If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it... does it still lose weight?

Good morning Jeffery’s Gym Blog fans and happy new year!

It’s the time of year to get a bit profound, so I’ve been planning my profundity for a little while now.

About six months ago I was very stressed and almost developed a stomach ulcer (whoops). Reading up on them the general advice was chill out and eat better, and losing any  excess weight could help. I also connected this with the fact that spending £49 a month on a gym membership was stressful if I wasn’t using it, and generally exercise is good for stress so I thought – why not eh? Also a happy side effect of the stomach issue was that my stomach shrunk a tad so I actually found I couldn’t eat as big portions as I have been able to previously. Good times.

I have told a few people how much I weigh and am generally met with surprise. A good friend guessed I weighed about 10 stone (naww bless you) , I think she was underestimating to be nice. But no I actually clocked the scales at about 13 stone (about 82kg). Which makes me laugh because it seems like a lot, but actually my BMI is only just slightly into the overweight section... and whilst I’m aware I’m not skinny I’m definitely not huge. Especially as I know people who are about a foot taller than me that weigh between 13 and 15 stone. Perhaps I actually just have heavy bones. Damn that adamantium skeleton. 

So I set myself a bit of a mission to get into a good 3-times-a-week gym routine and just generally eat a little less. For example sandwiches/food I can eat for lunch from home would save me a lot of money I waste on buying snacks during the day at work. And although I do feel very hungry sometimes I know that in reality it is enough food so I should stop eating.

I didn’t really have an aim at first, I only actually started weighing myself in about October. I just didn't want to tell anyone because if you tell people you're trying to get fitter, you'll only feel stupid if you don't, so this way it's less pressure, and something my BFF Stephen (not his real name) said made me think. Can't remember exactly what it was but it was a sarky comment about going whether it still counted if you went to the gym but didn't tell anyone. 

Let’s have a little bit of body analysis first.

My “Problem” areas (inverted commas because I have the ego the size of a hot air balloon and I don’t see much, if any of me as a “Problem” in any way... but here we go)

•          The tops of my legs. The rest are fine but sometimes in the summer I get that little bit of thigh chafage (pronounced cha-farrrge) in the heat.
•            My stomach. Bit wobbly
•           My hips. They are just gigantic and always will be, but it’s the muffin topping that generally stops me wearing jeans that’s an issue

That’s about it really. My arms are wonderful and I don’t have a fat face and my lady lumps are a good size, and nice and pert #winning. I think I have good genes for that because my mother doesn’t have bingo wings nor cellulite and I also am fortunate to not suffer from either of these things. I also have a brilliant excellent arse. (I warned you about my ego)

My achievements in the last six months

•           I can run 5km on a treadmill in 34 mins 38 secs (over 5 minutes faster than my first attempt)
•           I can swim 30 lengths in about 25 mins (I am a terrible swimmer and up until last year was terrified of taking my glasses off in the pool)
•           I can get to the end of a Body Combat and Body Attack class without taking any of the easier/low impact options
•           I can run from Tower Hill to Fenchurch street (including stairs) without rendering myself a heavy breathing mess
•           I haven’t needed a massage for my shitty shoulder for two months
•           On New year’s eve I ran 10km on the treadmill and did it in 74 mins and 31 seconds – 5 and a half minutes quicker than I was aiming for.

Other side effects:

•           I have more money
•           My arms are skinnier. And my fingers. Please note this was specifically NOT on my “Problem” list. *grumble*
•           Muffin top has gone! Winning. I even bought some jeans and a pair of fitted trousers over Christmas
•          My stomach is flatter (for the most part. Please ignore current cider/wine-belly.
•     My stomach is pretty much the same size at the end of the day as it is in the morning.
•           I get really moody when I don’t get to go to the gym for reasons out of my control. Including when those reasons involves socialising.
•           I haven’t had a cold, cough, bug or flu for several months
•           I have lost weight!

And, as I’m sure you’re all desperate to know, I now (even with Christmas) weigh.... *drum roll*

12.1 Stone, (77kg)

Waheyyy *bows*

And you know what. Not a single one of you has noticed. One lady in my office commented that I had lost weight recently, but no one else. Not my best friends, not my darling boyfriend, not my family – including my dad who is trying to lose weight recently. Not people I told I was going to the gym regularly. And most importantly not people who I know are obsessed with their own fitness or diet routine.

Every day someone on my news feed on Facebook or Twitter mentions going to the gym or losing weight. And in all honesty I rarely actually notice when someone has lost weight unless it’s a significant amount – which let’s face it: not many people do lose a significant amount of weight on a regular basis because 1. They don’t need to. 2. It’s bloody hard.

What I have learnt from this little experiment is the very very sad truth that people I know do not love themselves enough. So much of their time and energy is put into exercising, dieting and telling people they have done so on social media or in the office, or probably at the gym itself, yet does it make them happier? Really? No!

Maybe no one commented in case I took offence (likely I’m a bit overemotional at times), or maybe you simply didn’t notice? So why do you notice 2 or 3 pounds on yourself when you don’t notice when someone else loses 13 of them?! Possibly because mass does not equal self worth.

I lost nearly a stone of weight and yes I do feel better for it. I am happier in my clothes and even wore something very tight fitting on New Year’s, which usually I’d wimp out on doing. And I did all this without confirmation from anyone that I looked better, healthier, skinnier. I just look in the mirror and am happier with myself.  I like my gym routine. It’s actually quite fun and I’m gutted my favourite gym instructor is leaving in February. Going to the gym is a good use of energy when I find myself sat on my arse at a desk day in, day out, and don’t get much of a chance to get up and do anything energetic in my spare time (especially now I don’t have rehearsals). I also have a bit more money so I’ve had a little bit left each month to save for my future which also makes me happy.

Now 2014 is upon us I am going to continue in my gym routine and my half arsed “Just eat a little bit less but I still love food omg is that a fajita” sort of form of dieting and hopefully I will lose enough weight to put my BMI back to regular amounts because in 2015 or 16 I want to run the London Marathon and I want to be in better physical shape before I start running.

I hope that at least one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to love yourself a bit more. Know that having a take away isn’t something you need to feel guilty about the next day.  As long as you are healthy and happy that is the main thing, you don’t need validation from others, and if you do take it from me you are perfect and beautiful and I love you for it. If you need to lose a little bit of weight, or want to, please do because it does make you happier, but do it for you. 

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to be high and mighty. I haven't done this in a sort of Anna Richardsonesque documentary fashion. I honestly just want you to love yourself and you can carry on ignoring my weight loss and fitness regime if you like. I will probably carry on not noticing yours but thinking you're beautiful anyway.