Every so often I have a talk with myself.  Its like a personal monologue that occasionally raises its voice to be heard.  I’ve had a few discussions in the past with myself to get in shape.  Gone are my running days where I did achieve a level of fitness in middle age that surprised both myself and everyone around me.  Now a few years on I need to consider once again how I shift the extra kilos that seem to be slowly creeping on.

I have read that the success of most diets is determined in the first few weeks.  If the changes result in significant success, then motivation remains high to continue.  If on the other hand the downward trend is marginal, well then old habits slip back in and soon the diet is off.  Now I have a significant amount of weight to shift, so I know I am in for the long haul.  I bumped into a local friend, and she was extolling the virtues of intermittent fasting.  Now I have tried this before, but to little effect.   So why try again?

Firstly, I think I understand a little more about myself and my body.  I used to be described as being in perpetual motion, until my failing hips made movement too painful.  Then I went into a mode of enforced inertia for several years before my brand new hips were installed. This gave me both appreciation of movement and rest.

We all know that to lose weight we need to eat less and do more.  They say 80% of weight loss is about what you eat.  In my day we were all warned against the evils of fat.  So low fat everything was consumed to keep us slim.  NOT! Now we are warned about sugar.  It’s the sugar that makes us fat. I’ve always been a picky eater so finding non calorific foods that I enjoy is no mean feat.  Afterall how many people do you know who think the taste of lettuce is too strong?    Perhaps it just too much of everything and carbs have always been my downfall.  So then, perhaps I’ll just have to eat less.  How hard can it really be? 

I’ve decided that I am at a crossroads with my weight and it’s finally now or never. This and quite a few unthinking comments from friends and acquaintances indicating I am no longer considered the saucy minx of a sex kitten I once was.  Well not for much longer.  Get it Off! is my way of putting it out there that in the battle of woman verses weight, woman intends to be victorious.  There is no one specific way to achieve this success, but it is something that is going to happen.

Setting the vision of the future me, back to a Body Mass Index (BMI) that is normal and not obese.  Able to fit into my clothes again in comfort.  Short skirts, tight tops all will be back on the agenda.  I am planning to move more, Walk it Off; Swim it Off and generally build exercise into everything I do. 

In terms of diet, I am trying to introduce healthy choices.  I often ask myself ‘what would Emma chose?’.  Emma has always been far more disciplined with food and eating that I have. Chips or Salad?  She’d chose the salad.  I am giving intermittent fasting a go.  Opting for nothing after 8pm each night and no food until after midday the next day.  Black coffee and hot lemons see me through the start of each day and by lunch time I am hungry and ready to eat. 

I know I am not the only one who has inadvertently stacked on the pounds.  So have you reached that point and yet to do something about it?  If so, join us in Chitty Chats 2022 Get it Off campaign and start thinking about the future healthier you.  Let’s do it!!