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Do you fancy reading something truly inspirational? About the other sense we can sometimes experience? Achievement!
Something written by somebody who must feel a real sense of achievement and can instil in others a sense that goals can be reached and most importantly maintained with the right mind set?
I was very keen for Rosie to share her weight loss story with us when she put her amazing before and after photographs up on Facebook, and I’m delighted she agreed to answer some questions I put to her which you can see below.
Take a look at the photos at the end of this Blog! Pretty remarkable.
Something that I wholly agree with Rosie on is that it should be as much about the way you feel as how you look. It shouldn’t be just about what the scales say, for all sorts of reasons.
Losing weight can increase self-esteem but that will be short-lived if there are other issues (contributing or otherwise) that aren’t attended to.
The effects of getting fit and healthy can be incredible!
As quoted in this blog;
“How has your weight loss affected you overall”? ” Beyond imaginable! I thought I just wanted to fit into a pair of size 12 skinny jeans. Turns out it brought me a billion times more than that”.
Rosie didn’t use hypnotherapy as an aid to achieving her goals, and as a therapist I’m happy however people go about creating sustainable positive change.
This is why I’m sharing her story with you.
What I have done with people wanting to change but not quite getting there on their own, is to help them formulate plans, structure measurable timescales, monitor progress and give support and encouragement.
I do know how wonderful it feels be fit, active and healthy. I want that for others. I hate the thought of missed opportunities to live a better life.
If after reading this your desire to feel that sense of achievement is heighted, but you’re not sure you can or want to do it alone, this is where I can help.
On a personal level, I strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle and employ the tools of my trade on myself to keep motivated and not dive into protracted periods of self pity.
Maybe you can identify with that feeling. The feeling of uselessness when the voice in the head says “it’s not fair I have to work at being fit and healthy“.
Or “why should I bother“?
“What’s the point“?
The “point” will be different for each of us and I help re-wire your thinking around issues you have difficulties with.
What will your “point” at which you commit to take action be?
I met Rosie a few years ago at a Zumba event. A fun livewire with bags of enthusiasm, she has gone on to cultivate her thriving Zumba business and is involved in many other sporting activities.
https://www.zumba.com/en-US/profile/rosie-crompton/795655
This is how she did it. Thanks so much Rosie for your brilliant contribution.
▪When did your weight become an issue-can you identify how your weight gain happened and how it became unacceptable?
I had always been conscious of my weight/body image since a very young age. As an aspiring young dancer, I was told that I ‘wasn’t the right shape’ to pursue a career in dance – I was far from overweight, but I wasn’t naturally slim – which was the ‘fashionable’ body shape at the time.
So I went to ordinary school and dance became just a hobby. At my competitively sporty comprehensive school, I was rubbish at hockey, netball, running… so I just succumbed to being ‘fat’ and ‘not sporty’.
It wasn’t until University that I ACTUALLY got fat. Living off junk food, drinking too much and giving up dance classes (my only form of exercise… due to cost!).
Then I started working, and sitting behind a desk all day began to really pile on the pounds.
▪Were there previous diet attempts-what did they involve and what made this time different?
I’d always gone on ‘diets’ of varying success but this time was different because I’d hit my rock bottom. I was the biggest I’d ever been and suddenly I just had that lightbulb moment.
▪What was your light bulb moment that pushed you to lose weight?
Having to start buying size 14 clothes! (disclaimer: size 14 is not big and many people are healthy and happy at this size – but for me, at 5”3 and of a relatively small frame (I have small shoulders and waist, just massive hips) it made me feel miserable – not to mention sluggish and uncomfortable)
▪Did you set a target weight, dress size?
I bought a pair of size 12 skinny jeans and hung them on the back of my bedroom door to look at every day as inspiration. I set a target weight of 9stone 12lbs – 3 stone loss.
▪How much did you lose and how long did it take?
3 stone and 2 lbs in 6 months – taking me to a size 10! Those target jeans only got a few months of wear in the end!
▪How did you monitor your progress?
I used a Fitbit to track my calorie expenditure and MyFitnessPal to track my calorie intake. I weighed weekly and plotted my weight in a graph. It really helped me to visually see my weight decreasing, and once my graph began to show a lovely, consistent decline I didn’t want to spoil it!
▪What kept you motivated and what were the difficult periods?
I had reached such an unhappy state of mind living in a body I didn’t like, that I was just entirely focused.
I didn’t really need any more motivation than the fact I was feeling more energized and confident and beginning to like what I saw in the mirror.
I did put my social life on hold for 6 months, which I guess some people would find very difficult, but for me I had such dedication to finally becoming happy in my own skin that I didn’t find this to be a chore.
I was happier creating results than I was going out for meals and drinks. I’d just politely decline invitations that involved eating and instead invited my friends out for coffee dates or to join me at Zumba class!
▪What was and is the biggest struggle: food, exercise, temptation – what were/are your bad habits needing control?
During those initial 6 months I honestly didn’t struggle. I was just so focused – something came over me and after 23 years I was finally just doing it!
Now however, it’s a different story! I love my body now, but I also love food! I do struggle to keep the balance in check, resulting in my weight fluctuating all the time. I just keep an eye and try to keep myself under 10 stone – if it begins to creep up after a period of indulgence, I rein it back in and have a little detox.
I do think it’s important to be mindful of what your mind and soul wants as well – food is one of life’s great pleasures and one should never deny themselves of something utterly delicious if it will bring you some joy. When I was bigger and unhappy – my soul needed me to find happiness through feeling healthier, and no matter how yummy something was, it wouldn’t bring me joy because I knew it wasn’t leading me towards my healthy goals!
Now I feel more comfortable in my skin, I eat what I enjoy – in moderation – to keep a body that I enjoy.
▪Did anybody else have influence over your decision and during your journey-where/who did you get support from?
Not really – I just snapped out of it and decided it was time to create a body I wanted to live in! I developed a very strong-minded attitude towards this journey, because it was something I REALLY wanted.
▪How has your weight loss affected you overall-relationships (romantic and general), self-esteem, confidence?
Beyond imaginable! I thought I just wanted to fit into a pair of size 12 skinny jeans. Turns out it brought me a billion times more than that.
It turned out to be less about losing weight and more about gaining confidence, a sense of self-worth, and a brighter outlook on life. I discovered who I really am, and who I can be, without insecurities holding me back.
Along with the 3 stone I waved goodbye to a shy, awkward and self-conscious girl who was uncomfortable both in her body and mind.
Discovering a love for keeping fit and adopting a (mostly) balanced approach to food choices has benefitted my life in so many more ways than I could imagine.
I feel confident, powerful, capable of whatever I set my mind to, up for a challenge, happy! Some changes are small (going bare legged in the summer without having to worry about chub rub!) and some are truly life changing (discovering a sense of self-appreciation).
My transformation journey isn’t over, and probably never will be.
The new me has ever-evolving goals (mental, physical and now professional – as a fitness instructor!) but feeling confident in my own skin is worth everything – all those compromises, those nights in when my friends were out having fun, those early mornings in the gym – it was all worth it to bring the real me out!
▪What is the overriding feeling of being the lighter, fitter you now-how do you feel differently physically, mentally, emotionally?
Answered this above really!
▪What would you say to somebody wanting to change?
Dress size, weight, fitness level – it doesn’t really matter. Just do whatever you need to do to feel healthy and happy being YOU.
And here is Rosie, then and now – WOW!!
