Have you ever had that feeling where you know you are putting on weight but you just cannot seem to get in a routine with your eating pattern or you simply love food and want to loose weight all at the same time? Well this was/is me! I physically and mentally did not feel nice in anything that I was putting on. Yet I could not seem to get a grip on my eating.
I LOVE food and I LOVE big portions but I have a slow metabolism. Blurgh! I know I will never be stick thin because the way my body is built it is naturally curvy ( and proud ) but one day I just sat and thought to myself; girl, your body is your temple. You carry your weight around day in, day out, why not make the most of it? Love your body? Imagine been truly happy with the lumps, bumps, big hips, small waist. But the hardest part is starting something right? Then sticking to it, having faith it will work. Luckily for me I had lost loads of weight two years back so I knew the struggles and the celebratory moments when the scale goes down all too well, not so lucky though, I had gained almost 4 stone from that period of been on a shake diet. It was temporary and not permanent, Within two months, I lost two and a half stone, I wasn’t in a gym routine, yes I ate healthy in moderation but I struggled with knowing how to manage my ‘cheat days’ so when the weight piled on, I just let it.
I think it is important not to blame a ‘fad diet’ or situation for putting on weight, yes it can play a major part but taking responsibility for you, will allow you to get on with your journey and actually stick to this new way of living- healthy.
I will hold my hand up though- I am impatient, something in which I am working on, so I was asking about different diets and the two that were praised highly were the 5:2 diet and slimmers world. Both in which I have seen results from friends and family. Which are fantastic AND they haven’t put the weight back on ( well I guess that’s because they now stick to a healthy eating regime and allow themselves treats! ) I was so shocked to find out that you could actually eat plenty on these diets. However, the 5:2 is intermittent fasting, this may not be ideal to some people and that is fine but for me, I took this option, you have your normal calories five days of the week and on 2 of the days you can have 500 calories. I normally save my calories for my night time meal and have my normal sized meal, as I like big portions, so I fill up on water in the day. I know this isn’t ideal but actually sometimes having a fast day, my body feels grateful for- especially after christmas! I have decided to do a double fast day. Get it out of the way.
I really enjoy all the new tasty healthy foods that I can cook, prep and meal recipes, I am big on veggie food at the moment. You can get really creative with what you are eating, recipes I would of never thought of, like on some of my fast days I have pizza omelette- it is healthy and tastes like pizza!!! and is below 500 calories! So I will even have a muller light yoghurt for desert, which is fat free and under 100 cals.
One thing I would say about the 5:2 is that there isn’t strict guidelines on a healthy food pattern ( which I think there should be ) but people I have conversed with follow a healthy ritual regardless. So far I have lost 11lbs, Most of this will be water weight, so I am prepared to be loosing around 2lb a week but that calculated over 4 weeks is 8lb. I have a goal of loosing around 3 stone. I am so excited for my journey, I don’t deprive myself of a craving either, my tip is to drink 2 litres of water a day and if you have a craving eat it, then it let it go. Also, two squares of dark chocolate can work wonders! ( You get used to the taste and begin to really like it )
Also, one more tip- when I was drinking green tea, I felt quite sick, through conversing with others I found out that if you drink decaf jasmine green tea, this should take away that sick feeling and to my surprise, it did! I will be posting plenty of tips, my progress, ideas and all things healthy!!
Love always,
B x
Self love starts from within 