I really appreciated this. I have been a size 18-22 for the last 7 years and I'm coming up to the age of wanting to have children and I always said that I want to lose weight to give myself the best chance to do that and it's nice to hear someone sharing the realities whilst also still being kind about it. Congrats on your achievement
I am so glad that you agree that the “Body Positivity” movement can be quite toxic at times. I’m currently at the beginning of my health journey with just over a stone lost with 7 or so more to go. It’s so incredibly frustrating when people tell me that I should love myself how I am. It’s damaging more than anything - not helpful at all. I DO love myself, I’m just not happy with where my body is at the moment. It’s MY choice to lose the weight. For me. For my future children. Why do people insist that they know what’s best for me?
She gets hello fresh so anything that isn't in the hello fresh is snacks, treats, sauces, drinks and other staples she may fancy as a change like rice, noodles, pizza etc. She often does show anything she gets in her vlogs ❤
Great work, I'm really happy for you. Last year I was declined a life insurance quote because my BMI was too high, and that ended up being the final straw that motivated me. Started the same style of calorie counting in September and I've lost 3.9 stone so far, and I'm now no longer obese. I've got 13kg left to go. Although things have slowed down, I'm certainly determined to keep going!
i cut out sugar and my weight just flew off. ive watched your channel since before you were a homeowner in the days of your pastel unicorn hair. youve always been stunning.
@@TheTwoWitnesse5 it is hard. but possible. you just have to have the will power and discipline. also eating fruits with natural sugars help. (strawberries, grapes, oranges, watermelons, etc...)
@@tc7170 i guess its processed sugar. so just fruits. if your really motivated to do it it shouldn't be hard. just don't go to areas of the groceries where sugared items are found, or to the gas stations as well. if you have people around you who aren't trying to influence you to become a healthier better you then you should cut them off... not being mean, just telling the truth.
I’ve been feeling massive lately due to health reasons making me not fit any of my clothes, not able to exercise anymore, and this was a really lovely realistic chat. Thanks!
I did not want to comment on your weight in the past because I know that can be harmful to people that read comments and I did not want to be disrespectful, but I did want to tell you that you look really really good job and you are beautiful at any weight❤❤❤
I think I have quite a similar body shape to you and honestly just so so happy to see someone be so real about their experience! Been here for years now & you just inspire me so much!
I love this message! I'm a nutritional therapist in training and I've always been a huge advocate of balance. Demonising or completely restricting certain foods is just a recipe for a never ending cycle that leads to nothing but guilt. You also made an amazing point at the end with the cravings and colin faces! Theres something I call craving chasing, where you crave something but think 'oh i have to be good so I'll have x instead of y' and you never feel fully satisfied. So you end up having something else to try and scratch that craving itch, but that doesnt work either. All of which could have been avoided if you just honoured that craving and just had the Colin face 😂 Saving you precious time, mental headspace and calories! Moderation, compassion, small steps and shifting your mindset is so key ❤
Love how you spoke about this, weight loss can be such a sensitive thing to discuss online these days however I think you nailed the relaxed and honest approach!
I think if everyone understood calorie counting the diet industry would crumble! I think it’s even demonised to “restrict” when that’s exactly what’s needed. I lost 5 stone doing the same thing. If you use an app for a couple of weeks it gets very clear to you how much food you actually need vs how much we can get used to eating! With the new knowledge you’re much less likely to ever lose progress. You look fantastic and the confidence is shining through ❤
I'm on a similar but opposite journey of putting on. I'm 5'11 and averaged 7st (genetically). Joints having issues so decided on strength training to help alleviate pain. Conscious choice to up protein without tracking it but making mindful food choices. Gym 3 times a week, but if I don't feel like it then I don't go. Back playing netball which I enjoy, and am up to 9stone in just a few months and feel SO much better. It has to work for you and be sustainable. Fad diets, bulking, shredding can be short term so the key is finding a middle ground that you enjoy and can keep doing over a longer period.
Doing it for the right reason is so vital. It feels daft that I spent years trying to lose weight to impress others. Now I focus on health, getting to the latter part of my 30s it's about setting a healthy foundation for the future. I wanna be the crazy cat lady that goes on walks up in the hills 😂. You have done great and look so well. Keep it up x
You can absolutely be body positive and also know that you want to make positive healthy changes to your body. Now I'm over 30, I can feel I'm not active enough, my joints aren't as good and I can feel the extra weight having an effect on my body. Doesn't mean I don't love myself, but also means that I know I may need to make certain lifestyle changes to improve my overall health!
In the past two years I’ve lost 6 stone and you are totally right that in order to see substantial AND permanent weight loss you have to be honest with yourself. After that it just kind of becomes logical to skip the takeaway and that cheeky chocolate bar because you know that you won’t see results if you keep up the “ah g’wan I’ll order a takeaway because that was a tough day at work” mentality. All those little decisions add up and contribute to your deficit, and you will experience weight loss with persistence and consistency. I do believe though that if you are too rigid and strict to the point that your food choices are substantially affecting your quality of life, you need to loosen up and allow yourself the odd treat or cheat meal. Don’t give food the power to dictate your life anymore by restricting or binging. Be consistent and honest with yourself and you will see the results and more importantly feel so much better, both mentally and physically. Also, you’re an absolute queen ❤ Congratulations on your achievement!
