I have just said in ‘The Difference In Me’ that I won’t be naming medications because they all work differently for different people and it would be careless and unfair of me to say otherwise.
We all know some medications, more than others, are prone to causing weight. I gained four/five stones on a particular medication which didn’t really have weight gaining properties, it just made me feel hungry all the time…and I usually picked up the wrong stuff.
Prior to mental health becoming such a large part of my life, I was comfortable with being…um…a few sizes smaller than what I am now. I was busy running around after a baby, running a home, working full time, doing an evening college course whilst experiencing bullying at work, failure on my course and postnatal depression. I was headed for the breakdown I inevitably had.
So yes, I gained a few stones. As of 18th July 2019 I rejoined Slimming World for the 13th and final time. 13 is unlucky for some but I have made great friends in the morning group, feel inspired and I’m close to achieving my first ever stone award. *I’ve lost just over half a stone, but then Jade’s birthday happened so this week should be a good loss*.
I am on a medication now that is NOT known for weight gain which is why it is so popular apparently, because it doesn’t have those properties.
But it’s about brain training. I follow Slimming World because, for me, it works easier than WW. If I calorie count, I become obsessed with deficits etc. I now reach for carrot sticks instead of KitKats. If I’m hungry I fill up on speed free foods (if you know, you know) and eat cucumbers like they’re apples ha! Strawberries in overnight oats are my absolute favourite and Iceland do some large portioned free meals which suits my overly big appetite. They could do with being a little less spicy, in my opinion. When I have worked it out, I will try and add some food diaries to this page or alternatively you can follow me and Jade on Instgram on @weighdaywarriors
Weigh Day Warriors was set up initially as a Slimming World account and then changed to CHROME which was an acronym born from an emotional conversation about food, food issues and weight, stemming from a simple pepperoni pizza. Our goal was to primarily help me (and others) to remove emotional attachment from food which is what I used to struggle with.
When reaching for food think of CHROME. Am I in CONTROL of my CHOICES? Am I actually HUNGRY or am I ROAMING the cupboards for something to munch on? Could I delay eating by keeping myself otherwise OCCUPIED putting thought before the action, removing mindless eating? Am I MINDFUL about what I am eating? And last, by not least, am I EMOTIONALLY EATING? If I can pause before eating, or really question if I “need” that item of food, or engage in other activity I am breaking old habits.
I still use CHROME to some extent although the ethos conflicts with Slimming World’s “eat as much free food as you want” and Jade wanted to start posting more body positivity stuffs so we combined CHROME, SW and BP to create @weighdaywarriors on Instagram.
On a final note, I decided at 11.50pm on 31st August 2019 I was going to partake in Sweatember. This is an annual event playing on the word September, but where you exercise every day for a month to raise money for Cancer Research UK. So Jade and I joined the gym, walk the dog separately and together, I go swimming and attempted kickboxing, as well as incorporating little walks into my daily lifestyle. It hasn’t reflected in pounds on the scale but I can definitely see inches going down. Oh, and I’ve raised my FULL TARGET of £100 wahoo!!!
I’ve felt so much better about myself for doing a little exercise and I will continue the gym and swimming long after September.
MY THREE TOP TIPS FOR SLIMMING WORLD: 1) Be honest with yourself and realistic with your expectations, 2) your syns are like money; spend them wisely and remember they are a limit not a target and 3) write everything down to keep track of what and when you’re eating/drinking.
The Warrior Within 