Insane Ramblings on Route to being Fit & Fabulous Forever

S_J_B

Gold Member
I'm starting a journal midway through my weight loss journey for a variety of reasons. Please note the title and excuse the following outpouring..

I've always been fat. I was a fat child and I've been fat most my adult life. On a couple of occasions I've been “successful” with diets usually Weight Watchers but I used the inverted commas because I've successfully lost weight but never managed to maintain any kind of loss and each time ended up bigger than when I started. I think because I never adjusted my head or that I was going to have to eat this way for the rest my life. It was more that I was in on the diet to fix myself and as soon as I felt happy I could stop.

So why in 2014 did I decide to start losing weight again? A really good friend who I still owe a lot to for getting me through the doors of the Slimming World group had been going to Weight Watchers for a few months and in a very lovely and gentle way was trying to encourage me to start. However there was always an excuse or something coming up that meant I shouldn't or couldn’t start. But then in March another good friend phoned me in great excitement to say she was getting married in summer 2015. My first thought was I was ecstatic and happy for her but it was rapidly followed by a very selfish & negative thought that I’ll be the fattest person in the wedding pictures. I gave myself a kick up the bottom as I had 18 months and could do something about it. I tend to find that if I have events or occasions coming up I stick my head in the sand until I get within 3 to 4 weeks of it and end up stomping around the various fat clothing stores unable to find anything that I like or feel good in!

So I talked to my friend about joining her at WW but in the meantime the group that she's been going to was closing. She done some research and had heard lovely things about a consultant running a nearby SW group. I’d never done SW (unlike most other diets!) I didn't really understand it I had some idea about red and green & different food combinations but thought there's no way a diet that lets me eat as much pasta and rice as I want could ever work! However because that's what she was going to go to and I didn't want to be the super fat woman walking to class on my own fate made the decision for me.

I've not looked back since! It took me a while to get my head around it but I've loved eating with this plan. I have to do a lot of cooking from scratch and planning with batch cooking but I genuinely rarely feel deprived. Other than the fact I would love to drink more gin and to eat more Ben & Jerry's ice cream. I think I have learnt more about eat well & healthily than I did on WW or calorie controlled as I don't think I'll sacrifice some of my dinner to save points for a chocolate bar later! I often find I’m so full with the good stuff that I'm not craving the bad stuff. I've been able to eat in moderation the more dangerous foods (a concept I’ve been trying to learn my entire life :rolleyes:)

So why have I started diary now?? Well some of you out there know why! Plus I've done pretty well so far but I think that as I get closer to target and as I start to feel more happy in how I look that it will be harder to stick to it and am hoping this will make me accountable and focused. I'm feeling very happy with how I’ve done & feel so much better in myself. I’m confident to be out & about without thinking everyone is staring at the really fat person and I can run for a bus without ending up dying. This is a dangerous stage of a “diet” I have been known to stop and think oh well I'll be okay now. But do that and in a few months time I’ll have gained weight & be sat on the sofa with a family sized pizza and a tub of B&J ice cream. This time I want to get to somewhere normal sized and stay there. I have recently added a goal weight to my stats. I've aimed for just in the top of my normal BMI range although given thats so far in itself why not aim 2 pounds lower because 14 stones is such a lovely round number to have lost!

So are there any secrets to my losing eight & a half stone in the last nine months? Not really :p I have followed plan continuously although I have eaten what I wanted for meals at Christmas / Birthdays & holidays etc. I've allowed myself to be flexible and eat off plan but tried to be super good on other days and got back on track as soon as possible. I do quite a lot of exercise and have even from the outset. I genuinely love exercise and when I get back into it I can never quite believe I let myself become a couch potato! I started off with Leslie Sansone walking DVDs (some free on YouTube) they aren’t as easy as you think especially when you're super morbidly obese like I was. I also use kettle bells which are great cardio & strength work. I would strongly recommend them to anyone. I started using them in a very limited fashion from early in my journey but I am now stepping up. The other exercise that I truly adore is running. I have completed the Couch to 5K program. It builds from very brief intervals of running & walking over 9 weeks to being able to run for 30 minutes comfortably. I now do that three or four times a week. On Christmas Day I made myself a little mini target of actually running 5 km so on a frosty Christmas morning I got up put the kit on and did it. It was fabulous I felt truly amazing and I saw other runners out who waved & acknowledged me as one of them! It also meant that I came home I was able to sit and eat my Christmas dinner with all the trimmings & Christmas pudding with Brandy butter and cream with somewhat less guilt! I hope one day to run a marathon :eek:

