Fiona's Journal

[bradybunch]

I am nearing the end of the first part of my weight loss journey - losing the weight and establishing long-term life changes. The second part will be the maintenance part - making sure those changes stay with me for life - that's the ongoing, slightly more difficult part.

A little background about me!!

I met my husband back in 2002 when I was just coming out of a slightly abusive, unhealthy relationship. At that time, I weighed around 120lbs after I had put some weight on following my lowest weight of 102lbs but this had been achieved due to several negative factors - desperate dieting, unhappy relationships, negative self-image etc. So, basically, my diet history was bad and I hadn't really learnt to look after myself in a healthy way and although I knew about 'dieting', I knew nothing about healthy living and exercising - I was drinking, smoking etc. etc.. and treating my body like rubbish.

Then I settled into a comfy settled relationship with DH, we ate out, we drank a lot, we lived on takeawys etc. The usual story. I was happier, much happier in myself but I was still abusing my body - drinking too much, smoking, overeating, basically partying too much.

Then a couple of years ago, I decided to start making some healthy changes - I quit smoking and its coming up to 2 years now that I haven't smoked one. I still had quite a stressful, long workday though and wasn't able to commit to healthier changes elsewhere.

But something clicked last October - my DH and I relocated back to the city where we met, nearer to my family, away from the stress of working in London, and I decided that now I was going to tackle my weight once and for all.

I stopped drinking, I joined WeightWatchers and filled the house with healthy foods, started drinking water, started taking more walks every day, each time walking a little bit further. Then as the weight started coming off slowly, I thought why not join a gym? Previously I had hated the idea but I found a gym that was well-equipped but down-to-earth, inexpensive,friendly and didn't tie you in to a contract and once I started going, I found I really enjoyed it.

Now so far, I've lost 19lbs, gained a lot of respect for my body and my health, got a lot fitter and healthier and am just 8lbs away from reaching my weight goal.

I've signed up to do a charity run of 5km in June of this year in aid of Cancer Research so I am training for that. My attitude is so much more positive now that I am actually setting goals for myself and reaching them.

I look forward to tracking my fitness goals here and sharing them with you all! I'm so glad to have found this forum.

[Missy]

WOW, sounds like you are doing a fantastic job! I'm proud of you for being smoke free for 2 years, that's great! I also wanted to say congrats on the loss of 19 pounds!! I can't wait until I get to the weight you are at now *dreams...lol*

Good luck to losing your last 8 pounds!

[bradybunch]

Thank you Missy!

I have just posted my 'before' and 'during' photos in the picture gallery. Well, its pretty much before and after as I only have a short way to go now. I'm so glad I decided to keep a visual record of my weightloss journey - its so nice to be able to compare the photos and see how I have progressed.

[Trying4Thin]

Hi Fiona and welcome to the forum!

Congratulations on just about getting to your goal weight and finding the right relationship with DH. I think it took tremendous strength to overcome the things you have. Just be proud of how far you have come in only a few years. Makes me think that anything is possible!
I visited London, Liverpool, Blackpool, Suffield etc back in the summer of '90 and I loved it. The highlight of the trip was getting to see, "Phantom of the Opera." I think both Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford were still onstage at the time. That performace was awesome! I would love to visit England, Scotland, and France again sometime. Have you ever been to Greece, Ireland or Italy? Would love to go there too some day. That will happen when I get over my fear of flying....
Keep us posted on your progress!

~Carrie

[bradybunch]

Hi Carrie

Thanks for your message.

Really glad to hear you enjoyed your trip to the UK! London is a great place to visit - I used to work there until October last year.

I've never been to Greece but I have been to Dublin in Ireland which is a fantastic place to visit - great fun, very good for socialising and partying!! I went there for my sister's hen night about 3 years ago.

I've been to Italy a couple of times - both times I went to Rome. The first time was with my family and the second time with a business trip. It's a beautiful place and would definitely recommend it.

[Trying4Thin]

My parents have been to Ireland and loved it. The closest I have ever gotten to it is listening to, "The Irish Tenors." (Love them by the way). And Ronan Tynan came to speak at my university a couple years ago. What a great speaker, and all around great human being. "Hen night?" That is a new term for me! Dont kill yourself at work today. As we speak I am getting ready myself, just wanted to check in first. I am completely addicted to this page.

~Carrie

[bradybunch]

Oh that's interesting that 'hen night' is a new term for you (I find the differences between UK and US english really fascinating!!) - what do you call it? Maybe 'bachelorette party'?

Have a good day at work (well as good as Monday can get, of course!)

I also love this site - so glad I found it!

[Patty_Ann]

Congrats on your weight loss - 19 lbs is great! You have already accomplished so much I'm sure you won't have a problem losing the other 8 lbs. I'm happy to hear that you quit smoking and partying - it's always nice to hear that another person has changed their lifestyle. Congrats on finding a great man - every woman deserves a great relationship! You will find that this forum is excellent for motivation, support, and even tips on how to maintain our healthier lives. It's great and you will find many new friends. I know that I have.

[bradybunch]

Thank you Patty-Ann

I already love this site - I can see myself becoming a real regular here Everyone seems so lovely and friendly and really supportive.

[Jules]

I think it's fantastic that you realized how you were treating your body -be it food or alcohol or smoking, we all need to be kinder to ourselves. Good luck on your maintence -it sounds like you've developed some really good habits to take place of bad ones.

Just wanted to chime in on the travel aspect -I love italy too. Er, not that this is on a diet, but in Italy they make fantastic hot chocolate and pizza! I backpacked for 3 months one summer of college starting in England then Scotland, then to Austria, Italy, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, France, Belgium, then back to Wales and England. That was also the best weightloss plan ever -if you're constantly walking and carrying 70 lbs on your back, you can eat anything! I lost so much weight and had so much fun doing that -wish I could do it again. Unfortunately when I stopped backpacking I kept eating like I was (doh!)

Travel is so wonderful! I have a personal life-long goal to ride horses on every continent possible. So far I've managed Australia, Europe, Africa, and the USA. I have to get my health in control so i can someday make it to Asia and South America too.

I hope I didn't take over with this tangent in your journal -I just get so excited when people talk about travel. Good luck training for your cancer run, and I look forward to reading more of your posts on the forums.