How can I finally make my best weight loss journey?

I am joining in the blog hop run by New Mum online to do with losing baby tummies (or in my case teenager in training tummies) and this is my second week of documenting my hopefully best weight loss journey,

Last week, I had a mixed week. There was certainly progress with me eating healthy breakfasts of cereal or boiled eggs.

I did an online supermarket shop and bought in lots of Weightwatchers meals. I did quite well at eating those and not giving in to fatty meat and so on.

Two things defeated me. Although I did not drink to excess, I drank more than I had planned to when starting my week. I think this is a relatively easy one to handle. If I don’t have drink in the house, I can easily avoid it.

For some reason, I ate butter on my bread. I don’t do that normally so what that was about I have no idea. It is a weird thing this losing weight campaign. There is a little voice in your head that encourages you to be naughty.

I have not got weighed yet but may work up the guts to face the awful truth later. After all, I can’t shout about my weight loss without a starting weight, right?

I have also invested in some clothes in a size smaller. Well, actually I got them for free but I felt they might give me another little push in the right direction.

The exercise front has not taken off at all so that is something to work on this week.

It is great to feel part of a group of women and mums facing similar challenges.

We can do this and just think how proud we will be when we do.

To find out more about the group of mums working wonders, check out #mumentum on Twitter or visit the New Mum Online blog.

Wish us luck on our best weight loss journey!

Love from the Striking Mum x

Do you struggle to shed the pounds? Are you like me with stones to lose? Do you want to strive for your best weight loss?

I would like to tell you how to think slim and lose weight.

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I started on a Thinking Slimmer programme in late January this year. If you are still chained to the idea that losing weight has to be difficult, you will probably also want to know my results really quickly.

Results

I have lost 1 stone since starting Thinking Slimmer. I am also thrilled to have lost loads of inches particularly from my tummy area but also from my hips and waist. It is great to not have to squeeze my arms into sleeves too.

How does Thinking Slimmer work?

You simply listen to a recording at a time of day to suit you. I find it forces me to take time out for myself and let’s face it most mums could do with that me time whether they need to lose weight or not. Slimpods are one part of the offer but you can also tap into Fitpods and Chillpods.

What I love about Thinking Slimmer

You are not made to feel bad nor do you beat yourself up emotionally when you make certain food choices.

You really feel that Thinking Slimmer care about you as an individual and are committed to helping you make progress.

You are given so much information to support your journey and take it at a pace that suits you.

You learn to recognise when you are full and feel OK about not clearing the plate.

You seem to feel better about yourself and become more self-accepting.

What I am celebrating partly due to Thinking Slimmer

Feeling liberated from weight loss being a struggle or upsetting in any way.

Making positive food choices most of the time.

Walking faster and feeling fitter.

Loving myself enough to dress nicely and to see there is actually quite a lovely figure going on already.

Knowing I have lost 3 stones since starting to lose weight last year. Believing that I will lose the rest and not feeling stressed about the process.

I asked Sandra from Thinking Slimmer for her view and loved it when she said

“For me, the most important part of all, it works from the inside, building self-esteem so you reconnect with who you are and begin to love who you see in the mirror. When you are empowered, anything is possible!”

Want to retune your mind so food is in its rightful place in your life?

Check out Thinking Slimmer.

Let’s get this week’s Muffin Top Monday started my blog hop for mums who are trying to shed stones and pounds.

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You can post about weight loss as you see fit and if my headings help do use them but don’t feel constrained by them.

1. How was my weight loss journey this week?

On the whole, I have done well.

I seem to have put on a pound but I did not get an accurate reading as I usually do at the weekends.

My measurements showed a reduction particularly around the muffin top which please me loads.

2. How much had I hoped to lose?

I had hoped for a 1-2 pounds loss. I appear to have put on a pound but I did have my time of the month which can always stir things up a bit.

