For the longest time I have wanted to start my own weight loss journey, but there was always something stopping me. “I’ll start on Monday” or “I can’t do it this week because I’m on holiday.” I’m sure alot of you can relate to those statements. There was always something stopping me from doing it, even though I knew I needed to. After the 3rd lockdown in England, I really tried my hardest to do what I could to get healthier. Both physically and mentally. I went for 2 walks a day, I tried intermittent fasting and I just kept on gaining weight. I really struggled with body image.
After receiving some health news from my doctor, I knew it was time for a change. And really that was the motivation I needed. And even after receiving that news, it still took months for me to get started. It’s like I wanted to change, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready to commit to doing it. Because embarking on a lifestyle change like this is a really big deal.
Before I get further into this, I really want to make it a point that this is my journey. I am not inviting any negativity into this space. I don’t want to start a conversation about body image, gaining weight etc. You can be happy in your body, whether you are smaller or bigger. But remember, not everybody wants to stay the same. It can be a positive thing to lose weight and want to become healthier as long as its done in a healthy way. If the discussion of losing weight triggers you, please don’t read this post. You are responsible for the information you consume.
FINDING MY WHY
As mentioned in the intro, it can be quite hard to start your weight loss journey if you don’t have a why. And I knew I needed to find mine. I have always struggled with being overweight, and being from Caribbean descent makes it even harder to lose weight.
I knew that my why needed to be for me, and me only. It was important for me to remember that I wasn’t doing this to impress others, or to look more appealing to others either. I needed to do this for my own sanity, and for my own health. Your why can be any reason, and thats the beauty of it. Because its your why. You decide you want to do this and change your life. Don’t let others dictate your why.
Getting the news from my doctor that I had this new health condition meant that I needed to do something about it to reduce the problems I was facing. And losing weight and being more active was one sure way to do this. So thats exactly what I started to do.
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DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY
I have tried so many diets and weight loss clubs over the years. Some have worked, and some haven’t. Some have also left me with an awful relationship with food. I joined slimming world, which is similar to weight watchers. And I lost about 3 stone/19kg/42lbs, which was great but keeping it off was the hardest part. I gained it all back when I stopped eating how they told me and gained more. But the awful part was how I looked at food. They label bad food as syns, which in itself is a horrible way to view food. Food is not a sin.
When starting my weight loss journey again, I knew I had to do something differently. And this is where my lovely online coach comes in. She has made this whole process so much easier, and has really helped me to repair the way I look at food.
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REPAIRING MY RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD
I have been on my new lifestyle journey now for 2 and a half months. I workout 5 days a week and eat within a calorie deficit. I can eat the food I love and I feel so much control over what I eat and I haven’t had this control for a really long time. Changing my relationship with food has probably been one of the hardest things to do. I have completely fallen in love with exercise and have rekindled my love for running. But food has been the hardest to repair.
After years of thinking I needed to deprive my body of the food I love to lose weight, I have found it hard to shift that mentality. I am constantly reminding myself that food is fuel, and food is to be enjoyed. Everything in moderation.
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THE CHANGE SO FAR
Same jumper, different body! It’s so crazy to see how my body has transformed so far.
Are you on your own weight loss journey? Do you enjoy working out?
Over the next weeks and months I will be sharing more of my journey with you guys! I’m really excited and looking forward to see where I am in the next 2 months!
So proud of you and your outlook on your journey! You look amazing! I have an odd relationship with food and have been taking it slow and choosing better options than a Nandos hahaha.
Thank you so much! Eat the Nando’s is what I say 🤪
Hahah! Nandos is my gourmet healthy takeaway 😂
It makes me sad that you had to make that point at the top discouraging people from shaming your choices. People can be so harsh to one another and I don’t know why. I think that people should be happy that you’re proud of your progress. You’re doing a great job btw!
Thanks Ang. I just know how some people can be. They automatically make assumptions about people who lose weight. When in reality, we don’t all have the same views do we? So I shut it down before anybody could say anything!
So true. I wish more people were understanding.
Wow so proud of your journey 👏 ❤
Very inspiring post
Thank you!
