17th July 2021
Well I have to say that the first week of my weight loss journey has been really positive and successful. I am very grateful to all the fabulous and encouraging comments I have received.
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If you read my first post you will know that sugar is my Achilles heel. Today is day 12 with no sugary food and I am actually feeling good.
The first few days were very hard because my body wanted the sugar, it craved the sweet taste, the sugar rush and the emotional hit. After a few days I realised that I wasn’t having cravings anymore.
I genuinely feel lighter, less bloated and less lethargic. My goal is to be healthier again so I feel this is a good start. I am waiting for the results of a blood test to see if I am pre-diabetic, and that is a very good incentive to be sensible.
I also want to wear fabulous clothes again and look good. I am lucky to have got some lovely dresses in a size 18, but when you are 5 foot tall being smaller makes the clothes look better. I want to feel like the confident person I used to be rather than walking around with a confident façade like I have been doing since re-gaining the weight.
It is so easy to walk around pretending I am not as big as I am until that moment I see a photograph or my reflection and realise I don’t look as good as I thought. This would previously have plunged me into a sugar binge because one look in the mirror could cause me to lose hope in ever getting my figure back.
Right now I am trying to use positivity to help keep me on track and losing weight this week has been a really good boost. This week I have lost two pounds, I am more than happy with that because slow weight loss tends to stay off.
To achieve weight loss every week I will need to keep an eye on what else I am eating and also move more. I have decided that for my first month I will be happy to aim for more than 10,000 steps 4 times a week and 20 minutes of Pilates and floor exercises 4 times a week. This may seem low effort but I would like to get my body used to moving more again as I have been quite lethargic this last year. I put that down to over consumption of sugar, the menopause and the general situation we have all been in. My Pilates and floor exercises are not listed with my steps this time because I have only done a few 5 minute sessions to alleviate back pain.
My aim is to increase my exercise levels as I go along and join a gym when I am feeling a little fitter. Living in a flat does mean that I cannot use gym equipment and do exercise videos at home as it would be really unfair on the lady who lives below me. This is not an excuse, it is common courtesy to a neighbour.
My step count below, taken from my Apple watch, is a good start. My average had gone down to around 6,700 steps a day up until recently and so this, in my book, is progress.
|
Date |
Steps
walked |
|
10th July 2021 |
10,012 |
|
11th July 2021 |
11,164 |
|
12th July 2021 |
10,881 |
|
13th July 2021 |
10,400 |
|
14th July 2021 |
10,079 |
|
15th July 2021 |
9,378 |
|
16th July 2021 |
10,243 |
|
Total |
72,157 |
Losing the weight is a fabulous feeling even when it is just a small amount. I know that it can grow gradually to a big loss and I know how good that feels. I will add my stats to each weight loss blog post as I feel it is encouraging to myself and to anyone else who is losing weight.
Date | Stats | Notes | |
10th July 2021 | Weight | 176 pounds (79.832 Kg) |
|
| Dress size | UK 18 |
|
17th July 2021 | Weight | 174 pounds (78.925 Kg) | 2 pounds lost |
| Dress size | UK 18 |
|
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|
|
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My eating issues are all psychological and I am never afraid to admit that. There is a huge stigma around mental health issues and there shouldn't be. I am currently paying for sessions with a brilliant psychotherapist who specialises in eating issues among other things. The sessions are held via Zoom and you can book as many as you need. I am aware that there will be a lot of people who cannot afford to pay for this service, but if you can, then go to:
www.goodmentalhealth.co.uk
A 25 minutes session costs £20 and a 50 minute session costs £35 so for me the cost is partially offset by the fact that I am not buying mountains of sugary food to binge on. It is a shame that there is not more help available on the NHS but the resources just aren't there.
I will continue writing these posts and hope that each time there is a weight loss to report, however small. A positive mindset is imperative right now so I shall keep smiling.