I’ve been on a similar journey for the past couple months. I love hearing your point of view on it. It’s just as much mental as it is physical and it’s so important to get your mind right when going on a journey like this.
What you said about not feeling comfortable in your body is so true, and I've been overweight and underweight. When I was overweight I felt the same as you about the double chin, body parts touching. BUT when I was very underweight, I hated the feeling of my "bones", my knee bones touching, the feeling of my hip bones, and how uncomfortable it was to sleep. And my bones just jutting out. Also I've watched you since your Melon Lady days!
This is so bloody amazing.. especially about the eating-out tips and changing the narrative. You are so right about that depriving mindset that makes 'dieting' torture. I always find when I'm relaxed and not trying to lose weight, I often don't feel like dessert or eating lots of extra stuff. It's diet culture of depriving yourself that has made me struggle and makes me more greedy. I realised recently that I demonised food too and felt guilty for eating every mouthful for something I told myself was 'bad' or 'not diet food'. This makes me deprive myself and then binge and it's been such an unhealthy eating mindset. I've recognised this now and I'm starting to address this and start healthier eating habits and balance. This is such an informative and helpful vlog Helen and it helped me reinforce a few things.. thank you so much! x
This really resonated with me. I’ve lost 2st 4lb since January and all for the same reasons as you. I just wanted to improve my health. I look better and feel more confident but I also just generally feel so much better. My mobility is better, my energy is better, my mental health is better. I also began strength training and I enjoy that SO much!
Thank you for sharing all of this Helen and for the straight talking…I am really struggling with my weight and want to do something about it AND stick to it. Watch this space 🥵♥️
I've had some serious issues with food & my body throughout my life. Ups & downs literally & figuratively. But I decided to watch this because I felt like I knew your mindset going into it. I knew you'd be frank with it, but not have any sort of malice. And I've gotta say you've done a great job with this chat. Not that my opinion really means anything to how you carry yourself, but I just thought I'd say. ❤
Helen! I practically never post comments but always watch-this video spoke to me and I just had to! I decided to lose weight February of this year for my own health and oh boy, you and I have been doing damn near the same things! lol It feels good to know that someone else is taking this approach; I've been feeling rather alone in it when discussing it with others. Cheers to us continuing this journey of self-improvement! :) PS. The period part at the end, lordy, that's ME too haha.
Totally normal, our metabolism goes up during a few days of our period so we burn more (with individual differences ofc) leading to a spike in our hunger. We’re not crazy, our body is smart 😅❤️
Glad this worked for you, adhd meds switch off hunger mechanisms and interfere with binge eat signals so they basically control your appetite. Much like those with class A's addictions, weight drops off them as they don't feel hungry.
Loved this!! I’ve lost 45lbs over the last year. My first step was finding a doctor that was more accepting of bigger bodies and doing a full work up to get a baseline and make sure there’s nothing working against me. With that I started my journey. I also cut out alcohol which has been great and I honestly don’t miss it at all. My last tip is if you have close friends you go out with a lot tell them your goals and how they can support you. What works for everyone is different but if you are anywhere on a weight loss journey I’m really proud of you!!
I dropped from a size 14 to 10 over a long period of time just by having everything in moderation, people don’t believe it but truly believe it is the best way to lose weight
This is such a healthy and important message !! Bravo Helen Can’t stand that negativity of “being good” it’s so unhealthy. Just be honest and realistic and focus on what truly makes you feel good
Thank you for making this, I'm losing weight at the moment too and I'm doing everything for myself this time and it has really made a difference. I lost weight a while ago and I focused way too much on other people's expectations and opinions which ultimately led to me feeling like crap all the time. To see you discuss this is very impactful for me because I struggle with putting myself first, always have, but it feels great now to be working on fixing that.
You are exactly my kind of person. I LOVE raw honesty and for some reason I feel awkward commenting on people's videos. I've been here for many years (think lavender hair Melon) and I've never really interacted outside of liking/watching your content. Thank you for being real and inspiring. x
Thank you so much for this Helen, you always approach these things in an awesome way. It would be really cool to see what your week of exercise looks like to give us ideas!! ❤
I love this message. I’ve had a baby 11 months ago and my body is not what it was ! Am I grateful for what it grew ? 100 percent. Do I love my different body ? Definitly not. I can’t stand the fact that sometimes wanting to change your body. Or work on your body is seen as a negative thing ! I’m so grateful for what my body has done and yes it’s amazing, but that shouldn’t stop me from being able to want to feel more comfortable in my self !
I love how realistic this was. At the end of the day you do just need to limit calories if you want to lose weight. If you want to eat more on the weekends, you have to eat less on week days. It doesn’t need to be complicated.
