After 14 weeks I’ve lost a stone to 7 stone 8lbs and my belly is back to normal. What’s more, the scales are showing how much fat I’ve lost and how much muscle I’ve gained. My skeletal muscle mass has always been low and my GP had warned me before, so I knew I was at risk of osteoporosis. Now I have above average muscle mass and it’s great to know that my body is prepared for the future. I don’t want to be one of those old ladies who falls and breaks a bone. What’s even better is that the machine at the gym that measures my metabolic age (body composition) tells me I’m 38 years younger.
I just bought a dress for my daughter’s wedding this summer and it feels amazing to wear. It was very tight and I wasn’t confident enough to wear it before, but now I can’t wait to wear it and enjoy my daughter’s beautiful day.
exercise
I used to walk and do a bit of yoga and pilates, but not regularly. Now I do five strength-training sessions a week with a personal trainer or using an app called Sweat: kettlebell swings, squats with weights, lunges with weights. I also do the occasional park run, which I hadn’t done in 15 years, and have started doing a few 5k runs on the treadmill before my sessions. I also walk a lot, which really helps clear my head.
Oona’s Top Tips
- Don’t get caught in a guilt spiral. If you do have a treat, don’t waste time feeling guilty, don’t waste the rest of the day by continuing to eat like I used to do, just remember that I enjoyed that thing and that drink, and now I can start again.
- A little bit of planning can really help things stay on track: quickly write down what you plan to eat that day and stick to it, pack some snacks in your bag, or batch cook a few meals in advance.
- Visualize yourself as you want to be, whether that be a future event like a vacation or being healthy in retirement. This will help you stay on the right track when your motivation dwindles.
Narrated by Jessica Salter
