Time for Unislim!

Did you ever catch sight of your reflection in a mirror or shop window and wonder who that person was?

That was me a few weeks ago while on holiday in France.  I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror as I was raising an ice lolly to my lips. Suffice to say that I was horrified because it was not the reflection I felt I saw looking back at me in my own mirror at home. It struck me then that I was probably fooling myself about that. I probably should have realised when my holiday clothes, size 16s no longer fitted me comfortably.

I am forty six and up until recently always felt I looked reasonably good for my age, even if I was pleasantly plump. 'Pleasantly Plump', that is actually how I saw myself, until that fateful day recently, when I saw my reflection from side view. I have a large bust anyway, but seeing that my tummy was almost as large, in that position, really brought it home to me.  Even the fact that my husband mentioned that I am the biggest he has ever seen me didn't register. But, seeing is definitely believing!

I mentioned to a few people about my size and they made no comment about it.  This signifies even more that I need to do something about it.  If I wasn't getting bigger, they would definitely say it, but nobody wants to offend!

I am now fourteen stone.  To those who are bigger than that, it may not seem a lot. However, being five foot six inches, the fortysomething first time mother of a four year old energetic toddler and having no energy and recent bouts of low mood and general ill health, it's all relative to each person's own situation.

Catching sight of myself in that mirror in France, receiving no positive feedback on my weight complaints, low energy, low moods and seeing a photo of myself looking frumpy and fat, I think it is definitely time to take Action!!!

I have done it before and I can do it again but I feel that I need guidance on the food part. I need ideas and guidance to eat more nutritiously rather than just eating less calories. I also find that when I am practicing yoga, it helps me to be more mindful of what I eat and improves my flexibility.  I lost 15lbs before through using this method but sadly my classes ended in June for the summer and don't resume until end of September.  I lacked the discipline to practice much at home and I have piled on the pounds in a matter of months! I haven't put up any recent pictures of myself on my blog or facebook pages, mainly because of this.

I have been searching the weight loss groups and decided to opt for the Unislim plan.  I like their website and being a technology fan, I love the way various groups use their facebook pages to interact.  I also like reading the blog of Emma Dunne over at the site!  She has lost a whopping seven stone and her posts are so full of enthusiasm, they are really motivating.  I love the Eumom.ie website and through Emma's blog on Unislim, I came across the weight loss journey of Claire (same name as me) on her Unislimmer blog/diary.

I toyed with the idea of joining the Unislim group in the Donaghmede area and I love following Nancy's facebook page.  However, I have finally settled on joining up with the Drumcondra area.  It is local to me, the times suit and when I contacted Linda, the leader, I got a good vibe.

I hope that, in conjunction with yoga, walks and a little bit of skipping, Unislim will remind me to eat nutritiously, help me to lose weight and up my energy levels.  In fact, I more than hope.  I know this will work if I can motivate myself and do all these self caring things I am promising myself to do. This blog is part of my strategy of accountability!

I have called this blog UniSlimSometime(s) because I have been slim in the past and I intend to be slim again sometime! Also it has been in my mind to join a slimming group for sometime now!

So, wish me luck on my new weight loss journey.  I won't be starting officially until Wednesday 15th August.  I am nervous about joining a class on my own but the only one who can do it is me.  I can't blame anyone else if they are not going along one week and I don't go either.  I want to prove to myself that I can do it and I can!