Wow my first fastiversary. I am sat here typing this 4 stone lighter than this time last year and a lot fitter as I am now jogging at least twice a week for at least 25 minutes after completing the couch to 5k programme. I could not have done this without the support of my family, friends and this forum. Thank you for the challenges and support. 
I hadn’t really dieted before, a couple of years ago I lost a little bit of weight and then maintained it but it was slowly creeping up again and I knew I needed to do something. There is a high blood pressure and heart conditions on both sides of the family as well as diabetes. I was starting to get back pain if I stood for too long. Plus clothes were getting expensive I couldn’t fit into the supermarket bargains. I didn’t do healthy foods really and portion size was way too big. This was the beginning of November but I knew I would not do anything until the new year. I had heard about fasting on different tv programmes and read articles on the internet and to me it seemed doable for me. I am not one for standing up in front of people and being told what to do so knew SW and WW wouldn’t work for me also it was too restrictive in what you could eat. I did some more research in the lead up to Christmas and spoke to a couple of people about it. Found out my SIL did 5:2 and my Mil did a eat stop eat type of programme instead. This helped make the decision that this was the way forward for me.
When I started this last year I wasn’t sure I would last the first week. My first fast day didn’t go as well as I expected. I had gone out without breakfast and didn’t get back until early afternoon so decided I might as well make it my first day as I hadn’t eaten. I think I did nearer 1000 rather than 500 but it was still a big reduction from what I was eating. I luckily discovered the forum on my first day and signed up straight away. I weighed 17stone and 7lb. I was slightly shocked by this but not a big surprise I knew I had started to put on weight again as my clothes were edging up from a UK 20 to 22. I decided I didn’t want to wear that size dress to my SIL’s wedding in the summer the lack of choice was a big factor. (I did manage to go in a size 16).
So my original goal was to drop a couple of dress sizes. Perhaps get down to 14 stone. I weighed after a fortnight and had lost 10lb. I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked it was that easy to lose over half a stone. I did struggle a bit on the first couple of weeks. I was used to eating when and whatever I wanted and needed to retrain my body.
I started to do some exercise on the Wii fit as felt I needed to be active as well. This soon changed to wanting to be outdoors when the weather improved and so the Couch to 5k programme seemed like a good place to start. I am very unsporty so it was a shock to the system at first but although it took 6 months I did complete the course. I am carrying on with the running as I enjoy it.
So a year on I have lost in total 57lb and gone down a couple of dress sizes but I am not ready for maintenance yet. I have readjusted my goals and decided I do still need to reduce my weight to be healthier. So onwards and downwards for the next year.
I hadn’t really dieted before, a couple of years ago I lost a little bit of weight and then maintained it but it was slowly creeping up again and I knew I needed to do something. There is a high blood pressure and heart conditions on both sides of the family as well as diabetes. I was starting to get back pain if I stood for too long. Plus clothes were getting expensive I couldn’t fit into the supermarket bargains. I didn’t do healthy foods really and portion size was way too big. This was the beginning of November but I knew I would not do anything until the new year. I had heard about fasting on different tv programmes and read articles on the internet and to me it seemed doable for me. I am not one for standing up in front of people and being told what to do so knew SW and WW wouldn’t work for me also it was too restrictive in what you could eat. I did some more research in the lead up to Christmas and spoke to a couple of people about it. Found out my SIL did 5:2 and my Mil did a eat stop eat type of programme instead. This helped make the decision that this was the way forward for me.
When I started this last year I wasn’t sure I would last the first week. My first fast day didn’t go as well as I expected. I had gone out without breakfast and didn’t get back until early afternoon so decided I might as well make it my first day as I hadn’t eaten. I think I did nearer 1000 rather than 500 but it was still a big reduction from what I was eating. I luckily discovered the forum on my first day and signed up straight away. I weighed 17stone and 7lb. I was slightly shocked by this but not a big surprise I knew I had started to put on weight again as my clothes were edging up from a UK 20 to 22. I decided I didn’t want to wear that size dress to my SIL’s wedding in the summer the lack of choice was a big factor. (I did manage to go in a size 16).
So my original goal was to drop a couple of dress sizes. Perhaps get down to 14 stone. I weighed after a fortnight and had lost 10lb. I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked it was that easy to lose over half a stone. I did struggle a bit on the first couple of weeks. I was used to eating when and whatever I wanted and needed to retrain my body.
I started to do some exercise on the Wii fit as felt I needed to be active as well. This soon changed to wanting to be outdoors when the weather improved and so the Couch to 5k programme seemed like a good place to start. I am very unsporty so it was a shock to the system at first but although it took 6 months I did complete the course. I am carrying on with the running as I enjoy it.
So a year on I have lost in total 57lb and gone down a couple of dress sizes but I am not ready for maintenance yet. I have readjusted my goals and decided I do still need to reduce my weight to be healthier. So onwards and downwards for the next year.
