Looking Back...My Weight Loss Journey...So Far

So on Thursday I was scrolling through my Facebook 'Photos of Me' feed to look for a Throwback Thursday photo and, to be honest, I was both shocked and proud by what I saw. I joined Facebook in 2008 - so I would have been 14, so I'm not too critical of my photos as I was so young, but what I found in looking through right up to today was that I am so proud of myself and I can see how far I have come...it's only motivation for me to keep striving towards my goal because I know I can get there.

Take a look through the photos :)

Love and Hugs 
Georgie xx

Christmas 2007 - you can only laugh at this haha! I had a lot to learn makeup and style wise!

With my Dad in Florida in April 2009. I think this was probably me at my heaviest

Again in Florida, this makes me cringe! Almost as big as Spongebob hehe!

At Madame Tussauds in London, I think this is partly the top, but I remember hating myself for weeks after this photo

Fast forward to May 2010. 

June 2010 I lost a lot of weight due to stress just before prom because of Exams

This photo really shows the weight loss - we had the dress made in March and you can see how big it is

By the end of Summer 2010, most of the weight had come back

March 2011 - Just before finding Tone It Up

Royal Wedding Day, April 2011 - bulging out of a dress. This picture made me join a gym and find TIU

September 2011 - looking svelter! This photo was the first time I saw real weight loss

Jan 2012 - Seeing the weight loss in my face and arms

Disneyland Paris, Feb 2012 - it's hard to see cause I'm so wrapped up! But I see a big difference

June 2012 - First time EVER feeling confident in a Bikini

It's the dress again! Notice the difference hehe - July 2012

August 2012 - my best body yet and it's only getting better!

2012 Transformation: February in Review

I can't believe it's March already! My 2012 transformation is well underway! Although it's just a short month I've come on leaps and bounds!

Best moment of the month! Yes I'm crying!

Weight wise there was no big change. I'm down 1.4lbs from my end of January weight but I'm happy with that all things considered. The start of February marked the begining of my trip to Disneyland with my boyfriend. We had an absolutely amazing time and on average I burnt 400+ calories a day due to all of the walking but the  meals we were eating were not the healthiest so there was no real weight lost there. But in saying this I have no regrets because I had the most fantastic holiday and when I'm at a loss of things to blog I will blog about it but I try to keep things fitness related!

Me and my guy in front of the Castle

So I'm only down 1.4 lbs but I'm so relieved to finally break through the plateau thats been taking over for weeks!! I haven't checked my measurements yet so I'm not entirely sure if there's been any change but I'll tell you this. I feel fan-freaking-tastic. I've never been more confident in my body, I feel as if my waist is shrinking before my eyes and my stomach is finally flat after all these years of wishing for it! I'm down a jean size and I also got in a UK size 10 top last Friday and that was the most amazing feeling. It was my sister's top and she's always been the 'skinny one' in the family so the joy on my face was contagious! I've never felt so comfortable in my own skin and I've not got dresseed one day and thought "Ugh you don't look good" which is an unbelievable achievement for me!

In the Size 10 top! Proud of how my booty looks too =P

Another change in February was my hair! Trivial I know but there is no more ombré! I was inspired by Karena and got it dyed dark brown. I've always loved my hair dark and was happy to go back. It's getting really long now so I'm one step closer to my Kardashian hair! (obsessed!)

New hair - it's darker in real life =)

I'm looking forward to March! (It already is March but who's counting hehe) I'm running my first race! It's just a 5k so I know I can do it but I want to experience the conditions of a run without being worried about completing it. It's for Sport Relief ( a UK Charity which supplies sports equipment for schools in the UK and in Africa) so it's for an amazing cause. That will be an incredible feeling! 

I also get the results of the exams I took in January which will determine whether or not I get to go to my University of choice on the 8th of March so I am very much looking forward to getting that out of the way! 

I'm also very much looking forward to finidng out more about the Tone It Up Ambassador scheme as it is something I'm really interested in! Tone It Up has changed my life so it would be a dream come true to pass their message onto others too! March is also my Tone It Up-aversary which will celebrate my first year of following TIU so to become an ambassador in the same month would be amazing!

My targets for March include running a 10k (it's about time), and majorly toning up my abs now I can see them (hehe) and getting rid of my love handles!!

I'll leave you with some of my picture highlights of the month!

