Achieving balance in my life is my main goal for 2016.  I talked here about how I hope this will help me with my weight loss journey, and what I had learnt about falling off the wagon last year.  If you follow my blog regularly you’ll know that I struggle with losing weight, and I admit that I am just not happy the size that I am.

Achieving balance and losing weight

Two weeks ago I started a 12 week trail with XLS Medical to see if this would help me with my weight loss goals, and I want to let you know how I’ve been getting on.

Diet

I was given a diet plan to follow to reduce my calorie intake to 1800 calories a day.  If I’m honest I’ve struggled to stick to it completely.  Partly I find diet plans really difficult when they talk about having such a variety of foods throughout the week.  What are you meant to do with the rest of the packet of pitta breads?  There just is not room in a family freezer for this extra stuff.

Even though I didn’t stick to the eating plan religiously, I have used it as a guide.  Typically I’ve been eating porridge or yoghurt and smoothie for breakfast.  Lunch consists of a small bowl of soup and a wrap with ham or chicken.  I’ve switched to wholemeal products also so they are healthier and more filling.

Vegetables

We still eat together as a family but I have swapped potatoes for sweet potatoes with my main meal.  I also remove any fat from meat that we might be having and make sure there are plenty of vegetables to go with the meal.  This way of eating has been really easy to sustain for the last two weeks.

I think the other change that has really contributed is drinking plenty of water or herbal tea.  I make a point of having a drink every couple of hours and this helps me control my hunger too.

Exercise

I have been making a point of being more active, but there is still room for improvement. Working from home and getting exercise is a real challenge.  A reminder goes off on my phone and I know I need to move around and leave my desk.  Today I went for a long walk and on the way I picked up some bird seed.  It got me out of the house for some fresh air, which is always a good thing.  Now I can make a bird feeder with the girls too, but I digress.  Back to losing weight!

walking

When the reminder goes off on my phone, I can hear the voice in my head say ‘but you’ve got so much to do’.  I get straight back to her and say, ‘but you also need balance in your life’  and this seems to get me motivated to do something.  The house is getting hovered far more regularly!

Weight Loss

So as well as changing my diet and being more active I have also been taking XLS Medical Max Strength half an hour before my 2 main meals.  It’s really easy to get into the habit of doing and I haven’t missed them yet.

I have had some meals out over the last two weeks which is a part of our family life, but I’ve been able to take the XLS Medical Max Strength to limit the damage these family meals do.  It’s also helped keep me on track as I haven’t been racked with guilt after these treats thinking that I have failed.  We should all have a treat every now and again shouldn’t we, and sticking to a diet regime and having a life at the same time doesn’t always go together very well.

scales

So, what happened when I stepped on the scales?  I know, the suspense is killing you right?  Well I’m really pleased to report that I have lost 12 lbs in a little over 2 weeks.  I really believe that XLS Medical Max Strength is helping my weight loss progress.  I’ve gone through the stone barrier really quickly which is helping motivate me to carry on.  At the start of the trial I weighed 16 st 4lbs, and today I weigh 15 st 6lbs.  I have to say I’m really pleased with the progress so far.  I’ll pop back in a few weeks and give you another update of how the trail is going.

XLS Medical have provided me with a complimentary 12 week trail in exchange for these posts, but all thoughts and opinions are my own and the weight loss discussed is genuine. 

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12 COMMENTS

  1. Congratulations on your weight loss – 12lb in two weeks!! ?

    Since August last year, I have cut out bread and do not eat carbs with meals. Looking at a photograph of myself at the beach shook me into healthy living and eating. My stomach has never been flatter – doubt I will ever eat bread again.

    I look forward to following you on your journey!

  2. That’s fantastic!! Well done you!
    I’m always dubious about these things so I’ll read your posts with interest.

    I have struggled to loose weight after my 3rd baby (he will be 2 in March) but I’m trying to loose it through exercise and sensible eating (which is easier said than done when the kids have cakes in the house!!) x

  3. Well done! Achieving balance is something I also need, as for the losing weight, I need(ish) it too. But at the moment, I’m thinking, as long as I don’t move another size, I’m fine – for now at least 😉

  4. 12lb in two weeks is incredible! I am a huge believer that swapping normal carbs for complex carbs will have an amazing affect on weight loss. Last year I managed to lose 3 stone, and I still wont eat white bread or potatoes now, as I dread putting that weight back on.

    It sounds like you are feeling incredibly motivated, which is fantastic, I am sending you lots of positive thoughts via t’internet xxx

  5. Gosh, well done, that’s really impressive! I’m all too familiar with that little voice that tells you you don’t have time for exercise – it always seems difficult to prioritise but I find it makes me more productive in the long run as I’m always so much more motivated afterwards!

  6. Well done. Sometimes weight loss just needs a boost to get you going and if you see a good result it can keep you motivated. I struggled for 5 years after having N to get started, and back in November when I started I was a bit heavier than you and heavier than when I was 9 months pregnant. Your new diet seems healthy and well balanced (although I’m not sure I’d want to take tablets) and maintainable long term.

    I always struggle with healthy diets because apart from cutting out chocolate, cake and puddings, I can’t make many healthy switches because I already drank lots of water, ate wholemeal versions of things etc…I just snacked too much and ate too big portions. Still, 3 stone down and another 3 to do before October.

    Good luck with the rest of your diet.

  7. Congratulations on your weight loss! I always find it hardest to start but it’s so motivating when the scales start to shift. Exercising always makes far more difference than diet alone for me too, and balance is something I definitely need more of.

  8. Oh wow that is fantastic well done. Especially impressed with getting up and going out for a walk, I find it really hard to leave my desk too – I feel guilty when really I should be pleased to take time for myself. xx

  9. Congratulations on the 12lb weight loss, that is brilliant! I have been losing and gaining the same 2-3lbs since Christmas and feel like I’m getting nowhere fast. Ah well, onwards and upwards 😉

  10. Congratulations on losing 12lbs in two weeks, that’s amazing! It is all about balance isn’t it? A lot of people just try to diet, or will et unhealthy but spend a lot of time exercising, and it’s jut not going to work. It’s always about knowing your limits, like you have used the diet plan as a guide rather than trying to religiously stick to something that isn’t going to work!

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