My Weightloss and Fitness Journey Update | Healthy Lifestyle Diaries Part 2

Hello everyone! Can you believe we are now in September? This year has literally flown by... but the best part of all is it's Autumn which is one of my favourite seasons of the year! I am SO ready for Halloween, Christmas, Vlogmas, cosy nights in, blankets and comfy PJ's!!! Who else absolutely loves Autumn/Winter? *Back to the blog post Em!!!* I have been on a fitness journey since May, mainly focusing on what I was putting into my body and making healthier choices and also cutting out fizzy drinks and limiting the naughty treats and takeaways. I noticed a huge improvement in my skin, and how I felt and looked. So I recently decided to step it up  a gear and I have made such good progress so I want to share my journey (SO FAR as I definitely am not where I want to be yet with you all!) I hope you enjoy my post. If you do enjoy reading let me know and I will be sure to post more!

If you read my last fitness blog post (here) where I explained I would be starting my Healthy Lifestyle Diaries, I went through in detail what my tips were and I also shared with you I was taking shakes in replacement for my breakfast and lunch, and this did work for me, however as the amount I needed to travel increased in my life, I couldn't keep it up - as I needed ice, milk, blender and a bottle and I hated the taste without it being properly blended! So I then went back to eating my three meals a day, making healthier choices, and liked I mentioned earlier.... limiting the snacks, takeaways and cutting out fizzy drinks.

However, as I spend a lot of my relaxing/down time on social media, I kept stumbling across before and afters of people I knew, and people I didn't know on Facebook and Instagram who were using one product a day, managing weight with a healthy coffee that has all natural ingredients. I was honestly so shocked at the results people we're getting so quickly too!! I had heard about this product for a good 6 months, and as I got more and more curious, I decided to do some research for myself! I was really impressed with what I had found - I quickly discovered that I did NOT have to replace any meals to get good results which as a food lover, made me immensely happy. I was recommended to cut out fizzy drinks, and food that make you bloat (which I was doing out of good habit anyway!) so it felt like a winner for me. It was also really convenient, as it is a coffee and comes in the form of sachets, so whether I am at home, or travelling, I can take it in my bag and it's so quick and easy, totally fuss free! The only thing I need is low calorie milk which is always available in the work fridges - but my personal preference is almond milk. It's just one drink first thing in the morning and it makes me feel absolutely amazing. I also drink 4-5 litres of water every day and I keep that as my only drink other than my morning coffee. So in August I decided to do order myself 2 weeks worth and I tracked my progress after day 6, and after day 12 to see how well I did myself!  Let's check out my results...

MY 6 DAY EXPERIENCE -

So the first picture (below) you'll see is the day before I started. I was so nervous to share these at the start but then I thought, why?! Why would I be nervous/worried about other people's opinions when I am doing something to better my body and my health, and if I can get one message across in this post, then it'll be DO IT FOR YOU and ignore other's opinions!! I felt really bloated, my legs felt heavy, and I just didn't feel energetic at all. As you'll know from my previous post - PREPARATION IS KEY. I did some meal planning, brought some healthy foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner and started with my morning coffee. In just 2 days I had noticed a huge difference. I felt lighter, I had a tonne more energy, I felt less bloated, I had more self/body confidence and overall I felt good because I was fuelling my body with goodness, rather than just grabbing a 'quick and easy snack' which would usually be high in fats, sugars and calories!

This photo (below) was taken on day 7, the day after completing my 6 day experience. I felt so much better in myself - and by this point I had lost a total of 7lb and 11 inches! This was absolutely crazy and I feel it really does show in my after photo how much more defined my body got! I felt lighter, I could see more definition in my waist and leg area, I honestly had so much more energy and was no longer feeling tired and sluggish in the afternoon! I also want to point out that I did NO EXCERCISE in the first 6 days so I really was blown away - I did eat healthily, sticking to 3 meals a day - cutting out foods that make you bloat and also cutting out fizzy drinks and no snacking - it supported my appetite and controlled my cravings - I personally had no naughty treat cravings!! I drank 4-5 litres of water. I have searched on Google and it recommends we drink eight 8-ounce glasses, which equals to 2 litres - but I personally aim to drink a lot more as there are so many health benefits to drinking water, and I now would happily order water over any other drink. I love when I am out for a meal, ordering an iced cold glass of water with a slice of lemon, and I do make that at home for myself too so it looks more appealing!

MY 12 DAY EXPERIENCE -

So, as I was super pleased with the results I had in my first 6 days, I decided to carry on! I weighed and measured the following day after the 12 days, and I had lost a total of 10lb and 14.5 inches!!! I had also started hearing from my friends and family "wow, you can really see you've lost weight" - especially when my brother said that I felt really proud of myself that he had noticed a big difference (I know I said, do it for you... but when other's notice a difference - it really does make you feel great and confirms it more for yourself it works!) In my 12 day experience - I did go to the gym a couple of times and a few home HIIT workouts - but nothing too intense. I am going to start focusing on doing more work outs now to start getting more body definition - and I literally love the positive endorphins I get from working out. I shared this photo on my Instagram and Facebook and I was so overwhelmed by the lovely comments I received... and as you can see from this photo, my confidence is shining through - and I am wearing colour too... which is totally out of my comfort zone - but for once I felt amazing, and didn't worry about how I looked, or what people may think about what I'm wearing. I honestly am so greatful to have stumbled across this product on social media - because I have never, ever had this level of body confidence in my life. I feel so lucky!!!

My friend loves doing comparison photo's as she is also on a fitness journey, and she shared these with me yesterday (the photo on the left is taken from a week in my office /  work wardrobe post back in May to the photo on the right taken yesterday) I can notice a big difference in my body frame... I have also dropped a dress size... and so close to dropping a second dress size too. I am comfortably able to wear size 10/12 clothes again! YES, YES, YES!!! I could scream it from the rooftops. A little story time now - A few months ago I was clothes shopping, I used to fit into size 12 jeans and I couldn't anymore, I was then struggling to fit into a size 14 pair of jeans. I remember sitting on the stool in the changing rooms and getting very emotional about my weight I knew I needed to do something because none of my clothes fit anymore, I felt unhealthy and I just didn't feel like me. I am so pleased I did take ACTION and get my body into better shape. As now - when I go clothes shopping, I am pleasantly surprised with the sizing I am now able to get into, and how I feel when I wear certain clothes that I have dreamed of being able to wear again. I also wanted to mention, I had a week and a half of the products and gained ONLY 1LB!!! I have just finished my next 6 day experience - and will be doing a further 6 days afterwards, so a follow up blog post to this one will be coming to you very soon, with more progress pictures and I think I'll start doing some 'what I eat in a day' posts too as they have been requested.

I don't think I have done a face comparison before... so here goes. The picture on the left is from a few months ago to the picture on the right just over a week ago. My face looks so different already - much more defined, and not so full! I cannot wait to do a comparison photo again of my face and body and get to reach my goal before the end of the year. Christmas season is fast approaching... which is an excuse to dress up and wear a LBD.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this blog post and sharing my journey with me. If you would like me to keep seeing these posts just let me know in the comments. If there are any other specific blog posts you'd like to see from me, whether they are fitness related or not feel free to message me on my social media accounts, or write them below in the comments and I will be replying to the comments. It is currently Sunday evening as I am writing this, so I just wanted to say I hope you have the BEST week ever.

*DISCLAIMER - all thoughts and opinions are my own. I am sharing my own personal experience with my journey and as I have had SO MANY requests I am documenting and sharing how I am getting on for my blog.*

Love Em oxo