Dee’s Weight Loss Part 4

Dee’s Weight Loss Part 4

Dee’s weight loss part 4 tells you what she has been up to.

I have not posted a blog for a little while because I have decided to only post when I have lost another kilo. Well, now I have reached 4kg lost of my 10kg target. I’m really starting to notice a difference in my clothes and even digging some of my new dresses, bought on impulse, that still had tags on! You know the ones, you have them too.

Since watching those videos Dr. Robert Lustig, it has made me so aware of what I am eating. It is so worthwhile recognizing that we all need to find our own motivators. His teachings make complete sense to me when it comes to calories and sugar in particular. But please don’t think I am a saint, far from it. I still fall off the wagon from time to time, after all, I am only human. One thing I do still enjoy is my milky coffee (decaf of course) and dark chocolate every day, two things I will not give up. For the rest of my weight loss, I put it down to zero snacking on crisps, no added sugar, and only eating fresh produce. Oh and I try not to eat late at night, that is definitely not allowed. These days I barely sit and watch TV, as my days are so full. However, I have been binge-watching The Sinner on Netflix when I have needed some downtime. If you have not seen it and you like a thriller, with twists, it is a gripper.

It also helps when you have loving supportive people around you.

Stay Focused on what’s important

Stay focused on what’s important and why you want to lose weight. We have our own personal drivers for losing weight, and mine is not menopause. It is knowing that I want to live a very long time, in a body that will support me. As you know my own mother is 91 years old, she is still mobile to a point and has only been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s within the past 4 years. She has lived a life growing her own vegetables,  and keeping healthy, moving physically through gardening mostly – and I took on that role quite some time ago now. I miss her in the garden, but I still try to keep her involved as much as is possible. I used to watch her work, now she watches me.

Over the last 8 weeks, still being perimenopausal, I have had 3 periods, one light and two very heavy. Gosh, I am fed up with these. But we have to stay focused on our weight loss goal because guess what..every time we have a period we gain weight! Mine can go up at least 2 KG whilst I am premenstrual then into my period. Then it drops like a stone straight after. I get a swollen tummy, and it is very uncomfortable, but I remain optimistic, and I know that one day I will not have any periods ever again YAY! We need to try not to take Ibruprophen, though it helps, it upsets our gut health, and is not helpful during weight loss.

Don’t give up

Your weight will fluctuate. Don’t put time pressure on yourself. Just decide that losing some weight is what will keep you healthy and happy, and so that is what you will do. Set your mind to it, and go for it. Don’t put a time frame to it, because losing weight has more to do with changes to lifestyle that are permanent rather than a diet that is short-lived! You will need to make some tweaks to your diet and lifestyle, reducing stress, eating less, and moving more. Remember that stress produces an increase in cortisol which tells the brain that the body needs to hold on to fat! Relax more.

I have set my target at 10KG, but I have not said how long this will take me, I am just focused on it, and it will take as long as it takes. I focus on the end goal, of feeling healthier and happier, and wearing the jeans I love! Plus, I don’t want to become ill, I have way too much to do. If I did, knowing that I could have prevented it by losing weight, always keeps me focused. I know someone who lost their mother to lung cancer. She smoked very heavily. No matter how many times he pleaded with her to stop smoking, she did not give up. He now blames her for her own death, and his loss of a mother (she died aged 54, which is seriously too young). We all have the power to become the people we want to become. Show yourself just how amazing you can be. You will reap so many rewards. Look out for my next blog, and if you are only just tuning in, follow the previous ones below. Catch up with my journey to prove weight is possible during menopause.