Janine Langdon-Lee
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162.7 Reasons

/ Body, Health & Wellbeing, Self Care, Self Love

When you ignore something long enough – it’s only a matter of time before you are forced to deal with it whether you like it or not. I hope that in sharing my story, it will help someone else realise it’s never too late to rewrite a chapter in your life.  

Start where you are

I will always remember that moment when the nurse asked me to step onto the scales. I hadn’t weighed myself in a year, so I had no clue what weight I was. I stepped onto the scale with some trepidation, I watched as the number appeared in front of me – 162.7 kilograms. I burst into tears – how had I let this happen? No wonder I had felt disconnected from my body. As Mike comforted me, I felt ashamed of myself. I left the appointment, overwhelmed.  You can read more about sleep apnoea in these two posts that I wrote here and here.  I was confronted by the realisation that I needed to stop burying my head in the sand and sort my shit out and address the weight.  I knew I could turn this around as I had with my relationship with exercise, I just had to start now and make some small changes, and over time it would create significant changes in my life. At 49 years old, I knew if I didn’t start now, I would spend my 50’s feeling fat and frumpy. Damn it I wanted to be 50, Fit and Fabulous & fierce.

I knew I couldn’t do this on my own, and I needed help. I talked to Mike about the different options. I had checked out several options. Although in the past, I had said I didn’t need an eating plan, I didn’t want to count points or restrict what I was eating or be on any diet. My weight gain indicated that I couldn’t self-moderate what I did eat.

Mike and I on my birthday March 2019
Mike and I – March 2019

I decided that out of the options I had explored that WW was the way to go. I joined up for three months to see how I would go within that time, and if I saw some progress I would keep on doing it, and if I didn’t then, I would try something else. WW had changed a lot since I last did the programme 25 years ago.  You can now do WW online, which is what I chose as the meetings times didn’t suit me, and to be honest, the shame of my weight made me feel embarrassed about attending a meeting.

On the 22nd of February, I downloaded the app, entered my age, weight and height, and how much exercise I do, and it came up with my daily points and weekly points that I would start on. The app was pretty amazing as I would find out. It tells you the points for foods and meals and recipes on there. It has a barcode scanner where you can scan products from your pantry or freezer or in the shopping aisle of your supermarket. If the food doesn’t show up, you can calculate the item, and it will tell you how many points per 100-gram serving. You track your weekly weigh in using the app, and you can enter the type of exercise you have done and for how long and it allocates points for your activity. There are also exercise plans you can do on there as well. I track my activity; however, I don’t do it for points, I do it because I need to move every day whether it is doing housework walking or yoga. The app also has an online place where you can connect with other members online and be inspired by their stories, progress and ups and downs of their journey and share recipes and tips etc. I learnt a lot by reading other members posts.  The only downside of not going to a meeting is having someone explain how it all works. It took me a few days to work it all out and realise that I could create my eating plan and how the elements of the app worked. However, they send you regular emails about topics that they discuss in meetings, and they have an online shop so you can buy WW products, recipe books etc. However, you can speak to an online coach if you have questions or ask a member on Connect.

I found the first week relatively easy. I never felt hungry or that I was going without as the end of the first week approached my first weigh-in was looming. I was curious. My first weigh-in, I lost 5.1 kg. I was in shock! I hadn’t expected to lose so much in the first week. I wasn’t hungry at all, and I ate well.

At Aston Norwood
Me at Aston Norwood 28 Sep 2019
Photo by Monica Ferguson

It not always about the number

There were weeks where my weight stayed the same, and I would become frustrated; however, during those weeks, I would remind myself of the non-scale victories that I had that week. Over the last nine months, I have had many NSV’s to celebrate, such as;

  • A two week cruise holiday in which I lost 200 grams
  • Dropping clothes sizes
  • Being able to sit in chairs and not worry if I will hold my weight
  • More energy
  • Exercise is getting easier to do
  • Back pain that had been there for a year has gone
  • Lower cholesterol levels
  • Letting the cleaners go and cleaning the house myself
  • Spending more time in the kitchen cooking recipes from scratch
  • Not gaining or losing weight on a one week holiday in Hawaii
  • New habits
  • No longer seeing food as good or bad – it is food
  • My body shape changing
  • Falling in love with myself again

This health and wellbeing journey is the longest I have been active and the most weight I have lost, what has helped me to edit this chapter of my life, is focussing on small steps and putting one foot in front of the other. Getting clear on my WHY at the start of my journey was helpful. It gave me focus and was always in the back of my mind.  I journaled how I wanted to feel during my journey, and I would refer back to these notes regularly. Instead of looking at the big picture I focused on losing 5 kilos. Mikes support helped as well as reading other members posts on Connect. I realised that WW is a lifestyle change.

Mike and I Nov 2019
Mike and I November 6 2019
Photo by Monica Ferguson

Where to now?

Another part of my success has been the people cheering me on from the sidelines. Initially, the only people I told about my weight were the people I saw for my exercise. I didn’t mention to friends what I was doing as I still felt ashamed. I am not sure how or when or what caused the change. However, I began to confide in a few friends that I was doing WW. As of this Friday, I weigh 123 kilos.  I am no longer pre-diabetic. I have asked to be referred back to the sleep clinic for a sleep study so see where my sleep symptoms are sitting. I have a weight range I want to get too. It is somewhere between 85 to 95 kilos. According to the BMI, I will still be obese, however, I don’t give a crap about that. I need to be realistic about a weight that I can maintain. According to the BMI to be a healthy weight, I have to get down to 55 kilos. The last time I weighed that I was in my teens. Being 55 kilos is not realistic for me.  My focus is my next goal-reaching 40 kilos. I can’t think that far ahead otherwise I will get caught up in overwhelm.

woman standing holding cup in hands
Me – Nov 2019 Photo by Monica Ferguson

On Reflection

The appointment on the 20th of February, 2019 was a turning point for me. I had a decision to make. I could keep ignoring my weight gain (look where that had gotten me already) or I could make changes that would benefit my health and wellbeing. I told myself when I was ready I would share my story and hopefully, it may help someone else who is struggling with something in their life, to show that small consistent steps/actions can create ripples of change in your life. It’s never too late to start.

