Joining Slimming World

I wasn’t sure if I would ever publish this post, because I find the fact that I joined Slimming World last November highly embarrassing. I don’t know why, but it is. It seems the sort of thing that people do in their forties when their metabolism has slowed, and they need some support. Judgemental, I know. I think it’s also because I don’t like to admit that I need help. I like to think I can do things on my own, but like most things – a little help is welcomed and appreciated.

Over the last few years I’ve steadily been putting on weight through eating too much of the wrong thing. I put on a little after my dad passed away and then never really got back to normal after having Otto. Then I had a miscarriage and was pregnant with Jasper quite soon afterwards, and it seemed pointless trying to be strict when my waistline would be expanding regardless of my efforts.

When pregnant with Jasper I knew that I would need some support to lose the large amount of weight that I’d accumulated. I needed a plan and some head space to make it happen. It was shocking how many times I would find myself eating something without even thinking about it. Quite scary really. I decided that I would join Slimming World as soon as I felt able after giving birth to Jasper, and a friend joined with me which has been so nice.

So far with Slimming World I have lost 25 and a half pounds and I’m really pleased with my progress. I started well – losing a stone within a few weeks, then I hit a brick wall, plus Christmas and our recent holiday, but now I’m almost approaching the home stretch. I’ve not felt this good about myself in a while, and it feels brilliant to feel comfortable in my clothes and far less self conscious about the way that I look. I feel so much better about myself when I am a healthy weight, and I didn’t fancy spending money on a new wardrobe either.

Slimming World has of course been about losing weight, but it has also been about carving some time to think about my well being each week. I take Jasper with me on a Wednesday morning, and it’s the time I reflect on how well I am looking after myself and meal plan for the week ahead. I’ve loved listening to the tips and tricks people use to stay healthy, and learnt how empowering it is to say ‘no’ to food that you don’t really want to eat. It hasn’t been easy at all. Losing weight is hard, and I am pleased with Slimming World because it encourages a healthy relationship with food and doesn’t encourage cutting out any food groups. It also means that I don’t have to cook anything different for the children.

I have just over a stone to lose, which (fingers crossed) will mean that I can fit into all of the clothes in my wardrobe. Overall, I don’t feel like my body has changed too much since having children. It has definitely got harder each time to lose weight, but I am happy with my body. I will never have slim ankles, slim wrists or slim legs, but I have come to appreciate my thicker ankles, wrists and legs because they are strong.

I suppose my motivation for writing this post is to help anyone who wants to lose weight, but doesn’t know where to start. Some people are happier bigger, but that is not me. I felt so nervous before my first weigh in, unbelievably nervous walking into my first group meeting and still get nervous every single week before weigh in. I’ve not gelled particularly well with my Slimming World consultant, but it doesn’t matter too much as the others members of the group are lovely.

It is difficult to make long lasting change and I absolutely do not eat as well as I could all of the time, but I have made big changes. I’m expecting my last bit of weight to be even more difficult to lose, but I’m determined to lose it…once I’ve got rid of my Easter holiday gain (!)

Wish me luck!

E xx