womble35
Full Member
Hi everyone - happy new year to you all!
I made some significant lifestyle changes in 2016 and managed to lose around 15kgs in total over the course of the year. Most of those losses were made in the first 6 months, and I've been losing / regaining the same 5kgs since then. So, in 2017, I'm determined to carry on with the weight loss and am starting a new diary here to keep myself accountable, and hopefully break through this barrier I've been struggling with once and for all.
In 2016, I followed the Exante diet for 6 months. For those who don't know, it's an extreme low calorie diet, restricting you to just 600 calories a day. Great for the initial weight loss, but it really does suck for maintenance and so I'm determined not to resort to that again. I don't regret doing it, as it gave me the kick start I needed, but it's not a long term solution, and despite eating relatively healthily since, my body desperately wants to revert back to my original weight - something which I think happens all too often for those of us who drop too much weight too quickly. So instead, in 2017, the focus is on healthy and mindful eating. No fad diets this time, just being aware of what I am eating and making sure it is nutritious and in sensible quantities.
The bigger change I made last year was a return to fitness. I've become something of a fitness freak in fact. My weekly routine includes at the minimum: 2 personal training sessions, 1 zumba class and 2 body pump classes. I also try and fit in at least 2 runs a week and perhaps one other class (spin and body conditioning are some of my favourites). My fitness has improved immensely, and despite the scales not moving so much in the past 6 months, the way my clothes fit definitely has, and my body composition has also changed (I've constantly been dropping body fat and gaining lean muscle - in fact, I'm currently around 45% muscle mass, which is apparently quite impressive for a female). Fitness is definitely something I am going to continue with, the only change being that I am going to try and do a wider range of classes now that I am more confident I can keep up!
Anyway, the festive period has been a bit of a disaster - I've kept up with the regular gym visits, but I have been eating without any regard for what I've been putting in my mouth - not only have I eaten food full of sugar and bad fats, but also lots of it! I feel sluggish and bloated, so the turn of the year is definitely the right opportunity for turning a new leaf.
My goals for the year? To drop to a size 12/14 (currently I'm a 16/18) and to drop another 10kgs (and most importantly, to keep that extra weight off once it's gone!). I'm also trying to get pregnant, so those might be moving targets, but I think they are sensible ones and certainly doable.
I loved keeping a diary before, as it kept me accountable. Let's hope it has the same effect this time! Would love to hear tips / thoughts from anyone else on a similar journey so that we can keep each other inspired x
I made some significant lifestyle changes in 2016 and managed to lose around 15kgs in total over the course of the year. Most of those losses were made in the first 6 months, and I've been losing / regaining the same 5kgs since then. So, in 2017, I'm determined to carry on with the weight loss and am starting a new diary here to keep myself accountable, and hopefully break through this barrier I've been struggling with once and for all.
In 2016, I followed the Exante diet for 6 months. For those who don't know, it's an extreme low calorie diet, restricting you to just 600 calories a day. Great for the initial weight loss, but it really does suck for maintenance and so I'm determined not to resort to that again. I don't regret doing it, as it gave me the kick start I needed, but it's not a long term solution, and despite eating relatively healthily since, my body desperately wants to revert back to my original weight - something which I think happens all too often for those of us who drop too much weight too quickly. So instead, in 2017, the focus is on healthy and mindful eating. No fad diets this time, just being aware of what I am eating and making sure it is nutritious and in sensible quantities.
The bigger change I made last year was a return to fitness. I've become something of a fitness freak in fact. My weekly routine includes at the minimum: 2 personal training sessions, 1 zumba class and 2 body pump classes. I also try and fit in at least 2 runs a week and perhaps one other class (spin and body conditioning are some of my favourites). My fitness has improved immensely, and despite the scales not moving so much in the past 6 months, the way my clothes fit definitely has, and my body composition has also changed (I've constantly been dropping body fat and gaining lean muscle - in fact, I'm currently around 45% muscle mass, which is apparently quite impressive for a female). Fitness is definitely something I am going to continue with, the only change being that I am going to try and do a wider range of classes now that I am more confident I can keep up!
Anyway, the festive period has been a bit of a disaster - I've kept up with the regular gym visits, but I have been eating without any regard for what I've been putting in my mouth - not only have I eaten food full of sugar and bad fats, but also lots of it! I feel sluggish and bloated, so the turn of the year is definitely the right opportunity for turning a new leaf.
My goals for the year? To drop to a size 12/14 (currently I'm a 16/18) and to drop another 10kgs (and most importantly, to keep that extra weight off once it's gone!). I'm also trying to get pregnant, so those might be moving targets, but I think they are sensible ones and certainly doable.
I loved keeping a diary before, as it kept me accountable. Let's hope it has the same effect this time! Would love to hear tips / thoughts from anyone else on a similar journey so that we can keep each other inspired x
