I've been wanting to write this as a blog for a while now. I guess it's just taken me a while to really write what I want to say but its been a massive life change for me and something which I never thought I would be able to achieve all on my own. I haven't joined any weight loss companies like weight watchers or slimming world.. I'm not disapproving of any of those companies who help aid people with their road to weight loss as I think that everybody who decided to lose weight should be rewarded for their hard work as it is a massive lifestyle change but I think there is something more unique about doing it because you want too, on your own accord. It makes you realize your strengths as a person and the will to strive for a goal without help or meetings. It also makes me think, in my eyes, that you have less chance of going backwards because once you achieve something big on your own you have the strength and determination to keep going.
I've always struggled to keep my weight down, since secondary school when I started to notice I was putting on weight its not a lie when I say I love food! Even now, after managing to loose nearly 4 stone in a year, I've still got my cheat days where I eat anything I like. Unfortunately, its the bad food that tastes the best and I think anybody who works out and is physically fit would agree with me on this one. I think it wasn't until after a bad point in my life that I realized just how big I was. I did comfort eat, it was the only thing that made me feel happy when things were not going right but after that phase was over it was literally down to me being greedy! I am not ashamed to admit that but I think the moment you stop telling yourself lies like 'I don't eat that much' or 'I'm not that big' that's when you realize you need to actually make a lifestyle change, so I did!
To start with I actually lost weight by accident, I lost a stone when I was studying at college, just because I was generally rushing everywhere, I was busy 7 days a week and didn't stop. If I wasn't at college, I was studying or at placement or at work, and I think I generally didn't have time to eat proper meals, I just snacked lots and on the go as I was running everywhere to make each thing on time. This helped me to burn off anything I was putting in my body!
When I started University I managed to put the weight back on and if not more, I think being away from home for the first time made me eat again and I wasn't exercising so obviously I gained weight very quickly. It wasn't until the summer of 2013 when I realized I was actually very unhappy with my body. I felt like my confidence had gone and despite my boyfriend telling me I was beautiful the way I was, I knew that I was unhappy within myself and now was the time to do something about it. Sometimes you just have to do it for yourself and not anybody else to make you happy, this is one piece of advice I would give to anybody wanting to lose weight. When I went back to University in the September I joined the gym, at this point I had also been told I had high blood pressure but that it was probably due to the pill I was on at the time. Before I joined the gym I was 13 stone and 2 lbs. My goal has always been to get down to 9 and a half stone, but I didn't want to put a time frame on getting down to this goal, I just knew I wanted to lose weight.
The first few times in the gym for me were a bit daunting. I was scared people would laugh at me or think I was too big to be working out but little did I know how wrong I was! After a week of going I felt great after a workout and was already beginning to see results on the scales. I decided to also cut out a few things from my eating habits like cheese, milk, chips, etc etc but allowed myself to have 1-2 cheat days a week where I could eat anything I liked. I have never been one for adding salt or oil to my cooking or drinks such as tea so I didn't have to worry about cutting these things out which aren't healthy for your body! I also decided to change up my breakfasts as I always have believed this is the most important meal of the day. I always have a piece of toast, fruit or egg or all three for a variety which give me a boost in the mornings. I can't really say I have dieted but just that I have exercised to help lose the weight and keep it off.
Since a year of doing this, I have now lost just over 3 and a half stone and I have now reached my goal. My blood pressure has returned back to normal and my confidence and energy have soared. I feel happy, a lot more energetic and have the drive and motivation to do a lot more. I still have a little way to go with regards to toning up my body but I actually never thought I would be thinner again or even this light as I am now. I went from nearing a size 16 to now being a 10-12 and feel fantastic.
I have to say thank you to all the people who have given me compliments and given me the drive to keep going. They say it takes 6 weeks for people to notice a difference and 12 for yourself and this is certainly true! My biggest thanks has to go to my boyfriend for loving me just the way I am and making me feel that no matter what size I am, I am beautiful just the way I am. I have had people approach me saying I have been their inspiration and motivation which is such a lovely compliment to receive and I also had no idea that what I've done can help others also.