To be honest I have no interest in losing weight at the moment or about your fitness journey. However I love hearing you talk about the real shit without sugar coating it. Really into the general vibe and clean aesthetic of this vid Helen, nice one 🤌🏻
I've slowly over the last year lost about 2.5 stone, i did it with the exact same mentality that you described. I started going to the gym purely to get fitter and try something new and i wanted to feel strong again. For the first 3 months i didnt even weigh myself, weightloss was a side effect not the main goal. I feel in love with lifting weights, got a pt and evolved day by day. In Jan i set myself a similar challenge as i also wanted a larger sense of achievement. I agree with body positivity going too far at times. I dont think i would have started in the gym and eating better had i not embraced it but it did almost encourage me to get larger, im just glad i learnt to love my body enough to want to improve it.
I am your height and lost weight previously to be your weight and I am now your current your start weight so this has egged me right on. Agree with everything you said! Well bloody done!
This is really helpful, I’m at my biggest weight I’ve ever been now and I feel awful. I’m also terrible at sticking to things and I need to just do it, so thanks this was motivational
I love you Helen! I love your realness and your rawness in everything you say! Thank you for sharing your journey! It honestly gives me inspiration for mine and it really does drive me to want to be better! 💖
I am with you. I have always yoyo dieted from being 12 years old and this year i finally learned what my body needs. Going from having severe Fibromyalgia and i also have arthritis in my knees i got to it. I now weight train 4 times a week and do movement classes for my active rest days and i feel like a different person. Alos having been a person who has spent her life on vlcd i can honestly say thats in the past. On 1800 cals, doing a body recomp, old me would have shit her pants lol. ETA i also have ADHD so feel you when you say about getting fedup with things, since been on meds though i struggle with actually having an appetite, really annoying lol
Can I just say, I'm going through a moment where I'm concerned about my health because I've been gaining a lot weight, and watching this has sort of inspired me to finally do something about it. So thanks, I needed this 😊
U can do it! Best of luck! What Helen said about calorie counting helped me as well i felt so much control over what i was doing with foods that it’s a completely different dynamic!
I was in a similar place two months ago, and I guarantee you'll feel physically and mentally happier! That place you want to be is on the other side of discomfort, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy - good luck!
Helen, this was the tonic everyone needed to hear. Thank you for your raw honesty about just being honest with yourself and accepting that as you said you were just a "greedy bitch" - I've been there too, ate what I wanted without any thought of the consequences. During Covid I had a major mindset change and didn't want to be unhappy with my body anymore. I lost 2.5 stone doing exactly the same as you - a calorie deficit. Now I'm in the gym building some serious muscle and eating tonnes more protein than I ever thought possible, it's great because it keeps me so full. The biggest tip I can give someone is to not use cardio as a means of fat loss. The fitness trackers (apple watch, fitbit etc) are wildly inaccurate and it actually takes a LOT more energy to burn off a Mars Bar than a 20 minute walk. Yes, keep walking by all means, but as Helen rightly says, it's the FOOD that made you fat, so it's changing your eating habits permanently that will give you the results you need. Cardio is great for the heart but TERRIBLE for fat loss (and if you have to add 5 hours of cardio a week to lose fat, are you really going to be able to sustain that?) Love this video Helen. Great advice x
I just realized that my problem is my sugar intake. I just consume a lot of it on stuff that one might think doesn't have too much. I will test myself these three weeks with the help of examples from people like you that have made changes in their diet. Your video got to me in a light of hope.
Sometimes if I’m hungry I can get angry and then eat too much because I’m a bit angry. Drinking water and a change in thinking. Lighter life showed my CBT in relation to food. That was very eye opening and let to a change in my understanding of myself around food. Also intermittent fasting is good. I can recommend Fast, feast, repeat and fast like a girl which acknowledges the way insulin works in your body. Water is key 🔑 yes 🙌🏻. Also congratulations on your weight loss - you’re looking better. What exercises in boot camp work the best. Lunges and squats so good for the leggy pegs!
We are on same journey, starting weight, month, height, goal and all. My weight loss had been slower bc of my mistakes and higher calorie intake (1500) so I've only lost 4kg/8lbs since Jan but the lessons learned are the same. I'm just used to being so greedy and need to moderate (wine or desert, not both). Started with intermittent fasting but it didn't work for me, now I'm merely calorie restricting from march and it's starting to come off more quickly as I get better at it. Thanks for these tips.
Thanks so much for sharing this Helen ❤ I related to so much of it. I actually lost 5 stone back in 2018 and it's all just crept back on. I want to have more energy and fit my fave clothes again, so a lot of what you said really resonated with me xx
Loved this! I have been on my own health journey this year and really realised how much emphasis we put on looks, but zero thought into what’s actually good for us and can make us healthier and happier. Since I’ve been focussing more on this and less on the scales, I’ve felt so much better physically and mentally!
You are SO right about external influences. If you aren't in the right mindset, it's not going to work. I've had three children (my youngest is seven) and I've tried so many times to 'bounce back' like society tells Mums to do. This year I decided to work on myself and I have finally fallen in love with fitness. I actually look forward to my workouts and I have never felt so strong. But all of those other times I tried in the past? I just wasn't ready, I just wasn't in the right mindset. Well done Helen and thank you for talking about this!
