If I can do it any one can....

Hello every one although I have been following so many of your stories over the past few months this is the first time I have posted. So many of you have been totally inspirational to me through your ups and downs of weight lose some amazing stories that has kept me going on my own journey of weight loss. I am a 52 year old woman who has yo yo dieted on an off for most of my adult life on the 17th of November 2016 after stumbling across the Health Unlocked site and reading some of your posts I decided that I would follow the 12 week plan to the book and see how I got on. My starting weight was 10.2 stone I am 5 ft 3 today i weigh 8.4 stone. Healthy eating has become second nature now I followed a calorie controlled allowance of 1200 calories a day and basically cut out all refined sugars and fat which meant no butter, cheese, pastries, cakes, biscuits, fizzy drinks all of which I adored no alcohol at all I regarded wine as empty calories in other words high in calories with no healthy benefits at all. I was very strict with myself which in the beginning was very difficult I craved the forbidden foods desperately, but as time past my taste changed fruit a veggies became the normal alternative to snack on. When times got tough I just reminded myself how uncomfortable I felt being over weight and a choice had to be made. Exercise...well I didn't embark on any formal exercise programme but I did decide to walk/cycle as much as I could so I basically I traded my car keys for my trainers, I downloaded a pedometer to my mobile and kept track of my daily mileage which I found encouraging trying to increase a little more each time I went out, it also kept count of the calories burnt. I found that walking was a healthy option to the food cravings I experienced especially in the early part of my personal programme. Today I am a maintainer happy with my new look and weight I dropped 3 dress sizes and just feel so much more energised, but most of all the sense of achievement I did it!! The only thing I have to be careful of now is eating enough to maintain I certainly do not want to go any lower in weight. I could go from looking good to gaunt and ill. I'm sure people who read this that have also lost a lot of weight will agree calorie counting can be quite obsessive checking labels for hidden forbidden ingredients and with that can come a sense of guilt if you eat something which you have convinced yourself is not good for your body, would love to hear from any other maintainers and how they have manged to maintain. Although walking has just become the norm now running I just cant master however I have registered for a new half marathon being launched March 2018 'The London Landmarks half marathon' so I have a year to train and this is my new challenge, oh as well as maintaining of course! I'm going to start with the couch to 5 km. I just want to say a big thank you to all of you who posted and had no idea how you have helped my over the last 4 months to reach my goal reading your stories kept me going....Please Please to all of you out there that are still embarking on their weight loss programme you will have good and trust me lots of difficult days but you can do it if I did any one can, get your head in the zone and don't give in be strong.... I shall continue to follow your posts so many of you make me laugh so much with your little daily updates and of course so many of you I feel for and can relate so much to Good Luck to all of you in my thoughts Thanks for reading my post from Sharon

[lucigret]

A lovely post Sharon, now you have signed up I hope we hear more from you. I'm sure there are plenty of people on here that will find your post inspiring. Well done on your weight loss. You sound as though you know exactly how to keep that will power in place.

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

What a lovely uplifting post, Sharon! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us! As you say, it's real life accounts, such as yours, that keep us plugging away, day after day!

I have awarded you your maintainer badge, which I hope you'll wear with pride and will show off on the forum, more often and I'd like to invite you to join our maintainer's club, to keep you motivated and accountable and our Tortoise and Hare Club, for runners of all abilities

Wishing you all the very best and lots of luck for your marathon

[Hidden]

Wow, thanks for this snicolag. Truly inspirational story.

[JiminyCricket 7lbs]

Oh that's great to read! I love your new challenge of a half marathon - good luck

[Folliegirl]

Great post Hidden hope you enjoy C25K 🌻

[Hidden]

Fantastic post Sharon 💐

Really inspiring and I'm sure everyone who reads your post will feel the same. I'm taking on board what you have said about staying strong. I've been ' wobbling ' on my journey for a while but I'm taking it one day at a time 😀

Continue to enjoy your 'new' you.

😇

[nightmare1 1 stone]

Well done you

[Hidden]

Wow! How inspiring, such a great story. I've just begun my journey and would like to be in your shoes in time. Thanks for posting. 😀

[IndigoBlue61]

What a lovely story Hidden 😊 Very well done losing so much weight and getting to goal 😊 I'm so glad the forum has helped you.

I'm sure you will find the Maintainers club useful and enjoy the Tortoise and Hare posts interesting 😊

Best wishes

Anna

[missussim]

great to read your post Sharon....My ideal weight is what you started from 10.5 stone, I'm 5'6" but much older than you, which means the metabolism doesn't work as efficiently i believe, but as you said, keeping it going is key....good luck with the marathon...