My Final Weight Loss Update - 11 Months In And Still 27lbs Down! - Honesty, Regret And Moving On

I'm going to apologise for the honesty within this post if that isn't your thing feel free to click the cross and come back tomorrow for some beauty cheeriness. Try as you might life isn't always a bed of roses though and sometimes you just need to share.

I started 2014 with the best intentions I wanted to deal with my excess weight once and for all. Up until April I did well by and large I ate healthily with the occasional treat, and as expected the weight came off. The problem I guess started with my birthday I got out of the healthy sensible eating pattern, it showed, and I gained a few pounds.

I did manage to lose most of  and I really tried to get back on track but for some reason it just never happened. I don't want to make excuses but medication changes, stresses, and periods of ill health all played their part, and over the last 4 months or so I've really struggled to lose any weight at all. I've become one of the yo yo dieters, gain a pound, lose a pound, and repeat, and repeat, so when I weighed in this morning I was exactly the same weight that I was at end of September.

I guess I shouldn't be too disappointed after all I haven't gained anything really for 2 whole months and I should be starting 2015 weighting less than I did in 2014, but I am. I started this year so well and it just all seems to have fizzled out. People who started their weight loss journeys at the same time as me have streaked ahead of me and whilst I know we shouldn't compare ourselves to others, to be honest I feel like a bit of a failure.

At the start of the year, the idea was to use my blog to inspire me on my weight loss journey but lately it's done the exact opposite. When the numbers stop changing, the pounds stopped coming off, and the posts started to become repetitive I almost felt as though I was letting you down. I know that's daft but losing weight for a lot of people is very much a mental thing and if your feelings about it change then it inevitable that the outcome will change too.

I'm not saying that documenting my journey on the blog is the reason why I haven't done as well as I'd hoped but I need to make a fresh start. I'm not the type of person that gives up easily so my weight loss journey will continue. Yes I'm going to allow myself treats over Christmas but from January operation weight loss will be back on.

I'm going to make a serious effort to develop a better relationship with food, and getting back into regular mealtime routines is a must. I'm also hoping that the Thinking Slimmer system will do it's thing and help me achieve a more positive mind set again when it comes to food and weight loss. It helped me so much at the start of this year and in the early days of my journey way back in 2013 and fingers crossed that it will make a difference this time round.

So nothings going to really change, well, apart from the fact that I'm no longer going to be documenting my journey on my blog. The monthly weight loss updates are no more and my update page will disappear from today. I hope you understand my reasoning but I will still be updating my instagram page as and when if you're still interested.

I want to thank you all for your support over the last 11 months, and despite what I've said I really appreciated every tweet, piece of advice and every encouraging comment. Onwards and upwards, as they say or downwards in my case x Thank you for reading and thank you for being there x

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 10 Months In - Still 27lbs Down

If you been following my weight loss progress over the last month both on instagram, and via my weight loss page, you'll have noticed that I haven't updated either. I could make excuses as to why but to be honest what's the point. The truth is quite simple - I haven't weighed myself for a whole month.

I have had so many other things on my mind this month, and I've been so busy doing lots of new and exciting stuff, that thinking about what I've been putting in my mouth just hasn't been that important, to me. I've had one of those months where I've eaten exactly what I wanted, without a thought for the fat or calorie content. It hasn't all being bad as I'm sure Friday's Foodie Review Of The Month will prove but nothing was off limits.

Admitadly I've started the new month at the same weight that I ended the last, so it's not all bad, but I really feel as though I'm on runaway train at the moment when it comes to weight loss. I have a horrible feeling that if I don't start putting the brakes on, I'll undo all my good work from the beginning of this year, and end up back where I started.

Being so busy I guess has highlighted one of the reasons why I struggle with food and weight loss. Because of my varying illnesses and conditions I have really irregular sleep patterns, bad enough on it's own but it also has a knock on effect on meal times. I really struggle with the 3 meals a day thing - Because I have trouble sleeping at night I often don't get up till at least lunchtime meaning that I'm missing out on at least one meal a day. The sensible option would be to replace that meal properly but more often than not I just graze or pick at food instead.

