But the thing is Thinking Slimmer is different. Really different. No foods are banned and there's no diet to follow. All you have to do is set your goals, listen to the Slimpod each night for 10 mins and record the positive changes that you notice each day in the handbook that comes with the Slimpod. Sounds to easy and good to be true doesn't it?
I remember noticing changes almost from the first day. We were sitting having pizza for lunch in a beautiful little piazza in Rome when I noticed that I felt really full up and didn't want to eat anymore. This had never happened to me before with pizza! I think my husband thought there was something wrong with me, I have always finished all my pizza - it's my favourite food.
Other strange things happened - I didn't spend the whole week hankering after gelato and finding any and every opportunity to have one, as I did the last time we had gone to Italy. I had it once all week, savouring every mouthful and that was enough for me. Something was definitely changing.
So a year on what else has changed for me?
* I have control over food, it no longer controls me. I eat what I want to, when I want to but I no longer think about food all day long. I stop when I am full and eat only when I'm hungry. This might seem obvious to anyone who's never had a weight problem but after years of eating in response to feeling happy, sad, bored, tired, angry - you name it - this has been a huge breakthrough for me
* I have become a runner! I have dabbled with trying to keep fit in the past but nothing has ever 'stuck' like the running now has. I am active every day and run at least 3 times a week. I have also found yoga which I love and is a perfect complement to my running. In the last year I have run 5 races a 5K, 10 mile, half marathon, 16 mile and the big one - the London Marathon.
* I have met some fantastic, inspiring people who have supported and helped me along the way. I'm now very happy to be able to 'pay it forward' by providing support to other people just starting out on their journey through the online communities that Thinking Slimmer provide.
* I have dropped two dress sizes, 18 inches have disappeared from across my body and the scales say I've lost 1 stone and 4 pounds. I feel as if the scales owe me around half a stone but as we all know the scales are a rubbish indicator of how your body is changing, especially if you exercise a lot. I think the camera is a better indicator of progress as these pictures show..
This is me waiting to take part in my 5K race back in June 2011
And this is me waiting to run the London Marathon 2 weeks ago
The best thing about all this is that I know these changes are permanent. There's no diet to fall off, there's nothing to fail at and even if for some reason I wasn't able to exercise I know that my body would then regulate my food intake and stop me from gaining weight.
The key to Thinking Slimmer is goal setting and having completed the London Marathon in size 12 running gear and smashing my fundraising target I have met all the goals that I set myself back in October. So I need some new ones
* To fit into my size 12 pink coast dress by June 9th so I can wear it out for my marathon celebration meal with my friend Lisa. The dress now does up but feels a bit tight so that's my focus for the next few weeks
* To fit into my skinny grey jeans in time to take them on our holiday to New York on June 16th. At the moment they *just* about do up.
* To run 10K without stopping on May 27th in the BUPA 10K
* To take at least 5 minutes off my current 10K time of 1 hr and 13 minutes by July 8th when Darin and I run the British 10K together
* To be able to touch my toes with straight legs by Christmas - I suffer with tight calves and hamstrings and have never been able to touch my toes. This one is going to take lots of yoga, stretching and time!
I think that's enough to be getting on with for now!
8 comments:
Thats a really inspiring post, i am at the point that i realise i must do something about my health and sounds like thinking slimmer is a great way to do this. I will definately give it a go.
cat xx
You have had an amazing journey. Amazingly - we started Thinking Slimmer about the same time so I guess I'm about due my 1 year post too! Well done you...
Catherine - it was such a liberating feeling to discover Thinking Slimmer. I really would recommend it. It's changed my relationship with food completely.
And thank you Dawn - I look forward to reading your no doubt inspiring 1 year post. What a year eh?!
Oh Becca,
What a wonderful wonderful post. You have been a HUGE inspiration to me on my Slimpod journey. I am now up to running just about 5k and am still amazed that I can actually do it!! Thank you for posting this. I am just over 4 months into my journey and I said to my sister today how amazing I feel now....
So, thank you for giving me the inspiration to start running and to keep Podding. x
Wow. I've been listening to the pods for less than a week and am already noticing a lot of changes - I'm very interested to read this post from someone a year on. It does all rather seem too good to be true, so it's good to see that it does stick.
I'm very impressed with your running!
Wow - well done Clarri on the running - it's such an achievement when you get to 5K - I remember running it non stop for the first time and feeling over the moon. Really well done. x
Tasha - yes it really does work if you follow the rules. I still listen to my pods now, not every day but at last 4-5 times a week. Good luck on your Slimpod journey x
Hi Becca,
You have done such a fab job what an inspiration.
I love running but was injured back in 2007 and eventually they found out I needed new hips.... at 50.... My husband won't let me run again but I walk. Doing 112 miles in April aiming for 120 for May.
I have been listening to drop 2 or more jeans sizes since 26 April.
I struggle with my daily positives. I haven't had the full feeling kick in yet either. I have had 4 on plan (Slimming world) weekends with is unheard-of for me. But all that other people have said as positives I haven't seen or felt yet. Any advise?
Thanks Lynda x
Wow Lynda - your walking mileage is amazing. Well done!
In terms of the Slimpods sometimes things take longer to kick in for people. Have you set your goals? You really do need to think about your positives too as they are key. The other thing you say is that you're still following Slimming World which could also be why. For the Slimpod to work properly you need to listen to your body and eat what it wants rather than what a diet tells you to. Are you on the forums on the Thinking Slimmer page? I'd really recommend joining as you can get loads of help and advice there from other people and from Thinking Slimmer themselves.
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