talkhealth Blog

It’s been a bit of a mixed week really…aren’t they all?!

I have had some thinking to do regarding my weight loss, but have just taken the view that I am doing what I need to do and my body will do with that what it sees fit! I have taken my little gym break and am enjoying it, although I must say that a side effect of this weight loss is that I find it hard to sit still now…and chairs are uncomfortable as I have less ass-padding!

My cold is still lurking and I am still feeling grotty. But it’s not the end of the world. I woke up this morning and decided to try and make myself feel more human, and slapped on a Clinique facemask, jumped in the shower, enjoyed a face and body scrub, and washed my hair. It didn’t really make me feel more human…but as my nose is blocked and I can’t smell myself, it’s one less thing to worry about…I know that I smell okay!

I have also just checked myself out in the mirror and am pretty bloody happy with what is looking back. Not wishing to blow my own trumpet, but I think I’m quite pretty – I caught a bit of sun last week at the stables, my skin is in good condition at the moment (I chose to ignore my coldsore on my lip!), and all in all I am quite in love with myself!

My Dad also complimented me earlier. He said that he couldn’t believe how slim my face was looking, and that I wasn’t gaunt but looked great. Now, I don’t think at 23st 12lbs there is ever a chance of being gaunt…and once having a face shaped like a beachball means that anything is an improvement…but I like compliments!

I also had a great session today with a coaching client. She is really making progress and within the first few minutes of our call I could hear the change in her. She was talking so positively – recognising the not so good stuff, but reframing it and taking the good from the situation – and really does sound like a changed person…after just six hours of coaching! This is why I am hoping to coach full-time at some point. I like just having a handful of clients at the moment, as I can give them the attention they need…and still have time to stay focussed on my journey…but once I get where I want to get, I can help more people! I do have a space though, so if you are interested and want to know more then drop an email over to me – weightlossb1tch81@yahoo.com – and we can chat about it! To be honest, a lot of what I talk about in the blog is related to the coaching that I do…you just get it personalised and tailored…so if coaching isn’t an option then just read this and self-coach…it might take longer, but you CAN do it! I get overly excited about it all though – and the most exciting part for me is waving goodbye to a client, knowing that they have the tools to deal with whatever life throws at them…this is when the exciting stuff really starts to happen!

Anyway – enough about that…I could bore you with it all day!

Mr WLB has been doing his usual trick this week of sending me links to articles about weight loss and health and whatever else he thinks I might be interested in. So I thought that I would do a little round-up…

First up was the ‘war rations‘ diet that a lady in Nottinghamshire followed. I liked reading this one. It’s not a regime that I would choose to follow, as Slimming World works for me…but people have to find something that grabs their attention. So I loved it when she said, ‘Slimfast, WeightWatchers, Slimming World, I tried them all. I had some success, but none captured my imagination. And I didn’t like relying on processed food full of preservatives.’

I think that is the key for me…capturing imagination – if you enjoy something and are genuinely interested in it, then that’s half the battle won. As a history buff, this lady loved learning more about the food during that era. I have to say though that the selection of food they chose to showcase looked quite beige…and I am sure that more fruit and veggies would have been included…although given the shortage during the war, I am not so sure. I also smiled when she mentioned not liking the reliance upon processed food…I rarely eat processed food on Slimming World. One of the things I enjoy is cooking from scratch and throwing in bits and pieces from my spice and herb cupboard. But as I said, if she is interested in it – and has lost 6st – then bloody fair play to her!

Then Mr WLB thought that I would like to read about the fact that the time we spend cooking in Britain has halved since the 1980s, and that the most commonly eaten meal is a sandwich!

Now it was only a study of 4000 UK households…so a drop in the ocean really, but researchers say that we spend an average of 34 minutes cooking a meal, and back in 1980 this was an hour. Given that most people don’t have the luxury of not working full-time, and a 9 to 5 day is a rarity, it’s not really surprising that we don’t spend as much time in the kitchen. Coming home after a long day and then standing in a kitchen is not top of everyone’s list! That’s why I liked my slow-cooker and preparing meals in advance when I worked full-time.

Apparently, of the 6.8 billion sandwiches we consume in a year, 889 million of these are eaten in place of an evening meal. I do love a good sandwich. Especially the baguettes I used to make stuffed with a whole pack of bacon, a few eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, sausages…oh, that isn’t a sandwich? Gluttony? Yes, you’re right!

