A Healthier Me - 14 Weeks In

14 weeks ago I made a lifestyle change, one that I wasn't sure would stick. 14 weeks ago I cut out all the rubbish that I was happily consuming on a daily basis, and I opted for a healthier me. Chocolate was replaced with grapes, and my love of Coca Cola was quickly swapped up for water.

3 months later I feel like I have come so far, when I looked in the mirror all those weeks ago, I saw a spare tyre around my waist and I knew something had to be done. I didn’t see the girl I once was and the thought of going on holiday and wearing a bikini filled me with dread. My reflection wasn’t me,  I saw someone I hardly recognised anymore and it gave me the sheer determination to make a change. I have learnt that unless you are really ready to make a change to your life, you quite simply won’t do it. I have demonstrated this each time I have decided to start a diet or lead a healthier lifestyle, but this time my determination has prevailed and now the changes I have implemented are just part of my everyday life.

For me losing weight has meant finding the old me again, through each lb that has melted away I have found I am becoming more confident within my skin again.  I surprise myself with each week that goes by, I am wearing clothes that I never would have dreamed to wear 14 weeks ago, and they are all factors that go towards pushing me further. They truly are the reward for all of the hard work I have been putting in. Just having the willpower to say no to cake and chocolate has shocked me no end, and although I stumble every now and again, I am no longer eating it each and every day. I have found eating in moderation really does do wonders, and you still get to have a little bit of the forbidden treats that you crave.

A big part of my weekly routine sees me visiting the gym, I try to go each evening where I focus my main efforts on cardio. I typically spend around 50 minutes on the cross trainer and then work my way around the weights. In the 3 months since joining the gym I have noticed changes that are beginning to take hold. The changes have been gradual and it hasn’t happened over night, my results have been in conjunction with eating well and working out.

A month or so ago I was sent a pair of Ilu Sheer Panel Capri Leggings for use at the gym. I liked the look of them and was even more impressed with them when they arrived. They are completely different to any other gym clothing I own, and I love that they are so unique. The leggings are black and feature a black netting up each side of the leg. They fit perfectly and I feel incredibly comfortable while I am wearing them for my training sessions. As the leggings are so different to anything else I have found that people have been rather complimentary about them, which has actually caught me a little of guard at the gym!

The leggings are designed to make you look and feel great, they boast a tummy flattening, bottom shaping design paired up with a high sheen finish, and they really do look amazing. I have actually just placed an order on the website to get myself a second pair of these leggings, this time with the Pink netting. Ilu are currently holding their end of season sale, so I actually treated myself to a new top as well.  I have been really impressed with the sports range available, and you can see for yourself just how different it is to general sportswear.

They are currently on sale at £17.99 down from £35.99, so if you have your eye on a pair get them while stocks last!

Another much welcomed gym addition is my set of Yurbuds Inspire Pro for Women Headphones. They have been specifically designed for ladies ears for use during sporting activities. I have found them a godsend after using my iPhone headphones for a few weeks, and getting incredibly frustrated each time they fell out and I had to put them back in. The Yurbuds Headphones stay in throughout the duration of the activity, they are comfortable and perfect for my needs. They retail at £24.99 and I wouldn't be without them during my training sessions these days.

Each change I have made has helped me on my way to where I am today, I am now 2l lbs lighter than I was when I first started on this path. I have lost inches all over, I have achieved my biggest goal which was to be comfortably back in my size 8 clothing. My next challenge is to now to just keep going on my mission to tone up. It really does just go to how that if you really want something, and you are willing to work for it, you can achieve it.

14 weeks later I would gladly jet off to sunnier skies, and I would without a shadow of a doubt be comfortable enough to don a bikini, and for me to say that after feeling so self-conscious only 3 months ago.. It is clear to me that I am feeling a lot better about myself and my confidence is returning.

Since my last post 5 weeks ago I have gone on to lose another 4.6 lbs. The weight that is coming off is now just due to the fact I am not putting the rubbish I was in my body. I am a lot more conscious about what I eat, and this is reflecting in a slow but steady weight loss.

Disclaimer: I was sent the Ilu Sheer Panel Capri Leggings and Yurbuds Inspire Pro Headphones for the purpose of this post. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

A Healthier Me - 6 Weeks In

I am now 6 weeks into my new found ways. I have pushed the temptation of takeaway far, far away and have been attending the gym on a regular basis. In 6 weeks I feel like I have come a long way, my appetite has changed, and I seem to get full on smaller portions of food, not to mention that I have barely touched a single piece of chocolate!

In the last few weeks my weight loss seems to have plateaued, I reached 9 stone 1lbs and that is exactly where I stayed for the next 12 days. I put this down to being more active in the gym and potentially building up muscle which would mask my actual weight loss. I do need to start taking measurements so that I can have a better idea of my achievements week by week.

Last Friday I finally lost that pesky pound that had been hanging around, and I found myself at exactly 9 stone. I felt happier about this than I had about the entire weight loss so far, it felt like I was reaching my first milestone, and it felt like I had to work so much harder to achieve it. 

This week has seen me rejoicing some more, in my 6th week I have now lost 12lbs exactly, bringing my weight in at 8 stone (Yes 8!) and 13lbs! I may have actually beamed from ear to ear when I saw the scales displaying these numbers, in fact I had to triple check just to make sure!

Phsically I am still not seeing any changes, but I guess as these things happen so gradually over time, I won't notice anything until I look back over the next few months.

With my new found motivation I am really excited about the months ahead, I am feeling energetic and incredibly motivated. 

As I have decided to share my weight loss journey I thought that it would be great to share my experiences as I go. I will be talking more in the weeks ahead about how I am getting on and how I am achieving each milestone. I look forward to using the Fitbug Orb to help me push forward and track my goals. I have a few fitness treats arriving over the coming week, and I will be providing full reviews on each of the products. 

One of the products I am especially excited about is the Brabantia Body Analysis Scales, they offer a whole range of statistics that the average bathroom scales don't. Having only used the average scales we currently own I did feel like I was missing a trick, I can view an accurate measurment of my BMI, weight, body fat, water and muscle percentages. I can even set up a personal profile with my age, gender and height that enables me to keep track of my progress.