Over the past few months, I have made a wonderful new friend called Helen. She is a blogger, like me, and we are enjoying our time on our collab channel Global Stars.
After reading my book and chatting lots, Helen decided to make some life changes and had an incredible weight loss. She has given me credit for helping her but of course it all comes from within. Helen is the one who had to make the changes! She did it with total conviction and really took the bull by the horns.
Read her story below as I interviewed her. Also find her in the links below:
Twitter
Youtube
Global Stars
What inspired you to start on your weight loss journey?
Mainly my health, I knew being overweight was not good for me but also I was sick of feeling uncomfortable in my clothes and never feeling like I looked 'nice'. Every night out or event was a constant battle to find something to wear that I felt comfortable in and every time I saw photographs of myself afterwards I cringed, yet I was doing nothing about it and just having another bar of chocolate!
How did you begin and when?
I started straight after Christmas! And I decided that I had to cut all chocolate, sweets, crisps, fizzy sugary drinks and takeaways out of my life. Get myself to 3 balanced meals a day, more water and see what happened!
How much weight have you actually lost in total?
31 pounds! So just over two stone. I'm now the ideal weight for my height!
What is the best way to describe what made you want to lose weight?
It was a mixture of health and confidence issues, I just knew enough was enough and I had to change, I wasn't happy or healthy at all! Speaking to Louise who was doing her nutrition degree made me realise just how much what I was eating was effecting not only the way I looked but also my inner well being and mood too.
Do you think it is easy to lose the weight?
In all honesty, it was easier than I thought it would be! I thought it would be impossible and I'd really struggle but I didn't! Once the first bit of weight came off I was motivated to continue and see how much I could shift!
How do you feel physically now that you've slimmed down?
I feel great! I feel really confident in my clothes, I feel great out walking because there's less weight to carry around, I am really glad I did it!
What have you done differently since losing the weight?
I think about what I eat now instead of just eating, I think about how much something will fill me up and the nutritional values of it rather than weather it's quick & convenient like I did before. I plan more and have a general awareness now of what I'm eating and when instead of just eating because I feel like it.
If you were about to have a snack or treat you 'shouldn't have had' how did you stop yourself?
Basically I just thought 'no don't ruin it now' or 'thin people don't eat that' and that was enough to make me step back and not eat it.
Now that you are slimmer how do you think life will change for you?
I think my health will benefit a lot as will my self esteem but also I feel younger, more energetic and better than I have in years!
What advice would you give to others who are trying to lose weight but struggling?
I'd say that if you REALLY want to do it you'll find a way! Don't expect it to be easy but it's honestly not as hard as you think it will be either! It's just a case of not eating something that you know is bad for you, and eating something that is good for you instead! It will all be worthwhile when you slip into your skinny jeans and your tummy is flat believe me!
Any words of encouragement?
I'd say to set yourself manageable goals! go in half a stone stages! Also don't let others derail you by encouraging you to have a McDonald's or a takeaway, be strong and say No! It's called junk food for a reason! You end up looking like junk and feeling like junk if you eat it! And by simply not eating it you can become a slimmer, happier, healthier, more confident you (which lasts a lot longer than the taste of a cheeseburger!)
You look fantastic Helen! Well done and congratulations!!!
If you want to share your own weight loss journey get in touch by emailing
here
Alternatively, if you would like help then get onboard
here
Much love
Louise xoxox
