Losing weight has gotta be the hardest thing I've ever done

Picture this: 5 feet 2 1/2 inches, and 10 stone 1 pounds. Feeling breathless whenever I walk. Feeling comforted whenever I indulge in yet another Dairy Milk or whatever takes my fancy.

Attractive? Definitely not. And I decided to accept this midway through December, last year, after feeling quite disgusted that I'd allowed myself to get to this point. I mean c'mon, it's so easy to blame other factors when we know deep down that the person who held the food and shoveled it into our seemingly insatiable mouth was OURSELVES. THAT'S whose fault it was.

If you want to lose weight and you're reading this, get up and look in the mirror. Take 30 seconds to feel crap about getting fat (I don't care what new words society deems appropriate to use for 'metabolically challenged' people, it's still fat). Okay 30 seconds done? good. Now you're life changes. You are going to do exactly what I did and that is hard work, sweat, effort, and life changing food habits that I swear will make you lose weight. It is not easy and I'm going to be straight with you, I've had moments during the last 3 and a half months of feeling like giving up at points...feeling miserable...stressing over the vital number on the scales...of almost falling into an eating disorder because of how miserable I felt even as I was losing the weight. You, my friend, are going to do none of that, but instead I want you to get out something that no longer fits you, or didn't anyway. You see how hard it is to pull over your thighs? That's fine. Because a few months away, you'll be pulling that up effortlessly.

Right. So. Start by cutting back on how much you eat, and substituting all drinks for water and coffee (or tea) that uses skim milk (eventually you may decide not to use milk at all like I did) and artificial sugar. DO IT. Forget \"health\" drinks, they are full of sugar anyway. also, get into a habit of eating a piece of fruit every morning. I go for apples that weigh roughly 100g. Easy enough, just get kitchen scales, and voila dump the apple in and weigh! Throw out coco pops and buy Oatiflakes or Alpen. Substitute white bread for mixed or wholemeal. SERIOUSLY, MAKE THESE DAMN CHANGES! Instead of endless kitkats, you are going to buy Activate (raspberry flavoured) yoghurt, (from Asda). You're going to start eating lean chicken or tuna, and buy packets of steamed vegetables. And most importantly you'll count how many calories you eat a day (which u won't need to once you're in a habit of eating the right and similar foods as you'll be used to counting up v. quickly how many you've eaten). And exercise. Exercise exercise exercise. Put music onto your mp3 or ipod whatever, that motivates you that makes u happy. at first you'll probably only be able to do 10 minutes on the bike, or perhaps just 5 minutes of running, if that. Don't be disheartened. I never used to be able to do 2, but over a period of 3/4 months I've increased it to 40. Sounds a lot, but as you're body grows accustomed to the level of exercise, it becomes routine, effortless, habitual. Please for heavens sake get off your butt and do it. You don't have to pay £££££ at the gym. Waste of money. Just put trainers on and begin. Luckily, my mother had an ancient yet working bike from years ago, which I was able to get out and begin using. Some days you may feel you can't do so much exercise because you feel worn and tired. make sure you're not eating too little and that you get enough sleep. This may sound like a lot to remember, but really it isn't. You should begin to see results within a month. Doing all of this, I've reduced my weight (as of today actually) to 8 stone! I still want to lose another half a stone then I will stop. But you lose what's right for you. E.g. don't think because I'm 8 stone, or the latest celeb is, that you have to be. Consult your doc, or work out your BMI to find out where you should and could be.

And remember: ANYONE CAN LOSE WEIGHT. DON'T EVER THINK \"ohh I'm just not the type of person who can\". WHETHER IT HAPPENS SLOWLY OR QUICKLY, EVERYBODY CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Never give up. Cliched but true. Good luck.

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