3. What have I enjoyed eating this week?

The thing I enjoyed eating most was the chocolate and coffee mousse I made for Valentine’s Day. I have enjoyed all my food this week the healthy and the not to healthy,

4. Have I eaten anything unhealthy this week?

I had an Indian takeaway.

I drank rum and coke two nights in a row. I also had 3 helpings of that chocolate mousse.

5. How are you feeling about losing weight?

I got upset when my GP noted my weight loss but did not do a merry jig, give me a gold sticker or invite me to become and inspirational speaker. I wish they would realise that a little praise is a very motivating thing. I feel this drove me to comfort eating for the first time in months.

I am taking part in a Thinking Slimmer focus group and enjoying visualizing how I will look in the future.

I am celebrating the changes I see in my body particularly in the bath where instead of a huge mound from under the boobs there is now a spare tyre forming. Who would have thought when I was in my twenties that I would have celebrated that? It is progress and I intend to monitor it all because when I am slim, I hope my story will help others.

5. Do you have a top tip to share with us?

It is important to forgive yourself and to get right back on track.

As I say, you can link up any weight-loss related post and I look forward to getting to know you and celebrating our success in due course.

I will visit all posts and encourage others to visit too via the blog hop and by promotion on social networks. Please do try to visit other posts to lend your support with a friendly comment and if you can share on your social networks, even better.


What are my best weight loss tips?

Here is this week’s Muffin Top post but please be aware you can link up on any day of the week with your best weight loss related blog posts.

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If you don’t blog, please leave your best weight loss comments.

Here are my top ten tips for the best weight loss. I am not a guru and you must do what works for you as the individual you are but some of these might just help.

1. Make a real commitment to your healthy eating. You want the best weight loss so you are worth it.

In the past, I think I have had a bit of a “What can I get away?” attitude. If you think about it, unless you make a lifestyle change to healthy eating most days of the week, you are already sabotating your weight loss efforts.

2. Find someone who has lost weight to inspire you.

I had a lot of weight to lose. I needed to find someone who had lost stones and stones to inspire me. I read Josie Gibson’s book and in my first few weeks every time I Had a wobble I would look at her before and after pictures. It kept me on track.

3, Accept that you may well be on a long journey and visualize the amazing destination.

It can be daunting when you are facing a long time before you have any chance of getting slim again. For me, I estimated it would take between 1 and 2 years depending on how much weight I lost on a weekly basis. When I accepted that fact that might not be thrilling but is never the less true, I really visualized the destination. I made myself excited about it. I imagined myself buying clothes to look lovely in rather than clothes to mask the wobbles.

4. Accept that you are already gorgeous inside and that the outside will soon reflect that too.

In the past, I have always thought I that I could aim towards looking decent or more reasonable. Now I am aiming for looking gorgeous and sexy. It does not matter if when I end this journey, people don’t see me that way. It matters that I am aiming for the best.

5. Reach out for support.

I did this via Facebook, Twitter and my blog. It is a sign of strength to ask for help and you will be stunned how many generous souls really do wish you the best. You don’t need to know why they want to support you – just bask in the fact that they do. Make sure you thank them and regularly too. Lots of people have helped my journey but I remember I had a real mind-shift when Katy Hill told me she knew I could do it. I have thought that every time a negative thought slips into my brain. If that Katy believes it, this Katy will do it.

6. Don’t stress the blips

If you give in to temptation and eat something less than ideal, forgive yourself immediately, If you don’t it is so easy to give up altogether and start comfort eating to deal with your negative thoughts. You had a blip. You are human. Move on positively.

7. Choose foods that you enjoy

If you don’t like some healthy foods, why would you eat them? They won’t make you feel good. If you are like me, there will be healthy foods that you love. For me these include avocados, smoked salmon and eggs. Indulge in the healthy foods you love and you will be happier.

8. Get real about the health risks you are taking

Don’t be like me and wait till you get a health warning to start getting yourself sorted. I am doing my absolute best to reverse my prediabetes but if you are not already at risk of diabetes, heart disease or whatever, why go there in the first place? Don’t assume you can keep getting away with eating unhealthy foods. It will catch up with you.

