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How re-thinking my diet led to sustainable weight loss

weight loss

I was running, going to the Gym but still not losing weight! Could re-thinking my diet lead to the weight loss results I wanted?

My fitness journey started in September 2014, after nearly 12 months my focus begin to shift to the dreaded issue of my weight.  Although I’d lost a few pound it was nowhere near the weight loss target I’d set myself.

Able to run 5km? Yep, was managing 3 times a week now

Joined a gym & going regularly?      Yep, was going a couple of times a week, also managed the occasional class! That was a first for me, especially since having the kids.

I’d stuck at it, had overcome barriers; keeping fit and active was now second nature and part of my weekly routine.

So why wasn’t I losing any weight?

Ok I’d lost a few pounds when I’d started exercising again but I’d toned up more and so wasn’t wobbling as much. OK so that was a bonus; I felt fitter and maybe more active than a lot of women my age. But standing on the scales I was still 2 stone overweight and a couple of dress sizes bigger than I was entirely happy with.weight loss

This started to de-motivate me; what was the point?

I had felt I’d reviewed my diet. I tried to be good in the week and thought in general I succeeded there. I’d stopped drinking week nights a long time ago although there was the odd re-lapse or mid week catch up with friends. Yes I did indulge at weekends, particularly on the gin & prosecco side of things, liked the odd bar of chocolate (fruit & nut in my head did count as part of my five a day). You’ve got to have some enjoyment in life! Right?

Too much fizzI’d mentioned my frustrations to a work colleague concerning lack of weight loss. He advocated that sustainable, healthy weight loss is not always down to either exclusively diet or exercise but a combination of the both. Sounded logical but he went on to say (here’s the sting) its 80% diet & 20% exercise. In my head that was simply not fair! I’m running, I’m going to the gym, I’m doing a lot more than a lot of people I know! Blah, blah, blah!

So I soldiered on. Read more

A strong person is someone who acknowledges their weaknesses and knows how to control them

A strong person is someone who acknowledges their weaknesses and knows how to control them

 

“A strong person is someone who acknowledges their weaknesses and knows how to control them”

A strong person is someone who acknowledges their weaknesses and knows how to control them #fitness #motivation Click To Tweet

Time to hit the Gym, this time I’m not quitting!

Time to Hit the Gym

Six months on ….

From initially taking up running I’d got into a routine and getting out and pounding the pavements a habit. However, I was also starting to find running a 5km fairly easy going despite mixing up routes and trying to improve on my time.  runningThen it started to happen; the prospect of putting my trainers on and getting out for a run rather uninspiring.  I suppose it was a case of now needing something else to motivate me to maintain my fitness.

Old habits can easily start creeping back

As I could have predicted my motivation to keep fit started to wane. 3 runs a week became two then sometimes one or none a week.  I was in danger of undoing all the hard work I’d done and forgetting the goals I’d been so proud of achieving.  Sitting on that sofa watching Coronation Street instead of getting out there was starting to become more appealing and the norm.  An old habit was starting to re-immerge.

So what next?

Maybe it was time to hit the gym?the gym Read more

Rebooting my Fitness; getting motivated and overcoming barriers

After having 3 children and a busy life in general getting in shape again seemed impossible. I had many barriers to overcome, but I did it! This is how I got back into running which led to me getting back into fitness and rediscovering a healthy active lifestyle. http://www.busyfitmama.com/rebooting-my-fitness-getting-motivated-and-overcoming-barriers/

Rebooting my Fitness

I’m a runner, regular gym goer and probably the fittest I have ever been despite having had 3 children and now being in my mid forties.  However, my fitness levels were never always like this as I lacked motivation and thought there were too many barriers stopping me from leading a healthy active lifestyle.  This all changed two years ago when I met up with my friend Pip in the park.

Rewind 2 Years

We were enjoying or rather rejoicing the fact it was the last week of the Summer Holidays.  It was one of those play dates when you let your kids run riot and don’t pay any attention to who they are terrorising and/or annoying while you sit putting the world to rights.  It’s like white noise after a while; don’t you just love parents who do that?  Believe me, filtering it out is a highly evolved coping mechanism of mine.

fitness

Sat in the sunshine, I was having the usual moan about life being manic, being overweight, feeling unfit, not having the time or money to do anything about it or more importantly not having the motivation.  Always the same cycle of events.  Hectic day at work, hectic post school run routine trying to feed the kids, help them with homework, prepare supper, sort the kids for the next day, reading of bedtime stories, getting the kids to bed ……..  Suddenly it would be about 9pm (ish) and there I am flopping in front of the TV, looking particularly glamorous in joggers and stained sweatshirt watching whatever happens to be on.  Might I add normally about this time one of my kids would be likely to yell, “Mum!  I haven’t done my Maths Homework and its due in tomorrow” or “Mum!!! I’ve ripped by school trousers!”  You get the picture? Sound familiar?

Anyway, back to conversation with my friend, Pip.  Instead of joining in with the usual moan (admit it we all love a Pity Party) she mentioned that she’d started running and now ran 5km 2 or 3 times a week.  She went on to say she was contemplating taking part in an organised 5km running event and was just looking for one to enter.  No! Surely not? Like me she claimed to be the busiest parent in the world!

Wow!

That stopped me in my tracks.  Pip was in the same boat as me; 3 children, a husband that travelled a lot and generally was always home late ( if home at all), plus holding down a job herself. Interested in this revelation, I wanted to know more. Read more

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