Taking Control - My Weight Loss Journey

Since the end of April I have lost 3 stone (over 40lbs).
I feel soooo much better for it.
Obviously I feel healthier but I am also a lot happier.
I feel I have claimed a bit of me back again.
I feel I have taken control of my life.

With me and food it really is about who is controlling who.
Since C was born I lost that control and was just treading water to survive.
Every day revolved around her and I had no time for myself.
I ate whatever I could, whenever I could.

Losing The Babyweight - 20lbs Down!

Current Weight: 10st 13.5lbs
Loss This Week: 4.5lbs
Total Loss: 20.5lbs 
BMI: 27.7

I've broken the 11 stone mark!
I'm so pleased!
It really feels like I'm making progress now.
I can really see the difference in the mirror too.
I have 28lbs (2 stone) still to go until I reach my pre IVF/baby weight so still a fair way to go.... but I'm almost half way and I am so motivated right now.

Losing The Babyweight - 6 Weeks On

Oops so I may have forgotten to keep you updated for the past few weeks.
It is still going well...

Current Weight: 11st 4lbs
Loss This Week: 2lbs
Total Loss: 16lbs 
BMI: 28.7 (Overweight.... but no longer Obese!)

My wedding and engagement rings now fit again.
I am starting to be able to fit in clothes I couldn't before (although it will be a long time until I can fit in my pre babies clothes). 
I am also starting to be able to see a difference when I look in the mirror.
My next mini goal is to get under 11 stone.
I am hoping I might manage that by the end of the month.

Losing The Babyweight - 4 Weeks On

Current Weight: 11st 8lbs
Loss this week: 3lbs
Total Loss: 13lbs

I've been eating Low Carb High Fat for 4 weeks now.
Bar a couple of slip ups on holiday last week, it has been reasonably easy to stick to.
Helped of course by the fact I am seeing results!

An average weightloss of 3lb a week really isn't bad.
I can't really see any changes in myself when I look in the mirror yet but I can feel that my post pregnancy belly is definately less "saggy".
I can definately see the change in DH though.
He has been following this way of eating alongside me which has really helped both motivation and meal preparation.
His face is slimmer and he definately has less of a belly.

I expect my weightloss to slow slightly as I go on but if I can average 2lb a week then I will be back to pre C pregnancy weight (i.e. 2011 weight) by September.
It's a tall order but not impossible...

Low Carb Real Food - End of Week 1

Current Weight: 12st 0lb
Loss this week: 6lbs
Total Loss: 6lbs

That's almost 1lb a day, quite impressive, even if I do say so myself.
So what's the "secret"?
I came across the Low Carb High Fat diet.
Well it's not really a diet but a lifestyle change.
I won't bore you will the details on here.
If you have the time (about an hour) take the time to watch this you tube video.
It takes everything you think you might know and turns it on its head.

I knew many of the principals already from trying to keep gestational diabetes away during my pregnancies, this is just taking things one stage further.
I some ways this is actually easier.
Here is a sneak peak at my food diary for the past few days.

Breakfast	2 Boiled Eggs	2 Fried Eggs & Bacon	2 Boiled Eggs	Egg and Vegetables	Apple & Cinnamon No Flour Pancakes	2 Boiled Eggs Berries and Greek Yoghurt
Snack	Flapjack	Banana & Flapjack	Flapjack	Berries and Greek Yoghurt
Lunch	Tuna & Egg salad Strawberries, Blueberries & Cream	Scrambled Egg, Spinach & Mushrooms Berries & Cream	Gammon, Egg & Baked Beans Banana & Cream	Smoked Mackeral Salad Banana and Cream	Sausages, Bacon, Fried Egg & Tomato	Ham and Leek Cheesy Bake Banana & Cream
Snack	Cherry Yoghurt	Flapjack	Flapjack	Flapjack	Flapjack
Dinner	Cheeseburgers without the bun Grapes	One Pot Roast Chicken	No Potato Salad & leaves	Venison & Vegetables Cheesecake	Salmon & Asparagus Apple & Chocolate cream	Prawn Cocktail Salad Flapjack

I have high hopes for big results as i'm quite good at sticking to things if I have clear guidelines.
Watch this space...

Losing The Babyweight - The Plan

Last week I wrote about the problems with trying to lose the baby weight while looking after 2 young children.
Writing that post was actually really helpful in getting me to pinpoint exactly what the main issues were for me personally.

Losing The Babyweight - The Problems

There was an article floating around the news last week stating that Mothers who failed to lose excess weight within a year after delivery or put pounds on may be risking their health.

"What we're seeing is the period between three and 12 months after delivery is a critical window during which practitioner and patient attention to weight control may be very important to long-term metabolic and vascular health."

Well that's all very well... but how does one juggle losing weight while looking after a baby (and possibly older children as well)?