What I’ve learnt on my weight loss journey so far.

I’m 36 years old. I’ve been trying to lose weight for a few of those years. I’m back on the journey now but with a totally different outlook!

It’s one thing to set a goal to lose weight. It’s an entirely different thing to achieve that goal. And then it’s another thing altogether to maintain that weight loss.

So here’s a few things I’ve learnt about myself for this time around.

I need to want to achieve it by putting in the work. As in the actual work. I need to understand my body, my eating habits and my why’s. I need to understand nothing good ever comes out of quick fixes. This has to be a lifestyle change.

What I’m doing different this time around is I’ve engaged the services of a personal trainer. Gyms don’t work for me. I make excuses and I allow myself to skip the gym because of said excuses. I’m tired, busy, have other things to do, giving myself a break etc etc and I’ll skip the gym given half a chance. Group sessions have worked in the past but this time around I couldn’t find one to fit in with my working hours. So a personal trainer it was. I completed my 3rd session yesterday afternoon and I make myself go because the time works for me, she’s waiting for me, she holds me accountable and I’ve paid for it in advance. If I don’t turn up I lose the money. That definitely helps.

We all know that food is a huge part of weight loss. In fact, I’ve read it’s between 70-80% of weight loss. I haven’t always taken the nutrition side of it seriously. I have taken the opportunity on many occasions to buy take out dinner or an ice cream because I’ve ‘already worked it off so I’m allowed’. Ugh.

I’m an emotional eater and I treat myself with chocolate and ice cream. If I’m sad, angry, stressed and/or happy I reach for a chocolate. If I’m proud of myself or have reached a goal more chocolate it is. I also eat out of spite. “You can’t finish all of that!!” Umm watch me. The best one was when an ex-boyfriend told me I was getting fat and needed to lose some weight. My response was to go down to the local shops and buy a block of chocolate. I got home, sat on the lounge and started chomping.
“Why are you doing that after what I just said?” he called out.
Without skipping a beat I answered “How fat do I have to get before you’ll f**k off?”

This time around I’m more conscious of my eating habits. I try to eat when I’m hungry and not just because. I try not to treat myself with food but rather intrinsically acknowledge my achievements. I don’t restrict foods but I make better choices. I drink more water now and I keep a bottle of water handy so I don’t reach for the juice or soft drink. I eat mindfully. I don’t scoff my meals while watching tv or with my phone in my hand. I savour the mouthfuls and enjoy it more.

I’ll experience a slower weight loss than if I were to jump head first into a calorie restrictive diet and spend an hour every day at the gym. But I’m making choices which fit in with my family, work and lifestyle. Therefore I’m more likely to succeed over the long term.

I’d like to lose 10 kilos. I’ll you updated.