I eat good meals now, mostly cooked from scratch, but I appreciate that not everyone has the time for this…which is why I like the flexibility of the Slimming World plan I guess. On days when I can’t be bothered to cook, I can pick up some pre-cooked chicken, a beetroot salad, throw a jacket potato in the microwave and I have a meal ready without having to resort to a sandwich or a takeaway.

I am not surprised that we cook less. I wouldn’t put it down to a lack of education either – although for some this may well be the case. My own thoughts are that I have yet to meet someone who genuinely couldn’t rustle up a healthy meal. Time constraints, budget constraints, and general can’t be arsed-ness seem to be the main issues!

And finally, he thought that I would be interested in learning about the optimum times during the day that I should eat. Now, I am afraid that I think the times of day you eat affecting weight loss is bollocks. I know plenty of shift workers who lose weight eating at all times of the day. The only thing that I find uncomfortable is eating a big meal just before bed, as it sits funny in my stomach…kind of sideways as I am I suppose!

Plus the fact that the survey was conducted by a supplements company, and had 1000 people respond, also led me to think ‘bollocks’! Apparently the optimum meal times were 7.11am for breakfast, 12.38pm for lunch and 6.14pm for dinner. Bollocks again! I used to be at work for 7.30am and not leave work until 6.30pm or later and would then have to go and see the horses…admittedly I wasn’t being healthy back then, but these timings will just give people more to worry about.

It’s far better to keep blood sugars stable by eating regular healthy meals. It depends on your personal circumstances too. My trainer eats every 2 hours – not loads, but he eats every 2 hours. I used to either graze all day or not eat and binge massively in the evening…so for me, regulating my meals and sticking to three meals each day with a snack in the evening was an important part of my recovery. I now enjoy my meals and can recognise true hunger versus emotional hunger. I am however considering switching to four or five meals to support my training and my blood sugar spikes…but it’s going to take me a bit of time to move away from my comfort zone of three meals and a snack I think, as it was this regulation that really helped me beat my binge eating disorder.

When you eat is up to you! As long as you do eat…and kicking the day off with a good breakfast is my big ‘rule’ – but other than this, I ignore shite baseless articles like this one!

Then he decided to send me a round-up of his ‘good things’ from the past couple of weeks. He likes my ’100happydays’ pictures…but can never remember to take a photo. So his list of good things is as follows…

1 WLB wearing my jacket and it nearly fitting
2 Social Media Today press hit – he works in digital PR and this was a nice result apparently!
3 Thankful that I didn’t get run over – he almost got flattened in Asda by a car, only to get his foot run over by a lady on a mobility scooter!
4 WLB making me healthy nice food
5 Not as tired as I normally was after the gym
6 Putting work plan together for a new project
7 Walking past an Easter Egg and not picking it up – bought raspberries instead!
8 RSC tickets coming today – surprised that WLB would want to come with me to the show – I don’t want to go…but these are the things you do I guess!
9 Mac’n’Cheese that WLB made was lovely
10 Thinking about my special Easter egg WLB is getting me – I’m not…ordering from Hotel Chocolat is not on the cards!
11 WLB’s book – he is convinced that I should write a book!
12 Lifting a ridiculous amount of weight at the gym
13 WLB moving the horses herself as she couldn’t do much with them until recently
14 Watching football on a borrowed Sky Go account
15 Looking forward to pizza tonight for dinner – his dinner is pizza…mine is not!

I also thought that I would share a little something with you – we were in bed watching TED talks last night – how rock’n’roll – and I found this one, which is about how to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness comes in quite handy for all aspects of life really…but I have found it really useful to acknowledge and deal with the emotions which used to drive me towards junk food. It’s worth a look – and if you like what you see then check out his website!

Before I get to the usuals, I was sent an email by a chap who has created a product that I think I NEED in my life! I was chatting to Mr WLB about calories again, and saying that if I had an easy way to keep track, then I would. This isn’t to take anything away from Slimming World, before you consultants out there get arsey with me – but calories are important! I am eternally thankful to Slimming World for taking a lot of the guess work out of weight loss for me…they cleverly design the plan to account for calories. But there is so much freedom, too much for someone like me – and some consultants spreading the myth about eating as much as you want…well, giving that advice to someone who has binge eating disorder is like waving a red rag in the face of a massive fecking bull. I am glad that my consultant doesn’t buy into this myth! You simply cannot eat as much as you want…you can eat as much as your body needs to lose weight at a sensible and steady rate…and this amount of food varies dependant upon height, weight, gender, activity levels, medical issues – a ‘one size fits all’ has never fitted me. So forgive me for wanting to keep an eye on calories too…it just seems like common sense to me!

