A few years ago I was diagnosed with adenomyosis and to manage the heavy and painful and long periods, I was prescribed hormones to stop my periods. The reaction to my body was immediate, I gained weight, had acne, my hair started breaking. I gained over 50lbs in a few weeks. 

In 2021 I had a crisis and was hospitalised and eventually I decided I couldn't deal with this anymore, none of my clothes fit me any more, I didn't want to buy more clothes, and I definitely did not feel like myself. So I decided with my doctor to get a hysterectomy. So while the surgery happened in 2022, the weight didn't move. I'd been working out almost 6 days a week in 2021 but with the hormones it definitely wasn't moving. 

I saw the programme advertised and I thought well, let me try it out and I encouraged my friend to do it with me. 

The meal plan and work outs were intense, but I felt that it was something I could try just to see if it could jumpstart my weight loss journey. 

I enjoyed the way we had a community. We all had very different goals and very different reasons for joining, but the way we managed the programme was unifying. We would trade stories about how difficult the work outs were, or what our cheat meals were, it made it a bit easier to get through it.

... it was REALLY hard, don't let anyone trick you, the only way you're going to change the weight is if you make big changes to your meals and your work outs. It was nice to do the classes with the other ladies. 

There was one day when we all just sat around after a particularly difficult week and class, and just all said how hard we had all been struggling. Everyone had had challenges and thought that they were failing and everyone else was succeeding. And while we all had our own paths towards success, it was really helpful to know that yes this is hard, but we're all coping together. 

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I have to admit I don't really enjoy working out with a lot of people, but the option for me to do the group classes was great, and that camaraderie really helped me get through it. 

For a while I just seemed stuck at a particular weight. It really didn't move. So the weekly weigh ins when I dropped down 10lbs, I was ecstatic!

I was also really proud of myself for sticking to the meal plan...being more thoughtful of what I ate, and for the most part doing most of the work outs during the week. 

I can't say I've never felt confident...

Even when I gained weight, although I was frustrated with the weight gain, I was more or less happy with myself. I just really did not want to have to buy more clothes.

 

I was frustrated that because of chemicals my body was changing, and I didn't have any control over that, it was definitely a losing battle, so every day I had to work against that. 

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I'm still not exactly where I want to be in terms of my strength and size. I have goals I want to accomplish, like being able to deadlift a certain amount of weight, or do pull ups or even run for a particular amount of time.

 

I'm happy to report slowly I'm able to fit into my clothes that I hadn't fit into for almost 2 years, and I'm really looking forward to being able to check my goals off as being completed.