Sometimes, It's helpful to look back on how far we have come. As you know (on FB) I went to my friends wedding last night, and one of my school friends looked right past me.. and had to double check who I was! (which in itself was a wonderful feeling!)
Yesterday, I had to buy myself a new suit too.. and to be honest the waist measurement shocked me! In the left photo, I was a 54" round the waist, and in the right photo I am a 30" (perhaps not anymore after the gorgeous cupcakes and copious amounts of alcohol consumed last night, but we are only human, and it's allowed, but that's still a loss of 24" in the waist!).
Has it been an easy journey? No. I can tell you it's been filled with tears, anger, denial, hatred and a lot of the time self loathing. Is change ever easy? No.
Is it easy to change a lifetime of bad decisions, choices and coping mechanisms overnight? No.
Was it worth it? Hell yes! Simply put, it was the best decision I have ever made.
Or should I say decisions...
You see, weight loss, is a very mental journey (as with most transformations) it starts and ends with the mind and you don't just decide to change one day. You don't wake up one day and say "Today's the day I'm going to change." It's not instantaneous, It takes time. You have to be willing to wake up everyday and decide that you are committed to becoming who you truly want to be. EVERYDAY. It's not just one big decision, it's lots of little ones.
I have seen people come into group, desperate to change, and they want it NOW NOW NOW, and then get disheartened, leave and quit. They give up on themselves and believe me, I've been there too!
Like I said, you aren't just dealing with the physical issues of being fat. No - that tends to be the bodies physical manifestation of what's happening INSIDE.
You are dealing with a lifetime of perhaps being bullied, emotional scars, coping mechanisms, obsessive eating, literally years and years of turmoil inside yourself - and you want to change in a couple of weeks, or a few months?
You have to decide to change for life, and commit if you want to see success, and most of all have compassion for yourself, because you are literally unbecoming. You are healing yourself from the inside out, and it is the most beautiful and courageous act you could ever do.
If you have made it down this far, congratulations. You deserve a pat on the back, but I would also like to give a massive shout out to my Slimming world Consultant, Amanda Ritchie.
Because, she has been one of the few who have sat through the tears, and the angry episodes - and offered nothing but compassion, kindness and dedication, and I wouldn't be the person on the right, if it were not for her support.
I'd love to see you at group, and support you in making that change for life... and commit to yourself.
So, if it's 7 lbs you want to lose or 70 lbs (or more, the sky is the limit!) and you want to do it in a healthy way where you don't have to starve yourself or have shakes, or slim tea and just eat good filling food. Then I invite you along to any of these three sessions in St.Ives, Cambridgeshire.
Monday 9.30am Corn Exchange (town centre)
Monday 5.30pm and 7.30pm Crossways Centre, St. Ives, Cambs
Her Slimming World group page is
here: https://www.facebook.com/Amanda-Slimming-World-St-Ives-468…/
Make your commitment to yourself today <3 x
Love and Light,
Jack x