Getting Fit: 8 week transformation photos

I think the term 'transformation' may be a bit, um, excessive in my case. I have used the most unflattering pictures, both before and after, because this is what I look like when I hit the gym. But I'm sweatier there.

I'm not looking to be a size 10. At the end of last year though, I was feeling so sluggish and generally unwell that I thought I should probably do something about it sharpish. I was living on ready meals, and drinking a glass of wine every day and not even vaguely monitoring my consumption. I certainly wasn't doing any exercise.

So just around the corner from me is a gym. It looks like this:

A fair few of my friends and acquaintances go, because its handy. In fact one of the instructors sons is in Joeys class.

What I signed up to was three sessions a week of my choice, plus nutritional guidance i.e a complete overhaul of what I was eating - essentially tracking my intake based on 'macros' or in laymans terms, the percentages of carbs, protein and fats that you consume. I also had to drop the dairy, and up the greens. No bread. Minimal carbs in general.

I thought I'd have dropped a size in two months, however I haven't. What has happened is that I've toned up a bit, and improved my eating considerably. My knees are still bad (I have osteoarthritis) and I was hoping to drop some weight as this is the only way to take the pressure off them, but unfortunately I've hardly dropped any.
However. My waist is smaller. I have less back fat ( I forgot to take back pics sorry) I can do a vague approximation of a situp  (as opposed to flailing around like a beached whale whilst failing to move my top half from the floor) And I'm lighter of purse by £79 a month :)

Side view. I can see my tummy has shrunk a bit. Possibly a bit off the backside too.

Front view. My waist goes in a bit more. My legs - I think they look the same. 

When I get my measurements next week, I'll add any changes here.

Plus Sized Fashion: Collectif Tura Woodland Bloom blouse.

Honestly I'm not a blouse person. I'm more of a smock person. However at 7 quid I thought I'd give this pretty blouse a go. It is chiffon. For some reason I thought it would have an in built slip. It doesn't!

This is me in the Tura. I just went for the 18 as it said it was true to size. It fits ok, but is slightly tight on my (huge, but 8cm less huge than 4 weeks ago) belly. The sleeves are big enough even when fastened with the little button. The bow is a nice feature. 

I had to dig out a vest top because I really do not want my underwear on show to all, but I think I will wear this even though I don't normally display my ar*e as its so big right now.

Those jeans are Tesco F&F btw and they fit really well. I got them in the sale just after christmas and wish I'd bought more.

On the subject of weightloss, I've not had much. I joined the '8 week transformation' at my local gym, the Unit Fitness at the beginning of January. I've been attending 3 training sessions a week like a good girl, eating what they tell me (no bread or pasta <sigh>) and had my 4 week stats (check in) yesterday, at 6.45am, when some folk were just finishing a training session (what the?!)

I've only lost 4.5lb which is kind of sh*t, however I've lost inches off my waist, hips and wrists (eh?!) and a bit off my calves. My thighs are stubbornly refusing to shift anything, but I think I'm losing it just above my knees because they don't seem as porky on the photo above. I could be just imagining it, but that's ok. If I can fit into my Cath Kidston dress again I'll be happy. If I can fit into Collectif size 18 jeans (this photo was 3.5 weeks ago) I'll be ecstatic!!

1940's and beyond

Ramsey 1940's Weekend. We go every year, although this year the location changed from the airfield to the rural museum. This is a shame, because the airfield was perfect (apparently its been sold for housing) and whilst they did an amazing job at the rural museum site, it wasn't quite the same.

I'm hesitant to say 'as good' but the 'feel' didn't match. Also the big top tent was something I didn't love. The tea dances used to be held in an aircraft hangar, so they obviously did their best to replicate the size. The tent was difficult to access though unlike the hangar which had a large doorway and plenty of room to move, and they had the sides down, meaning it was very dark (you can't tell from my photo due to the flash, but only the floor area was lit) and very hot and stuffy. The dancers even requested that they would like the sides to be raised to lowever the temperature a bit, but it didn't happen (whilst we were there anyway) 

Otherwise, it was a lovely day. We werent there a long time (nearly long enough) because the boys got bored. I really really wanted to browse the stalls but didn't get the opportunity. Plus there was an amazing fabric stall and I wish I'd known or I'd have raided the piggy bank first (I asked him if he had a market stall - no apparently - he only opens his stall once a year at the Ramsey weekend?!)

 

I heart this dress from lindy bop. I could just buy it online as its only £30, but what I REALLY want is the pattern for a dress with that bustline. Plus I really want to stop buying clothes (and making them) until I've lost weight.

Noah gets to handle a rifle. 

Joey looks the part

 

Is he real mummy?!

I have started my diet again today. I'm very fed up of fat. I have a new motivation tool. I bought this italian charm bracelet on ebay. You can replace each link with patterned links if required. I have bought extra links with numbers: either '1' or '7' to signify lbs lost. Each week I shall update my bracelet with the appropriate numbers so in total my bracelet will display how many lbs I have lost. I'm hoping that this little visual reminder will do exactly that - remind me I cannot make/buy any new dresses until I've lost a decent amount!