About 18 months ago, I made peace with myself. I decided that I wasn’t going to chase that elusive 9 1/2 stone, and that toned tummy. I had reached my happy weight.
And that was great! I was hitting 10 stone, and fitting into all the clothes I wanted, I felt good.
I’d tried extreme dieting, done various exercise regimes, like the 30 Day Shred… but it wasn’t possible to keep it up. I had even done daily weighted Hula Hooping!
This was fun actually, I should try it again!
Then teaching happened, and along with an extra 3 hours a day at work, my pressure levels rose, my stress levels were higher, there was no time for exercise, and my eating pattern went haywire.
I still ate three meals a day, I didn’t have time to snack at work, but I was drinking more tea. Instead of one cup, with one sugar, in the morning, and herbal teas during the day, I started saying yes whenever I was asked by my colleagues, and one cup turned into around 4. My evening meal got later and later, and sometimes I wasn’t eating until 9.3o or even 10pm! And the worst thing, we had resorted to more takeaways than I wanted.
Ritu sure loves her food!
I knew I was putting on weight. My clothes started to feel really tight, I was uncomfortable in whatever I usually wore. My lethargy was getting worse again, despite taking my Vitamin D supplements.
It was the straw that broke the camel’s back when we had the photo shoot in Finland. The pictures were beautiful, it’s just I had acquired a double chin! And my face was looking decidedly plump.
See! Case in question!
I was still in the middle of term, there were reports to be written, new children to visit, and all sorts so I made a decision that, come the summer holidays I would make a conscious effort to try and improve my lifestyle. On purpose, I didn’t weigh myself. I didn’t want to know!
Today I went for a routine check-up at the Dr’s surgery. BP was fine. Then he asked me to step on the scales… Had he taken my BP then, it would have been through the roof! I knew there would be bad news on that set of scales, I just didn’t want to have it confirmed.
And it was BAD! I am 72kg, which is over 11 stone! That is the heaviest I have ever been!
In fact, the Dr was concerned, as the last time I was officially weighed, I was 2 stone lighter! When the scales hit near that weight last time, I had literally just given birth to Lil Princess, so there was a good excuse.
Officially overweight!
I was ashamed! How could this have happened? Speaking to my Pops today, even he said that he didn’t want to mention it to me, but that I had looked more ‘cuddly’ last week…
So I made that decision. I had to do something.
I invested in some detox tea last week, and had started drinking it, causing a few headaches, and a day of dodgy tummies, but that was settled.
I had made a conscious effort to eat better and was cutting out excess carbs like white bread, chapattis and pasta. Eating lots of fruit, and healthier alternative snacks…Sorry Malteasers, I cannot look at you at the moment!
So, when I got back from the Dr’s I downloaded the My Fitness Pal app so I could log my food and (any!) exercise. Then I found the Map My Walk app too.
Right. According to the Fitness app, I should be aiming to consume 1200 calories daily to aid a steady 2lb a week weight loss. And after logging my food today, I was already over by 200 calories!
So, when I got home from my in-laws, I promptly took the kids to the Gurdwara playing fields and did this!
I went for a brisk (well, brisk for unfit me!) walk for half an hour, and nearly walked 3KM! Go Me!!!!
Hot and sticky, I showered, then got the kids ready for bed.
It felt pretty good, having that walk. I need to do that regularly.
Pops even gave me another one of his ayurvedic tips. When walking hold your ring finger down with your thumb on both hands. It activates various functions, like the liver and kidney, and helps promote the weight loss too!
Now I am fighting cravings… it’s the pull of the late night snacking that I have got into the bad habit of recently. Tomorrow I am having a fasting blood test first thing in the morning, so I can’t eat or drink anything other than water for 12 hours!
But I CAN DO IT!
I know I won’t get the toned tummy again, that would take a lot of work, but if I can get myself feeling slightly like myself again, that would be perfect.
Here’s to a healthier Ritu, and I hope to update you with good news in the near future!
Have a good week all!
But I Smile Anyway... 