It’s been a while since I have written here about my weight loss goals and weight journey. I haven’t been happy with my weight since before the pandemic and going through numerous lockdowns and raised levels of stress only elevated my weight overall. I know that lots of you followed me originally for my weight loss journey so I thought it was about time to share with you my 2023 weight loss goals.
Why I am Where I am
Right now I am the heaviest I have ever weighed. I say weighed simply because I know I have been heavier I just didn’t weigh during that period!! My weight, like many people’s, increased over the many lockdowns. Lack of exercise and boredom alone were huge contributing factors to this. Since then I did lose some weight – gradual and minimal to be quite honest but a loss is a loss – however over the past year, my weight has increased to more than it has ever been recorded. Why? Mostly down to stress. We moved house a year ago which was a long, laborious and stressful period. After a house purchase fell through at the last second and having to find a new buyer and a new onward purchase I found myself under the worst period of stress I have ever been in. When I am stressed I lean into food as a comfort. It isn’t the smartest comfort method and it certainly isn’t the healthiest thus bringing me to where we are today.
In reality, my food habits spiralled, my weight increased and my happiness actually didn’t improve! I’ve spent the last six months knowing that I need to tackle my health but not actually doing anything about it. However, enough was enough and I decided to set myself some serious weight loss goals and get back on the weight loss journey. Of course, I plan on documenting everything here so you can witness my progress and help keep me accountable. If like me you want to embark on your own weight loss journey why not make this the time to line out your own goals and follow along with me? Come and join my free Facebook group here. Remember before undertaking any weight loss plan you should always speak to a medical professional first to make sure what you plan is suitable for your individual health needs.
Embarking on a weight loss journey is an empowering decision, and setting clear goals can provide the necessary motivation and direction to achieve success. I’m a big goal-setter and it helps give me structure. With a starting weight of 93.1kg and a target weight of 68kg, I have decided to use calorie counting and daily walks of 10,000 steps. In the past I have been a huge fan of Slimming World however I am not a fan of the group setting and I find it harder to eat out at restaurants. Often this is where I fall down and end up not fully following the plan thus not being successful. I’ve listed the differences between calorie counting and Slimming World here which is what I based my decision upon.
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Defining Realistic and Achievable Goals
Setting realistic and attainable weight loss goals is crucial for long-term success. There’s really no point in aiming for something you don’t believe you can achieve. Start by making your goal smaller, to begin with, if you feel you will be at risk of overwhelm. Sometimes if our goal feels so out of reach we almost give up before we’ve started. You want to give yourself the best chance of success and that starts with a realistic and achievable goal. In my case, I have set a target of losing 2kg per month, which amounts to an average of 0.5kg per week. This approach ensures that I can maintain a steady and healthy rate of weight loss. I’d love to lose more than that and hope I will but even though this amount doesn’t seem huge it will add up over time and that’s the most important thing.
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Implementing Calorie Counting
As I said before I am going to use calorie counting to tackle my weight loss goals. By counting calories, I can gain a clear understanding of the energy I consume daily and make informed choices about my diet. In the UK calories have to be displayed on menus in restaurants making it easy to continue calorie counting on the go. I want to make this a lifestyle change so I have the best chance of keeping this weight off for good so I feel this is the best approach right now. I plan to create a calorie deficit of around 300-500 calories per day, which will help me gradually shed excess weight without depriving myself of too much. I have worked out that deficit by calculating my maintenance calories here. This is the amount of calories my body needs each day just to survive. By creating a deficit it means my body has to use up some fat reserves which eventually equates to weight loss. To aid in this process, I will be using online tools like My Fitness Pal that offer comprehensive databases of food and their nutritional values.
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Walking Towards a Healthier Me
Exercise is an integral part of any weight loss journey, and I have chosen walking as my primary physical activity. I’m not a gym bunny and I hate working out. Walking is a low-impact exercise that is accessible to most individuals and can be easily incorporated into daily routines. By committing to a goal of 10,000 steps per day, I can increase my overall physical activity, boost my metabolism, and burn calories. Incorporating walking into my daily routine will not only help me reach my weight loss goals but also improve my cardiovascular health and overall well-being. I will be using my Apple watch to track my steps each day.
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Seeking Support and Accountability
Maintaining motivation throughout a weight loss journey can be challenging and lonely. It’s not always easy sharing your experiences – especially if those around you aren’t on a weight loss journey. Finding a group of people doing the same can help with support and motivation. It can be especially hard on days when you are struggling and you just need reminding that you can do it!! If you want to join my Facebook group to share your weight loss journey and not feel so alone then you are more than welcome to join here.
5. Cultivating Healthy Habits
Weight loss is not just about a number on the scale but also about adopting a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. It’s easy to want to completly starve yourself so that the weight drops of faster but in reality it won’t and often that leads to binging and increase in weight gain in the long run. These types of unhealthy relationships with food are what make it difficult to maintain our weights at a healthy level. Weight loss is a journey and not a sprint. Any loss is a loss and although the road to your goal may seem in the distant future along the way you will start to look and feel much happier. Along with tracking calories and increasing physical activity, I plan to focus on cultivating healthy habits. This includes consuming a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, as well as prioritizing adequate sleep, managing stress, staying hydrated and meditating. I know stress is a trigger for me so reducing that as much as I can will help me the most! By embracing these habits, I can ensure long-term success and maintain my desired weight even beyond 2023 which is the ultimate goal!
Results from Week 1 are in find out how I did here!
You May Also Like:
Slimming World: Going it Alone Guide
The Best Fruits & Vegetables For Weight Loss
Going Back To Group & My Slimming World Journey
Working With Modius & My Weight Story
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Love as always!
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