About this wonderful place I can't say enough positive things. I'm not quite sure how I found it I think it was in my early days I was Goggling trying to clarify something SW and came across Minimins. I signed up and have found it to be a constant source of support, information & amazing inspiration. I've made some fabulous online friends who have truly kept me focused through their inspiring diaries and I love the group challenges where everyone is so encouraging. Not sure my diary will be anywhere near as inspiring as I don’t have anything profound to say. I'm not quite sure what I'm going write (but seem to have managed to drivel on so far!)

So 2015 has arrived and my friends wedding is in July and I have lovely holidays planned for June, September and I'm going to Florida in October. So my goal for the year is to get to target and stay there. I will be fit and fabulous forever …
 
Stats!

2014

April -18
May -14
June -13
July -15
August -8
September -16
October - 13
November -11
December - 12

2015
January - 13.5
February - 8.5
March - 11
April 11

Total so far -167lbs

Inches Lost

Neck -3
Wrist -1.25
Chest -14
Waist -17
Hips -20
Calf -5.5

Milestones to go

40% lost - done
BMI <35 - done
45% lost - done
150lbs - done
BMI <30 - done
50% lost - done
55% lost
BMI 25
Target
 
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Hello lovely

That has to be one of the most brilliant diary openers I've ever read!!! Seriously, I have re-read it twice and just kept nodding my head, I think you have succinctly said what I feel, with great honesty and commitment :winner:

As one who is battling with couch potato-ness, I found this to be really inspirational - keep it up! xxx
 
Found your diary via your signature :) You have had quite a journey! Your opening post is a very good read, and very motivational. I have no doubt that you will get to target and stay there :)
 
Ah missed it ! I'm not the first to sub, but your biggest fan mrs ! :D hehe, so so happy Shelley that you've decided to share your story with everyone. Your an amazing lady and I know in 2015 your going to continue to smash records ! :p Can't wait to have a good catch up !

Love ya !
Kay xx

:bighug:
 
Wow!
what an intro to a diary!
I can relate to a lot of what you have said:)
And you really have done superbly well so far!
Amazing!
And am certain you will reach your goal!
I will try to help if i can, you have helped me and made me laugh at times, which is always good:D
I can relate to the couch potato part too.....when i lost my weight ...over 7 or more yrs ago now...exercise was very much part and parcel as well as SW , but, for whatever reason this time round(prob just laziness-i have all good intentions mind!:D), it doesn't happen often :)
But anyway, good on you getting your diary going!....i'm sure you can ramble on however you like , we will be there to chat and help :D
xx
 
Amazing start to a diary hun and truly an inspiration! Looking forward to seeing you get to goal xx
 
A really great start to a diary, you are doing so so well and are an inspiration to this fat (but getting less so) kid/teen/adult.

You will for sure reach your target and I will be hopefully chasing you towards mine in 2015

I'm going to Florida on Friday, not at the weight I want to be but certainly not the blob I was last year.

Thank you for sharing

Tracy x
 
an amazing dairy love x x x x x
 
Evening all & this is why I love this site. I wrote a load of drivel & you lovely bunch are nice about it! Those of you who wanted me to start a diary may regret it now after that mammoth entry!! I didn’t realize how long it was until I came back to diary this evening :rolleyes:

So I believe today is known to be one of the most depressing days of the year. Festivities all over & back to humdrum life. I quite like the normality of food but work was abysmal!

So this week I'm trying the new SW booster plan Extra Easy SP. Have to say not loving it. I didn't think I was a carb-a-holic but perhaps I am? Going to try & stick with it for a week. But come Thursday post weigh in I will be inhaling pasta & rice! It is helping me learn the new S & P foods though.

Exercise has been hard because I get up early to do it before work I've not run since Thursday as been too cold & slippy. Done kettlebells & a Davina boxing session everyday instead. Hope to hit the pavements tomorrow :D

*Possible TMI ahead*
In an effort to boost my P foods I've eaten lots of beans. Try kicking & boxing after that. I had to light a scented candle mid workout :8855:
 
It's funny how used you get to the change in food (especially when it's the bad stuff!) isn't it. I 've missed eating "proper" food!

Love your opener, very honest, very open - and most of all, very motivational x
 
why is it when you can't have carbs you really want them?!:D
going to have another go at SP soon, maybe the odd day...don't think i could handle a week!
and do you know... i have a Reebok full size punch bag in the garage!:rolleyes: :D
Just needs a stand , was on a bracket in our old house, but the walls in this one are none too clever(damp!)
:8855:At the scented candle!! ....i can imagine!:eek::D
 
Yay, yay, yay and hooray too, you did it! How did I not find this yesterday? :rolleyes:
Your story so far is amazing and I truly believe you'll get to your target, you are so focussed! Your posts have already made me nod in agreement and then laugh out loud (that was at the candle part!)
Keep it up hun and looking forward to reading more x
 
Great thread. :D Well done on your progress so far. You've done amazingly! I totally get what you mean about getting to a stage where you feel good about yourself and going off plan. Been there, done that so many blooming times. I lost 7 stone 5 years ago on a low carb diet and felt amazing, but instead of starting to add foods in sensibly and keeping an eye on my weight, I went back to my old ways, and am back to square one!

Good luck getting to target, I look forward to reading of your progress. :D x
 
ROFL at the candle - between us we could provide the brass section of an orchestra :eek::D

What about some cauli mash hash browns or shirataki noodles or courgettes instead of spaghetti? Ok, I know they don't taste anything like pasta, but maybe just to get you through until next WI? :) xxx
 
Wow - what an opener to a diary! Such a great post - straight from the heart - and as many of the others have already said, I found myself nodding along to your words...

You have done so incredibly well since you began that I know you will continue and smash that target lady!!!

Really looking forward to following you on here SJB - you are truly an inspiration xx
 
What about some cauli mash hash browns or shirataki noodles or courgettes instead of spaghetti? Ok, I know they don't taste anything like pasta, but maybe just to get you through until next WI? :) xxx

Have been looking at the veggie spiraliser thingie whatsit to give courgette pasta a go! Not a big fan of cauli but thought might give the rice ago tomorrow night with my super hot curry cause I wont notice the cauliflower!

What a fab start to a diary and an absolutely amazing loss for last year. I am in awe. :O

Loved the candle lighting story but a word of caution. Beware of igniting the jet fuel. :8855: Sorry but I couldn't resist even though I don't know you yet.

Looking forward to remedying that though, between here and the challenge thread. :D

That made me LOL cause when I lit it I did think I know cows produce lots of methane but can I?!
 
Evening all,

Had a much better day on EE SP today! Just ate a giant portion of cottage pie with swede and mustard mash on top. Plus I have a lovely Chewy Delight bar to have later with a options hot chocolate.

I did get out for a run this morning :whacky068:

I did a Fartlek session - now I know a few of you are sniggering expecting this to be beans related again :p But no its a Swedish word for "speed play" and is designed to help you run quicker. So I did a nice easy jog for 5 minutes then ran 7 rounds of 1 minute as fast as my little legs could go followed by 1 minute slow recovery jog. I'd downloaded an interval timer for my phone that buzzed me every change over. Only problem that was on last one I was puffing so loudly I didn't hear my buzzer! I jogged home and did a Davina abs workout.

Now given all this occurred before 6am this morning I think its either dedication or insanity? I'm thinking insanity :psiholog:

Hope you're all having a good week x
 
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