I've been on and off the health train for months now, keep stopping and starting all the time but then I always come back round to not being happy, needed to hear this! Thankyou!
I’ve been struggling to lose weight for the last few years since lockdown, I get stuck in a cycle of losing three pounds and the gaining them back the following week, I’m fine on my normal days can exercise and eat well and not have many temptations at home but my downfall is going out for food and drinks with friends, then I see so many people who are a healthy size just eating what they want when they go out it feels so unfair 😅 thanks for your motivation, I think even if I’m going to the gym and having good days as well as treat days at least I’m maintaining my weight rather than gaining but I need to lose about two stone to be at a healthy weight, hopefully it’ll kick in soon🤞🏼🤞🏼
Nice to see an honest chat about these things. Would you be up for sharing some of your workouts? I'd love to see the kind of exercises you do. i've always exercised from home and have started to get more into HIT/Weights and been thinking of going to some classes, but it's daunting! exercising in-front of others
Thank you for verbalizing what I've been saying to my friends since I started my weight loss in April. It's been slow but steady, and I just started the gym yesterday (oh the pain, today!!), but people seem to be very surprised when I, with calorie deficit and low carb diet, seem to have more diverse (and dare I say tastier) than them! It's l about knowing your food and not making anything forbidden. Just know your limits and adjust what you eat to your needs.
still absolutely amazed by the fact that people with adhd who can cook different meals each night and clean up the pans and dishes and do it again the next night and plan the meals and ingredients and go to the shop to buy them exist. like how. pls tell me i'm all ears. my meds work okay but not as well as they used to i'm 60mg mediknet but i'm still a mess even with meds. and she makes videos and edits them also like how are you so functional i'm so jealous. task initiation is my worst executive function, i do work full time also which makes it hard too
Watching while on the treadmill 😅 This makes me more motivated helen. I had a baby 6 months ago and i finally have gone back to the gym. This is week 2 I am taking it slow because its been like 3 yrs since i worked out 😅 i use to go to the gym everyday and i have lost weight but than pandemic hit and a baby and i told myself "take it slow and gradually get better" and yes mindset is key, being able to allow yourself some sweets is good! I understand and agree that both sides CAN be toxic but to find a balance is wonderful. Thanks helen for another amazing life sit down and chat video i adore these. ❤
7:11 that’s why i’m taking a break off social media, especially Instagram. i there’s so many fitness influencers reels on my feeds and i’m always pressured to be where they are, to the point i worked too hard and felt overwhelmed and messed up on my diet and workouts..
knowing your macros is a great aspect of enjoying fitness too and I highly recommend as its really helped me understand things a lot more too! what you're doing is amazing as always! you look incredible! xxx
Yes Helen 🙌 You are sooo right about these body positivity accounts. I feel like they are dangerous in the sense that they may give people a greencard to let their health dwindle. I think its healthy to have a line that you draw for your own body, so that you dont get yourself in an unhealthy state.
Love this! I'm currently trying to lose some weight and get healthier, and it's nice hearing someone speak more frankly, but not negatively about weight loss in this era.. Shame all the disclaimers are a thing now... People! You can love your body to bits, and dress and feel like a queen/king AND STILL want to lose some weight to feel better. Self love and weight loss do not have to be mutually exclusive
Thank you for your honesty, Im about to start my fitness journey again and this was a great perspective! Been watching for years, finally commenting haha! Hope you had a great time in Houston!
That's so awesome you're achieving your goals! I gained 20kg due to Covid stress and pregnancy with #2 baby. I am so needing to get back into a proper way of eating. For me with likely ADHD, and insulin PCOS I just need to be very strict on carbs and sugar. It's hard when food is so expensive but chocolate is cheap!
TW: EDs “Love yourself no matter what” can definitely be toxic in some ways. I’ve seen, and experienced, the “you’re fine as you are” attitude from body positive people (and from not so positive people but that’s a whole other rant). It’s one thing to love yourself in spite of what society tells you about how big or small you should be, it can be negative when it turns into “why are you changing yourself, you should love how you look and never change, you’re giving in to societal pressures so if you do this then clearly you don’t love yourself”. It’s entirely possible to love ourselves but still want to make some changes, changes that could help us love ourselves more fully and confidently. We can love ourselves, but not be happy with certain things or how we physically and mentally feel about our bodies. As long as the drive to change is coming from you, not other people and you aren’t falling into the danger zone and develop disordered eating habits then that’s a much healthier approach to it. Loving yourself is simply doing what you believe to be the best thing for you whether that's nothing at all or making changes. And always remember fed is best, cus food is just fuel. All food is good food as long as you’re fuelling your body. You can always come back to the healthy stuff, you can’t always fully come back from severe restriction.
Currently struggling with the whole "dieting" thing because I'm always hungry when dieting. Snacks become important and difficult. I've learnt that prepping my meals is so important, breakfast in particular.
