Six Months!

Well folks, I said at the start of this #Transform360 programme that I'd give it my best shot for 6 months. It wasn't an idle boast, especially as we all know that I've historically been absolutely rubbish at self-control when it comes to food...good luck getting to the crisps, chips, snacks, biscuits if the plate landed near me. But I said I'd give it 6 months, and to be perfectly honest I had no idea whether I would be successful. I was terrified by the target of 20kg. It seemed like science fiction, there was no way I'd get anywhere near etc etc - but I said I'd give it 6 months. 

Looking back this morning I realised it had been 6 months and 1 week, and there's still another 4 weeks to go on the current food plan before the final appointment with Vanusa, and the start of the rest of my now healthier life! So how has it gone?

Not too shabbily, to be honest! 21kg has gone for starters, here I am in Lidl trying to show what 21kg looks like! I'll try to do one of those ones when I'm holding it all again once we 're allowed to be stupid in shops again, but blimey! Not sure I could hold 21 bags of sugar!

Here I am cycling the other week. And the one on the right was the week before I started.

Here I am in the park, taken by my astonished brother who I hadn't seen since October.

And here's one which is the difference from June to February. I'm honestly not miserable in the one on the right, despite the guffaws from you all - there is a faint & wry grin of incredulity there at the size of what I've achieved. 

I NEVER believed I'd lose the weight, or even get close. That's why I resisted even trying for so long. But here I am now, and you know what, I'm going to keep chipping away if I can! I'm hungry for more. I may not be successful, I may put a bit back on, I may settle down into a comfortable weight and not battle quite as much with it any more. But the one thing I am clear about is that I don't want to go back.

There has been no downside to this. Not really. Sure, it got frustrating when things slowed right down for a couple of months, and I seem to have plateaued - but then we tweaked it a bit by cutting out the milky tea between meals, and it picked up again. I even got a Covid jab early as the GP had me down as a fat pre-diabetic knacker on their records, which I was the last time I went. But not anymore! 

I'm not going to give you all a big long rambling load of bollocks at this point, other than to say this. If you are struggling with your weight and want to make the change, you can. It is possible. This bloke here managed it. I lost 3 stone in 6 months and at times it hasn't really even felt like a diet. I've really enjoyed making the food, tweaking it here and there, within reason, not going mad, and have surprised everyone, most of all myself, at my ability to maintain a laser-like focus on it and to lose the weight! But I said I'd give it a go for 6 months, and I have done. I even find myself dancing around the kitchen more, much to the amusement, bemusement & embarrassment of the fam. Turns out there's even more room in the shower to wiggle the old hips too 😍😍 

Oh, and cauliflower mash! Amazing. 

Huge thanks to Vanusa, my fabulous nutritionist, for the superb meal plans, the support, the encouragement. You, my friends, for for the interest, the comments & likes & jokes & participation in the journey. My two children for putting up with me looking after myself for the last 6 months and not sharing my food with them! And most of all to my beloved wife Gaby for making me confront my own mortality and do something about it.

Love and virtual manly hugs to everyone - and hopefully we can see each other & do actual manly hugs again before too long.

#fatboyslimming, signing off.