In a new weekly feature, Her.ie newbie Liz is going to share her weight loss journey. She’ll be filling you in on fighting temptation, her willpower struggles with the cocktail menu and taking painfully slow steps towards regular exercise. All in the name of a dress.
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Hanging on the wall at the end of my bed is the constant reminder I plan on shedding nearly two stone this year. I also plan on marking the trials and tribulations of ‘trying to be good’ – the favourite saying we all tout, and quickly replace when a cake is put in front of us.
Week 20: Beating ANY mirror blues…
This is the week before my big reveal, and rather than talk about myself, I want to talk about everyone else. Everyone who sends me well wishes, anyone who had a week where they struggled or spent time looking in a mirror judging and doubting themselves.
The thing is, as women, we can be really hard on ourselves.
My best friend, who of course is a personal trainer so weighs a bag of sugar and looks good in just about anything, gave me a solid piece of advice recently.
Talking about weight and bodies and that double edged sword of taking a photograph, she imparted some words of wisdom:
“Photographs don’t always show you the way you feel in an outfit. Did you feel amazing wearing it? Well don’t let one bad angle ruin that feeling. One photo shouldn’t ruin your night.”
(This is one of the many reasons she’s a best friend. She also appreciates weird humour and the value of eating tubs of ice-cream.)
Throughout this journey I’ve had the support not just of friends, family (special shout-out to Ally and Marielli) and a Weight Watchers group including the lovely Mary.
I’ve also had readers who have taken me under their wing and shared their words of wisdom. Like when I had to admit that I’d put on two pounds and was losing my modjo.
I went to work the next day and found five different emails from ladies with tips to detox, how to start again and foods to speed my metabolism.
I also had women share their own experiences of losing weight. Like a mother-daughter duo who between them have lost nearly thirty pounds and counting, or the woman who mailed to let me know she had a dress hanging at the end of her bed and was embarking on her own journey. It’s nice to know you’re not going it alone, and it’s nice that instead of women tackling one another or competing with a body ideal, that they’re supporting one another and starting our own little sisterhood.
Now before I go all Dr. Phil, I want to share the experience of one reader, who happened to be a great support and kept me in diet tips for all the important things in life (a.k.a the waist friendly cocktail list…)
I was writing the dress diary updates for a week or two when I got a tweet congratulating me on my weight loss. Teresa then took the time to message me every week, whether it was to share my excitement, disappointment or reveal her own journey. Even if the scales weren’t my friend, I knew Teresa had my back.
She was on a weight loss mission for a really big day. Her big day. To fit into HER dream dress.
Then in April, I was dolled up for a night on the tiles with my roomie and posted a tweet of our efforts. Teresa (being the dote she is) wished me a great night and told me to check my inbox. Intrigued in the middle of a dancefloor, I logged into my email and found the best surprise ever.
Teresa, who was working her magic on a wedding dress zip, had done it. She set herself a Dress Deadline and she conquered it.
To say I squealed is an understatement. Running to the bar, we toasted this lady with a glass of prosecco, because when you’ve had your heart set on something so big and it works out, well you deserve your own little parade. I was happy to dance to the beat of Teresa’s drum.
The next evening, Teresa sent her usual message of support and we got chatting. That’s when she invited me to her wedding. So we could both wear our dream dresses. And be proud of all we’d achieved.
Teresa Heaney married Ciaran O’Neill in Dublin yesterday. There may have been buckets of rain but nothing was going to dampen her day. To say they are totally in love is an understatement. When I met Teresa for the first time, I was taken aback.
She was every inch the stunning bride. From the glossy hair, to her bridal make-up and right down to her strapless gown, with beaded neckline and laced-up back. She was, and is, stunning. And as friendly and warm as any friend you could wish to have.
We hugged, we chatted, we had a drink and she invited me to meet her husband. Who happens to be a personal trainer. With that kind of support, I know she’s going to keep up all her hard work. (Even if she’s fighting against her grandfather’s cocktail sausage recipe. Trust me, it’s divine.)
Dancing to the band (who happened to include her husband on drums), we built up some activity points tearing up a dancefloor to Thin Lizzy.
This woman welcomed me into the biggest day of her life – and it was beautiful. Just like her.
So what does Teresa look like? Why don’t you have a gander for yourself… (no filter required)
Next week is my big reveal. And I’m excited. Because if I look half as good in my dream dress, I won’t be able to take it off. I might just need to find another wedding to saunter off to…
PS: I lost 3lbs this week. Yes, it was a nice cherry on top of the wedding cake.
This week’s stats go a little something like this –
Height: 5ft 8
Starting Weight: 174 lbs
Current Weight: 153.5 lbs
Weight Loss To Date: 20.5 lb
Goal: 148 lbs
Feeling: Tired, but mainly from dancing.
The Dress in Question:
