Starting My Journey

So I know what you’re thinking…I’m 21 years old, how have I let it get to the point where I need to go to Slimming World?

Well the answer is simple, I have no self control. Sound familiar? Still, I never thought it would come to this. I hope no one who does go to Slimming World already will mind me saying this, but in my mind it has always been something for slightly ‘older people’, maybe people who have had kids, and certainly not me. But I was really wrong, so if that’s what you think then you should really head over to your nearest group, and for a start take a read…

My weight issues have been some of the hardest things to come to terms with in my life and I’ve tried and I’ve tried to do something about it. A couple of years ago I lost 3.5 stone in three months on the Ducan Diet, but immediately put that back on again (and then some) and since then I haven’t stopped gaining. In the last year however things have really spiralled, I’ve become unable to recognise sensible portion sizes and I don’t even blink at eating an entire bag of sweets on the way home from work. So it’s time to do something about it, and that something started today at my first Slimming World group.

The group I’m going to is in Oxford, at St Jame’s Church in Cowley and is run by Rachel, who seems lovely! We were greeted with a really warm welcome, and had our introductory session whilst everyone else was weighing in. We learnt all about our ‘Free Foods’ (foods you can eat as much of as you like), ‘Healthy Extras’ (healthy foods which are either high in calcium or fibre which you have to weigh out) and ‘Syns’ (foods which you have to track and limit yourself too e.g. chocolate). I’m not going to go into too much detail…you’ll have to go to your nearest group for that!

Once this was all done, we all sat in a semi circle, whilst Rachel read out who had lost or gained what (in a very positive way) and gave the floor to each person to talk about what had worked for them that week, or what hadn’t. It was a really relaxed environment, where everyone was supported, and those who had gained weight were able to discuss why they had done. Similarly, everyone who had lost was able to give their tips and tricks for why they think they’d lost weight!

I’m not going to bore you with too many details but it was a really positive first experience, a I have come away with plenty of support material with which to plan my meals for the next week.

I was weighed at the end of group, and if I’m honest it felt a bit like someone had kicked me in the stomach. Like many people who struggle with their weight I have been avoiding weighing myself for a while, and I’m 1st 11lb heavier than even I thought I was! With that in mind I’ve given myself a weight loss target of 4st 11lb…this is me now but not for much longer!

Anyone who knows me knows that I do not put pictures of myself like this online. But this is the start and I don’t plan on looking like this again…so all the ‘haters’ can go suck it!

On that note, I’m off to write my meal plans, and I will be posting lots of recipes over the coming months of the ‘Slimming World Friendly’ things I come up with.

I am going to keep making other things elsewhere for those around me, so keep your eyes out for those too but If you’d like to follow my Slimming World journey please do subscribe to the blog!

Thanks for reading as ever xx

P.S

I know that calling it a ‘journey’ might seem a bit ‘icky’ but that’s what it feels like so on this occasion I’m going to be ‘icky’!