Wednesday, April 26, 2017

How I Lost 30lbs & 127cm Off My Body in 9 Months ♥

Hard work. Determination. Effort. Exercise. Apple Cider.

These are the five things that I'm contributing my weight loss to. I began trying to lose weight back in July 2016, shortly after I gave birth to my second son, and while things went well for awhile - I lost 100cm off my body just by having protein shakes for my breakfast every morning, there was one key thing missing from my weight loss efforts - exercise.

I documented my weight loss journey in blogs and vlogs, which you can read and see here and I've decided to do a weekly progress report to keep me focused.
I'm happy to say that today, nine months on from when I first decided that I needed to change my life and reduce my weight, not just for my own sake but for the sake of my children too, I am now a whole different person - weight wise, determination wise and effort wise.

The footpaths are my gym and the buggy is my workout tool. Honestly, there's no better cardio workout for a mother than pushing her two children in and on a buggy up a very steep hill. I wish I could say that I have my own personal trainer, such as the ones available from ML Chiropractic, but unfortunately for now I've had to be my own trainer and cheerleader, planning out the walks that'll give me the best workout and spurring myself to continue on when I think I can't do another step up that hill.

I now have three set walking routes that I alternate and I always make sure to do at least one walk every day - if it's a good day and I'm bursting with energy I do two. I've now started jogging on my walks too and am trying to let my inhibitions go and not care what people think about me as I'm jogging along with the buggy, but I'm doing well so far and I'm actually quite proud of myself and how far I've come.

Jacek got me a Fitbit for my birthday in March and when I began doing my walks my fitness level was poor, it's now fair and in the past two weeks I've seen a huge jump in it, so I'm hoping that next month I can reach average level.

Another thing I do everyday is drink apple cider vinegar in water and take two apple cider vinegar capsules. When I was diagnosed with gallstones I looked up things that could help break them down naturally and apple cider vinegar kept popping up as a solution. I also read that it could help aid weight loss, and although I didn't begin drinking the vinegar or taking the capsules for weight loss alone, they've really helped me to drop the weight - especially off my stomach, which I am beyond delighted by. Goodbye mummy tummy!

The apple cider vinegar I drink is Braggs, simply because it has the unfiltered 'mother' in it and that's all the good stuff. The capsules I take are the New Nordic High Strength Apple Cider Vinegar Tablets 720mg - these are a big pill to swallow, but it's worth it.

I had to change my diet completely when I began having regular gallbladder attacks and I'm sorry to say that I have to eat more or less the same thing everyday so that I'm not up getting sick and in pain all night, but I'll get over my bland, boring diet of a breakfast biscuit, pasta, yogurts, chicken and mash. One of my goals is to eat more fruit and veg, but I'll work on that, just like I did everything else.

I honestly believe that changing the way you look at exercise and food is the key to losing weight. I now see going for a walk as something to enjoy and time to clear my mind and get out of the house. I no longer crave sweet things all the time and I don't constantly eat junk, in fact, I much rather the savoury stuff these days. I also never thought I'd be drinking vinegar on a daily basis either, but I actually enjoy that too - who'd have thought it?!

So there you have it, the 'secret' to how I lost 30lbs in 4 months - lots of walking, lots of steep hills, lots of vinegar and a change in diet. 

There's no magic solution to weight loss, you simply have to put the effort in. As the saying goes - you reap what you sow and I can't tell you how good it feels to fit into my old clothes again, the ones that were buried at the back of the wardrobe because I was too fat to fit in them.

As of today I've lost 30lbs and 127cm.

I still have a long way to go to be the weight that I want to be, but I'm a whole different person now and much happier in life.

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12 comments

  1. Well done you! Tell me Fiona, where did you source the Nordic tabs? I can't find them locally (Gorey) & Amazon don't deliver the 720mg to Ireland but do post the 1000mg. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough!

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    1. Hi Kate, thank you so much. I got mine in Here's Health, we have a few of those shops around Cork. I also saw them in Sam MacCauleys pharmacy too - the 720mg and the 1000mg.

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    2. Brilliant, thanks Fiona. I'll check MacAuleys in Gorey tomorrow!

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  2. Well done Fiona! The Nordic tabs are half price on Holland & Barretts at the mo, if you want to stock up! You've inspired me to get off my fat arse and get back in the gym and revamp my diet. I was doing well but then caught tonsillitis and fell off the wagon, once I could swallow again!!

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  3. Hello
    Amazing result! well done!
    Thanks for sharing this great expérience !
    Enjoy your weekend !
    http://helenamybeauty.over-blog.com/2017/04/flibustier-paris-une-tendance-flibustier-paris-a-trend.html

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  4. Well done Fi, hard work pays off, like you say, there's no magic solution.

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  5. Very well done Fiona, although I think you look gorgeous in both pictures!

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  6. Great work. Well done you. You look fab either way x

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  7. wow, what an achievement. Journeys to better health are so much about having a different mindset to food and exercise and daily walks are so underestimated. I too have been trying to lose the baby weight and was losing morale of having no opportunity to do ''proper'' exercise. So instead I've just been walking more, upping the veg and cutting the sugar (which I was mainly snacking in the evening with no chance to burn it off). Still away to go on the Mummy tummy but definitely feel better for it. Thanks for sharing your experience, I'm off to go and find my ACV! (I took had a gallstone a few years ago, ouch don't want that again and very mindful of wanting to live a long and healthy life for my boys!)

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  8. You look fantastic and this is such good motivation for me at the moment, thank you!

    Stevie x

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  9. Well done, we use apple cider vinegar in salad dressings with olive oil. Lots of health benefits x

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  10. I am proud of you and your modavation! I think you have given me some good tips to try! Thank you! You have such beautiful children! And a garden of Eden to live in! You're a lucky girl! Keep up the good work!

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