1 year on MFP and 83 lbs gone - never to be seen again...

Today I am celebrating logging onto MFP for one whole year! And what a year it has been. I have lost 35-40 kg (77-88lbs) twice before in the last decade but managed to regain these. Twice.

You have to be in the right frame of mind to go on a weight loss journey. You know you’re big, you know you ought to lose weight, but if your head is not in the right place, it just won’t happen or you just won’t maintain.

My coping mechanism for stress has always been eating. I was slightly bigger than other children at school but not huge as I’ve always been sporty and active. When I became an adult and left home, I discovered a new freedom to eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. Food at home with my parents had always been very controlled.

In 2013 things changed. I had a 2 ½ year old and a 9 month old when my husband was critically ill with leukaemia. His organs were starting to fail and doctors prepared me that either the cancer or the chemo therapy could kill him. Against all odds, he fought and won! He has been in remission ever since. As you can imagine, I put on an awful lot of weight last year when dealing with the situation of him being so poorly and being in hospital (on and off) for 5 months and functioning as a single parent to 2 young children.

My husband came out of hospital in August and I decided that I needed to get healthy. There is still a big risk of a relapse for him. I needed to be there for him and for my children. If I keep eating and putting on weight, there are just too many risks to my health. The fear of my children only having one or even no parents kick-started my mission to health and weight loss.

I started running again which had helped me lose weight before. I completed C25k to get me started and build up my stamina. I started using MFP to log everything I eat. It has been an eye opener. You think you know what’s good and what’s bad for you but I have to say I have learnt a lot about food and I now make more sensible food choices. If offered cake or a takeaway I consider whether or not it is worth me having that or if I should have a smaller portion or just enjoy it. I have not deprived myself of anything, but I try and eat less and try and stay within my daily allowance. Plus I just move a lot more.

Of course I have had overindulgent days – and that’s ok. That’s life. As long as I get back on track again, that’s great. I have tried to see this journey not as a quick fix to lose weight but to teach myself new habits and coping strategies. I surprise myself nowadays that when stressed I crave a run rather than food. I am pleased that I have managed a whole year already as it takes a couple of years to form new habits but I feel like I am on my way.

I still have about 20kg (44lbs) to lose to goal weight but I am really convinced that I will make it there this time. Then I will just have to learn to maintain as I have never maintained. I’ve only ever lost or gained.

If you want to see some pictures, click here (sorry, I couldn’t work out how to paste a link into my post. If anybody can help, please feel free…): https://www.flickr.com/photos/97614554@N06/