One thing I heard recently that really stuck with me is that we use food as entertainment ...the nice brunches or dinners with a few pints. When I realised I was just automatically just going for takeaways, pints or brunches as part of my weekend or evenings I started thinking of other things to switch to even if it's a coffee catch-up or walk. Really helped me with getting past the weekends of overindulging
Yes! I started lifting weights seriously 10 months ago, and seeing food as fuel, rather than something connected to my emotions has made the biggest difference.
Love this Helen, very refreshing. I am starting to CC and gym in hopes to shift some weight, for health reasons more than aesthetic. What did you use to measure your TDEE?
This has been incredibly helpful because i am currently on this mind set shift. ive been circling for so long and seeing the logs realy helps me focus because similar to you i will just lose momentum or focus and give up then punish myself. Thank you for being so honest as always and i hope youre feeling great for you!
I love this new honest straight forward version of you! Not to say you've been dishonest but, in the past I've always felt like you've put up more of a front? If thay makes sense? This was very nice to listen to and I appreciate the transparency ❤ I feel it's so difficult to lose weight when you have a family and you're in a relationship because I really don't want to be having different dinners from my family, but I've started thinking of like, how can I eat THIS meal in the best way. Like, proportion wise! And that helps in the long run.
I feel that a lot of people who are overweight tend to overcompensate with the ‘I love my body’ stuff (toxic body positivity). It’s easier to kid yourself that way than be honest and say ‘I’m this way because I eat too much and I don’t like it’. 🤷🏻♀️
When you checked in about your journey in March it kick started mine and have lost a stone so far and this has come at a good time as I’ve plateaued for the last few weeks. I do think though you said ‘making the healthy choice’ and often that’s not even it.. it’s ‘making the lower calorie choice’ I think the word ‘health’ can be bandied around a bit too much in what is usually a calorie counting game and can be unrelated to how healthy something is. Love the chat though and you really look yourself xx
I really appreciated this. I have been a size 18-22 for the last 7 years and I'm coming up to the age of wanting to have children and I always said that I want to lose weight to give myself the best chance to do that and it's nice to hear someone sharing the realities whilst also still being kind about it. Congrats on your achievement
I am so glad that you agree that the “Body Positivity” movement can be quite toxic at times. I’m currently at the beginning of my health journey with just over a stone lost with 7 or so more to go. It’s so incredibly frustrating when people tell me that I should love myself how I am. It’s damaging more than anything - not helpful at all. I DO love myself, I’m just not happy with where my body is at the moment. It’s MY choice to lose the weight. For me. For my future children. Why do people insist that they know what’s best for me?
Found this really helpful, the way you explained stuff made it 'click' xxx
Exactly!!!
Can you do a weekly food shop video?
She gets hello fresh so anything that isn't in the hello fresh is snacks, treats, sauces, drinks and other staples she may fancy as a change like rice, noodles, pizza etc.
She often does show anything she gets in her vlogs ❤
Great work, I'm really happy for you. Last year I was declined a life insurance quote because my BMI was too high, and that ended up being the final straw that motivated me. Started the same style of calorie counting in September and I've lost 3.9 stone so far, and I'm now no longer obese. I've got 13kg left to go. Although things have slowed down, I'm certainly determined to keep going!
Amazing! Xx
i cut out sugar and my weight just flew off. ive watched your channel since before you were a homeowner in the days of your pastel unicorn hair. youve always been stunning.
Cutting sugar is so hard fair play to you and well done! I did it once and I felt so much more fuller also.
@@TheTwoWitnesse5 it is hard. but possible. you just have to have the will power and discipline. also eating fruits with natural sugars help. (strawberries, grapes, oranges, watermelons, etc...)
@@AsToldByShaiedo you have any good plans to follow?
no fruit? or do you mean processed sugar? You say this as if it's easy to cut out sugar lol
@@tc7170 i guess its processed sugar. so just fruits. if your really motivated to do it it shouldn't be hard. just don't go to areas of the groceries where sugared items are found, or to the gas stations as well.
if you have people around you who aren't trying to influence you to become a healthier better you then you should cut them off... not being mean, just telling the truth.
Getting me pumped up to restart my health journey - not feeling good about myself lately and hearing some tough love is what I need, thank you Helen!!
I’ve been feeling massive lately due to health reasons making me not fit any of my clothes, not able to exercise anymore, and this was a really lovely realistic chat. Thanks!
What a fantastic, realistic chat! Brilliant video babe x
Thanks love!! Xx
I did not want to comment on your weight in the past because I know that can be harmful to people that read comments and I did not want to be disrespectful, but I did want to tell you that you look really really good job and you are beautiful at any weight❤❤❤
I think I have quite a similar body shape to you and honestly just so so happy to see someone be so real about their experience! Been here for years now & you just inspire me so much!
I love this message! I'm a nutritional therapist in training and I've always been a huge advocate of balance. Demonising or completely restricting certain foods is just a recipe for a never ending cycle that leads to nothing but guilt.
You also made an amazing point at the end with the cravings and colin faces! Theres something I call craving chasing, where you crave something but think 'oh i have to be good so I'll have x instead of y' and you never feel fully satisfied. So you end up having something else to try and scratch that craving itch, but that doesnt work either. All of which could have been avoided if you just honoured that craving and just had the Colin face 😂 Saving you precious time, mental headspace and calories!
