Who says
you have to start everything in the New Year? I decided that today was as good
a day as any to embark on what must be the 100th diet/lifestyle
change of my life. And, just like always
I hold out the hope that this time will be different in some way, that this
time I will not only reach my goal but then can maintain it. I started
by looking at my past failures, what is it that makes me fall back into old
habits? I think my biggest fault is not
doing any exercise whatsoever, I don’t even like walking. It’s like I literally (as Charlotte my
daughter would say) have a gene missing when it comes to exercise.
Then
there’s what we eat, that’s never been over the top. But just like most people I make bad choices
here and there, but I am not someone who overeats. However, when you are not doing any exercise
I suppose it’s rather hard to burn anything off.
Then
there’s medical stuff, so the gallbladder and the lack of thyroid cause a few
issues and of course the bad back and now added to that a swollen knee which
has started screaming at me, which let’s face is blatantly because I am
carrying too much weight.
I haven’t
done any physio since I got back from Switzerland after the back
operation. A mix between being too
frightened and just not having the motivation.
I know the back operation has given me a new lease of life, but for a
while all it did was make me feel down, stupid I know, right?! The pain and
recovery has taken so much longer than I had imagined and it’s only now, a year
on that I am feeling mentally and physically strong enough to start addressing
the rest of my life.
On the
emotional front, I am in a good place. I
have a wonderful, supportive and loving husband, two beautiful girls and
parents who are simply the best. So, as
far as support goes it’s all there.
There is nothing to hold me back this time. This time however I don’t have to do it on my
own, this time my hubby is also going on this journey.
I sat down
yesterday and took measurements and weighed myself. To my horror I am the heaviest I have ever
been in my life. 91.6 Kg and
measurements that I am not ready to share!!
It seems an insurmountable task to take on, a weight loss of 26.4kg.
I don’t
know about you but I start instantly converting the amount I must lose to
things that make it more real, like 105 packets of lurpak, 9 billion grains of
sand, 8320 teabags, and the weight of the family pet. All a bit terrifying and ordinarily too much
like hard work!
But the
bigger I get the more scared I get, what is the weight doing to my poor old
back, my knee is crippling under the pressure. If I don’t make a change now,
how many years will I get with my kids before I drop down dead of a heart
attack or stroke. I want to grow really
old with my husband, he is the absolute love of my life. As it is we won’t have nearly enough time
together, yet here I am trying to intentionally cut it short.
Well, today
it will stop, today I am making a change and I do so publicly, in the hope that
may help me be a little more accountable for this journey, my journey. Plus
along the way it may encourage others to do the same.
I am coming
to the end of day one, which already feels like week three! I joined a gym for a three day trial this
morning. I was supposed to be going with
Craig but he is busy with a cold, so instead I enlisted the help of my daughter
Charlotte, who strangely needed no encouragement. I must say I often wonder where she came
from, she is a little exercise and healthy eating junky.
We set off
to the gym and I admit it, I was really nervous. A gym full of body beautiful people all
lifting weights and looking good in their lycra. Then there’s me squeezed into my gym stuff, bulging
out just about everywhere, sweating before I have even started and not knowing
what the fuck I am doing!

An hour
later, I realised that under all the flab there is in fact various muscles,
just waiting to make an appearance. We
spent 40 minutes in the gym on the bikes, steps and other machines of torture
before switching to some upper body exercises.
Then we hit the pool followed by what was supposed to be the hot and
cold recovery pools. However, I put my
foot in the cold pool and it was fucking freezing, around 10 degrees and there
was no way on this earth!! Instantly
disappointed in myself we lounged in the hot pool before I found the courage to
briefly plunge into the cold pool before losing the ability to breath, speak or
move whilst I hyperventilated, going to have to work on that one! Our gym experience was finished off with a
lovely steam room. All in all absolutely shattered after day 1!!

I can’t
fault the facilities at EMF in Nerang.
The staff were helpful and kind, I didn’t feel like I was being judged
in anyway, which is a good start. After
the three-day trial, I am thinking I will join properly but thought I would
just give it a go first. If you want to give them a trial you can get a three day pass here
Now to
think about dinner. This was always
going to be the hardest part, healthy, but filling, nutritious yet tasty. I don’t want a fad diet or something we can’t
stick to, just smaller portions and less carbs.
Although we are giving up gluten as it makes both of us feel like
crap. I am keeping one cup of tea though
because I may go mad as a Pom not to have at least one cup of tea a day!!
So roll on
day 2, on the upside I have a feeling I will sleep well tonight!
Kate x