to change your lifestyle in order to get healthier and look better? What ever it is, keep reminders all around you; I have my backgrounds on my phone and computer changed to keep me reminded of the changes I want to make. I also asked my mom to support me and remind me why I'm doing this, try rope in family, friends or your partner to help. 


 I think it's also important to stop looking at this as a diet, and think of it more as a permanent change in your life. A diet makes it sound like a short term change, where as the reality is even when you have achieved your target weigh loss, there will still be maintenance required.  So try see it as a lifetime pursuit, rather than something that if you do for a little while, you can go back to the eating habits ect. you had before and won't put any weight on. It's a bitch, but it is the reality of it. 

                                           

  So, for next week? Well I'm hoping to loose a half a pound at least, and to walk at least four days of the week. The reason I'm aiming for such a small weight loss is I know often after a large weight loss, it can often slow down and I would rather set myself a small, realistic goal, and therefor continue to achieve my goals. I am also not promising myself I will walk every day as I have a very busy week ahead, and may not manage it. I really feel setting small goals that I feel I can achieve, and building on them as I go along is the best way to do this, and if I can do more than my goals, wayhay! Would love to hear how other people are getting on if they've started this journey and what do people think of the FitCommit app? How do other people keep themselves motivated?

  I also don't ever post full length pictures of myself, but since I had my little bit of good news I decided to do an ootd! I never know how to pose for photos and what to do with my hands! Hope you like it:)



                                       

Black Ankle Boots: Primark
Leggings: River Island
Vest: H&M
Kimono: Dunnes
Necklace: Primark
Choker: E-bay

  Much love and take care of yourself:)xxxx


 


 

 

 
   

Weight, oh wonderful weight....

 Hi Pretty people...


   I have to laugh at this 'thigh gap' phenomena that's about these days. Or rather in my case, cry. See, not only do I not have a thigh gap,(deep breath here as I reveal something humiliating) I don't have a gap above my knees in fact. Yes thats right. When I stand up straight my thighs are so big I have no space from my knees up. To be honest, not having a thigh gap doesn't phase me, I think it's complete bollox and such an unhealthy aim to strive for. What does bother me, is I feel my weight is out of control. 

          

   I suppose I should give you a bit of background of how I went from never having a problem with my weight (at times I was told by doctors I was seriously under weight), to having spent roughly the las ten years on a constant battle with my weight.

  Growing up in our house we rarely had sweets, fizzy drinks or take aways, and when we did they were a 'treat' a 'special occasion'. In hindsight I can see that this was a bad idea, associating fattening food with a positive, but I was only a kid, plus my parents loved walks and we had to go on them, so we didn't put on weight. So fast forward to sixteen when I began working in a pizza place, where we got free fast food on our break, and having my own money to buy what ever type of food I liked, and I was hooked. I love food that's bad for me. I still see it as a treat and a reward, I still want chocolate every day. Like really want it. Like of there is something sweet in the house I'll be thinking of it constantly. It's a horrible habit, but one I'm determined to break now.

                    

  For anyone who experiences anxiety, or in fact any mental issue tiredness is a permanent fact of life, it's because your body is dealing with so much other process going on due to the heightened state you're in. If anyone doesn't believe this, feel free to google it, its true. Add this to lack of energy, which leads to lack of exercising and the weight crept on. I actually enjoy exercise once you get past that initial first few days, but I usually wind up getting sick (terrible immune system) or letting one day pass, then another, then another... ya know how it goes..

  A big thing that upsets me when it comes to loosing weight, the only thing I feel like I'm loosing is my battle with weight. I'm able to loose that little bit, then it comes back on, and this loop has gone on for as long as I can remember, its so disheartening. 

In fact this whole issue is heartbreaking for me.


  I've never had those days where I could go out in a mini skirt or a body con dress, and now I'm in my 20's and I'm facing my final college year as nine stone, the heaviest I have ever been. Nine stone might sound very little to some people but with my height it's a problem. 

My stats are, today the 21 August:

Weight: Approx 9 stone
Waist: 27.5 inchs
Hips :36.5 inchs
Thighs: 20 inches
Height 4'11 (This is not likely to change sadly!)

  So as you can see I am really small and the weight is much more visible on smaller people. So today I am trying to start a new. Thursday might be a weird day to start but I'm starting now. I was watching a video on YouTube about weight loss, the girl had a quote 'Do it or it won't get done'. It makes perfect sense and no matter how many posts I write about weight loss, unless I do something about it, nothing will change. 

                          

    I don't think it's rocket science; less crappy food + more exercise = less weight, healthier person. I do feel that it's most realistic for me to tackle each issue separately. I know that in the next week the chances of me going to the gym is slim to none, because I still feel shitty after having that stupid cold. There are things I can do to help my weight between now and the time I write an update post on this, and that is try and get my eating under control. I really feel if I could do that, it would be a huge improvement. I like vegetables, but I'm terrible for eating fruit, so I'm hoping to change my attitude towards this. I know by my IBS I'm not getting fibre in my diet so I have to try work on that. Basically I need to not eat pastries, cake, or chocolate. If I could go a week without eating this type of  surgery food, I honestly feel it will be the first step on my journey. Obviously if I am up to it I won't be avoiding exercise either! 


                  

   I am hoping to loose about a pound by next Thursday, but if I could genuinely have no sugary foods what so ever between now and then I'd be thrilled!  I'm hoping by writing about it, I will feel more obliged to succeed as more people are watching.  Possibly seeing the changes in front of me in black and white will be what I need to not just start but keeping going this time, and make a real difference.


                    

  Thanks so much for reading, and please, PLEASE if anyone else is starting, during or finished their own weight loss journey let me know. I really think having other people doing it with you is a big help. Also if anyone has any type of exercise they find a bit more interesting than the normal gym routine let me know in the comments. To be honest I don't think I'll be up to sweating it out in the gym after college every day so I'd love to try something fun that wouldn't be a chore. Any recipes that    people have for quick dinners or meals I could take to college in some tupper ware would also be greatly appreciated:)

     Lots of love and look after yourselves and each other. xxx