Moderation, compassion, small steps and shifting your mindset is so key ❤
Oh yes!! Xx
Love how you spoke about this, weight loss can be such a sensitive thing to discuss online these days however I think you nailed the relaxed and honest approach!
Thank you! Xx
I think if everyone understood calorie counting the diet industry would crumble! I think it’s even demonised to “restrict” when that’s exactly what’s needed. I lost 5 stone doing the same thing. If you use an app for a couple of weeks it gets very clear to you how much food you actually need vs how much we can get used to eating! With the new knowledge you’re much less likely to ever lose progress. You look fantastic and the confidence is shining through ❤
Exactly! It’s just moderation !! Xxx
I'm on a similar but opposite journey of putting on. I'm 5'11 and averaged 7st (genetically). Joints having issues so decided on strength training to help alleviate pain. Conscious choice to up protein without tracking it but making mindful food choices. Gym 3 times a week, but if I don't feel like it then I don't go. Back playing netball which I enjoy, and am up to 9stone in just a few months and feel SO much better. It has to work for you and be sustainable. Fad diets, bulking, shredding can be short term so the key is finding a middle ground that you enjoy and can keep doing over a longer period.
Exactly!!
Doing it for the right reason is so vital. It feels daft that I spent years trying to lose weight to impress others. Now I focus on health, getting to the latter part of my 30s it's about setting a healthy foundation for the future. I wanna be the crazy cat lady that goes on walks up in the hills 😂.
You have done great and look so well. Keep it up x
You can absolutely be body positive and also know that you want to make positive healthy changes to your body. Now I'm over 30, I can feel I'm not active enough, my joints aren't as good and I can feel the extra weight having an effect on my body. Doesn't mean I don't love myself, but also means that I know I may need to make certain lifestyle changes to improve my overall health!
In the past two years I’ve lost 6 stone and you are totally right that in order to see substantial AND permanent weight loss you have to be honest with yourself. After that it just kind of becomes logical to skip the takeaway and that cheeky chocolate bar because you know that you won’t see results if you keep up the “ah g’wan I’ll order a takeaway because that was a tough day at work” mentality. All those little decisions add up and contribute to your deficit, and you will experience weight loss with persistence and consistency. I do believe though that if you are too rigid and strict to the point that your food choices are substantially affecting your quality of life, you need to loosen up and allow yourself the odd treat or cheat meal. Don’t give food the power to dictate your life anymore by restricting or binging. Be consistent and honest with yourself and you will see the results and more importantly feel so much better, both mentally and physically. Also, you’re an absolute queen ❤ Congratulations on your achievement!
I’ve been on a similar journey for the past couple months. I love hearing your point of view on it. It’s just as much mental as it is physical and it’s so important to get your mind right when going on a journey like this.
This was really refreshing! thank you for you're honesty, really helped with my prospective of my own journey ❤
What you said about not feeling comfortable in your body is so true, and I've been overweight and underweight.
When I was overweight I felt the same as you about the double chin, body parts touching. BUT when I was very underweight, I hated the feeling of my "bones", my knee bones touching, the feeling of my hip bones, and how uncomfortable it was to sleep. And my bones just jutting out.
Also I've watched you since your Melon Lady days!
Oh that’s so interesting!! Xx
This is so bloody amazing.. especially about the eating-out tips and changing the narrative. You are so right about that depriving mindset that makes 'dieting' torture. I always find when I'm relaxed and not trying to lose weight, I often don't feel like dessert or eating lots of extra stuff. It's diet culture of depriving yourself that has made me struggle and makes me more greedy. I realised recently that I demonised food too and felt guilty for eating every mouthful for something I told myself was 'bad' or 'not diet food'. This makes me deprive myself and then binge and it's been such an unhealthy eating mindset. I've recognised this now and I'm starting to address this and start healthier eating habits and balance. This is such an informative and helpful vlog Helen and it helped me reinforce a few things.. thank you so much! x
This really resonated with me. I’ve lost 2st 4lb since January and all for the same reasons as you. I just wanted to improve my health. I look better and feel more confident but I also just generally feel so much better. My mobility is better, my energy is better, my mental health is better. I also began strength training and I enjoy that SO much!
Hooray! Xx
Thank you for sharing all of this Helen and for the straight talking…I am really struggling with my weight and want to do something about it AND stick to it. Watch this space 🥵♥️
I've had some serious issues with food & my body throughout my life. Ups & downs literally & figuratively. But I decided to watch this because I felt like I knew your mindset going into it. I knew you'd be frank with it, but not have any sort of malice. And I've gotta say you've done a great job with this chat. Not that my opinion really means anything to how you carry yourself, but I just thought I'd say. ❤
Oh thank you! X
Well done, you! It’s always about how you feel best, whether you feel healthy and strong. It’s not just aesthetic.
Thank you for this 🙏🏻 I’ve saved this for when I need the pep talk!!
