From as far back as I can remember I have wanted to lose
weight and the dream of being thin has always been at the forefront of my
desires…I think at this point it might be useful to point out that I am very
dramatic and parts of this blog may be slightly enhanced…
So basically I was at an all time low in the chubbiness
stakes…I had never felt fatter and it was getting me seriously down. I had
started counting calories and trying to keep to about 900 calories a day – most
of this was made up with packaged products with little or no nutritional value
but was easy to count up. Bearing in mind I am nearly five foot eleven and of a
larger frame…there was no way this diet was sustainable, I was shattered and
starving for nearly the entire time and don’t think I lost a pound (PFFT).
Things were dire and I was contemplating purchasing some
seriously dodgy ‘weight loss aids’ from eBay as a desperate attempt to shed
some timber before a holiday I have planned to Las Vegas. Needless to say as
many diets had done before this one, it was destined to fail before it had even
started…
Out of nowhere I received a message on Facebook to say that
I had won a “Drop A Dress Size” wellness plan…I recalled ‘liking and sharing’ a
page but didn’t imagine I would ever win. I was ecstatic – it was perfect
timing and it felt like fate. Sara who runs the Wellness Camp messaged me the
details and asked if I would like to accept the prize which included eight
exercise sessions and a nutritional plan – with all measurements taken before
and after the diet started – OBVS I said yes!!
I didn’t quite know what to expect when I went to the first
session, I was very nervous about being weighed…apart from myself, my doctor
and one very enthusiastic Slimming World representative I don’t think anyone else has ever known what
I weigh…straight away Sara made me feel at ease. She didn’t give me any
disapproving glances when I hopped on the scales and didn’t try and push on me
the importance of weight loss…this was a big thing for me. I am very conscious
about my weight and can be super sensitive so was nervous I would burst in to
tears at the sight of a tape measure and run out of the session never to be
seen again…
Sara was really supportive and unlike the Slimming World
experience where the ‘weigher’ grabbed my arm and said (with her eyes) “we will
help you get there” (kill me now!) it was just all very comfortable. No drama,
fuss free and she just generally gave the impression that she was a nice person
who wanted to support me without making me feel like I had a mental disease
because of my unhealthy relationship with food!
So, after Sara had measured me and jotted down all my
details she explained the nutrition plan – at first, I will be honest, I was a
little bit nervous that I wouldn’t be able to stick to it. It was very
different to how I was used to eating and I couldn’t spot one little carb on
there, not even the well loved household, humble spud…however with every inch (lots
of them!) of my being wanting to change how I look and feeling mentally strong
I was ready for it. After seeing the scales spin round the numbers twice (this
may be an exaggeration), Sara’s supportive and informative words and my holiday
to Las Vegas in mind, I was determined that I would give this diet my absolute
best shot.
After the measurements we went through to the fitness class.
The class went really quickly but it was hard. The girls in the group were
really friendly and Sara explained each exercise. Afterwards, I genuinely
thought I was going to pass out (it is worth noting my first session took place
in the height of our mini heatwave aka two week summer) I was sweating and
could see a cheeseburger guiding my soul into the light as I wobbled down the
steps to my car…I felt completely done in, but felt good I had done it. I had
to sit in my car for a good ten minutes before I felt ok to drive. This is a
reflection on my own poor personal fitness, Sara hadn’t pulled a whip out and
forced us all to do military style drills, in fact the opposite, she encourages
you to listen to your body and know how far you can push but still wills you on
to get to that limit before giving up.
Needless to say, the following day I WAS SORE. It felt
satisfying to think I had worked hard enough to feel like that. Ten bottles of
radox, lots of hot baths, stretching and a few miles walking I felt right as
rain and couldn’t wait for the next class!
Now, like any avid yo-yo dieter knows, all diets start on a
Monday, it is an unwritten law in the yo-yo dieters handbook so sticking with
this lifetime habit, I started the nutrition plan on Monday 15th July.
Just as a sample this is what I ate on the first day:
Breakfast: Grapefruit
Lunch: Tuna Salad
Snack: Hummus and carrots.
Tea: Chicken Salad
The days that followed took similar format, meat, fish, veg,
salad, eggs – no pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, crisp, fizzy drinks, chocolate
etc…pretty much just good, fresh food. Greek yoghurt was listed on the plan and
I really loved having in for breakfast with berries or a banana – fruit doesn’t
play a huge part in the diet so I was always really grateful for some berries!
