I Can’t Hide This Anymore – My Honest Weight Loss Journey

This video has been a long time coming and it’s been highly requested and I’ve honestly delayed making it because I didn’t want it to be misunderstood. Yes, I’ve lost weight, but this wasn’t quick and it definitely wasn’t effortless. I’ve changed I’ve changed how I eat. I’ve changed how I move and also how I think about my body. And yes, I’ve also used medical support along the way. But if you’re expecting a shortcut story, this isn’t that. This is the reality of what it actually took. I want to give you some context first because this decision didn’t come out of nowhere. I’ve always been someone who takes care of my body. I’ve trained for marathons. I’ve played tennis. And I’ve been through my fair share of structured diets over the years. And while I’ve mostly been slim, that’s never been by accident. It’s always been something that I’ve had to work at. There have been seasons in my life after marriage, during pregnancy and post pregnancy, and more recently with knee injuries where my weight has just crept up. And each time I’ve gone back to what I know, eat well, move more, stay consistent. But menopause was different. What used to work just stopped working. the same effort, the same discipline, but completely different results. And over time, that started to take a toll. Not just physically, but mentally as well. And actually, while we’re on that, one thing that I’ve become much much more aware of through all of this is how much tension I carry in my body, especially through my neck and my shoulders. And that’s something that’s definitely been amplified through this stage of life. life as well. So, I’ve been trying to be a lot more intentional about small things that help me manage that dayto-day. And just quickly, this part of the video is in partnership with Bob and Brad. One thing I’ve been using recently is their back and neck massager with heat. It’s essentially a shoo cushion that sits behind your neck or back and gently kneads into those tight areas. It’s something that I can just put on at the end of the day or even while I’m sitting having cup of tea like this and it helps to release that builtup tension. What I like about it is that it’s simple. I don’t have to think about it. I don’t have to book anything. It’s just there when I need it. It also has adjustable intensity and heat so that I can keep it quite gentle or go a bit deeper depending on how I’m feeling that day. And for me, it’s less about fixing anything and more about supporting my body in small consistent ways, which as you can probably tell from this whole video, that’s really been my approach to everything lately. I’ll leave the details in the description box below if you want to have a look. But coming back to the weight loss side of things, I started to feel like I was failing at something, something that I used to understand, like I’d lost control of my body. And that’s the part that I don’t think we talk about enough. So I made a decision. I went to see my GP and said, I’m not willing to just accept that this is how it is now. We talked through my options and that’s when medical support came into the picture. One of the tools my GP and I decided to use was a GLP1 medication. In my case, that was Mangjaro and I started on the lowest dose once a week. But the experience that I’m describing is more about how this type of support affected me overall. And what that did for me was something that I was not expecting at all. That constant food noise that I’d lived with for years just went quiet. And I don’t think that I realized how loud it had become until it stopped. I used to think about food all day. What I did next, grabbing quick things like biscuits and lollies, choose cheese and crackers, coffees, a glass of wine or three. It wasn’t about hunger. It was just always there. But once that noise disappeared, I could actually make calm, rational decisions. I still enjoyed food, but I didn’t feel pulled towards it. I could have a couple of crackers instead of a whole cheeseboard. I could have a piece of chocolate because that was satisfying and it was enough. Not something that I kept going back to. And naturally, I started choosing better foods, more protein, more whole foods without feeling restricted. Oh my goodness. And that’s when the weight loss started to come off steadily. Not quickly, steadily. Hey, excuse me. You’re interrupting me. Yeah. Then in month three, I increased the dose. And this is where it’s important to be honest. It didn’t suit me. I became so fruit averse that I wasn’t eating or drinking enough which led to dizziness and worsened my vertigo. So I adjusted. I went back down to the lower dose and that’s where things became balanced again. Excuse me, I’m talking. And and this is something that I really want to stress. This wasn’t passive. I started noticing patterns. When I traveled and ate more calorie dense foods, drank more alcohol, my weight loss plateaued and stalled. But when I focus on protein, on fueling my body properly, it continued. So, the medication didn’t replace good habits. It just made them easier to stick to. Alongside that, I’ve kept up with my movement. Come here. Taking Mayor for a walk. I’ve been doing reformer Pilates for a couple of years, and I generally believe that that’s helped me stay strong and maintain my muscles as I’ve lost weight. Yes, I’ve lost weight. Because for me, this was never just about being smaller. It was about feeling strong in my body again. And I know one of the biggest questions I get is about skin, especially, you know, around my neck and around my arms because when you lose a lot of weight, that’s something that a lot of women worry about. Now, I don’t think there’s one single reason, but I do think a few things have helped me. Firstly, I haven’t lost weight quickly. I haven’t rushed this. It’s been steady. Secondly, I’ve kept up strength-based movement. And thirdly, something that I’ve been doing consistently for years now is taking collagen daily. I pop it in my tea every morning and it’s done. Now, I’m not saying it’s a miracle, but I do believe consistency over time has played a role. But more than anything, it’s been the combination of everything. Now, where I’m at currently feels like I’m in a really good place. Not just in terms of weight, but in how I feel in my body, my strength, my energy. And for me, this was never about chasing the lowest number possible. It was about getting back to a place that felt sustainable. So, the next step for me is actually shifting into maintenance. And I’ll be speaking with my GP about that next, what that looks like for me, whether that’s adjusting things, spacing it out, or eventually just coming off it. Because the goal was never for me to rely on something forever. It was to use it as support while I rebuilt habits that I can carry forward long term. And I will share that journey as I go as well, because this isn’t just about losing weight. It’s about what happens next afterwards. So that’s my experience. It’s not a shortcut, not a magic fix, but the right support at the right time combined with habits that I’ve built over years. And I think that’s the most important part of this whole conversation because this isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for something that does the work for you, this isn’t it. But if you’re like me and you feel your body has changed and nothing is working the way it used to, then maybe it’s not about trying harder. Maybe it’s about trying something differently. And I finally feel like I’m back on my own team again. And in my next video, I’m shifting gears a little. It’s a much lighter one. I’ll be sharing what I wore this week, just real outfits, real life, and how I’m putting things together at the moment. So, if you feel like joining me for that, I’d love to have you there. Until next time, my friends, have a lovely day wherever you are, and I will see you in my next one. Bye. That’s it. No more barking. You don’t have anything more to say? No more to say? You’re done? Yes, you’re done. Yes, you’re done. Yes. Cheeky cheeky monkey.