Weighing up WEIGHT LOSS - My take on it

I've had my own weight gain and weight loss battle - several times. It sucks, I know that much for sure. It takes it's toll on your self esteem and on your head space. The constant checking of reflections - "do I really look this bad?" "maybe that photo was just a bad angle" "I'm in my 50's now - bodies change".

I get it when you pop the button off your favourite jeans, or sit down and rip the crutch. When there are saggy bits hanging over the top of your pants so you buy long floaty tops to cover it all up. I've been there too. I've tried to hide the bit that bulges over the top of the aeroplane seat belt with my jacket because there is someone younger and much much slimmer sitting in the seat beside me.

I've taken laxatives, drunk my fair share of Coke Zero, and been on all sorts of crazy food fads and schemes. Trust me - I get it.

• Calorie counting

• Getting up with the farting sparrows and going to a spin class at the gym 5 days a week before the kids wake up

• Atkins diet

• Paleo

• "Magic" diet pills

• Skipping meals

• Keto

• Special fancy shakes

• Low fat

• Weight Watchers or eating the pre made diet meals

• Kim Beach

• Vegan

• Carnivore

• Quitting sugar

• Intermittent fasting

• etc etc

The list goes on and on. You name it, I've tried it (to be fair I've never been a vegan - heavens!) and yes I did get results over time - but nothing was maintainable for me over the long term.

I've talked to my body, I've "embraced" the extra weight. But "embracing it" didn't stop my joints aching, my skin looking dull, my foggy thinking, my low energy, my moods, my back pain or the constipation from years of laxative abuse in my 20's.

Self esteem is a funny thing. I understand the psychology. I am actually very comfortable in my own skin and I truly don't give a rat's arse about what other people think. BUT I hate being fat! There - I've said it - EEEEEEEEK.

Now what?!

I'll tell you what - you need to make peace. You need to sort your gut a little and take a bit of pressure off your liver. You need to BE KIND TO YOURSELF. Now that doesn't mean giving in to cravings and feeding your face. It means forgiving yourself for being human. It means taking control. It means doing it with support - a crew of people who "get it". And it means kicking some arse!! We have GOT THIS people.

What I also know is that there HAS to be a life style change for the habits to stick long term. For weight loss to be permanent habits need to stick long term. The ideal that I have found is where lifestyle change is achievable, and a balance can be found after the ideal weight has been achieved. - 80:20 going forward.

As well as liver and gut health, adrenals, exercise or movement, parasympathetic nervous system engagement, support, thyroid health, metabolism, blood sugar stability etc also need attention. I take clients on a programme that covers all of these bases - but only IF it's right for them. Needs vary and I work with clients to ascertain theirs.

Bodies can also be stubborn, it can take them a while to "let go". We (particularly as women) have trained our bodies that there is yet another famine coming. Not eating breakfast, cutting meals, yoyo dieting, restricting calories etc etc so sometimes it takes a while for our bodies to trust us again. To not store everything that comes their way. To rebalance the chemical messengers.

Like I said:" it will mean kicking some arse!!" But we have definitely got this. You'll do the work - you have to. But I'll be there every step of the way.

Renew with Rach is not a weight loss clinic - but I will walk with you in your weight loss journey if that's what we decide together is right for you.