Weight Loss Journey 2016

Hi Guys,

I thought I would write an introductory post about my weight loss journey, which I have started and will be continuing into 2016.  I am hoping to do some more posts about my progress, including my exercise routines, recipes and meal ideas and hopefully updates on my loss (pounds and inches).  I would also like to do some posts about how fitness can contribute to mental health and wellbeing, as this is a topic that is very close to my heart.

For the past few years I have struggled a little bit with my weight.  I had some trying times during 2012 and my weight took a nosedive.  I have lost some of the weight but I still have a long way to go to get back to the target weight and size, which I hope to be.  From about the age of 14 to 22 I used to be such an exercise junkie and could always maintain the size and weight I wanted to be, then all of a sudden eating out, takeaways and too many boozy nights out all caught up with me.  I also had quite a stressful job (until I took a step back from my job during the summer), which took over every spare minute I had (in other words not going to the gym or swimming or aerobics classes or dance classes or walking everywhere – all the things I loved) and resulted in a lot of comfort eating.  The hardships of the past few years, particularly 2012, made me forget who I was and who I wanted to be, my weight wasn’t my number one priority and doing something about it definitely wasn’t.

2016 is the year I intend to finally get my weight, health, body and mind back to where they always were.  Obviously, as a 27-year-old (single) woman, how I look is important to me and has a massive knock on effect with my confidence and self-esteem but I am also on this journey for health, increased energy and most important of all, my sanity! My major inspiration/Woman Crush Wednesday/Woman Crush Everyday at the moment is Khloe Kardashian.  She is the poster girl for how health and fitness and clean living can change your life (there will be more on Khloe very soon)!

This year is the year, there’s no turning back! Look out for my diet and fitness posts and my monthly updates.

Are you on your own weight loss journey?  Let me know your stories, it would be great to spur each other on 🙂

Love Dani x

Image Credit: weightlossfitnessnicelife.blogspot.com

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2016 New Year’s Resolutions

Like I said in my ‘New Beginnings’ post, I agree that New Year’s Resolutions are so clichéd and usually consist of a set of unrealistic goals that we will maybe stick to for a couple of weeks and never reach.  That being said, I think it is all part of the ‘New Year’ fun, that feeling of hope and determination that you can actually change the aspects of your life that you feel are bothering you or restricting you as a person.  Primarily, the key to creating successful New Year’s Resolutions is to make them realistic, achievable and obtainable.  The older I get and the closer I get to reaching the dreaded ’30’ I also constantly find myself thinking, “If I don’t do it this year, if I don’t do it now, when will I?”

So I have come up with 5 New Year’s Resolutions for 2016 that I am going to do my very best to achieve:

1. To eat healthier and drink more water (make it about health rather than vanity).
2. To exercise more, partaking in activities which are fun and enjoyable (again health vs. vanity, increased energy, mental health and wellbeing, doing something that you get a buzz out of: I used to be a keen dancer, I hope to be again in 2016!)
3. To save some money per month (£50/£100 a month, putting all of your 1ps and 2ps in a jar – it all adds up! Don’t panic if one week you only save £10, don’t pressure yourself).
4. To live in the moment, finding something positive in everyday, doing the things that I enjoy (watching TV box sets, reading autobiographies, having a bubble bath, colouring in, re-decorating, going to an aerobics class – what makes you tick?  DO IT!)
5. To find new hobbies and interests, which broaden my horizons and make me step out of my ‘comfort zone’ (remember when you were a kid and everything was new and exciting?  New experiences were usually parent/school led, it’s up to you now to make your enjoyment!  If your friends don’t have the same hobbies, make some new ones that you can share those interests with, DON’T MISS OUT, IT’S YOUR LIFE!)

I hope this has given you some inspiration and helped you to realise that New Year’s Resolutions can be obtainable 🙂 Look out for my ‘New Year’s Resolutions Updates’ in April, July and October to track my progress.  We can do it together!

Good luck,

Love Dani x

Image Credit: theodysseyonline.com