I’m so freaking proud of you Liv! You keep crushing every goal you set and never stop reaching new highs. Seeing your stats on my watch really inspires me to also get up and move, so kuddos to you for not only making a change in your own life but also in mine. You are such an inspiration! 🙌🏾
Thank you friend 💕
I am also on a weight loss journey. I have lost over 20 lbs. I am trying to pass a plateau now, frustrating. I did it because 2 doctors advised me to and people around me. Maybe your post can help me further. Great job!
This is awesome! Keep up your hard work!
Get it girl!! 💪🏻 you are such an inspiration. I especially love when you talk about your why & that can mean differently for every person. 💕
Thanks so much friend!
I’m glad you posted the disclaimer at the beginning because people can jump in with so many opinions that aren’t helpful. Wish you hadn’t needed to do that. But good for you and your timing and your goals. You’re right—not everyone wants to stay the same. Cheers to your journey!♥️
It makes me sad too, but I know there is so many different feelings around weightloss. But I wanted to reiterate you can do it, and it can be healthy and positive!
Congrats on the weight loss. I love reading stories about what works for others. I’m in a rebound phase of my own fitness journey and reading things like this inspire me to keep going. Nice post!
You can do this! Thanks for reading!
Great achievement Olivia👍
Thanks so much!
You are welcome ☺️
Well done on your weight loss journey and I enjoyed reading this!! Keep going 💪💪
Thanks Darren!
You are good so absolutely well!
This was much more than a weight loss tips post! This was a motivating one in many ways!
Thanks so much!
I needed the inspiration.
You go, it’s inspiring.
Thanks alot!
👍🏻
This is so interesting and a great insight into your health journey. It sounds like you’ve developed a great, healthy attitude towards your health and fitness, and I’m so happy you’re seeing results but also improving how you see your body- which is always important! Thank you for sharing x
Thanks so much!
Looking incredible Olivia! So glad you’re feeling more comfortable in yourself. I was told by the doctor that I’m nearing a pre diabetic stage and that I should lose weight to combat that. I don’t eat a lot of sugar as such but I’m big on pasta and salty foods and that likely didn’t help. Carbs convert after all. If there’s anything I’ve learnt from years of struggling with an eating disorder, it’s that there’s a weight range my body likes to sit comfortably in and budging from that is not easy at all. It’s not worth it either. I feel good in my skin but I want to tone up and maybe eat cleaner so that’s the plan.
It can be really hard cant it? But, if I have learnt anything from this, its that you can lose weight and get healthier by eating right and exercising AND eating the foods you enjoy. We should never restrict ourselves!
Nice one
Thanks!
so proud of you! this is amazing progress!!
I’m not on a weight loss journey, but I am on a muscle building journey. I lost a lot of my muscle mass when I became pregnant with my firstborn and have never fully recovered. I do love working out! Knowing my body is getting stronger is one of the best feelings in the world.
Reading this makes me so happy for you! Food is such a big part of our lives and I cannot imagine how difficult it was for you to overcome that negative mentality about it. I’m rooting for you on the sidelines
This is extremely inspiring, thanks for this, this is the exact reason I started my fitness blog, fitness changed my life and I wanted to spread the message
Very proud! You might like some of my fitness tips on my blog but you might not need them anymore!!
Late to the ‘party’ but just so good to see someone talking about their personal relationship with food.
It’s obviously different for everyone but it’s just so easy to end up viewing food from either end of the two extremes, especially with the proliferation of high sugar, high fat, high salt, highly convenient foods.
You’ve done so well, as evidenced by your sweat shirt, and I look forward to hearing more about your journey 😃
Thanks so much Paul!
Hi Olivia, congratulations on your weight loss success! I went up and down for years as well until I finally learned how to lose weight and keep it off with a low carb diet. Once a person stops doing whatever they are doing to lose weight, the weight will always come back. So, the key to losing weight and keeping it off is to find something you can stick with doing. Glad you took the leap to start your weight loss journey!
Congratulations
Thank you!
Congratulations and thank you for sharing. I lost about seven pounds and gained back four. But I’m committed, no matter how long it takes to reach my goal.
Fantastic job! An unhealthy relationship with food and crash diets are a problem I also struggle with. Look forward to reading more posts from you.