It's easy to blame my illness for so much but I'm making a real effort not to let it define me anymore.
The sleep problem won't be solved overnight but I know I can make a real effort to get out of my rut and change how I eat. Not only watching what I put into my mouth but also by trying to eat regular meals rather than just the one a day and a pile of snacks. ,

It's not going to be easy but I think it's the only way. I did so well at the start of the year by eating two or three good meals a day and cutting down on my snacks so I know that I can do it. So from today I'm calorie counting, and I'm back listening to my Slim and Chill Pods and I'm really trying to get back on it.

I've been a crap role model with this one, I know, but I always said that this would be a hard and long journey for me, and so it proved. I promise I will keep my instagram and my blog page updated for you so you can see how I'm getting on x Thanks for reading and for your support and I'll see you tomorrow with a beauty review x

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 9 Months In - 27lbs Down

I've had one of those months guys x The month started off with a maintain, fine I can deal with that, but then came the big test - Mummy Lou's birthday! For 4 days solid I ate nothing but bad things, cake cheese, chocolate, ice cream - lots of naughtiness. I was to scared to do an official weigh in but a sneaky look at the hospital scales showed at least a 3lb gain - ouch!

My body though had other ideas and almost as soon as the weight gain registered, my body said no, no, no, that ain't happening! and struck me down with a weeks worth of gastroenteritis! I could barely eat or drink and nothing stayed in my stomach for more than an hour! Sorry if that's a little to much information but there is no way I would wish that on anyone, I haven't felt so ill for a long, long time but when I did manage to step on the scales again, I'd officially lost 2lbs, on a star week but in reality I'd probably lost nearer 6. A great weight loss trick but not something I would recommend :( Losing weight that quickly isn't healthy believe me!

I've spent the last two weeks trying to get my appetite back, and just trying to get my strength back so I haven't really been too careful about counting the calories, hence two maintains but again I can live with that. I'm still 2lbs down for the month so I'm looking at the positives of a pretty bad month in every sense of the word.

So what are my plans for October? Well I'm going to try and get back on the healthy eating bandwagon. It's not going to be easy, the onset of winter and  the cold dark nights always makes me want to hole and eat comfort food, but moderation is key and hopefully I can find some healthy winter warmers to help me through. I've been referred back to physiotherapy starting from this week, so activity could either be increased or decreased depending on how my assessment appointment goes but whatever the outcome I'll make the best of it. I've been slacking a bit of my Slimpod too so in October I'm determined to get listening again and to get Thinking Slimmer.

Thanks again for all your support especially when I was poorly and don't forget you can keep updated with my weight loss journey via my weight tracker page, and on instagram, where I will be starting to update my weekly weight loss again from next week x Thanks for reading x

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 8 Months In - 25lbs Down

Urgh! August was another frustrating month when it came to weight loss. Last months post was all about positivity but this months is all about mehhh. Try as I might I only managed to lose just 1 tiny little pound in the whole month and for two weeks I was feeling so negative that I just didn't bother weighing. I know why though so I'm just going to have to deal with it and do my best to overcome it. My doctor started me on some new tablets at the start of the month and to be honest they've made me want to eat for Britain. Maybe they're doing something to my body or maybe it's just in my head, and I've been looking for an excuse to eat, I don't know but either way I'm frustrated and disappointed.

So where to now? Well the tablets are going to be a part of my life for the foreseeable future so I'm going to have to deal with the effects be it good and bad, and try and be a lot stronger when it comes to food. I'm really hoping yet again that the Thinking Slimmer, Slim, Chill and Fit pods can do there thing, and help change my mindset, if not my body. I have a couple of major tests ahead this month, including Mummy Lou's birthday next Sunday but I'm really going to do my best to get back on track. I'm at hospital next week and having a proper weigh in is normally good inspiration so I'm hoping that it does the trick this time round.

I'm sorry for the somewhat miserable update but I'm telling it like it is. Losing weight isn't the easy thing that it's often portrayed as, it's a tough and long journey for some of us and we often need all the help we can get. I know weight loss updates have been thin in the ground this month both on my weight loss page, on twitter and on instagram, but I want to thank you all as per usual for your support - without you guys I would most definitely have given up x Thanks for reading and I'll see you tomorrow with my August empties post xx

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 7 Months In - 24lbs Down - 3lbs Up

So after all the talk saying I was back on it and ready to get back on the diet and healthy eating bandwagon I ended up gaining 3 pounds in July.

I could give you lots of excuses as to why I think it happened but I'm not going to. I gained weight quite simply because I ate too much of the wrong stuff. Everything in moderation is my mantra, well in July I seemed to not only forget my mantra but crumple it in a little ball and throw it out of the window. What's done is done though and rather than give up which would be the easy option I'm starting again. I've come far too far to give up now.

So what am I going to do now ? Well I'm going to try and get myself back in the same frame of mind that I had from January to April. I'm going to try and cut down on my portions and I'm going to try and make healthier choices, when it comes to both meals and snacks.

I'm also got to get back on the Thinking Slimmer gravy train and start listening to my full play list of Slim, Chill and Fit Pods every night. I've got out of the habit of listening to them and I really think that it's made a difference to both my confidence and my motivation.

As you know I'm not big on goal setting, I beat myself up too much when I fail, but in August I would really just love to lose the 3 pounds that I gained in July. I know that doesn't sound like a huge amount but after a cycle of maintaining and gaining even a small loss would give me the boost that I need and the confidence to carry on x

As before I'll keep you posted once a month as to how I get on and in the meantime I'll be charting my progress on both my Instagram page and on my Weight Tracker page. Thanks for reading x Your support really does mean everything to me and I hope that you'll continue to stick with me through the next part of my journey xx

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 6 Months In - 27lbs Down

Over the last 4 weeks I've only managed to lose a measly 2lbs. By rights I should be disappointed but really I'm not. I haven't been very well recently so anything that I have lost has been a real bonus.

I've had a few treats here and there but by and large I've managed to stick to a pretty healthy diet throughout June. I've started juicing again, and I've eaten plenty of salads and fruit. I've also made a few of the Slimming World inspired meals to try and mix it up a bit, and I've been trying out some new snack ideas. I'll stick my food review of the month post up on Friday so you can see some of the things that I've been eating and drinking. 

Unfortunately exercise hasn't really happened over the last month, I've had days when even walking has been too much, but every movement is exercise, and it surprising how many calories things like, hoovering, and even shopping can burn so I'm not feeling too despondent.

I'm back listening to my Slim and Fit Pods every night at the moment too, and again I think that it's making the difference with regards to relaxation and motivation, particularly when I haven't felt up to it. I'm particularly focusing on the Create That Summer Beach Body download which is great for motivation at this time of year. I don't think I'm going abroad this year but I still want to feel confident enough to wear strappy tops, shorts and skirts in the warmer weather.

I'm not really a one for setting targets but in July I would love to lose another 2 pounds to take me back into the next stone barrier and back to the weight I was before my birthday. The weight seems to be coming off much more slowly than what it was, but at least its coming off and I'm not gaining x 

Thanks again for all your support on my journey and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Oh and if you want to keep in touch with my weight loss journey every week please check out the weight loss tab above and of course my instagram  for weekly updates x 

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 5 Months In - 25lbs Down - 4lbs Up

I'm not going to lie or make excuses, but over the last four or so weeks I've eaten to excess, and I've eaten what I've wanted  and lots of of it and I've paid the price. I knew it was going to be a hard month with events and birthday celebrations but on reflection I could have been a bit more restrained.

Over the course of the month I gained 5lbs taking me back into the previous stone barrier :( I've managed to lose a pound but a maintain this weeks means I'm still four pounds heavier than what I was at this time in May.

I'm disappointed but it was all my own doing, and whilst I've had fun on my "cheat" month, I'm back on it from today. The calories are being counted and the Slim Pod is loaded up and ready to go tonight. I'm feeling motivated again and ready to give it another shot x

Thanks for all your support on my all be it faltering journey, and don't forget you can keep in touch with my progress via my weight loss page and my instagram xx

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 4 Months In - 29 lbs Down And A Clothing Epiphany

Okay the pictures would suggest that I haven't had the best of months diet wise and that may well be true but I'm going to try and look at it another way.

