I hate to use the term ‘weight loss’ as for me, It’s mostly fat loss and muscle gain so my weight stays pretty steady. The issue is people wouldn’t respond if I had titled this “My Inch loss for 2017”.

So let’s get into the juicy gossip shall we?

I gained weight – A lot of weight.

2016 was a bad year for most, I am not one of the lucky few that escaped the misery that 2016 had in store for us. I had a stressful last year in college, a nightmare holiday and several diet changes so my weight was on rocky turf for the entire year. The holiday in July was probably the biggest challenge for me, even after I came home I was out of myself for almost 2 months. I was just eating anything that would pick my mood up and I had no energy to exercise, I really wasn’t myself at all. It still effects me today if I’m honest with you, I often forget that I have things missing in my life and search for ‘that necklace’ or ‘that handbag’ and it may not seem like much but they’re all the memories that go with things you own….ANYWAY.

That being said, the trauma and challenges I faced in 2016 did not directly impact my weight, It’s only through the choices we make that challenge our health. It is my fault that I gained the weight but the circumstances surrounding my choices made cake a lot easier to eat.

 

My weight loss journey in 2011 was the start of this site and it meant me tracking calories, exercise and I would track my weight weekly but in the past few years I have learnt how to eat correctly and workout to maximise my results. So when it came finding ‘pre-holiday’ photos I didn’t have any! My weight had remained the same for a few years so I never tracked my body but I have taken a few pictures since putting on weight.

My body photos this year

I am not afraid to show you my bigger body as I don’t feel like it’s the real me, I rarely show pictures of myself and that’s normally because it’s ‘my body’. This picture isn’t me, it’s some woman who has gone back 5 years and is unrecognisable to me. I enjoy eating healthily and working out so this is a treat for me in all honesty and I’m excited to have a new challenge.

June 1st, 2016

I was just coming away from paleo. I had come away from my healthy habits but was still eating animals and introducing carbohydrates and sugars back into my diet. College had just finished and I was over eating and not enjoying exercise at all, my weight was piling on at my hips and boobs and my stomach and arms had already lost definition.

My measurements were around 8st 12; My bust 89cm’s, My waist 71’cms, Stomach 80cm’s, Thigh 55cm’s, My butt was 90cms.

November 1st, 2016

I had been a ‘healthy’ Vegan for 6 weeks and was just moving towards dairy (in coffee) and eating more biscuits and breads. I had ditched my workouts in Early October so this is 4 weeks with a poor diet and no exercise.

I was up to 9st 2, My bust 92cm’s, My waist 72’cms, Stomach 82cm’s, Thigh 55.5cm’s, My butt was 92cms.

December 31st, 2016.

Vegetarian; Although I still only have a small portion of dairy I had introduced a tablespoon of greek yoghurt into my diet. I don’t eat fish, Eggs, Cheese. I was eating non-vegan cakes and pastries (things that had butter and milk in). I was eating mostly breads, cakes and biscuits. 12 weeks without proper exercise, I would workout on my glutes and arms occasionally but my diet was really appalling. Going through a bad of doughnuts in 2 days and a loaf of bread in 3. I broke 2 pairs of size 10 trousers that had previously been too loose and I feel like my stomach is shouting at me to eat a vegetable.

My bust 95cm’s, My waist 76’cms, Stomach 88cm’s, Thigh 55cm’s, My butt was 92cms.

It may be behind me but I still have the mountain to climb, luckily I have the tools and motivation to get to the top.

New Years Plan

Back to the Paleo diet ; No more bread and refined sugars and carbs. Back to Cauliflower rice, chilli’s and curries- yum yum. No more noodles! I’m still Vegetarian but I can no longer do Vegan, I’m choosing to use non-vegan products like pre-made spreads and dips or the occasional sauces. I don’t want to make excuses for my choices, they’re just my choices.

I will be doing full body strength routines for 20 minutes; Focusing on Arms, Abs, Glutes and Legs and doing 60 minutes of cardio per week. I’m hoping to burn around 1,300 calories per week in workouts. Which should get help me burn a pound of fat in a month and I’m hoping to add 2lbs of muscle this month too!

From; 95-76- 88-55-92

To; 92-74-84-55-92

I hope that your new years plans are well thought-out and positive for your own goals. Find peace in your body and know that it is like elastic, able to cope with stresses and strains and always fighting back. Keep challenging yourself,