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 two: Asking for help. It was inevitable really.
I was feeling motivated. If you ever plan on shifting some pounds, put it out there for everyone to see. The response from readers was incredible, but also made me realise there was no going back. It has to happen. With this in mind I started into my first week ‘being healthy’ on St.Patrick’s Day. (Someone up there has a real sense of humour)
So, how did I finish off my bank holiday weekend? With the Harbour 2 Harbour walk for Aware. The trek started out from Howth Harbour and took in the coast all the way to Dun Laoghaire. All 27km. 16 miles. OF TORTURE.
In case you missed this, I’m not athletic. It’s never been a word used to describe me, and unless there’s a personality/fitness transplant over the next few months, I doubt it ever will. I guess if I was there wouldn’t even be a blog. I’d be too busy chasing an invisible carrot on the treadmill.
I was coaxed into the walk for two reasons-
1- It was my first week of ‘being good’ and convincing me to do the walk was the same girl who featured in the decision to buy The Dress
2- Hey, at worst, it’d give me something to write about!?
So I trotted off to meet my friends on the morning of the walk. Having wolfed down a bowl of porridge with berries and linseeds (you’ve no idea how smug I was being able to write that. Unfortunately, it won’t be a common theme in this week’s post) I was greeted with the kind of cheerleader you can’t help but love despite the naivety.
She was sure I’d be fine. I was sure there’d be the same number of tea breaks that could only keep Mrs.Doyle happy. She produced ‘walkers’ socks’ (no, I didn’t know these double layered creations existed) and I knew I’d made a HUGE mistake.
It wasn’t pretty, and I’m sure it was the gossip supply from Clontarf to Monkstown alone that keep me plodding along, but I made it. There was five of us in the mission, and I looked at these women with awe and affection when we passed the finish line. The same look you see pasted on the faces of war comrades in films. We kept walking… right into a burger bar on the pier. I don’t regret a single bite of it either.
See this was my new problem. I’d now convinced myself I was entitled to every cupcake, chocolate egg, muffin, cookie that came my way. I walked half a marathon, I EARNED this. Again, when you write this down it makes it sound crazy, but to me this was total logic.
So began the week of the food apocalypse. I happen to love my new job. I get to write for a living . Perks that come with it? I’ve since sampled every baked treat you could dare to sniff at – and they’ve all been deliriously tasty. If only they were imparting gifts of fruit, low-cal treats or workout gear – I’d be sorted. But I’m not going to complain, there will be a Cupcake Awards Ceremony one day, and I’ll be happy to volunteer as a trained judge. Can’t let all this training go to waste.
With this in mind, I’ve admitted I need help. My willpower matches that of a toddler and that’s not going to help me achieve my Dress deadline. I’ve signed up to a Weight Watchers class. God loves a trier. But will my group leader? She does seem lovely, but that was with the sympathetic eyes of a first week weigh-in.
My favourite thing to do on a Sunday is snuggle in my duvet, catching up on shows – preferably with a sausage sandwich in hand. This is going to go well…
This week’s stats go a little something like this –
Height: 5ft 8
Starting Weight: 174 lbs
Current Weight: 172 lbs (Hey, at least it’s going in the right direction)
Weight Loss To Date: 2lb (Solely thanks to that walk of doom)
Goal: 148 lbs
Feeling: Sore
The Dress in Question:
Dress via Zara