Although I've only managed to lose one pound in the whole of April, I'm going to concentrate on the fact that I haven't gained anything. There were times especially this week when I thought I would have put a pound or two on but I haven't.

The body is a strange thing and to be honest I have no idea why I haven't gained. I've pretty much been ill in some form or another for the whole of April,and quite I've probably only managed to stick to my eating plan for about 2 weeks out of the month. Throw in some pretty hefty Easter chocolate indulgence and you'll probably realise why I'm classing this month as a win rather than the disaster that it could have been.

Watching the number falling on the scales is a fabulous feeling and it always gives you a boost and the encouragement to carry on, but this month I've found something that is probably just as important. As I've told you before, Thinking Slimmer unlike a lot of plans and weight loss methods isn't really about the numbers on the scales, yes you can weigh yourself but they recognise the importance of non scale victories. These can be as simple as somebody noticing that you've lost weight, to change in how you clothes feel and how you feel.

Throughout April I've been raiding my wardrobe and I've been shocked at how many long forgotten old pieces I've been able to wear again. I'm not saying they all didn't fit but now some of them just seem to hang better. I've also noticed that a lot of my go to daily pieces are feeling and looking a lot looser particularly around my bum and my tummy. The jeans and jeggings that I wear regularly are looser around the waist and around the thighs, and even my knickers feel a little bit more roomy than they used to. I even went out and bought a pair of trousers 2 sizes smaller than what I've been wearing. Yes I know shop sizing is ridiculous but it definitely gives you a bit of confidence.

Way back in the early days I used to post a lot more fashion pictures, over the years though I've felt less and less confident in my body so they've usually being resigned to the odd holiday picture. I know some people exude confidence no matter what there size but that just isn't me :(. This month though I posted a couple of OOTD's on my instagram account. The response was amazing and I'm so so grateful and thankful for all of the sweet comments that I received, so in the interests of fairness to those of you that don't have instagram, here they are x

All About Asda 

What I Wore 

Blue Floral Textured Top - George At Asda

Indigo Blue Jeggings - Moda At Asda

I wore the same shoes in both of these posts - some black bow detail Mel by Melissa Jelly Pumps, and I carried the same handbag, this one from H&M, and I wore a black, pleather biker jacket from La Redoute :)

All About H&M

What I Wore

Ancient Blush Wool Mix, Stripe Jumper - H&M

Indigo Super Stretch Treggings - H&M

Long Line White Vest - H&M

Chunky Rose Gold Tone And Crystal Necklace - Next

I just shows you where I've been buying clothes from over the past two years or so:). Affordable fashion no matter what your size :) I'm hoping to be able to squeeze my butt into some bits from some shops I've been avoiding like Primark and Top Shop - eek! I'm not saying that OOTD's are going to be a regular thing I still need a bit more confidence for that but even losing a little bit of weight has really opened up my fashion horizons. Not only am I going to be able to raid my own wardrobe for forgotten pieces but I'm hopefully going to be more willing to try new things - I really want to get out of my clothing comfort zone and hopefully losing a bit of weight will help me do that.

There are a number of obvious weight loss challenges that I'm going to have to overcome in May but I'm feeling super confident and ready to resume the challenge. The most obvious challenge in May is my birthday, but it's only once a year so I'm going to take the meals out, and cake in my stride. You can still have treats and lose weight :) I also have another family birthday and a couple of blogger events (one on my birthday :) to negotiate but these things come to try us - you just try a bit harder the next day.

I want to thank you all for the support and the thank you for the whinging you've had to endure this month - I'm definitely going to go all out to find a happier place in May :) If you want to find out more about my weight loss journey so far, please check out my Weight Tracker page above or pop the search terms, diet, weight loss, or Thinking Slimmer into the search box xx Thanks for reading and thanks for listening xx

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 2 Months In - 22lbs Down

February has been a tough month for me in a lot of ways but thankfully as the pictures show it hasn't affected my weight loss - Over the last month I've managed to lose 6lbs, taking me to 22lbs altogether which is a massive 1st 8lbs.

