New Years Resolution - my annual one!

I actually started my New Year’s resolution just before Christmas…. It’s my annual one, to lose weight.  But this time it’s more than something I will start and discard after a few weeks because I also just turned 50 at the end of the year and with a raft of medical problems (Type II diabetes; asthma; joint problems and so on) I view this as a major, life-changing challenge.

I didn’t start off too well, an initial 1kg weight loss in the first week turned into a 2.5kg weight gain over the next week or so – and that was before Christmas had even started!  I put this down to not being organised in the pre-Christmas chaos, and compounded by a general ‘lazy’ attitude to losing weight and getting fitter and healthier.  I think, like many people, I really want something really, really easy – just as easy as how the weight went on in fact!

With the wonderful help and motivation of Jo at System Slim in Remuera I got my act together a bit more, accepted that it took years to put the weight on and it wasn’t going to slide off, and spent a little bit of time over the Christmas break to organise both myself and my food.  I spent an evening organising my supplements and going back through the ‘bible’ (which has heaps of great tips, helpful advice, recipes and menus) and, having survived’ Christmas, I was ready to tackle this new challenge.

One of the major turning points for me has also been the decision that I need to do this for me.  Those of us who have busy lives with demanding jobs, a family etc. tend to put others first and this time I’m going all out for me.  Yes, it might be self-interested but why not.  After years of coming second to everyone and everything, this is something I want to do for myself.

At my latest check up on Wednesday with Jo, I had lost almost 2kg since my previous check in the week before.  I’m now slightly under my previous best weight and I feel motivated to keep going.  I’ve set some realistic and achievable targets – short term, mid and long term) and have a specific target to have lost around 21kg in time for my daughter’s graduation in May.  It will be tough and I know at times I will falter… but I know with the support I’m getting from Jo I will do it.  It’s about a kilo a week and this recent weight loss was a good start.

The hurdles I will face will almost all be at work.  We have an insane amount of morning and afternoon teas, lunches out, people bringing in home-baking and so on.  So how will I get around this?  Well what’s wrong with having fruit, or celery and hummus and so on!  It can be done I just need to plan and be organised.  I’ve organised my supplements (love the Cal-mag which is great for helping sleep!) and done my shopping for the week so – see you soon!