Hello Everyone,
Hope ye are all keeping well since the last time I was speaking to you, it was nearly a month now... I can not believe just how quick the time is going, so much has happened since I last wrote the blog...
As you may or may not remember my last blog post was a full on rant really- I was so fed up with how I was getting on in my weight loss journey, I had aches and pains everywhere, especially in my foot and I was just getting heavier and heavier and I was completely and utterly lost....
In that blog post I set out on a little task, I decided that on that day I would stop feeling down, living in the past, putting things off, I also decided to stop feeling like I was a failure, I stopped thinking about all the things that happened long ago and I tried to stop thinking that I couldn't do anything right,
I must say that by even making these few changes in my routine it has made such a huge difference to how I feel about everything in my life. I have also had a few non-scale victories because of it.
I went to see Ed Sheeran in Croke Park in the end of July and I stayed in a hotel, although some people may see these as just part of normal life they meant so much more to me and I know that for most people they wouldn't bat an eyelid at the thought of staying away or going to a concert but to me it was a major deal. The week before I had thought several times that I couldn't do it and I know that everyone thought I was going to back down because usually I would but this time I even surprised myself, I took a risk and I went and I thoroughly enjoyed it and even writing about it now I feel such a sense of pride in the knowledge that I did it and everything went well and I know that the next time I go I won't be as nervous or anxious (I hope!!).
By going to the concert it also showed me that I have an inner strength that I don't realise I have but since that week I now know that there is definitely something that steps up to the mark when we feel like we can't do something, it gives us a little push and ultimately I think we're pushed if it is right for us. I believe that everything that happens to us, whether it be good or bad, happens for a reason, it might not be nice at the time but I think it benefits us because it determines who we become so if anyone reading this right now is feeling down or going through crap in their lives don't worry it won't be forever and it is shaping us into the people we are going to become, it's in our paths for a reason just believe in yourself that you are strong enough to go through it and trust me you are strong enough - have self belief!!
I re-joined my group and I am on week 5 at the moment, in the last 4 weeks I have lost a total of 9 pounds! I am so thrilled with how I am getting on, it's not easy, it requires a lot of dedication, persistence, and hard work....
But do you know what? It's bloody well worth it!! Seeing the number on the scales decrease week after week is worth so much more than a bar of chocolate (and I hope that mentality is here to stay!!)
This time around I feel completely different about the way I am approaching things I have to say that organisation is key. I now plan all my meals in the evening for the next day so I know exactly what it is that I am eating and I stick to this plan. I don't find it too hard really to be honest because I know what I'm going to have next so it isn't a case of standing at the fridge or the press and wondering "what will I have next?" (From past experience that question is an avalanche of bad choices waiting to happen because it's too easy to grab the quickest thing and have it or have three or four slices of bread while waiting for your food to cook, its not a crime, its just reality and its not easy to sit around and wait for something to cook especially if your stomach is rumbling) therefore plan your meals and never worry about being hungry.
Another change that I have made is the amount of fruit and vegetables I have been eating has increased dramatically, I find it so much harder to eat fruit compared to veg, I'm a real lover of veg and find it very easy to eat it, the same can not be said for fruit but I am trying and I am determined to get there so I keep trying new fruits until I find some that I love to eat!
I also write everything down that I eat on my tracker, even though I have planned my meals I still like to acknowledge what I eat on a daily basis and I think it's a good habit to get into!
I want every single person that is reading this to look to themselves, be proud of who you are, be happy with your individual journeys, even if the weight is slow to come off, that's ok, we're only human it's ok to not stay on plan 100% of the time, it's ok to feel like throwing in the towel every so often heck I have felt like that several times but just remember these are feelings, they come and go and when you feel like this remember why you started this journey, remember how you felt before you started to lose the weight and remember just what it is you want to achieve.
One bad day does not have to lead to one bad week, don't let it, you are in the drivers seat, you have the power to achieve anything you want to do but you can not expect to see a change if you don't make one so go out make a change, a small teeny weeny one and reap in the rewards.
I'm going to set a little challenge for us all, it's five small words but do you know it will make a big difference to you and to the life you live, the words are: Take Small Risks Every Day....
Take a risk, this risk can be as small as you want it to be, start off by aiming small that way it's easier to achieve and you won't feel as if you haven't succeeded, you don't have to broadcast it to the world just do it yourself and I know it can be hard and there will be times when you curse yourself for promising to do it but just try it, I know for me I feel better after it, I'll give you an example last Saturday night I went to a hen party, now to be very honest I'm not great at social events and especially events such as hen parties, I dreaded going but I put on the dress, did my hair and make-up and I went, before I left I asked a friend, a very close friend if I looked ok and their reply had a smile on my face for hours- they said I looked slim!!!!! Their support was enough to keep me on track for going. That night I took the risk and went, I felt uncomfortable, I felt huge and even at stages I felt my eyes well up and I just wanted to cry but the point is I went, I took the risk and I did it. That night when I came home I was looking through photos that were taken during the night and I was so disgusted when I saw myself in them. I didn't recognize the person in the photos so I vowed to never look like that again in a photo and I'm going to aim to get to a stage that when I look in the mirror or look at a photo I see someone that I am happy to be. I am going to turn all the negatives into positives and I challenge you to try and do the same.... you can do it....
Just Remember:
No one ever got to
the top of a mountain
in one giant jump.
Challenges can be overcome,
and goals can be reached
but it can only happen
one step at a time.
Take a Risk and Remember that The Best Project that you will ever work on is you, so work hard, give it your all and be the best possible person that you can be, because in the words of L'Oreal "you're worth it".
Stay Strong,
Little Miss Sunshine
xxxx
