.. it’s a lifestyle change.

I have seen people say that and scoffed at it, SURREEEE, SUREEEEEE! Chinny reckonnnnnn.  But I am finally seeing what they mean.  There are a few people that rib me about my food choices now “that can’t be filling”, “I’d rather eat what I want”, “I bet you spend loads more on food now”, “I lost 9lbs my first week of dieting and I gave up on the first morning and ate what I want – LOL”.  SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!

I mean I can take peoples opinions, and I can take their ribbing, but I do get frustrated when it’s just sooo far from the truth, or just really #irritating (some ppl will know what I mean!).

I struggle with my weight, I wish I was as fat as I was when I thought I was fat at 21.  OH YES.  But I am not, I have let the excuse of having kids, and finding a love for pizza, and chelsea buns.. and drinking like I am a fish get to me, and my body.   I hate exercise, HATE IT, in every form (well,  most) – and I am not one for eating ridiculously healthy foods.  But since being on Slimming World I have tried to embrace the healthier side of life more.   I wouldn’t have touched Houmous with a barge pole 6 months ago, now I adore it for lunch with oodles of carrot sticks and it’s surprisingly filling!   I wouldn’t have ever put beetroot in a cake to try and make it a tad better, or made my own Jaffa Cakes for fun using oats and a mullerlight, but I am not doing these things because I feel I have to, I am doing them because I am enjoying it.

I wish I could roll out of bed and lose 9lbs without trying, but I don’t mind trying different things like this to try and get it off, and keep it off.  I am not spending loads more on shopping – I am spending more on the right things like fruit, veg and meat instead of crisps and booze, so I may spend a tad more, but I waste a LOT less, I’ve become a lot more conscious that I have meat in the fridge that needs using instead of grabbing a ready meal, or a bag of potatoes sitting there instead of ordering a pizza, or going to McD’s.   It may take me more time to prep food too, but its so much more filling than 3 packets of crisps and a can of coke.

I have cut down on my coffee and upped my tea intake, I have bought fruit tea by the bucket load and I am LOVING it, it’s a good way to get water in too, I get so bored of water.  I went to Starbucks and chose FRUIT instead of a Cheese and Marmite Panini, I have become one of those people, but I’m ok with it.

This is week 5 of my SW adventure (for the 2nd time) and I’m already 10lbs down.  I have many lbs to go and I do feel I am going to lose one week, maintain the next, lose the next etc.. which I don’t want to do, I need to see it going or I start to wobble.  But I didn’t the week before last when I maintained, I picked myself up and carried on, and that’s what I’ll do every week if I don’t lose.

So it’s not so much a diet in my head, I don’t feel like I am cutting everything out, I am just making wiser choices.  I still eat chocolate, I just take more care about how much.  I have a mini Fudge in my lunch today instead of a full size.   I still eat crisps, I just make my own.   I haven’t cut anything out, I am just more aware of the foods that help me lose weight vs the ones that seem to make me heavier.

So, take your I lost 9lb in a week without trying and shove it up yer bum!  Take your comments about my food bills raising sky high and read my receipts and weep!  My food might not be a butter laden PB&J sandwich with a Twirl and fat Coke for lunch, but my carrot sticks fill me up just fine thanks!