Christmas Has Been and Gone...

I promised myself in November that I would get to target for Christmas after missing my 2nd October deadline. Did I get there at Christmas? NOPE.

Re-Evaluating Life

Sorry I haven't posted in ages.

I took on a new volunteer post for a charity at the beginning of August and it ended up being nearly a full time job on top of my paid full time job. Needless to say I have had to stand down for my own health and sanity.

I said in one of my last posts I wanted to reach target by the 2nd October which would have seen me be at Slimming World for 3 years. Well that goal came and went but I have been trying to stick with it. I seem to be going up and down the scales by 3-4lbs, never making much head way but never gaining too much either. As of a couple of days ago I got my free time back and I am going to have to make serious good use of the time between now and the weigh in before Christmas to reach my goal. So my strategy is to PLAN, PLAN, PLAN.

Contentment Can Be a Problem Too

Apologies for not posting for a while but I seem to have been a little distracted over the last couple of months or so. I seem to have lost my mojo and then went on a wonderful holiday. This has meant that I have put on over the last 5 weeks, 6.5lbs but the previous month I went down then up by 2lbs.

My Thyroid and Me

Me at over 18 stone in 2010

Having a medical condition or illness can really make loosing weight difficult and slow but you don't have to make it an excuse when the weight doesn't seem to be moving. For me it was that pesky butterfly shaped gland in my neck that decided that it wasn't going to do it's job properly. I became morbidly obese and so ill I don't actually know how I functioned. Fortunately you can do something about your weight like me. It just takes a little more time and a lot of determination.

New Year, New You

As the New Year begins we tend to look forward to what our weight loss and exercise goals will be for the next year. For me this year will be getting to target. It's been a long time coming but I needed to loose about half my body weight and with my thyroid issue it has been slow going. Exercise is definitely another area I need to address, as up until now I haven't done anything of any significance.

How To Cook The Slimming World Way - Hints and Tips

I was talking to a gentleman the other day and it turned out he had join Slimming World but was struggling to get back into it after an operation. He had joined with another family member and they were the main cook from what I could make out. The problem was they were so busy they had resorted to just having Slimming World ready meals as their main meal in the evening. Now they are Free, healthy and balanced but the one thing they don't give you is a massive variety and this is where this family had come unstuck. They were simply bored of what they were eating. He said although he could cook the basics he didn't feel he had the knowledge to tackle making the evening meals. So here is my advice on how to get started.

When The Going Gets Tough

There are times in everyone's life when things happen that cause us to loose control of are eating. Some of these situations can be very emotional and stressful such as bereavement, serious illness, relationships, work or financial worries. Other situations could be short lived like a party with a buffet, kids on school leave or holidays. There are a few things you can do to help you get back in control. Even if only a little bit. Something doable when times are testing but they can help give you a lift.

Snack Attack

Snacking is something a lots of us do. Some just have a little bite in between meals and others graze constantly all day. Being in control of this is very important to your overall weight loss. If you are happy to reach for a piece of fruit then it isn't a problem but if you are a fridge raider or a half a packet of biscuits with a cuppa then this is for you.

The Tortoise and the Hare

I help at my slimming group and do the weigh in sometimes. What really surprises me is the amount of people disappointed by a small weight loss. You see I'm known as the Tortoise by some group members. My weight loss is slow and steady just like a tortoise. I never loose impressive amounts but on the plus side I never gain large amounts either. In fact I average at just over 1/2lb a week but I have learnt to accept this is who I am and how my body works.

Be Prepared.....

Being prepared is important advice for anyone wants to improve their diet. If you aren't, then you can and probably will make bad choices, especially when you are hungry. Grabbing food on the go can be a real problem at times. When you are first on the plan, you won't know what's a good and what's a bad food choice. This comes with time. However there is a fab Slimming World App for members to help you stay on track.

Getting Started

Getting started. That's the first stumbling block for many people when thinking about changing their diet to become more healthy. It's a minefield out there. I have over the years tried and failed to make any great in roads with my weight loss. Yes I do have a medical condition but it's not just that, that led me to give up.

Fad diets for one are just that, a fad. They are normally followed for short periods of time and offer great results. But more often than not they leave you feeling deprived, hungry and miserable. Yes you may have lost a decent amount of weight but then you start eating again. The way you did before and guess what? You put it all back on nearly as fast as you lost it, plus a little bit more for good measure. You never learnt a thing about how to eat in a way to nourish your body and still loose weight. You just starved it instead.