Thank You, Monica Ferguson, for the gorgeous photos you took of me. If you are looking for a fantastic photographer check out Monica, she will guide you through the shoot and make it fun for you. Let her capture your magic in an image.

Filed Under: Body, Health & Wellbeing, Self Care, Self Love

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Comments

  1. Mrsfrizz says

    November 22, 2019 at 8:41 pm

    You are inspirational my friend. Congratulations ❤️

    • neen says

      November 23, 2019 at 12:44 am

      Thanks, Mrs F. It’s my why that has made me keep at this and the programme, its a lifestyle and it has helped me change my attitude towards food.

  2. Debbie Blincoe says

    November 22, 2019 at 11:06 pm

    You are amazing! You are such an inspiration – I’m really re starting WW and weighed in this morning at 158kg.

    • neen says

      November 23, 2019 at 12:42 am

      Thank You, Debbie, for your kind words. Congrats – you are awesome! You have got this!

Want to create a brighter future for yourself? The Want to create a brighter future for yourself? The secret lies in your daily routine!

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🐢Start small by changing one or two habits and build from there. 

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🐢Remember, building a routine takes time and effort, but with patience and persistence, you can see big results
📸We've all become experts at curating the perfe 📸We've all become experts at curating the perfect image of our lives on social media, but what happens when we start to believe the highlights reel is the whole story? It's time to start embracing the good and the bad, and finding beauty in the messy middle. 

🎂I recently celebrated my birthday by spending a night alone in the inner city, reflecting on the past year and journaling about what I want to embrace at 54. I then spent my actual birthday with Mike in the Wairarapa, and the highlight was enjoying fish and chips for dinner while drinking champagne at home. 

📃I created a list of 23 things to do in 2023 as an alternative to setting goals. One item on the list was to write to other women living overseas. I took part in InCoWriMo in Feb & now have penpals from Italy, the UK, & Australia.

📚I spent the last few months reading fiction for pleasure & managed to read 37 books, after feeling mentally tired from reading a lot of nonfiction in 2022.

📵I stopped using the WW app & program after four years because I was tired of tracking. I have embarked on a new part of my wellbeing journey. At the time WW gave me the structure I needed, Now I am experimenting with what works best for me now.

🏥A family member had an extended hospital stay, this led to comfort eating, & withdrawing from life. Later on I recognised the impact of stress and created a list of things to look out for in the future to better recognise stress to improve my overall wellbeing.

🐌In 2023, I chose "Savour, Slow & Simplify" as my word of the year. After a stressful few months, I decided to declutter my home and donate items to the Hospice shop. I am trying to be more intentional with my consumption and breaking up with my attachment to "stuff".

🧎‍♀️I have been dealing with a knee injury since January, which has prevented me from taking walks around the neighbourhood. Despite previously disliking walking, not being able to go out 3 to 4 times a week has been a challenge for me. However, I am a solutions-focused person and decided to hire a treadmill, which has been helping my knee slowly improve. I am now enjoying using the treadmill.
April commitments: Simplifying my space, diving in April commitments: Simplifying my space, diving into my TBR pile, and nurturing myself with slow moments and seasonal rituals 🌸📚💆‍♀️ 

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Embracing mistakes as learning experiences, practi Embracing mistakes as learning experiences, practicing self-compassion, celebrating progress, and sharing our stories are all important steps in cultivating resilience and growth. Just like Kintsugi pottery, we can use our imperfections and challenges as opportunities for transformation and empowerment.

✨️Embrace mistakes as learning experiences: Just like how Kintsugi uses gold to highlight and enhance the cracks in pottery, we can use our mistakes as opportunities to learn and improve ourselves. Instead of being ashamed of our mistakes, we should embrace them and use them to become better versions of ourselves.

🙏Practice self-compassion: When we make mistakes or face challenges, it's important to be kind to ourselves. Just like how Kintsugi treats broken pottery with care and respect, we should also treat ourselves with compassion and understanding. By showing ourselves the same kindness we would show a close friend, we can build resilience and bounce back from tough situations.

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How do you celebrate progress in your personal or professional life?
Taking a pause from the hustle and bustle of daily Taking a pause from the hustle and bustle of daily life is essential in rejuvenating your mind and body. 🧘‍♀️ Pause and find your slow moments that help you relax and slow down. 🌅

Create your own list of activities that bring you peace and make them a part of your weekly routine. 📝 Whether it's taking a stroll in nature, reading a book, or simply enjoying a cup of tea, make time to acknowledge and appreciate those slow moments. 🔆

Remember, to be intentional with your time and prioritise activities that bring you joy and inner calm. Don't feel guilty for taking time to slow down and recharge. 🙏 Share in the comments below what activities you enjoy to find your slow moments!
Choosing a word of the year has been a game-change Choosing a word of the year has been a game-changer for me since I discovered this 12 years ago.

This year, I have three words &, I am focusing on savouring, slowing down, and simplifying. These words act as my North Star and remind me of what truly matters.

What's your word of the year for 2023?
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