The Cost Of Losing Pounds

Tags

clothes, confidence, cost, Diet, grocery shopping, healthy food, life change, money, slimming, Slimming World, weight loss

It was 9th September 2015 when I plucked up the courage and walked into my first Slimming World session. I was nervous, apprehensive and really didn’t know if it would work for me. But I was also determined to make changes within myself and give this the best go I could.

So almost twelve months later I am 4st 9lb (65lb) lighter in weight and a whole lot lighter in cash.

I don’t regret the money I have spent on attending the weekly class, because without going along each Wednesday evening, sitting in on the class talk and joining in with the image therapy, I don’t believe I would have achieved the loss that I have. It’s the other costs which are sometimes astounding.

My weekly food bill for instance. Eating healthier choices isn’t cheap! The fresh fruit and vegetables alone usually take up half the shopping trolley now a days. I do tend to shop around for the fresh stuff, bouncing between four different stores to get the best value for the best quality and isn’t that a fun way to spend a Saturday morning. (Which is why this Saturday Jay had us all up, dressed and travelling into town before 8am and the crowds descended!) And buying the lowest fat option on meat can be expensive too. The breadcrumb covered chopped and reformed chicken is totally off the menu now along with most of the pre-packaged selections.

And clothes. Don’t get me wrong, I love clothes, but damn, I have had to replace everything! My boobs have gone from a 42FF to a 38D. I have gone from a UK size 22/24 top to a 16 and my jeans have shrunk from a UK 20 to a 10/12.

I had kind of ignored how baggy everything was getting for a while, but when my underwear was falling down under my trousers and those trousers, unless belted would slip to my ankles I knew it was time to replace stuff.

Has it all been worth it? Most definitly. I feel healthier. I have more energy and don’t suffer with pain in my knees anymore. I have a lot more confidence in the way I look. Hell. I even went and got my hair cut!

I may have to start selling on eBay or do a car boot stall with my big clothes to claw back some of the money I’ve spent, but I am so pleased I walked into the Scout hall that night sat myself down and asked for help.

The Biggest Smile

Tags

compliments, Diet, Healthy eating, ice cream, Slimming World

Between heavy rain showers this afternoon, Jay and I took the girls into the village for an ice-cream.

After perusing the variety of flavours both girls decided to go for “Cookie Monster”, bright blue ice-cream with Oreos and cookie dough mixed through it, in a chocolate waffle cone.  Jay went for his favourite, a double scoop of Scottish Tablet ice-cream in a chocolate waffle cone.

The young lad who was serving us then looked to me for my choice and I just shook my head and got out the money to pay.

“Are you not having one?” he asked.

“No,” I replied with a smile, “Slimming World.”

At that he gave me a puzzled look.

“You don’t look like you need Slimming World.”

I could have leaned across the counter and kissed him (even though I am old enough to be his mother).

I left the shop without an ice-cream, but I had the biggest smile of all of us.

 

 

My Changing Face (And Shrinking Arse)

Tags

aging, Diet, food, food optimisiing, Healthy eating, life change, on plan, overweight, sleep apnea, Slimming World, unfit, weight loss

I guess the biggest thing that has happened to me in the two years I have been absent is I have lost almost a third of my body weight.

Twelve months ago I decided it was time to get myself sorted. I had lost quite a bit of weight ten years ago, but as time marched on the pounds slowly began to creep back again. 

I was suffering with sleep apnea and receiving physiotherapy for sore knees. Walking up a shallow hill would leave me short of breath and if the kids decided to run, there was no way I could catch them. My self discipline is pretty crap so I decided to find and join a local weight loss group.

After chatting to a couple of friends and carrying out an online search I bravely attended my first session at Slimming World. It took a few weeks to get my head around the eating plan, but it has really worked for me. So far I have lost just over four and a half stone (64lb) and don’t have much more to lose to reach my target. 

I have shrunk from a UK size 20 jeans to a size 12. I even have a couple of pairs in a size 10! I eat much more fresh fruit and vegetables and tend to cook better meals from scratch rather than the processed frozen food I heated up before. 

I don’t drink alcohol anymore, which I don’t miss one bit and I haven’t had a “real” chocolate bar, which I do. None of us have set foot in a fast food restaurant since my first session. The kids sometimes moan for a McDonalds, but not for long. So on the whole it has been good for all of us.

As I get closer to target I do worry about maintaining the loss, but hopefully with the support of the fabulous group of ladies and a few men, I will be able to keep the weight off.

Below are a few pictures of my changing face, starting with the bottom right, which is my old passport photo taken fifteen years ago. The bobbed hair was in 2009 and the scruffy hat in about 2013. The colour photo with long hair was taken around November 2015 and the black and white shot with the baker boy hat was taken last week. A number of wrinkles have appeared as I’ve aged from thirty to forty five, but so have my cheekbones!