The things they don't tell you about losing weight...

So as most of you know (As I never shut up about it) I have lost 3 stone 4 pounds since January. 46 pounds of fat that I didn't need. It's completely changed my body and I am now fitter and healthier and determined to never go back to how I used to be. Along my journey I have been amused by the side of weight loss that no one prepares you for.

The amusing side to weight loss!

• You suddenly resemble Bruce Banner when he reverts back from Hulk every time you go to get dressed. Everything hangs off of you like it's been stretched in the washing machine. Nothing in your wardrobe remotely fits and it just gets worse the more you lose.
• You take out shares in Primark leggings because you are going down in sizes at a constant rate and cannot face baggy knees for more than a week.
• You realise that you no longer need to wrap yourself in a bath sheet. A bath towel can and does fit comfortably round you now. Result. Less washing.
• You can still lose weight AND eat great things like cake. However you hardly ever eat it because you can't stand too much sweet stuff now.
• Your scales become your best friend. The ones in the kitchen any how. You automatically weigh everything, including your post that comes through the door. Ooops.
• Your bathroom scales however become deadlier than a walk into Mordor. WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'VE PUT A POUND ON OVERNIGHT? Oh water retention... my bad.
• When you go clothes shopping, you still pick up your previous sizes and assume they will fit. They don't. So stop it. Pick up the smaller size and own it. (I must admit I take my boss shopping with me. She always tells me off for picking up massive sizes)
• You suddenly become a Selfie Queen and annoy the crap out of your amazing friends because you feel so much prettier these days. Must. Take. Less. Photos.
• You feel the need to tell everyone what meal you've had. You take photos of said meal. Post it on Facebook and yet again annoy the crap out of said amazing friends.
• Your friends are astounded when they haven't seen you for ages. Like seriously astounded. When you've always been the "Big chick" they just can't get their head around you having a skeleton that is sort of visible (I am finally learning to love my now visible collarbone).
• You cannot eat big meals any more. Even if you try. You fall at the first hurdle and resort to eating kids meals. Unless you've been running... Then you want to eat the Earth AND it's Moon.
• You start running. Well some of you may. I did. I hated exercise for so long and now I actually crave running like it's some mad hallucinogenic drug.
• You spend all your spare cash on bright running gear. You have to look on point whilst sweating like a pig right?
• You can feel your muscles and bones. It's creepy at first. Then you start to sit and stroke yourself. It can disturb other people so please do this at home to avoid creeping out amazing friends, See previous points.
• You realise that you don't need fad diets, cleanses, detoxes, spend money attending classes. You can do it all on your very own using will power you never knew you had.
• You can walk up hills without dying half way up. Yep up an actual hill.
• C Section mum's - Even when you lose shed loads of weight, you may still have your "pooch" I just tuck mine in my knickers and hope for the best!!

These are just some of my stupid observations as I've gone through the last 9 months. There are so many benefits to losing weight. I haven't felt so well in years. It's nice to have clothes that don't make me look like a squashed sausage.
Anyone wanting to lose weight, You can and will do it if you put your mind to it. I've proven it's possible. I've always been big. Anyone who has known me since school will tell you that. I'm now the smallest I've been in years.

You've got this...!

Why are we such judgmental douchebags?

I saw a friend post a photo on Facebook earlier. It was a comparison of two women and how one was better looking than the other due to one being heavier and less curvaceous than the other.

It got me thinking about the whole "body shaming" phenomenon. Why do we judge each other? Whether intentional or not, we all do it to some degree. We even self shame. Why are we so horrible to ourselves and others? What do we gain from ripping each other to shreds instead of building each other up.

As humans, we are all self critical. No one can honestly say they are 100% happy and confident with who they are. No one. We all have what we class as flaws; wobbly bits, scars, spots, too much hair, not enough hair... the list goes on. We pull ourselves apart and it hurts. It's painful to realise that we are so down on the person that we are.

Knowing how horrible it is to hate parts of yourself, why do we then judge others? Why do we feel that it's ok to make others feel how we ourselves feel every time we criticise our own bodies? We must realise that we have thoughts and feelings. So do others.

We've all flicked through celeb mags and commented on how slim Cheryl Fernandez Whatever She's Called these days is or passed comment on so and so putting weight on and having cellulite blah blah blah... So? Who cares? Who does it directly influence? Who are any of us to have the right to judge another human being on their appearance?

I have raised Noah to never judge anyone on their appearance. He never looks at me and comments on the things that I hate. He compliments me in the most beautiful of ways. He sees only his mother. He doesn't see the wobbly belly, the hairy bits, the stretch marks or the odd spot. He sees a woman who loves him and is there for him. He sees my best bits.

Surely we should all do the same? See the best in someone and lift them up by complimenting them on it. If we are complimented we should thank the person not brush it off and start moaning that we are too fat or spotty or ugly etc.

As one of my favourite authors once said "Is fat really the worst thing a human being can be? Is fat worse than vindictive, jealous, shallow, vain, boring, evil, or cruel? Not to me"

JK Rowling makes so much sense. How we look is no reflection on how we are as people. You could be the most beautiful, flawless person on the outside but be cruel and ugly on the inside.

I'd rather be me, with my wobbly belly (I got that through having an amazing child) and my frizzy hair and chunky legs (Great for swimming you know) and know that I am a kind, loving person than be the most stunning woman in the world and be a bitch.

Let's build each other up. Let's build ourselves up. Stop judging people on the exterior and concentrate on the soul. I've never heard anyone insult my liver or my lungs for being too pink. I've never had anyone tell me that I have an ugly pancreas. I have however been told I'm, fat, ugly etc and you know what... Who cares. I am what I am.

That's all any of us ever can be.