Normally when I'm stressed or sad I turn to food, and whilst I've had more than a few treats over the last four weeks - I've tried to find other outlets for my feelings including reading a good book, painting my nails and having a nice bath.

I'm not going to beat myself up for the odd bad day though, I've only had one day though where I went over my calorie and fat goal but I built a bridge and got over it and just tried extra hard for the rest of that week and in the end it didn't really make a difference and I still lost. As something I found on Instagram says - "one bad meal won't make you fat just like one good meal won't make you skinny". I think this is so important I've seen so many people bad mouth themselves and beat themselves up for eating something naughty don't do it - it's isn't worth it - you've done it you can't change it so accept it and start afresh.

Go me I've changed! lol ! Seriously though I really don't know where all of this willpower and positivity is coming from - this is one of the few things that I feel positive about at the minute and I think my Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods are at least partially responsible. I'm really starting to change the way I think and as a result I'm seeing changes in the numbers on the scales and I'm I'm starting to see some non scale victories too with some visible physical changes.

One of the things that's helped keep me motivated this month strangely enough has been food and experimenting with new snacks and new recipes. I'm going to do a What I Ate In February post on Friday where you can see some of the things that I've been eating and some of the things that I consider diet saviours.

So another month down and another 8lbs closer to my goal - I'm feeling happy and positive for the month ahead despite a couple of challenges coming my way namely Shrove Tuesday and Mothers Day - but I'm confident enough now to know that two days off won't halt my progress and that I have a bad day I can pull it back round and get back on track x 

I'd like to thank all of you for your support it really does make a difference x I'll do another update in a months time but in the meantime you can follow my weekly updates on both twitter, my weight loss page and on instagram x 

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 1 Month In - 16 lbs Down

The photos probably mean that I could make this pretty much a world less first weight loss update post but that really wouldn't be the whole story.

In my first month back using my Slim Pod and being super careful, watching what I'm eating I've lost a huge 16 lbs, yes 1 stone and 2 lbs. I can't quite believe I've lost that much in such a short period of time but it only goes to show that I was probably eating way than I should be and way more naughty things than I should be.

I haven't denied myself anything I've just made a serious effort to limit the naughty things. Apart from that the only real changes I've made are making sure that I always eat breakfast - a big one it really sets you up for the day, eating at least 5 different portions of fruit and vegetables a day - very important especially if your a vegetarian and drinking at least two litres of water a day - which keeps you hydrated and keeps you feeling full.

It's amazing how being a bit more careful can yield such great results. It's even more surprising when you consider that I haven't done any real exercise yet instead all I've tried to is up my physical activity a bit. Every movement we make is exercise and can help us to burn calories, so when the body has been willing I've done a bit more housework, a bit more physical work when I've been cooking and of course don't forget that a little look round the shops counts as exercise too, and I've done that a couple of times over the last 4 or so weeks too.

I've also being using the Thinking Slimmer Slim, Chill and Fit Pods again as part of my nightly routine. They've really helped to keep my motivation up and keep my thinking positive when I've felt as though I'm wobbling a bit. As I said once before they've also helped me to establish a better, and more relaxed nighttime routine.

So after a successful January I'm feeling more motivated than ever that I can achieve the results that I want. If I was doing Slimming World this week would be classed as my Star week, I'm sure all you ladies have an idea of what means, so I'm trying to deal with cravings and bloating but trying to cut down my salt intake and by keeping up my water intake - hopefully it shouldn't effect this week to much but even if I gain on Monday I can deal with that.

Looking forward to the rest of February, I'm just planning exactly what I've been doing, watching, what I eat, and listening to my Slim Pod. I'm feeling a bit rubbish at the moment but when I start feeling a bit better I'm hoping to do a little bit of gentle yoga and stretching exercises using an fabulous DVD which is especially for people with CFS.

Thanks to all of you for your support both on Twitter and on Instagram I really do appreciate it. If you want to find out more about my weight loss journey before next months updates please follow me on either of these platforms or check out my Weight Tracker page xx

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)