I loveeed this 💚 Here for the honesty! ❤
Helen! I practically never post comments but always watch-this video spoke to me and I just had to! I decided to lose weight February of this year for my own health and oh boy, you and I have been doing damn near the same things! lol It feels good to know that someone else is taking this approach; I've been feeling rather alone in it when discussing it with others. Cheers to us continuing this journey of self-improvement! :) PS. The period part at the end, lordy, that's ME too haha.
Totally normal, our metabolism goes up during a few days of our period so we burn more (with individual differences ofc) leading to a spike in our hunger. We’re not crazy, our body is smart 😅❤️
@@hanelno Yes, that's so true! ✨😅❤️
My body wants Colin caterpillar faces
Glad this worked for you, adhd meds switch off hunger mechanisms and interfere with binge eat signals so they basically control your appetite. Much like those with class A's addictions, weight drops off them as they don't feel hungry.
This was only for a couple of weeks as I’m not on stimulants
Loved this!! I’ve lost 45lbs over the last year. My first step was finding a doctor that was more accepting of bigger bodies and doing a full work up to get a baseline and make sure there’s nothing working against me. With that I started my journey. I also cut out alcohol which has been great and I honestly don’t miss it at all. My last tip is if you have close friends you go out with a lot tell them your goals and how they can support you. What works for everyone is different but if you are anywhere on a weight loss journey I’m really proud of you!!
Love the comment about friends ! So true xx
I dropped from a size 14 to 10 over a long period of time just by having everything in moderation, people don’t believe it but truly believe it is the best way to lose weight
I agree! Xx
This is such a healthy and important message !! Bravo Helen
Can’t stand that negativity of “being good” it’s so unhealthy. Just be honest and realistic and focus on what truly makes you feel good
Thank you for making this, I'm losing weight at the moment too and I'm doing everything for myself this time and it has really made a difference. I lost weight a while ago and I focused way too much on other people's expectations and opinions which ultimately led to me feeling like crap all the time. To see you discuss this is very impactful for me because I struggle with putting myself first, always have, but it feels great now to be working on fixing that.
You are exactly my kind of person. I LOVE raw honesty and for some reason I feel awkward commenting on people's videos. I've been here for many years (think lavender hair Melon) and I've never really interacted outside of liking/watching your content.
Thank you for being real and inspiring. x
Thank you so much for this Helen, you always approach these things in an awesome way. It would be really cool to see what your week of exercise looks like to give us ideas!! ❤
Yeah totally! Great idea xx
I love this message.
I’ve had a baby 11 months ago and my body is not what it was !
Am I grateful for what it grew ? 100 percent.
Do I love my different body ? Definitly not.
I can’t stand the fact that sometimes wanting to change your body. Or work on your body is seen as a negative thing !
I’m so grateful for what my body has done and yes it’s amazing, but that shouldn’t stop me from being able to want to feel more comfortable in my self !
Exactly love!! Xx
I love how realistic this was. At the end of the day you do just need to limit calories if you want to lose weight. If you want to eat more on the weekends, you have to eat less on week days. It doesn’t need to be complicated.
It’s science 😂❤️❤️
To be honest I have no interest in losing weight at the moment or about your fitness journey. However I love hearing you talk about the real shit without sugar coating it. Really into the general vibe and clean aesthetic of this vid Helen, nice one 🤌🏻
Thank you!!! Xx
I've slowly over the last year lost about 2.5 stone, i did it with the exact same mentality that you described. I started going to the gym purely to get fitter and try something new and i wanted to feel strong again. For the first 3 months i didnt even weigh myself, weightloss was a side effect not the main goal. I feel in love with lifting weights, got a pt and evolved day by day. In Jan i set myself a similar challenge as i also wanted a larger sense of achievement.
I agree with body positivity going too far at times. I dont think i would have started in the gym and eating better had i not embraced it but it did almost encourage me to get larger, im just glad i learnt to love my body enough to want to improve it.
I am your height and lost weight previously to be your weight and I am now your current your start weight so this has egged me right on. Agree with everything you said! Well bloody done!
This is really helpful, I’m at my biggest weight I’ve ever been now and I feel awful. I’m also terrible at sticking to things and I need to just do it, so thanks this was motivational
This is so appreciated, you went about it in the complete right way and it was very well put! Thanks so much x
I love you Helen! I love your realness and your rawness in everything you say! Thank you for sharing your journey! It honestly gives me inspiration for mine and it really does drive me to want to be better! 💖
Looking awesome and great tips!! Well done on your loss you are smashing it :) inspiring vid ❤
I am with you. I have always yoyo dieted from being 12 years old and this year i finally learned what my body needs. Going from having severe Fibromyalgia and i also have arthritis in my knees i got to it. I now weight train 4 times a week and do movement classes for my active rest days and i feel like a different person. Alos having been a person who has spent her life on vlcd i can honestly say thats in the past. On 1800 cals, doing a body recomp, old me would have shit her pants lol. ETA i also have ADHD so feel you when you say about getting fedup with things, since been on meds though i struggle with actually having an appetite, really annoying lol
Can I just say, I'm going through a moment where I'm concerned about my health because I've been gaining a lot weight, and watching this has sort of inspired me to finally do something about it. So thanks, I needed this 😊
U can do it! Best of luck! What Helen said about calorie counting helped me as well i felt so much control over what i was doing with foods that it’s a completely different dynamic!
