I was told today I was looking trim. I had to ask the person to repeat themselves, as I absolutely don’t see myself as trim. Despite our difference of opinion I was chuffed that my current weight loss is beginning to show. In fact, only yesterday a friend also commented I’d lost weight since I last saw her. So hearing that two days running gave me a little buzz, I’ll admit. Even Martin had said something before he went away but I think I’d filtered out what he said. I mean he knows I’ve lost a little weight. He is here for my weekly weigh ins.

I was talking with a friend in the gym today who’s doing Slimming World. A diet plan I hate with a passion. Personally I believe that it is profit led and not remotely for the benefit of its members. Every person I’ve ever challenged regarding SW says exactly the same things. It really doesn’t sell it to me, and seems akin to brainwashing. Anyhow, since I was pulled out of fat club in the 90s by my very concerned GP, it’s not something I’ve ever had the urge to revisit.

But one of the Slimming World selling points is no calorie counting. One of the upsides to my weight loss efforts is the science. If I stay below my calorie allowance each day, I lose weight. Maintaining a calorie deficit consistently causes me to shed the pounds. Tell me I don’t have to count calories and I’ll ask how I know I’m going to sustain my downward trend. It’s maths and science. Add up the calories, stay below my limit, and the scale figure decreases. I don’t even have to do the adding myself, I have an app on my phone that does it for me.

I was quite sceptical about doing the weight loss thing again, because since my efforts pre wedding, I’m now unashamedly menopausal and on hormone replacement therapy. I’d read how so many women struggle to lose weight in my circumstances. But 41 days into logging my calories the science is still sciencing, the maths is still mathing.

My weight loss has been steady. Slow even. But I’m happy with that for two reasons. First it means I can still enjoy treats, in moderation. I could give myself a smaller daily calorie intake, but I still want to enjoy cake with Martin from time to time. Secondly I believe the weight is more likely to stay off longer term if lost gradually.

Also I hadn’t been to the gym since May, which I wasn’t proud of. As the realisation dawned that Martin was probably going to be away for a week, I made a very conscious effort to get back to training regularly. I had a vision of my anxiety keeping me home alone all week if I didn’t take the step to overcome my mental hurdles and just do it before he went. Getting in a workout improves my strength, my mental health, supports my weight loss, is recommended in menopause and gets me out the flat. Also the deputy manager there is lovely. Not that I’m biased at all.

As I said to my friend in the gym earlier, whatever the diet / healthy eating / plan you follow it has to be right for you. We’re all individuals with varying needs. At the end of the day, she and I are both losing weight. But what I really like about doing it the calorie deficit way is the accountability and the agency I have over my own journey. No money making corporation is taking credit for my weight loss!