Disqus for Where Are My Knees

My weight loss journey - We’re All The Boss

Thursday 19 June 2014

I'm really proud of the weight loss I achieved due to the support of readers of this blog. I managed to loose over 75lbs/nearly 6 stone back in 2011-2012 through following the Weight Watchers. When I think about my weight loss journey I'm glad I took control and changed my life. My confidence soared and my health improved greatly and most importantly I felt in control of my own body. I was the boss and could control the way I ate.

Sadly, I haven't managed to keep all the weight off but after a break from my diet I've decided to start again which was a pretty tough decision. Here are some photos sharing my weight loss ups and downs of the past few years:

This is a photo before and after 6 stone weight loss

I've been 'off plan' since around June 2012 but I made an effort to keep the weight off last year by following the plan loosely at home, going to the gym and cooking healthy and filling meals. Since meeting my partner over a year ago a lot has changed and sadly I've put on over a stone back on.
My clothes don't fit anymore, my face is getting rounder and I'm getting more out of breath than I used to be when doing simple things like walking to the train station in the morning. I'm determined not to let the whole 75+ pounds go back on so I'm heading back to Weight Watchers.

I don't want to make excuses for myself and want to just get back on the band wagon and get back to the weight where I was happy. I know it's going to be harder this time because I don't work on evenings and weekends any more which are key times when I like to snack and pick at high calorie foods and I no longer just cook for myself. Meeting my boyfriend and moving in with him means I've adopted his bad habits and initially I was cooking extravagant food because I was trying to impress him. All sense of controlling what I ate went out the window and I treated him to all his favourite food which tends to be American food which is fried and with loads of cheese.

I'm really looking forward to going back to basics, eating simple, filling and healthy meals and regaining the confidence I lost through putting weight back on. I've spent a lot of time dwelling on my failure to keep the weight off and I really felt worse after putting a stone back on than I did when I was 6 stone heavier.

I'm feeling more than ready to head back to Weight Watchers on Saturday and stepping on the scales. Going back to class will mean I will be blogging here a lot more as I found it the biggest source of support when I lost weight last time. That means loads more recipe posts and more 'Day in the life of' posts. If you write about the Weight Watchers plan please leave your links below so I can read your posts and get some inspiration.

I hope my story can inspire you to change that one thing that really gets you down. It could be going on a solo traveling expedition, setting up your own company or even dying your hair that crazy colour you've always fancied.

22 comments:

  1. I really love your blog name so catchy, your progress is great and glad blogging helps. Hope to see some recipes soon and I am trying to get fit myself so I work out on weekends, All the best. x

    Ola Dania

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  2. Gem, if you could combine some sort of excercise for 30 minutes along with your diet you will see a steady decline in your weight. Do the type of excercise you'll really enjoy. I personally like dancing, the gym isn't really me. All the best with your weight loss journey xx

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  3. Wow Gem I've never seen your before photo before, you look so different! Well done for taking control and getting back on it again! Looking forward to the forthcoming posts! xxx

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    1. Thanks Emma, I had to struggle to find any because I didn't really like taking photos of myself before and a lot of the ones I had hid how big I was because I only chose the most flattering ones to share online. Feeling ready to get back on it and get my confidence back xx

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  4. You can do it! Looking forward to following along on your journey!

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  5. Good luck Gemma! I lost 3 stone last year and I think I have put most back on. My face is getting really round too and I am ordering a size bigger again :( Need motivated!!xx

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    1. Thanks :) same here, gone up a size and everything is so snug. Wanting to wear all my pretty dresses is my main motivation xx

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  6. Good luck lovely lady, you can totally do it! I'm in the same position at the moment, I've put on a few pounds but like you, I'm determined not to let them keep piling on!

    Jennie xo | sailorjennie.com

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  7. Best of luck! I've been following WW on and off for years and there is no doubt that it does work when you're in the zone! Fully pointed recipes here:

    http://thewwfoodie.blogspot.co.uk/p/recipe-index.html

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    1. Thanks for that Seren, will be trying some of those out next week x

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  8. Good luck. Congratulations on losing so much. I think we all put on weight when we find someone. Looking forward to reading more posts M xxxx

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  9. Relationships are definitely the number one cause of weight gain! I have so many issues accepting that I can't just eat what my boyfriend does :( Glad to hear you're in the motivated frame of mind, hope I can steal some of that motivation from you ;)

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  10. Thanks for all the support ladies, can't wait to wear all my favourite dresses again and gain back the confidence I had a year ago xx

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  12. Hey Gemma :) congrats on how far you have come and good luck with your journey here on in! It's a success realising you need to step up your game before you are back to square one! If you ever need any advice / tips etc just hit me up! I'm a Personal Trainer and blogger over at 'keep it simpElle' :) x

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    1. Thanks Elle, might take you up on that x

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  13. I have gone through the whole weight loss and then regaining some journey- I understand how hard it is. Just see it as going back to basics and giving your body the love and nutrition it needs. You have done so well, you look beautiful in all three photos but I know it may not feel it so I understand the need to go back to Weight Watchers. I'll be following your journey, if you choose to update us on it!

    Stunningly Inept

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    1. Thanks Isobel, I'm hoping to share recipes, do a weekly weight loss update and share what I eat on a typical day. I felt so good when I lost the weight that I went a bit off the rails, genuinely looking forward to eating lots of fresh food and focusing on myself x

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  14. You've done so well in the past - I had no idea! I'm definitely interested in following your journey when you go back to Weight watchers. I am trying to be more healthy too - and need to start incorporating more exercise into my day....

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  15. Thanks Mel, Martyn loves American food and I love to cook it for him (then eat loads myself) so it's all about finding balance in the future I think. Thanks for the kind words x

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  16. Well done for what you have achieved so far, and an even bigger well done for recognising the need to go back. That can be very hard and you have done it. so i wish you luck going forward. i can relate exactly to what you are saying, i have incorporated more exercise now, because as we get older ( every minute ha ha) our bodies react differently. Good luck.

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  17. Your weight loss journey from 2011 to 2012 is really spectacular! I'm glad that you've revived the flames of a healthier lifestyle. I believe no one should be ashamed of the way they look, and that people are free to actively pursue the things that will make them feel better and feel good about themselves, inside and out. Your story is, indeed, inspiring, and I hope you get to do just that to many more people out there. Stay beautiful, Gem!

    Jackie Wong @ Miami Institute

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