What a GOAL!

Hello everyone! Firstly THANK YOU to all who read and comment on my blog, your support and constant encouragement is VITAL to my success in achieving the 4 STONE and 2 pounds I have now lost! The best thing of all is how I am feeling - excited, fantastic, happy and have a skip in my step now. I have now run out of black slacks to wear for my "black outfit" pictures so had some leggings which actually fitted- a little snug! This is the 3rd time I have to buy new ones for work - good to find a cheap shop so that it doesn't cost too much!

4 Stone was my goal when I started this programme so I have achieved it within 84 days with a further 16 days still to go. This means I lost an average of 4.6 pounds (2.1kgs) per week. Even more amazing is the 23 inches (7 from my chest, 7 from my waist and 9 from my hips) I have shrunk. Today I was able to get into a size 16 - dropped 4 dress sizes, which

I haven't done since I was 25! With temperatures reaching 25 degrees today I can wear great fitting summer clothes. I have renewed energy and joy that comes from having achieved the largest challenge of my life. There is still so much more work to do but now anything is now possible. I am really looking forward to making further changes and getting my BMI to a healthy range.

I visited my renal specialist to check my blood pressure and kidney function and he was delighted to reduce my medication by half due to my improved health. I have suggested to him that he should recommend Lighter Life and other similar programmes to patients like me who have struggled with our weight for many years, instead of just saying "you really do need to lose weight" every time I saw him. I am not sure he liked that but I don't care, as he should be more proactive in recommending real solutions to his clients! He did say that he wanted me to move back to conventional food as soon as possible so this fits in with my original plans to move into the next phase, Route to Management. I am really excited about it not just because we can eat food again but we will be learning more about planning, processes, coping mechanisms, affirmations, achievements, decision making, fear, lapsing, addiction, deprivation, change and healthier eating. It is possible to still lose weight during this phase of the programme but the main focus is on finding a balance and maintaining one's progress.

At the end of the 100 days I will post my before and after photo's for those of you who keep asking, so watch out for them on the 28th of April.