Weight loss inspiration: Anita Marshall

Plus size model Anita Marshall has to be one of my favourite weight loss inspirations. You can tell that even before the loss she was a gorgeous girl but after her beauty went up x10000000%. You can see she is happier and more confident.

Instagram: @anitamarshall_ (all images belong to her)

She explains on her instagram: 
"Two years ago I started a journey to be a happier me. I was miserable. I hated what I was. I was angry at the world and didn't feel like I had a purpose. One day I woke up and told myself I would stop feeling sorry for myself. I realized if I didn't take control of my health I would die from either the diabetes or heart disease that runs in my family. This New Year my resolution is to continue this journey of a happier and healthier me. This is a LIFEstyle change not just a New Year resolution!".

How long did it take? 2 years

How did she do it?
"Growing to love the foods I hate. Gym when I didn't feel like it and pushing myself further than I thought I could go. Learning to change my life around mentally and physically".

Instagram deliciousness.

Instagram has become my new addiction and I'm currently stalking following a lot of health nuts and fitness freaks to keep me motivated. One thing I love about it is the recipe ideas from real people with real struggles. Thank God for screenshot on the iphone!!! My favourite instagrammers are: @hungry_panda, @simplegreensmoothies and @dieffs

As you can see I'm moving towards a paleo/caveman lifestyle..but more on that later.

Some great ideas will share more soon x

30 day smoothie challenge

I recently completed the Simple Green Smoothies 30 day challenge. The challenge is simple - a green smoothie a day!

I loved it and will continue to make a smoothie a day as a meal replacement (mainly breakfast). My favourite greens were kale and spinach and I always used 1 banana to sweeten things up. I experimented with coconut flakes, chia seeds, mixing fruit + veg, coconut water, almond milk and kept it 100% dairy free

I want to try a vegetable smoothie challenge this time around and will start it once I make a visit to my local farmers market this Saturday.

Just like me..

Weight loss inspiration from regular girls and women - I'm going to do this weekly.

Instagram: @shortcakebrown

Like most of us she never really saw her size as a bad thing, but once she was told by her doctor that she was overweight and needed to shift some weight she did just that.

How did she do it? Juice Plus (meal replacement), eating healthier and exercise.

How long? 5 months - Left pic was taken in September and the right one in December (round of applause)

What is Juice Plus? Diet supplement + shakes with concentrated fruit + veg juice extracts with added vitamins and nutrients.

I've never been a fan of shakes due to what they contain - why not just make it at home? Well the appeal is the convenience and not understanding that if you eat less you will lose weight..simple! There is no magic trick.

But I applaud her success. A weight loss journey is about finding what works FOR YOU and sticking to it and she did and it worked.

1 year later.

A year ago I started this blog with the intention of kick starting my weight loss journey. I had ups and downs and tried so hard to get to where I wanted to be. I wasn't shifting the weight despite all the hard work I had put into doing so. I was diagnosed with PCOS a couple of years ago and last summer was diagnosed with an overactive thyroid. It was all starting to make sense. My thyroid was overactive which meant it was speeding up my metabolism and where most people with the disease lose weight I was actually gaining. I am now on carbimazole and metformin to counteract the symptoms. I wouldn't say I was depressed but I was discouraged. I just gave up and instead of blogging and feeling guilty I decided to leave the blog be and forget it all.

A few days ago, I had a sort of intervention with my mum and dad. They told me they loved but my weight wasn't making me happy inside and out and that I really need to do something about it. So that day I went to see the doctor and they prescribed the metformin to counteract my insulin sensitivity caused by PCOS -- instead of turning sugars into energy my body is turning it into fat (sucks I know!!!). It was all making sense now -- I was trying so hard with my diet and exercise but nothing was shifting. The doctor explained everything.

So now like I said 1 year later. My goals are still the same but the way I'm achieving them is completely different. I'm moving back to Nigeria for the next few years so that means a complete shift in temptations and lifestyle.

So let me call this a restart on my journey. I will never quit. No matter how long it takes me. I wont.