Wednesday, April 04, 2018

My Weight Loss Transformation | 40lbs Down & Feeling Great ♥




I've been on my current weight loss mission since January 23rd 2018 and I'm delighted to say that just over two months in and I'm still on track.

January 23rd was the day that my whole outlook on my health and well-being changed. I met with my Healthcoach up at Laya Healthcare that day (you can read about that experience here) and that evening I joined the gym and went for the first time in over ten years.

I'm not going to lie, it was daunting visiting the Healthcoach that day and I felt extremely anxious and self-conscious about going to the gym - working up a sweat and becoming out of breath in front of people filled me with fear, but I did it and aren't I so glad I did.

No one would go to a gym unless they were looking to improve something about themselves. So, if you're like me and were too self-conscious to go to the gym, remember that you're just as good as anyone else, hold your head up high and go there if you want to.

That first day in the gym I was an unfit mess. I was only lucky that I had been getting daily exercise by pushing Beau in his buggy on our walks and that had built me up a small bit of stamina. That first day I struggled to do 1K at level one on the various cardio machines and stuck to the low bike as it was generally easy just sitting there and peddling... two months on and I'm managing 3 to 4K at levels 10+ on the cardio machines. I could probably manage more but I tend to get bored on one thing for too long...

I started in the gym lifting the lightest weights on the weight machines, now I manage 100lbs on the leg press, 80lbs on the abs machine and up to 40lbs on the arm machines - my arm strength was non-existent when I joined the gym but it is slowly building up.

I have so much more endurance and stamina now. My doing a mixture of cardio and weight lifting I've managed to lose fat whilst building up muscle and it's great to see the toning happening on my body. I still need to work on my arms (my under arms have always been flabby) and my stomach/love handles area, but I'm super impressed with how far my legs and collarbone have come in such a short space of time. I actually like how my legs look now and that's a huge positive for me.

I've managed to drop three dress sizes - going from a size 20 to a size 14 and it feels great. I'm now looking forward to the summer where I can wear pretty things and not be covered up in leggings and a cardigan, dying from the heat but feeling too self-conscious to take off my layers and bare some skin.

I've had a few people asking me what I eat in a day and to be honest, I usually eat the same things day in, day out as I'm a creature of habit. So whilst eating this way may seem boring to some, it's just fine with me.

Breakfast: 2 eggs, half a red onion, half a bell pepper, a sprinkling of feta cheese and some seasoning all mixed together to make an omelette. I'm trying to wean myself onto a keto diet and this is a great breakfast to have as part of this.

Morning snack: A green apple (I don't like the red ones).

Lunch: A wholegrain or seeded wrap with sliced chicken breast, mixed leaves, pesto (the red pepper pesto from Aldi is delicious!), onion, bell pepper and a sprinkling of feta, toasted in the oven.

Healthy chicken salad made with a handful of wholegrain pasta, a sliced chicken breast, mixed leaves, onion, bell pepper, carrot and some feta cheese.

If I'm out I'll look for healthy options like a chicken salad baguette or a chicken salad sandwich.

Afternoon snack: Crackers with Proteinella spread (like Nutella but a lot more protein).

A tin of tuna.

I also have a protein shake after the gym and before dinner. I take MaxiNutrion lean protein and it has 20g of protein in it.

Dinner: Turkey bolognase with a sauce of tinned chopped tomatoes, onion, bell pepper and carrot. Served with a handful of wholegrain pasta, a generous serving of mixed leaves and a sprinkling of feta cheese on top.

I also have dinner options such as chicken stir-fry with mixed veg and noodles, homemade chili con carne with lots of beans and wholegrain rice.

I serve my meals in a bowl rather than a plate and I find eating from a bowl helps me to control my portion size and not feel as though I'm missing out.

This journey for me has been about a whole lot more than just weight loss. Yes, the weight loss is fantastic and even on days where I feel crap and as if I've plateaued, looking back at old pictures of myself makes me realise how far I've come.

I'm healthier than I've ever been. I no longer get puffed out from simple things such as carrying my child up the stairs. I have a whole load of natural energy and don't feel the need to take supplements or caffeinated drinks (old me lived off sugary energy drinks, now the smell of them makes me feel ill).

People have commented to me on how my skin is glowing - probably a benefit of eating a lot of veg, or it could be my Olay 7 effects, who knows!

I feel a lot more confident in myself and don't hate what I see in the mirror or in photos anymore.

I feel like I'm getting back to my old self and it feels absolutely amazing!

I still have a long way to go on this journey and I do get frustrated when the scales don't move (even though I know this is probably down to me building muscle), but I will get there and I'm proud of how far I've come.

I'm now stronger and healthier in both mind and body and I feel amazing.

You can read previous updates from my weight loss journey here.

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10 comments

  1. What an incredible achievement - well done you! You have clearly worked very hard and that takes a lot of dedication :)

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  2. Wow well done, and you look fabulous! You have such a positive attitude as well and are an inspiration :-)

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  3. You really are glowing! Well done this is an amazing achievement and you should feel very proud x

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  4. You have done so amazingly well, I need some of your willpower! I've started and given up so many different diets in the last 2 years and just put on weight rather than losing it in the end.

    You look beautiful, Stevie x

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  5. You look absolutely amazing. You've done so well and your meals actually sound delicious. I could really do with toning up and eating a bit healthier myself!

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  6. Your doing amazing and love how proud you are of yourself too. You deserve to be

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  7. You are doing brilliantly. I could do with a health coach as I am stuck in a rut. I struggle with exercise due to arthritis but I know losing weight will help me. The food sounds delicious too

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  8. well done, you are looking amazing! xx

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  9. What an awesome transformation! I love seeing before and after photos of online people I am somewhat familiar with. I did the Turbo Keto diet exactly 2 weeks ago (it lasted for 9 days). I lost 10 pounds, which really helped push me in the right direction. I then went to 'regular' keto. The percentages and grams are killing me, but I've found sooo many recipes that I'm excited to make. Right now, Keto Fathead Lasagna is the absolute best. I am also a fan of Almond Cream Cheese Pancakes, Keto Fudge Brownies and Broccoli Cheese Soup (which I add 2 pieces of crumbled bacon to). I haven't even gotten to the "Fat Bomb" part of this diet.

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  10. Wow! This is awesome! You look amazing!

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