9. Get real about the size of the problem.

You need to face those scales and/or take your measurements. Only when you know the size of the problem can you devise a strategy to deal with it. Record your weight and measurements at the start of journey because you will want to celebrate how well you have done when you are slim. Take photographs to track your progress too an yes we all hate those before ones but use them as motivation to never look like that again.

10. Celebrate every baby step

Tell yourself how wonderful you are every time you make a healthy eating choice. If you lose any weight, celebrate. If you lose any inches or part of inches, throw a party. Every journey has milestones. Make sure you identify loads along the way and you can stay positive as you tick them off.

So let’s get this week’s Muffin Top Monday started. You can post about weight loss as you see fit and if my headings help do use them but don’t feel constrained by them.

1. How was my weight loss journey this week?

I have now lost over 2 and a half stone since late November 2014.

I have lost 2 and a half inches off my tummy this week. Also smaller amounts off other parts of my body.

2. How much had I hoped to lose?

I had hoped for a 2-3 pounds loss. I lost 3 pounds.

3. What have I enjoyed eating this week?

Sea bass and trout. Am leaving cobbler alone for a while as find it a bit bland.

4. Have I eaten anything unhealthy this week?

I had a service station meal yesterday on a day out. I can’t say I enjoyed it hugely. It was OK but these days I really do prefer healthier options.

5. How are you feeling about losing weight?

Positive. Sometimes I get a bit down about how long it will take for me to slim but in life terms, a year and a bit at most is not really that long at all.

5. Do you have a top tip to share with us?

I have 10 this week – see above.

With love from the Striking Mum x

As I say, you can link up any weight-loss related post and I look forward to getting to know you and celebrating our success in due course.

I will visit all posts and encourage others to visit too via the blog hop and by promotion on social networks.

I think it is important to give and find support for weight loss for mums.

I started a weight loss linky last week called Muffin Top Monday although be aware you can link up on any day of the week with your weight loss related blog posts.

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If you don’t blog, please leave a comment as to how you are doing.

Only one person linked up last week but after years of blogging, I know that if two people can support each other in challenging times that is perfectly valid and fine. Of course, if more bloggers would like to join in this week, that would be amazing too.

You can post about weight loss as you see fit and if my headings help do use them but don’t feel constrained by them.

1. How was my weight loss journey this week?

I wrote down some monthly targets in my diary.

I also took my measurements – scarily huge! However, they will provide another measure of this journey as I go along.

2. How much had I hoped to lose?

I was hoping to lose 2 pounds this week whilst recognising that even a pound per week is a great loss.

3. What have I enjoyed eating this week?

Avocados – healthy fats and I restrict myself to two per week.

Porridge made with almond milk.

Lots of fish and vegetables.

4. Have I eaten anything unhealthy this week?

Yes I had some meat yesterday which I found incredibly difficult to eat. I think my tastes have changed radically in the last 3 months.

I also had some cheesecake and biscuits which was silly as I never eat such things these days.

4. How are you feeling about losing weight?

I was feeling positive and motivated. I still am but I had a wobble yesterday when I saw women much smaller than me saying how fat they felt. It made my journey seem a very long one again. So I got emotional and turned to sweet things as above. So silly but I am back on track the next day so forgive myself.

Support for weight loss also involves us looking after ourselves and our emotions.

5. Do you have a top tip to share with us?

Take things one day at a time and celebrate every day of healthy eating.

Almond milk – I love how this tastes so creamy and yet is so healthy.

6. Have you lost any weight this week?

I have lost 3 pounds this week bringing my total loss to well over 2 stones. This is what that looks like.

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As I say, you can link up any weight-loss related post and I look forward to getting to know you and celebrating our success in due course.

I will visit all posts and encourage others to visit too via the blog hop and by promotion on social networks.

We can all give support for weight loss.

Wbat support for weight loss do you need today?