So this week I'm back with a post that's a bit close to home , I've had a bit of interest in people asking about how I lost so much weight and manage to maintain it . I'll say it from the start my journey is completely different from everyone Else's and what works for me may not for others .
My first time realising I was majorly over weight was back in February 2013 when I seen a photo that stopped me in my tracks as normally I would be the one taking the photo or the floating head in the back ground and in this photo it looked like I was about to eat my best friend , I felt so ashamed I had let myself become that size . I suppose it never really hit me before that as been a 6ft tall woman I hid it very well and perhaps was very lucky it was so evenly proportioned .
The horrible photo
Steadily I began to watch what I was eating and after a slow year I managed to shift about a stone on my own a victory all the same but a very slow one . A good friend of mine informed me of a Weight loss organisation called Slimming World , where at the time it sounded too good to be true . After a month of back and fourth I finally plucked up the courage to go down and join , I remember my ankles rattling as I entered the door , but after placing my bum down that day I've never looked back .
What is Slimming world ?
Is a life- style change which can help you lose weight effectively or lead a more healthy life without depriving yourself by using Three simple steps
1.Free Foods
Most of the foods you eat should come from free foods , they are called this as you can eat as much free foods as you need too to assist your weight loss. E.G Yogurts , Eggs Fruit and Veg .
2. Healthy Extra
These tend to confuse people but in addition to all the free food you can eat , you also have a list of healthy extras designed to give your body the vital vitamins and fibre it needs E.G Milk, Cheese , Wholemeal bread or Cereal . Please ensure to weigh and measure healthy extras to adhere to the plan .
3. Syns
On top of these two steps you can have 5-15 syns a day to use on Chocolate , Crisps , Sauces whatever you want really .
These steps combined will give you a weight loss each week ,there is also a vegetarian plan and one for pregnancy so make sue to enquire if you have any questions before joining .Exercise is not needed to lose weight on a slimming world plan but is good to do to make yourself feel energised and healthy .
Standing on the scales its so nerve wrecking the first time and weighing in at 19 stone 6 pounds wasn't pretty either , that night I went home and cried bitter tears while pondering about how I had gotten here and then I decided that only I can change this and what did I really want , the following week after feeling like I had stuffed myself to the gills I had lost SIX POUNDS the smile couldn't be wiped of my face and I constantly lost for a number of weeks after that having two losses which equal the biggest loss in group over two weeks means you win slimmer of the week a little token to say well done , with winning this on numerous occasions I knew I was on a roll , I dropped 4 and half stone in the first Three months but still the changes in my body were small , yes I was down dress sizes but the mental demons were still there and with being a slightly taller female than your average girl my clothes still fitted me so to be I couldn't see any changes , everyone else could but I just was blind it .
This pink dress was when I noticed a difference myself
I was coasting then for roughly a year for every pound I was down , I was putting back on two the following week , again I had to sit down and really dig deep to see what I really wanted or decide to call target and end my weight loss journey there , but I knew deep down I still wanted to go for more it was just getting a bit harder , so I shook things up with the plan like swapping lunch meals for dinner meals and after a slow few weeks feeling like I was plodding along granted I dropped another stone along with a few pounds . After receiving another award I was happy with life and I carried on chipping away at the weight taken each week in my stride I had joined Zumba I had been out walking I honestly started to notice how much quicker I had gotten and the spring back in my step.
Sadly I reach a point in my journey where I last control , my grandad had passed plus I had a bad accident which left me bed ridden for 3 months and UN able to walk properly for 5 , with being out of work and out of routine for 7 months I wallowed in self pity and over indulged more than I should have and ended up piling back on a little under 2 stone . Feeling like I had failed and with my heart in my mouth I desperately debated joining back as I was so ashamed of gaining back the weight , but after plenty of chats with my group consultant and my family I managed to hobble back into group and was welcomed with applause , my group are like a family and I wouldn't have it any other way the support we have for each other just keeps you going on them dreary weeks where you are just eating yourself into oblivion .
Again I started back at basics and began my journey like new and with hard work started back again on the right track and nearly two years later I am still a few pounds away from target but with 8 and a half stone weight loss I am chuffed to be coming to end of it . Even though its a life style change and my weight is something that will fluctuate from time to time , I have the tools to help me cope . I still have my good weeks and my bad weeks but we take it each meal at a time and keep going from there and sometimes we have to just have our bad weeks and draw a line in the sand and keep moving forward because at times we are our own worst enemies .
Please excuse the bin in the photo so classy
As we need food to live its a life journey I am on but Slimming world has changed my life for the better and I couldn't do it without my Mother's support she is my friend , my chief and my rock .She herself has lost nearly a whopping 3 and a half stone and she too remains on her path , but along with our tears and giggles in group we will get there . My brother's wedding is less than 8 weeks away and I am determined to call Target before it . I won woman of the year in my group in 2016 and it really opened my eyes as other members were telling me of how my input in group helps them and I realised staying to your group is part of the package it really can be the difference between a bad or amazing week , its one hour out of 168 your worth it .
If you are struggling with your weight or are a person who just wants a healthier eating lifestyle I urge you to attend a group near you because you won't be sorry .Sometimes I forget how far I have come and when I am still reaching for the big size at the back of the rail or wearing baggy tops we fall back into old habit's so easily its scary but although that day I walked into slimming world was a very scary day it was also the day that changed my life for the better .
Today was very challenging , it was possibly the first time I had put on a swimsuit since I was a teenager , my eyes filled with tears as the fear I felt from wearing it was overwhelming , I got into the swimming pool with a sick feeling in my tummy but once I realised it wasn't the end of the world , I don't look as bad as i have visioned in my head and that no one else will care if I don't , I began to feel happy as I had stepped out of my comfort zone and I started to feel comfortable in my own skin and that my friends is no better feeling.
My two young nieces are so inspiring to me and I want to show them that you need to love yourself , putting that swimming suit on today might only be a minor step but the significance of it is so unreal , I never thought I would be seen out in public in a swimsuit and today that changed so to slimming world I say thank you for changing how I think of me .
And too you I say maybe the next time you see someone who is pushing themselves out of there comfort zone don't slag or snigger as you don't know the impact of the word "fat " " slow " " stupid " and how it can detere one persons confidence.
As usual you can catch me on all social media -
Snapchat - Glamglitzybitz
Instagram/ Facebook -Glamandglitzybitz
Twitter- Sarah@glamglitzy
Any questions please ask and Thank you to all for the support for everything it means the world .
