#WWBack2Best - Week 1 of my weight loss challenge...

So as you may have seen on facebook and twitter this week I have finally starting something I have been putting off for too long... the dreaded weight loss programme!

Since having Ben over five years ago, my weight has been up and down quiet a bit. I finally got back to a size I was happy with at the end of 2009, then just under 3 months later I was pregnant with Elizabeth! By eating a healthy vegetarian diet I was able to get through the pregnancy without gaining too much, but afterwards my weight just seem to spiral out of control.

I was really pleased that I was able to successfully breastfeed  my daughter after struggling and feeling like I had failed with my son, so for a while I put my daughters nutritional needs at the forefront, and as her appetite increased so did mine. This is one thing while she was exclusively feeding but as she started on solid food at six months, and slowly began to take less and less milk, my appetite didn't decrease and I started to gain weight, a lot of weight. I was still eating like I was exclusively nursing but my body was producing a lot less milk, so was not using up the extra calories.

At 22 months she is now almost completely weaned from the breast and it is time I got myself into shape. I'm not comfortable with my size at the moment and I know it has an effect on my emotional well being, I'm not as healthy as I could be and I don't feel that I can wear nice clothes because I'm always trying to hide my body.

So I've taken a step, and to me it's a rather large step. I have not only started my weight loss journey  I have started the #WWBack2Best challenge where I will be joining 19 other bloggers in a very public weight loss journey using the Weight Watchers ProPoints Plan.

I am hoping the support of the other lovely bloggers and you fabulous readers will encourage and motivate me, but I won't lie I am very nervous about sharing this experience so openly, so please be gentle...

As a busy mum of two who works full time and has numerous other commitments, one thing I was apprehensive about was finding the time to fit the weight loss programme into my life, I struggle to find enough hours in the day as it is without having to calculate the points value of everything I eat and spend time on the website updating this. Well that's where the fabulous iphone app comes in, I can do it all from my phone!

Unfortunately I was quite unwell last week so it may not have been the best time to start, however I spent the week getting used to navigating the website, grew to love the iphone app and how simple it's many functions are to use and reassessing my portion sizes. I set myself an initial goal of losing 2 stone by Christmas. Long term I want to lose more but I need an attainable target. Two stone is a lot and I know it's not going to be easy but I also know the way I will feel if I am able to achieve it will be totally worth it.

Despite (or maybe because of ) feeling unwell I was able to stick to my points allowance this week and although I was not as active as I had intended I am very pleased to announce that when I stepped on to the scales on Friday I had lost 3lbs!

I hope that I am able to continue in this way and now I am feeling better, this week I am looking forward to trying out some of the yummy sounding Weight Watchers recipes from the books and the website. Loosing weight should not mean I cannot enjoy good food!

Has reading this made you want to join in with the challenge? Then why not click here to join weight watchers for just £1 and trial the app for Free? (T's and C's Apply). Do comment and let me know how you're doing! Or if you have any favourite vegetarian recipes or meal ideas that are great for weight loss please tweet me...

You can follow updates from everyone joining in the challenge on twitter at #WWBack2Best and I will be back next week to let you know how I've been getting on...



Weight Watchers have kindly given me 6 months online membership free of charge along with a box of goodies in exchange for taking part in this challenge and sharing my thoughts, all those thoughts will be my own.