Share, Love, Inspire, Sweat

Georgie ♥

I had a wardrobe clear out at the end of Feb and I threw away this skirt. Can't believe I ever got in it!

Did you make the extra day count?

Valentines Day! Felt amazing and looked even better ;-)

These shorts were too tight last summer! 

Skinny waist! This is a Hollister Medium shirt. (Sorry about the messy room and the dressing table hehe!)

Same outfit from the side. Who is this girl! Can't believe it's me!!!

Haha yes I'm in a onesie! Flat TUMMYYYYYY (Sorry my beds a mess haha)

Just got out of bed - excuse my hair ;)

My Top 5 Tips to Get out of a Fitness Rut

Have you ever gone through a phase of not having any motivation to work out? Were you so sick of the thought of going to the gym that you'd rather shake up your routine by going straight home to the sofa instead of the gym?

If so, that's ok. I've been there. I was there this week in fact. The last two weeks even. I'm here to tell you it gets better - your journey is not over. You CAN do this. 

The last three weeks have been a whirlwind for me. First I had exams so a lot of my time was taken up by studying. The week after that I was on vacation (don't get me wrong I walked EVERYWHERE but didn't hit the gym) and this week snow hit so I have been unable to get to the gym or run as people in the UK are totally inept when it comes to dealing with snow. As a result I've not worked out really at all for the last 3 weeks. Sound familiar?

What have I done to get myself remotivated?

However I am 150% convinced that my fitness journey is not over - despite the fact I'm feeling great and my  new Hollister jeans (which are a smaller size) are fitting unbelievably well. I'm not done yet and neither are you.

"It's a Lifestyle - not a Diet"

The change we so badly want is not going to happen overnight. So to stay motivated and on track here is what I do when I'm feeling fed up or 'stuck in a rut'.

1. Remind Yourself of Your Goals

My 'Ultimate Body' Goal
Reminding yourself of why you started this all in the first place is likely to bring you back to the frame of mind you were in when you were at your most dedicated. Read old blog posts, look at your 'ultimate body' picture, read that article that prompted you to get a gym membership. We all think we've got all the drive in the world when we first start out - we can get it back.

2. Check the Tone It Up Website or the Tone It Up Youtube Page

My Beautiful Trainers - Karena and Katrina
If you're reading this blog, it's more than likely that you found me and my story through Tone It Up. These girls have changed my life for the better. They have a ton of fitness and diet tips and over 200 videos on YouTube ranging from follow-along workouts to quick 30 second checkins; holding you accountable. What I like to do is grab my headphones, log onto YouTube and watch videos for hours. I'll find by that point I'm so motivated to hit the gym it's like I'm starting all over again. These girls are incredible and if you haven't ever watched their videos or visited their website please do!
Tone It Up | Tone It Up.tv

3. Pin!

Pinterest is FULL of Motivation and Fitness Tips and Tricks
Pinterest is a relatively new site on the web which basically is a virtual pinboard. You have to request an account but it takes no more than 3 days to come through. Pinterest have a dedicated subsection to Fitness 'pins' taken from various sites on the web uploaded by users. I've found workouts, challenges, inspirational images, recipes and all sorts on Pinterest and I've often found after five minutes browsing the Fitness section I'm ready to go workout.
Pinterest

4. Take Some Time Out

"Just Chilling"

Sometimes taking a break is the best thing to do. It gives you the time to sit back and re-evaluate your goals. Maybe you set too high a weight loss aim or it was never realistic to expect to be in the gym 6 days a week. Taking time out to think about why you really want this can sometimes be the best thing for everyone involved. It doesn't have to be too long, or it can be weeks at a time. Remember that old saying; you don't know what you've got until it's gone. You'll probably find you really miss working out and there is where your journey picks up.

5. Check in on Twitter and Facebook

Finally, if like me, you are part of the Tone It Up Team you will have met hundreds of inspiring women who, just like you, are on a mission to improve their life and live the best and most healthy way they can. Just by posting on your Facebook page or sending a quick tweet can open the airwaves to a hoarde of replies intent on picking you up when you're down or just to check in with you that you're ok. This team is full of caring women so take advantage of them!

So there you have it! 5 tips to help you get back to the grind. Remember I'm here for you just as you're here for me!


Share, LOVE, Inspire, Sweat ♥