Pictures of my food diary are included below:
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I don’t drink a lot of alcohol anyways so it wasn’t an issue
for me not to have any on the plan but so I didn’t feel like I was missing out
when I went the pub etc I would order soda and lime (preferably fresh
lime/lemon) – it is really refreshing and it felt like I was having a little
treat!
It took my body a good couple of weeks to adjust to the diet
change, it varies in people and some people adapt faster than others. Around
day fourteen I was struggling – I had pains and felt absolutely exhausted. I
was beginning to think about moving over to Slimming World and giving that
another try. My dieting buddy – who I will refer to as Mrs C – had been doing
SW and having really good results. I made the (stupid) decision to get weighed
around this time…I had lost five pounds in two weeks. I wasn’t happy. Mrs C had
been loving SW and having potatoes (JEL) and had lost more than that…I was really
upset and felt like my effort wasn’t paying off. So basically I cried for a
while, annoyed all my friends and loved ones with my sad face and then thought
about the fact Sara had told me it doesn’t go off just weight and measurements
are more important as these reflect size more than weight does…I made a
confession to Sara at my next session – to be fair she didn’t seem shocked that
I had weighed myself against her advice- probably because I come across as an
obsessive nut job…anyhoo, back on the wagon I tried to remain positive and
remember how good the classes were making me feel. Little advice from Mrs C and
I was back on it and enthusiastic to lose weight and change my appearance.
Strictly speaking the plan is 28 days – however, because of
my penchant for Monday morning diet starts I had actually only done 23 days
when I got measured and weighed. I stuck to the diet all the way through and
like Sara said my body did adjust to the diet and I felt healthier and more
energetic. People commented that I “looked glowing” – which was weird – partly
because I was hoping if anyone had commented on my appearance it would be “Wow
Sarah, we barely seen you there because you’ve lost so much weight…” but also
because I had never ever associated dieting and fitness with my overall
wellbeing. Anyone who knows me knows that I am often fraught with negativity
about myself so it is a massive thing for me to say that the plan and the
classes had really improved my confidence and the obsession with losing weight
had started to be replaced with feeling better about myself.
The classes are always a hard workout for me but they have
got easier and they go really quickly. Sara changes them each time so they are
always different. Like dieting, I have tried many exercise fads…I have been a
member of two gyms and even though the second gym has been utilized a lot more
I still never really enjoyed any of the classes. Most of them would be an hour
long, which is just too long for me, my attention span goes after 40 minutes so
Sara’s 45 minute sessions are perfect for me.
A few wise words from Mrs C and my Mum and a comment from my
fella’s Nana that I ‘had slimmed right down’- I was ready for the scales.
I arrived to the session on 6th August (FYI my
birthday!) and was so nervous. I knew I had stuck to the plan but was so used
to failing at diets I expected poor results. So in we went to get measured.
Sara was excited because she said she could tell I had lost…I bounced on the
scales…I didn’t have my glasses on so had to rely on Sara to tell me I had lost
ONE STONE AND ONE POUND… I didn’t believe it…I got on again…I felt dizzy with
relief and disbelief all rolled into one.
Next…the measurements…in total I had lost 16.5 inches –
mostly from my belly which I was very pleased with. I wandered into the
exercise session in a happy daze…when the session was over I couldn’t wait to
get home and tell everyone my good news…truth be told they were more relieved
than I was, I don’t think they could face my heartbroken self again (after the
breakdown on day fourteen).
I am going to continue the sessions and Sara has given me a
second nutritional plan which is a little bit different from the first one and
I have already started it (on a Wednesday I may add).
Well Woman Wellness Camp really has helped me change how I
think about losing weight. There is no disputing I will probably fall off the
wagon at some point but for now I am feeling confident. I have about three
stone I would like to lose and I am going to give it a good try. I go on
holiday in three weeks time so I am going to stick to the plan religiously
until then and then return to it when I come home. It is hard but it is totally
achievable and if I can stick it out anyone can! I can’t wait to get on the
scales and be a stone lighter and inches smaller…I would recommend this plan to
anyone but especially to all those yo-yoer’s out there…WE CAN DO IT!!
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