one year on

I have been plannig to write a '1 year on message' for ages, but I ran out of time on my 'anniversary' so this is a 1 year and 2 days on' story really...

Before I say anything else: I am 33, and am known for the YoYo effect (up and down 1..5 stone regularly).
When I get into something I do it for a few months, then I have a holiday/ special occasion and slip away;
I have never kept up a diet or healthy eating regime for longer than 5 months.

After 1 year of exercising every day and only loosing 5 kg (approx 12 pounds) my friend Tina suggested using My Fitness Pal. She'd mentioned it before, but on 8 Jan 2012, after having gained some Christmas pounds I decided to give it a try.

At 1 meter 66 (5 foot 6):

I weighed 87.5 KG (193 pounds) at my heaviest BMI:31.9


in Jan 2011

I weighed 82.1 kg (181 pounds) when I started MFP BMI:29.8

My goal was to weigh 75 KG. (165 pounds)

I met this Goal in February 2012!!

Hold on; this is going too well! I set my next Goal; to weigh 72 Kilo (159 pounds)- the weight I was when I got married in 2006- the day after my wedding I gave up smoking and 4 monhs later I was pregnant... I gained and gained...
However; I finally managed to loose the baby fat: I met this Goal early april 2012.

4 months gone... this is normally the time to give up, but not this time; I was enjoying this; A mixture of exercise and healthy eating decisions, with 1 day off dieting every week (Friday= weighday and treat day).

I set my next goal at 68 Kilo (150lb) BMI 24.9
This was a big one; no longer over weighed, but a tough one with the summer coming up, holidays booked and people to entertain at our house.

I met this goal at the end of May


I decided to go a little further- with 65 Kilos (143 pounds) I would be ok to loose and gain a few pounds and maintain a 'health BMI'. I was more relaxed, so my weekends were 'treat weekends' and I'd only be strict in the week now.

I reached the 65 Kilos in August 2012.

I decided to up my calories from 1200 to 1450 and maintain up to christmas. this allowed me to fluctuate a little, but thanks to illness I managed to loose a further 2 pounds just before Christmas, so with my 64.2 Kilo (141 pounds) I was the lightest I had been in years at my last weigh in before Christmas.

On monday -after my holiday- I weighed myself at the end of a 2 week 'healthy eating break'. I gained a massive 9 pounds over Christmas and New Year, partly due to allowing myself to go OTT during an all inclusive holiday. However, on the scales tonight this was already reduced to a 6 pounds gain, so I am not worried. besides: I am still 31 pounds lighter than this time last year!!

My promise to myself is to get under '10 stone' this year. I want to weigh 62 kilo's (137 pounds) and then go on maintenance tracking. I never set out to be slim, I set out to be healthy. I continue my sports, but not every day (I stopped my gruelling time consuming daily regime as soon as I started MFP!), I continue eating well in the week and allowing myself some treats in the weekend.

I am 1 year on, and not only have I maintained the weight loss I achieved - I steadily continue to loose it.I now no longer look at myself and think 'Michelin man' I now look at myself and think: wow, there is an ordinary healthy woman staring back at me! One who can wear a bikini on holiday (tried and tested last week!) and not be stared at in disgust. one who can quickly grab a bite to eat and eat it on the street without people making judgements.... this is a new me, and I am loving it!!!

photo taken last week by my 6 year old:


ps: I know- my legs aren't my best features... my upper body is better- promised!