I used to use IF to just keep myself in check; combined with regular fitness. I was never “thin” but I was strong and always felt confident with my body.
I am now 2.5 stone heavier than that. I know why; I moved out of London and in with a partner in the countryside where everything isn’t walking distance away. I enjoyed after work dinners and red wine. I worked long hours on TV sets fuelled by biscuits and carb heavy catering. My scales also stopped working. Losing all perception on what my body really looks like. Blaming it all on the pandemic.
I’m still strong as hell; but I’m not happy with my fitness levels or the size of my tummy. My beautiful wardrobe no longer fit. My bras hurt to wear. But I am not going to start punishing myself or berating my body. I will start making better decisions about what and when I eat. It’s difficult; the part of my brain that gets sucked into diet culture keeps thinking about meal replacement shakes and fads. But I know that these don’t work. They make me miserable and don’t nourish my body. Approaching this with self love rather than hatred for my body.
So here I am. Publically making this commitment to myself.
SW: 91kg - 200lbs - 14.3 st Height: 5ft7 BMI: 31 GW: 75 kg - 165lbs - 11.8 st
Weight to lose: 16kg - 35lbs - 2.5st
Taking each day as it comes; and refusing to spend this Winterval sedentary and gaining even more weight!! Wish me luck. First 18hr fast done.
18:6, then 20:4, with occasional 24hr fasts. Consciously eating good, whole foods. Daily exercise that makes me happy and doesn’t feel like punishment.
You can do it! My one piece of (hopefully encouraging) advice is to take it a step at a time. It’s easy to fail when you try to do too much at once. Add habits like you’re building a brick wall…one at a time, one row at a time. Good luck!
I also work in film and I had to mostly stopped eating the catered food. I started my year IF but i have since stopped and now just control my diet. I bring my own fruits/veggies/snacks and also 1 protein shake (this is part is very important for gains!!) and skip the catering 80% . My biggest issue was i also developed high blood pressure some point year and the catering food is way to salty. i convinced my self just because the food is “owed” to me that is was not worth.