This is my 100 day journey in a nutshell.
The important bits first:
Start weight 17.6 stones, Now: 13.3 stones
Overall Loss: 4stones 4 lbs
Dress size at start: 22/24, Now: 16
Inch loss: "only" 5 ½ from bust (DH will be pleased with that )
8 ½ from waist (I now have a waist)
9 from my tummy (I can't see this, as still HUGE)
The last 100 days were an emotional rollercoaster. I can still remember sitting in that first meeting, and giving this diet a few weeks, and worrying about how dearly it will affect my pocket but I wouldn't change a thing now.
Has it always been easy, OH NO. In one aspect I think it's the easiest diet I have ever done, but at times it can be so hard and really testing. I had days where I was a complete monster (especially in the early weeks) because I felt deprived and hungry (probably emotional hunger more than physical), followed by days where I just felt great about this whole process.
I had no major hang-ups, I had one planned meal and a few coffees with milk (no, not during milk week ) but otherwise was amazed at my ability to stay with it and challenge those voices in my head. The counselling has given me some great tools and the confidence to identify and challenge crooked thinking, of which there is a lot. One of the most challenging things was having to cook for DH and 3 kids every day but I was determined to keep this up, and it can be done (my tip: have a shake or some Mariegold whilst cooking)
The absolute best thing was when I went into NEXT last week and was able to fit into size 16 jeans, I can't even remember the last time I was that size because it must have been way back in my early teens. I honestly didn't believe I could get this far but now I believe I can get much further and actually be a "normal" person. It really scares me to even think about this, as I feel like my fat was always my security blanket (just looking down and seeing my ribs when I lie down freaks me as it is a long forgotten experience) but I feel it in my heart that I can and want to do this and I will just have to be brave and accept this challenge and all the emotions that no doubt will come with this.
I have some saggy skin (especially arms and tum) but I expected this as my skin wasn't the firmest to start with, so I think this will be different for every person. I am confident though that it will improve somewhat as I have lost the weight very fast and the skin will need time to adjust, and I rather live with this (and some big knickers) than be my old size again.
And now? I will carry on with development as I still have another 3stones to lose. I will need to do some serious soul searching to set myself some new realistic and achievable goals and write them down (another thing I learned from the counselling).
I will go on holiday to visit my dad in Germany next week, this will be very emotional for a number of reasons. One is he hasn't seen me since April. I am hoping that he will be really pleased to see the new me. The other is that I am just sooo sad that my mother didn't live to see the new me, as she was always concerned and worried about my weight and I know how much she would have appreciated and enjoyed seeing me finally conquering my weight.
Basically I wouldn't change a thing and am only sad that I didn't find out about LL a lot earlier (but then again maybe I wouldn't have been ready for it then) but am pleased I found it when I did as I was getting downhill very very quickly...
The important bits first:
Start weight 17.6 stones, Now: 13.3 stones
Overall Loss: 4stones 4 lbs
Dress size at start: 22/24, Now: 16
Inch loss: "only" 5 ½ from bust (DH will be pleased with that )
8 ½ from waist (I now have a waist)
9 from my tummy (I can't see this, as still HUGE)
The last 100 days were an emotional rollercoaster. I can still remember sitting in that first meeting, and giving this diet a few weeks, and worrying about how dearly it will affect my pocket but I wouldn't change a thing now.
Has it always been easy, OH NO. In one aspect I think it's the easiest diet I have ever done, but at times it can be so hard and really testing. I had days where I was a complete monster (especially in the early weeks) because I felt deprived and hungry (probably emotional hunger more than physical), followed by days where I just felt great about this whole process.
I had no major hang-ups, I had one planned meal and a few coffees with milk (no, not during milk week ) but otherwise was amazed at my ability to stay with it and challenge those voices in my head. The counselling has given me some great tools and the confidence to identify and challenge crooked thinking, of which there is a lot. One of the most challenging things was having to cook for DH and 3 kids every day but I was determined to keep this up, and it can be done (my tip: have a shake or some Mariegold whilst cooking)
The absolute best thing was when I went into NEXT last week and was able to fit into size 16 jeans, I can't even remember the last time I was that size because it must have been way back in my early teens. I honestly didn't believe I could get this far but now I believe I can get much further and actually be a "normal" person. It really scares me to even think about this, as I feel like my fat was always my security blanket (just looking down and seeing my ribs when I lie down freaks me as it is a long forgotten experience) but I feel it in my heart that I can and want to do this and I will just have to be brave and accept this challenge and all the emotions that no doubt will come with this.
I have some saggy skin (especially arms and tum) but I expected this as my skin wasn't the firmest to start with, so I think this will be different for every person. I am confident though that it will improve somewhat as I have lost the weight very fast and the skin will need time to adjust, and I rather live with this (and some big knickers) than be my old size again.
And now? I will carry on with development as I still have another 3stones to lose. I will need to do some serious soul searching to set myself some new realistic and achievable goals and write them down (another thing I learned from the counselling).
I will go on holiday to visit my dad in Germany next week, this will be very emotional for a number of reasons. One is he hasn't seen me since April. I am hoping that he will be really pleased to see the new me. The other is that I am just sooo sad that my mother didn't live to see the new me, as she was always concerned and worried about my weight and I know how much she would have appreciated and enjoyed seeing me finally conquering my weight.
Basically I wouldn't change a thing and am only sad that I didn't find out about LL a lot earlier (but then again maybe I wouldn't have been ready for it then) but am pleased I found it when I did as I was getting downhill very very quickly...