If you didn’t already know, at the start of 2015, I embarked on a big mission – to change my lifestyle, my mindset and ultimately my body. In total, I lose over 7.5 stone (105lbs) and completely transformed my life.
Since then, I have become a Personal Trainer/ Online Health Coach and have a lot more knowledge and experience than I did back then. So, with that in mind, what would I do differently if I were to do it again?
1. I would have tracked my progress more vigorously and in different ways
Taking you back to 2014 Nicki, I did NOT want my picture taken. Nor did I want to step on the scales. I wasn’t happy in my skin and I certainly wasn’t happy with the number of lbs on the scales.
I am surprised I took ANY pictures of myself, and the blurry mirror selfies I took with my old iPhone 5 camera phone I certainly didn’t expect to share with anyone!
I have very few photos from that time, but if I were to do it again, I would take better photos and more often. I would have taken measurements and a regular weigh in.
I actually love comparing pictures, as it’s a constant reminder of how far I’ve come, if I ever have a down moment about my body.
I like making videos these days, so having a little montage video of weekly progress photos would just be amazing to see and to share with others who need inspiration.
I would have also tracked my body composition rather than just scale weight. As I now know it was actually just body FAT I wanted to lose, not bodyweight. Whilst these scales can never be 100% accurate, they can help paint a picture of the changes to your body over time.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing that I didn’t weigh myself weekly, because of this, I actually found the process to be more intrinsically motivating (doing it because I enjoyed it) rather than just for a number on the scales. But again, being the geek that I am, I’d love to have a graph or table of my weight loss, just as another way to have documented my journey! But that’s just me. It’s important to find what works for you!
2. I wouldn’t have wasted time trying diet after diet
5:2, Intermittent fasting, hypnotherapy, military diet, Cambridge. You name it, I tried it. I would lose 6-7lbs in a week, only to hate life, binge like crazy and pile it all on again! There must be a better way! It’s only when I started researching how to achieve a balanced healthy lifestyle that I finally started losing the weight and see long term results. I focused on healthier habits and increasing activity, over and above restricting foods and starving myself!! It was finally what helped me become the person I needed to be to not just lose the weight, but keep it off.
3. I would have joined a community of other women wanting to do the same thing as me
If there is one way to describe my journey back then, it was LONELY. I didn’t have the support of my partner at the time (now separated thank goodness), I didn’t have friends trying to lose that amount of weight, and I didn’t really know anyone trying to lose weight. I almost zoned out, and I simply put my headphones in, and cracked on with my gym workouts and couch to 5k.
I did book a few classes (body attack and body combat), and I did enjoy them, but I DIDN’T enjoy feeling like I was the largest person in the room (those studios with mirrors are not the one!!!) and I didn’t know anyone or make friends with anyone at the classes. One thing I WISH I had done, was join community groups or online free Facebook groups. I would 100% make sure I was surrounding myself with people on a similar journey to myself, so I could share ideas, struggles and wins.
4. I would have had more structure
If there was one thing I DIDN’T really know, it was how to actually do an effective workout. I completed the couch to 5k, and that was pretty structured! But the rest of it was pretty random, a mixture of cardio and weights machines, slowly building confidence.
I do wonder if I followed a set programme how much faster I might have gained strength specifically. I was definitely floating around doing 6kg dumbbell squats for FAR TOO LONG when in reality I probably should have been pushing myself to go a lot heavier!! Luckily I make up for that now!!
I knew strength training was an important factor of an extreme weight loss journey, as not only are you increasing your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) for each workout you do, you’re also boosting metabolism (although minimal, every little helps right?!) and you want to actually fill out your body a little with some muscle to create a nice shape at the end of the weight loss so I don’t just feel like a flat pancake. So, I was determined to fill out my arms and legs with some muscle tone and definition!!! I didn’t want to just simply lose weight and feel a bit BLEH in my body, if you know what I mean! Following an effective programme plus being consistent can reap incredible rewards.
5. I would have asked for help!
Ah yes, the personal trainer speaking haha! But it’s true. In all honestly, I wish I had worked with a trainer or coach earlier on in my journey, because I genuinely believe having that support and accountability is priceless when it comes to achieving a goal.
I absolutely love working with my clients and being a part of their journey, it is a wonderful thing to be able to work with someone to help them achieve a life changing transformation.
I have invested in both personal trainers and coaches since my initial weight loss, and I whole heartedly believe in coaching and investing in my health! Even I do it, as a personal trainer and coach myself! The problem was, back then, there was no one like me (that I knew of) that specialised in working with people like me!!
The only experience I had was a young 18ish bloke in a gym, coming up to me and saying I would benefit from a trainer, only to tell me he was £60 an hour… and me, never having invested in my health at the time, just couldn’t see the value in it! HOW MUCH? I thought… And no wonder, I had no idea who this guy was or what he could do for me?! Why would I invest into this random dude who has just approached me in the gym? If I had come across a trainer who had been though a journey like mine and really shown me what they could do for me, and I knew and trusted them, I would probably feel differently.
Asking for help is definitely a success shortcut. I think the reason I was still successful despite doing all the above is how much time I had spent researching nutrition and exercise. This helped to educate me along the way. I spent hours reading blogs and watching videos! Most people don’t have the time or inclination to do this, so outsourcing help definitely takes the pressure off. ENJOYMENT also played a HUGE role, I actually enjoyed becoming the person I needed to be to achieve my goal.
Someone who runs.
Someone who lifts weights.
Someone who makes nutritious and delicious meals.
Someone who values herself and her health.
That was my driving force.
What would you do differently if you were to lose weight again? Let me know in the comments section!
Follow me on instagram for more tips @nickigeorgiou
Do you want guidance & accountability at the start of 2022?
EXCLUSIVE EARLY BIRD ACCESS – This is going out 2 days before the sale starts. If you want to secure your 2022 place for 2021 prices, click the link below to join my January 2022 intake of SLIM & STRONG IN 60 (8 week fat loss challenge for women) FOR AN ABSOLUTE BARGAIN PRICE. Note: It will never be this cheap again.
instagram for more tips @nickigeorgiou
0 Comments