And so it begins...

My first blog. Ever.

It should be something epic.
Something monumental.
Something...life changing. 

And it is. Or it will be. Because yesterday, i did it, i finally went to the slimming club. 

I've been umm-ing and ahh-ing about it for a few weeks (and months) now.  If I'm honest, I've been putting off doing something about my weight for years.  I've never been what you would call slender, but I have always been (up until my early 20s) fit and in good health.  I've been a swimmer since being a toddler. At school, I played netball, hockey, rounders, gymnastics, badminton, and threw javelin, shotput & discus.  At university, I swam, played netball and hockey, then rugby (union of course!). Then I came back home, got a job and a boyfriend - fiance - husband.  And got comfortable.  On the settee mainly, but also at my desk (after having previously been in lab work, took a promotion and then got paid to sit at a computer all day).

Over those years since the early 20s, the exercise has gradually declined and the food intake has gradually increased.  Consequently, the weight has ballooned (and we're not talking party balloons here, we talking great, big, hot air balloons).

I got a motivational splurge in my mid to late 20s.  Spurred on by the prospect of a wedding and hence wedding dress, I went to Weight Watchers, went to Body Pump twice a week, Body Combat 1-2 times a week and lost almost 3 stone.  I was by no means a skinny-minnie, but I was quite happy, and quite fit. So i stopped going to classes (both WW and fitness classes).

Fast-forward four years and you find me now.  Heavier than ever before, bigger than ever before, unhealthy, unfit and thoroughly cheesed off with myself.

About a month ago, I got as far as looking on the Slimming World website for my local class and discovered that of the many they offer in my area, there's only a couple I could reasonably go to  (without going back across town or spending an hour finding a parking space).  So I picked 'the one': Monday evenings, 6:30pm in one of the function rooms at the local football club.  The first week I'd decided to go I was unwell, so i didn't go.  The next week, I worked late and got home after the start time of the class.  Yesterday, I felt fine and made it home in good time and thought to myself, "It's cold, it's dark. Do I really want to go out again and not get my tea until gone 8pm?"

As tempting as it was to stay home, I made myself go out.  And I'm so very glad I did.

So, first impressions:

• Everyone, and I mean, everyone (class helpers, group leader, other slimmers) were all really welcoming.  And I'm not saying that in a 'sell it to everyone' way.  Genuinely, they were all very nice, warm & friendly people.
• It's a completely different ethos to Weight Watchers (or appears so at least at this stage).
• It seems a fairly easy plan to follow, that doesn't divert from 'healthy eating', as you are encouraged to eat 'healthy' foods (rather than just low fat).
• I think I can do it!  Nothing seems to be unachievable, everything seems to be broken down into small stages so that nothing seems too daunting.

I've completed my first day today.  And whilst it hasn't been perfect (I'm still getting used to superfree, free, healthy extras & syns) it's been good and easier than I thought.  And if you had said to me yesterday that my biggest challenge on the first day would be coping without tea and coffee (due to the milk content - having them black is fine!), then I wouldn't have been fazed at all.

So, all in all, I'm feeling quite positive.  I need to remember this feeling and that's why I'm writing a blog.  Because at some point, I will be thoroughly cheesed off and want to go and eat a pizza and a great big piece of cake.  But I shan't.  I'll come back here, share my thoughts and read this first blog about what's gone before and how easy it all seems now, and I'll start again if I have to.

This has to work and this will work. I owe it to my husband, my family and my friends.  And perhaps most importantly, I owe it to me. 

So here we go.
Target 1: weight loss in the first week
Target 2: a stone off before Christmas (achievable and class leader agrees)
Target 3: ignoring the lift at work and using the stairs instead (I started this today)

Thanks for reading,
Hippy x