Everyone should feel great within themselves no matter what they look like but if you feel unhappy in the skin you're in, you need to make a change for yourself and no one else! Going to the gym is now part of my daily routine and I usually go 3-4 times a week now so that I can maintain my weight and not go too far. I feel great after working out and it really motivates me for the day ahead.
Thank you for reading my blog post, it's been quite lengthy but hopefully it will explain answers to questions people have asked me on my weight loss too! :)
I've always struggled to keep my weight down, since secondary school when I started to notice I was putting on weight its not a lie when I say I love food! Even now, after managing to loose nearly 4 stone in a year, I've still got my cheat days where I eat anything I like. Unfortunately, its the bad food that tastes the best and I think anybody who works out and is physically fit would agree with me on this one. I think it wasn't until after a bad point in my life that I realized just how big I was. I did comfort eat, it was the only thing that made me feel happy when things were not going right but after that phase was over it was literally down to me being greedy! I am not ashamed to admit that but I think the moment you stop telling yourself lies like 'I don't eat that much' or 'I'm not that big' that's when you realize you need to actually make a lifestyle change, so I did!
To start with I actually lost weight by accident, I lost a stone when I was studying at college, just because I was generally rushing everywhere, I was busy 7 days a week and didn't stop. If I wasn't at college, I was studying or at placement or at work, and I think I generally didn't have time to eat proper meals, I just snacked lots and on the go as I was running everywhere to make each thing on time. This helped me to burn off anything I was putting in my body!
When I started University I managed to put the weight back on and if not more, I think being away from home for the first time made me eat again and I wasn't exercising so obviously I gained weight very quickly. It wasn't until the summer of 2013 when I realized I was actually very unhappy with my body. I felt like my confidence had gone and despite my boyfriend telling me I was beautiful the way I was, I knew that I was unhappy within myself and now was the time to do something about it. Sometimes you just have to do it for yourself and not anybody else to make you happy, this is one piece of advice I would give to anybody wanting to lose weight. When I went back to University in the September I joined the gym, at this point I had also been told I had high blood pressure but that it was probably due to the pill I was on at the time. Before I joined the gym I was 13 stone and 2 lbs. My goal has always been to get down to 9 and a half stone, but I didn't want to put a time frame on getting down to this goal, I just knew I wanted to lose weight.
The first few times in the gym for me were a bit daunting. I was scared people would laugh at me or think I was too big to be working out but little did I know how wrong I was! After a week of going I felt great after a workout and was already beginning to see results on the scales. I decided to also cut out a few things from my eating habits like cheese, milk, chips, etc etc but allowed myself to have 1-2 cheat days a week where I could eat anything I liked. I have never been one for adding salt or oil to my cooking or drinks such as tea so I didn't have to worry about cutting these things out which aren't healthy for your body! I also decided to change up my breakfasts as I always have believed this is the most important meal of the day. I always have a piece of toast, fruit or egg or all three for a variety which give me a boost in the mornings. I can't really say I have dieted but just that I have exercised to help lose the weight and keep it off.
Since a year of doing this, I have now lost just over 3 and a half stone and I have now reached my goal. My blood pressure has returned back to normal and my confidence and energy have soared. I feel happy, a lot more energetic and have the drive and motivation to do a lot more. I still have a little way to go with regards to toning up my body but I actually never thought I would be thinner again or even this light as I am now. I went from nearing a size 16 to now being a 10-12 and feel fantastic.
I have to say thank you to all the people who have given me compliments and given me the drive to keep going. They say it takes 6 weeks for people to notice a difference and 12 for yourself and this is certainly true! My biggest thanks has to go to my boyfriend for loving me just the way I am and making me feel that no matter what size I am, I am beautiful just the way I am. I have had people approach me saying I have been their inspiration and motivation which is such a lovely compliment to receive and I also had no idea that what I've done can help others also.
Everyone should feel great within themselves no matter what they look like but if you feel unhappy in the skin you're in, you need to make a change for yourself and no one else! Going to the gym is now part of my daily routine and I usually go 3-4 times a week now so that I can maintain my weight and not go too far. I feel great after working out and it really motivates me for the day ahead.
Thank you for reading my blog post, it's been quite lengthy but hopefully it will explain answers to questions people have asked me on my weight loss too! :)