Sarahs Weightloss Blog

Hi Everyone!

Losing weight is really hard work, and sometimes it can seem like it’s going to go on forever and you lose your motivation and feel really low.  As Airy was saying in her blog – this is where goals help and keeping realistic ones is important. Also having the right support when times are tough – you’re making really big changes when you pledge to lose weight, and other people as well as yourself can resist that.

Here’s my story, hope it shows that although it’s tough, it can be done and how goals can help you succeed against the odds!

When I first started (May 19th 2009) I was 107kgs, morbidly obese and 45kgs over a healthy weight.  When I first calculated it my heart fell – how on earth was I going to lose that! I had never suceeded in dieting before, not even to lose 1 single solitary pound! I had even put on weight with some diets (remember the 6 pack of slim fasts?). But I was determined this time, as at a size 20 (UK) I could no longer get any dress to fit me (even from the plus size store!) and really really wanted a pretty dress to wear to my friends wedding in a months time. So I accepted that there was no way I would lose all that weight in time, and instead decided that in a little over a month I would be small enough to buy a dress off the peg for the wedding, i.e. a size 18 (UK).

I knew I couldn’t do it alone or just by dieting (it  had never worked before). So I joined the gym – quite terrified at the time, but I really did want that dress sooooo badly! I also employed a personal trainer who wrote me a diet plan and an exercise regime and once a week he would make sure that I burnt at least 800-1000 calories with him! and I promised him that I would come a do a program at least twice week in addition to that (which he checked up on – so I did it!).  The exercise was really tough and uncomfortable at first but every time I did a PT I felt as if I had achieved something really worthwhile.

I also found that the PT and people at the gym helped me a lot and kept me strong.  I don’t have a lot of will power, so saying no to foods that my friends and family offered me was really hard at first, especially when I had the reputation of finishing all the left overs.  People actually cooked larger portions especially for me and to refuse the extra food they had specially prepared was hard and even awkward at times, as sometimes people took it as me not enjoying the meal or insulting their cooking in some way. But with the help of the gym community, and perked by my exercise I managed to start to say NO! I’m morbidly obese, and really unhealthy and I need to lose weight – unless you’re trying to finish me off – lay off it please! It was hard,but I managed (with great great difficulty) to mostly stay off the junk and super-size portions.

To my great surprise I actually managed to reach an 18 in time for the wedding!  Even though I was still large, it felt so fantastic that I could just pick up and dress and wear it, and it look nice on me. I even had a figure to show off! First hurdle was successfully jumped – PHEW!

I still have PT sessions, as I don’t like to work out alone – I’m not really all that good at motivating myself and don’t have iron-clad will power.  I also do a lot of classes as I like the social atmosphere and I know I will finish that class and get the exercise done, which I don’t always do on my own! However I am getting better at self motivating – I enjoy jogging on the treadmill now (it took a while mind you!) and try to beat my previous time by jogging faster for longer the next time.

Now I’m 86kgs and my size 16 trousers are quite baggy.  The weight’s also a bit of a side line now, as I am more interested in looking and feeling healthy.  If I get down to 65kgs, which is healthy for my height then great.  But if I get to a size 12 and am still a bit over that weight then I’ll be happy, as long as I can run 10kms by then, I think I can consider myself healthy. I’ve also found that now my close friends and family have seen the dramatic weight loss that they accept my new regime and support me in it now. My husband even cooks me a seperate ’sarah diet friendly’ meal on occasion and people ask what I can eat before I come round!

Next goals:

1. To be a size 12 by christmas so I can go shopping and get a really beautiful party dress!

2. To reduce my 5km total running time by 4 minutes to under 30 minutes in the next two weeks.

If I can do it, you can do it too, it does get easier guys, just hang in there!

Wish me luck!  I’ll let you know how I’m getting on with these goals over the next few weeks for the first goal and over the coming months for the second goal

Sarah.