What Happened Next: 2024 Part 1

OK, so on the surface, this year is not going to plan!  

But it's ok, really....

My weight loss slowed up, a lot and had a setback or two, but it's ok.  Weight loss is not the only measure of success and this is something soooo important to remember.

I started walking again in January and it was really slow to begin with.  It started to get easier again and before I knew it, I was walking much more than before.  My longest walks were now as much as 7km with at least two 5km each week.  I could see the changes in my body and for the first time, I could really feel my weight loss affecting how my clothes were fitting, even though I wasn't actually losing much weight.  It felt like my body was juggling things around and changing...  and then when it was ready, I started losing a little more weight.

One thing I have long been anxious about, is losing weight and not having any clothes to wear.  Financially, I needed to wait until April to be able to really do anything about my wardrobe.  I think my anxiety about clothes was also starting to affect my weight loss.  I had found a couple of smaller pairs of jeans at the back of the drawer and had even begun having to use a belt with those.  Most of the trousers I liked to use were getting to the point of being no use to me.

I have a lot to say about clothing and I have written some posts about it already and have a lot more to say.  But in summary, I spent a lot of time planning, made some spreadsheets, went through everything I had and looked at where the gaps were.  I had a plan to buy flexible clothing and layer and keep wearing some of my clothes even thought they were too big in a layered look.  Then I discovered vinted.  

I had been a size 32, although where possible I was buying a 34.  I had some 30's and 28's left in the back of the cupboard.  I found I was now a size 28 on my bottom half and a size 24 on top.  To avoid my anxiety about clothing I not only brought a small wardrobe in my current size but also brought some thing sin smaller sizes, for the future, so I wouldn't have to worry.

Buying new clothes changed how I felt about myself too.  I knew I was starting to see real change and that it was permanent.  I started selling my larger clothing.

I had not returned to swimming after being ill.  I am very prone to ear issues and swimming in the colder months is never really a great idea for me.  I had perhaps been overly ambitious to think I would be swimming in December the previous year.  I did look at other exercise though.

I discovered my Garmin watch had a function called breathework.  Its about slowing your breathing and using different ratios of in , out and holding your breathe.  The aim is to reduce stress and anxiety and aid relaxation.  Also, to improve your breathing and lung strength.  As someone with mild asthma, this seemed like a really good idea.

My Garmin watch gives an estimate of VO2 Max which is a measure of how much Oxygen your body uses during exercise.  It's just an estimate, but these watches are really good...  Mine VO2 Max is really bad and it estimates my fitness age at 79.  Since getting the watch, it had stayed at 23 but recently, it has gone to 24.  It went back to 23 for a few days but then it went back to 24 and has stayed there since.  Celebrate your small wins because in the context of you, they might not actually be that small.  That tiny improvement represents a lot of effort and a seismic improvement in my health.

I also decided I needed a small amount of cardio.  I found a youtube channel for someone called the Fitness Marshall.  He does dance fitness videos with other dancers doing easier levels of exercise alongside him.  It's fun but hard work and I frequently get lost.  I imagine it gets easier as you learn the dances.  As yet, it's infrequent, as I have to have the energy to do it....  It's also hard work and something I only do for short periods of time.  A song or two is enough and that's ok.  It's also free... (as long as you have internet access)

In April I spotted facebook posts about Park Yoga.  It actually began in May but May was tough...  So I didn't do my first session until the very end of May.  It was hard work and I felt by far the largest and least fit person there.  I found the bulk of body limited my ability to get in to some poses and I had to sit and take a break for abit.  But in a relaxing pose, feeling the sun and listening to the birds... perfect.

So I want to keep going, but I knew going back would take more courage in some ways than going the first time.  So I decided to tell my tribe at Slimming World about it....  No one has come yet but a few of them want to come.  I am still going and I know it's good for me.  I struggle with some bits and just sit them out.  Anything involving balancing is bad.  I don't have the strength to support heavy limbs and balance for very long at all.

I had my group sessions with the dietician at the beginning of the year and they were great.  Much more in depth than the ones with Healthy Cornwall, I learnt some really useful things.  Learning more about the effects of bariatric surgery though has made me even more determined to avoid it if at all possible.  

One thing I really took on board was the importance of exercise.  Don't let your muscle mass decline while losing weight if possible because it's tough to get back and you really need it to maintain your weight loss.  It makes me really happy I have chosen to focus so much on exercise.  Another reason not to get upset at my slow weight loss at the beginning of the year, I was getting fitter and preparing for more sustainable future weight loss.

The group sessions also included some techniques that looked like CBT to me and it was really good to see a well rounded approach.

The next step with the Weight Management Service was individual sessions with the Dietician as well as psychological support. I had my first session this month and will have my next in three months time.  It was very supportive and positive and we talked about quite a few things, including my ongoing struggles with breakfast.  I hadn't realised but the Weight Management Service only works with people with BMI's over 35.  Another approximately 3.5 stone and I would be at the point they would let me go and no longer give me any support.

So I have had a couple of illnesses that set me back as well.  I had a wierd fungal skin infection that made me feel really tired and recurred a couple of times.  I had to reduce my walking a bit to give my body some time off.  I got over it...

Then...  we went on holiday.  It was actually a cycling holiday I tagged along on.  My first foreign holiday since before Covid.  All inclusive food....  I managed to get my 5 stone award at Slimming World just before we left.  I knew I would enjoy the food and had decided to eat without guilt as I knew I would be able to loss it again.  I knew how.

So I ate and I walked and I got tired.  I didn't have my legs elevated as much as normal and it was warm and I ended up with very swollen legs.  On returning home I was coming down with a horrible bug and 1.5 stone heavier...  I lost about half over a few days, because it was just water that was released as my legs went down.  The rest was slower to go.....

The bug saw me doing nothing for a couple of weeks and then kept my walking at very low levels due to fatigue.  It has been really tough and frustrating.  I hate missing my garmin virtual challenge goals, but sometimes you really have to stop.

The other issue I have been left with is tingling and numbness in my right foot.  It has improved a little, but it's ongoing.  I had a note on my last repeat prescription to book a blood test.  So we shall see.  It could take a while for me to get an appointment.

I did however return to form a little in June and managed to pull it back to complete my June Garmin targets, including my second quarterly challenge.  This means I am on target still for the yearly target!  It was close and really hard work.  I made myself pretty tired pushing to get there.  It did however mean I also finished my Dublin Conqueror challenge  :-)

So it really has been six months of highs and lows.  Lots of great stuff, but also some setbacks and hard times.