I am not telling people to count calories and ditch Slimming World – I bloody love Slimming World…it’s saved my life – I genuinely think it is a brilliant solution. All I am doing – for me – is checking on my calories during a tough time of slower weight losses. I only count for a couple of days…it would do my head in doing it for weeks on end! If Slimming World is working for you, then don’t even consider calories. But if it isn’t, stick with Slimming World whilst checking on those little buggers that can trip us up if we aren’t careful! After all, Slimming World is healthy eating…why would I not advocate it?

I will save my rant about people eating Muller Light yogurts as if they are going out of fashion just because they are ‘free’…would you eat six pots of yogurt if you were counting calories…no? Then why do it just because they are ‘free’? You can look forward to that blog post eventually!

Anyway, this chap has designed a set of scales that link to your iPad (if you have one!) and help work out not only calories, but the nutritional composition of a meal too. This is the bit I love – being able to track certain things such as sugar, or carbs, is useful for my diabetes. I really like this idea – and I hope it takes off. I will be buying one if it does!

So that’s it from me today really. A weekly round-up of nothing much…

Other than my shower and my coaching session, I paid a visit to my sisters as my Dad was there…and my niece wanted to play hairdressers – so I had to sit still whilst she brushed my hair. My nephew then wanted to join in…so that was good fun. I felt grotty and sick though and so didn’t stay long. My lovely Mum was kind enough to check on my neddies today so that I could stay in my PJs…and yes, I walked to my sisters house in Betty Boop fleecy PJs…she only live five doors down though!

Breakfast: Eggs, Linda Mc sausages, turkey rashers, and fried mushrooms, red onion, spinach and cherry tomatoes.

.Dinner: Cajun salmon fillets, roasted veggies, pittas and cheese (2 x HEA and 2 x HEB).

Snacks: Fruit, and my cheats Black Forest Gateaux pudding (13 syns).

Brekkie was lovely. Eggs poached in the microwave, with fried button mushrooms, spinach, red onions and cherry tomatoes, a couple of Linda Mc sausages, and turkey rashers. I grabbed a little pot of fruit mid-afternoon as brekkie had been later than usual, but earlier than lunch, so I took the pot away from my evening snack and had it early. Dinner was lovely. Salmon with Cajun seasoning, roasted red onion, pepper, and courgette all stuffed into pittas with cheese. And my cheats puddings is delicious…Asda frozen cherries (thawed) mixed with 0% Total Greek yogurt, and two chopped chocolate Nakd bars at 6.5 syns each…it is seriously good!

Exercise: Nothing – my mini break from the gym is strange…I keep wanting to get up and do stuff!

Thank you for reading,

Weight Loss Bitch xxx

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WeightLossBitch

On a health and fitness driven journey to lose over 32st / 448lbs / 203kgs – yes, it is a considerable amount – I am committed to losing my excess weight without the aid of weight loss surgery, diet pills, or quick fixes…as there aren’t any! Changing my eating habits and building up my fitness levels, along with addressing the ‘head issues’ will be crucial in order for me to achieve my goal. Living in England as a 31 year old super morbidly obese woman can be challenging to say the least. I have been shouted at in the street and verbally abused far too many times to mention; hence the name ‘Weight Loss Bitch’…the day I am just called a ‘bitch’ instead of a ‘fat bitch’ will be the day that I know I have cracked my weight loss! With many reasons to lose this weight I am documenting my journey for a number of reasons. Firstly, I would like to keep a record of the ups and downs, the highs and lows, and the challenges I face with such an enormous task to tackle. Secondly, I would also like to inspire and encourage other people who are in a similar situation and to show them that significant amounts of weight can be lost naturally…with a bit of motivation, hard work, dedication and will power. Thirdly, all of the blogging, Facebook-ing, Tweet-ing, Pinterest-ing and YouTube-ing keeps me occupied and keeps my fingers out of the fridge!