"T" is for...

TIME-SPECIFIC

We've all done it.. I'm going to lose 3 stone! TA DA!!! *puts kettle on* 
Um.. by when exactly? … and how much each week? … 
you've got to tie yourself down to a finishing line..  
a rolling deadline never gets completed! I know this for a fact!

Say it out loud.. 
by Christmas I want to be a stone lighter.. 
This month I want to walk 20K...
This week I'm going to track all my food...
I will exercise 3 times this week...
There's your deadline... 

I want to lose weight … um.. yeah.. that's great but you'll be doing that for years if you don't set yourself a definitive timeline! And yes.. things change and you don't lose the amount you thought you would.. but you REDEFINE your timeline… and set stages .. 
And ask yourself... What can I do in six month, six weeks, today?

TELL PEOPLE

Keeping your new lifestyle changes a secret means it never really has to happen because no one else knows! Now I'm not saying take out ad in the Irish Times and there's some people who you just don't want them to know because they'll just sabotage you and we've all got the family aunt who just says 'ah but you have a lovely face' when you've lost a stone!!! But by 'outing' yourself means you're more likely to follow through on your goals! If the lady in the cafe knows you're taking skinny milk now and using Canderel then that's someone who gets you're making a change.. a coffee shop near where I work, got the little Canderel dispenser for me, the guy noticed I rooted through my handbag for mine every morning and just got one in.. now they have the satches because other people wanted it but just didn't ask!

I have a similar relationship with my SuperValu manager.. I think he dreads seeing me chasing after him! But if there's something out in the market I don't see why he can't stock it! My WW class piles in there on a Thursday and we're all really motivated.. if he has the products people want … they will buy them.. 'If they build it…' well ya know the rest .. just don't be afraid to ask.. 

Go for a walk at lunch time.. and see if anyone wants to come with you.. a 15 min stroll away from your desk having a gossip, is something that becomes a regular habit and people then know.. 'ah she's not at her desk she's probably gone for her walk' … you don't have to announce it over a group email.. people will notice and think.. 'go you' and 'would you mind if I escape the mad house with you!'...  and you don't have to announce you're in Weight watchers now and you're earning activity points and you want a curly wurly on Friday.. just a 'anyone fancy a walk at lunchtime?' will get someone to tag along.. plus who doesn't love a good gossip!?

Your housemates, partner, siblings, choose people who you know will back you and go for it… they'll join you and support you and be delighted to do so! It'll start new healthy habits with them! You'll be doing them a favor too! 

Keeping it a secret just means you can give up much easier!

TRACKING

One of the top reasons weight watchers works for me and many other people I know... the weeks I track are the weeks I'm down.. I just refuse to write in 'chocolate biscuit' and point it! I use my points like money in the bank and anyone who knows me knows I'm quite a thrifty one! Whether its on an app.. See Mr. Qs fab review > HERE.. or you've got a notebook that you just write everything down in … tracking is the best way to see what you're eating, when and why! My first few weeks of proper tracking, made me realize what a night grazer I am! I'm not hungry but a cup of tea needs a biccie.. and I didn't realize how many nibbles I was having! Its a good eye opener.. and keep it where you can get to it.. on the fridge, in your bag, on your desk.. wherever is handy for you! 

As my leader says.... if it goes in your smacker.. it goes on the tracker!

Plus, its the only way to be really honest with yourself.. I mean the only person you're fooling if you don't track properly is you right?

TORTURE

The first few sessions when you start exercising you wonder what the hell you're doing out in the rain stomping about listening to some sergeant major! But that feeling once you've worked out.. an hour in the pool.. walked around the block... it really doesn't matter what.. its worth it! Muscles will ache.. but that's cause you haven't used them in a while! Plus once you really get going you start to notice that you're walking further, cycling faster and uphills... I know the old cliche no pain no gain... but its really very true... you've got to push yourself and adding exercise to any healthy lifestyle can only be a good thing! And you'll feel so good once you're done!

TEMPTATION

Its all around you.. but you've got to remember WHY you started this.. and it wasn't to torture yourself but TRANSFORM yourself! Be a better, healthier, less tired, fabulous version of you! Is a cream cake worth it? Sometimes yes.. and no one is saying you can't have one.. but if not having it means you're a pound closer to goal… then ask yourself do you really really want it? 

Temptation is put in our way every single day... the tea break avec biccies at work, the Friday after work drinkies which end up in the chipper, your mother insisting that you have full fat milk and butter cause your bones are still growing! Even getting petrol is a nightmare... and there will always be someone who won't be happy with you changing... but it can be so satisfying not giving into temptation and realising that you're stronger willed than you thought!

TRANSFORMED

That dreaded before pic! We've all got one and it was probably the reason why you decided to make the change... but we also have the time when we felt great on holidays… a dress/pant size can transform you! Your lifestyle is being transformed… Take a look at some of the success stories online > HERE … see what made them click... see their confidence .. how some of them never thought they could do it.. it can be you.. you can change your bad habits.. if you want it badly enough! Yes there are days when we feel like the caterpillar all sluggish and slow.. but transformation takes time.. be patient with yourself.. or you'll just give up and who wants to be a slug forever!

THIRSTY

Water.. I know, I know.. nagging again… but it flushes out all the bad toxins from your body and really aids weight loss! Its good for your kidneys, liver, skin, headaches so much... Leave a bottle in the car, a glass beside the kettle, every time you put it on… drink a glass! Have a fancy glass on your desk... If you find it hard.. use flavored sugar free cordials.. there's a great selection of flavors… blackcurrant, orange, apple, lime..  add a slice of lemon or lime.. make your own flavored water! Just get it down you!

Here's  < a link to the online calculator that works out how much water you should be drinking every day... 

TRUST

There can be weeks when you've been the best tracker on the planet and the weight loss is a no show... so I'm posting it again... 

if you're exercising then you're building muscle, which will in turn burn more fat! So hang in there for a few weeks... trust your body and don't give up on it... it's doing it's job and the weight loss will show!

Chart posted below.. I know I've missed out a few weigh ins .. if you tweeted or FB'd just check to see I got you... if not let me know! Two weeks till the bank holiday.. heads down! 

Aaaaaaannnnnddddd before I forget... TimeforaChange got to goal this week those last few pounds were stubborn but she's focused so hard!!!

Aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnddddd Mr. Q hit a 6 stone weight loss! If that's not inspiring enough for you I don't know what is!

Thanks for all the holiday wishes I had the fabbest time! Clearly I'm a New Yorker at heart... I'll keep at the lotto and weight loss and one of these day eh!? 

Doll x