@@maroulla88 thank you! ☺
I was in a similar place two months ago, and I guarantee you'll feel physically and mentally happier! That place you want to be is on the other side of discomfort, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy - good luck!
@@amymccall2000 thank you! I appreciate your kind words!
Helen, this was the tonic everyone needed to hear. Thank you for your raw honesty about just being honest with yourself and accepting that as you said you were just a "greedy bitch" - I've been there too, ate what I wanted without any thought of the consequences. During Covid I had a major mindset change and didn't want to be unhappy with my body anymore. I lost 2.5 stone doing exactly the same as you - a calorie deficit. Now I'm in the gym building some serious muscle and eating tonnes more protein than I ever thought possible, it's great because it keeps me so full.
The biggest tip I can give someone is to not use cardio as a means of fat loss. The fitness trackers (apple watch, fitbit etc) are wildly inaccurate and it actually takes a LOT more energy to burn off a Mars Bar than a 20 minute walk. Yes, keep walking by all means, but as Helen rightly says, it's the FOOD that made you fat, so it's changing your eating habits permanently that will give you the results you need. Cardio is great for the heart but TERRIBLE for fat loss (and if you have to add 5 hours of cardio a week to lose fat, are you really going to be able to sustain that?)
Love this video Helen. Great advice x
Thanks for the input!! Xxx
I just realized that my problem is my sugar intake. I just consume a lot of it on stuff that one might think doesn't have too much. I will test myself these three weeks with the help of examples from people like you that have made changes in their diet. Your video got to me in a light of hope.
Sometimes if I’m hungry I can get angry and then eat too much because I’m a bit angry. Drinking water and a change in thinking. Lighter life showed my CBT in relation to food. That was very eye opening and let to a change in my understanding of myself around food. Also intermittent fasting is good. I can recommend Fast, feast, repeat and fast like a girl which acknowledges the way insulin works in your body. Water is key 🔑 yes 🙌🏻. Also congratulations on your weight loss - you’re looking better. What exercises in boot camp work the best. Lunges and squats so good for the leggy pegs!
Just Queen Helen telling us how it is, being beautiful and authentic as always. You rock Helen, keep on being you 🍊🧡
Thank you so much for this. I’ve not been feeling great or looking after myself at all and this just motivated me so much 😭
I hope you feel better soon!! Xx
We are on same journey, starting weight, month, height, goal and all. My weight loss had been slower bc of my mistakes and higher calorie intake (1500) so I've only lost 4kg/8lbs since Jan but the lessons learned are the same. I'm just used to being so greedy and need to moderate (wine or desert, not both). Started with intermittent fasting but it didn't work for me, now I'm merely calorie restricting from march and it's starting to come off more quickly as I get better at it. Thanks for these tips.
Thanks so much for sharing this Helen ❤ I related to so much of it. I actually lost 5 stone back in 2018 and it's all just crept back on. I want to have more energy and fit my fave clothes again, so a lot of what you said really resonated with me xx
Loved this! I have been on my own health journey this year and really realised how much emphasis we put on looks, but zero thought into what’s actually good for us and can make us healthier and happier. Since I’ve been focussing more on this and less on the scales, I’ve felt so much better physically and mentally!
Thanks for this video Helen, really appreciate the realistic approach 😊
You are SO right about external influences. If you aren't in the right mindset, it's not going to work. I've had three children (my youngest is seven) and I've tried so many times to 'bounce back' like society tells Mums to do. This year I decided to work on myself and I have finally fallen in love with fitness. I actually look forward to my workouts and I have never felt so strong. But all of those other times I tried in the past? I just wasn't ready, I just wasn't in the right mindset. Well done Helen and thank you for talking about this!
Exactly! If you want to do then do… but never do it cause of pressure! Xx
I've been on and off the health train for months now, keep stopping and starting all the time but then I always come back round to not being happy, needed to hear this! Thankyou!
If you really want it you can achieve it! Xx
Such a great outlook and your happiness shows 💗
Good on you Helen for focusing on yourself (in more ways than one). Happy for you!
Thanks Helen I needed this and well done on your achievements!! 💋💋💋 Have followed you for years love ya 😎🤘
I’ve been struggling to lose weight for the last few years since lockdown, I get stuck in a cycle of losing three pounds and the gaining them back the following week, I’m fine on my normal days can exercise and eat well and not have many temptations at home but my downfall is going out for food and drinks with friends, then I see so many people who are a healthy size just eating what they want when they go out it feels so unfair 😅 thanks for your motivation, I think even if I’m going to the gym and having good days as well as treat days at least I’m maintaining my weight rather than gaining but I need to lose about two stone to be at a healthy weight, hopefully it’ll kick in soon🤞🏼🤞🏼
Nice to see an honest chat about these things. Would you be up for sharing some of your workouts? I'd love to see the kind of exercises you do. i've always exercised from home and have started to get more into HIT/Weights and been thinking of going to some classes, but it's daunting! exercising in-front of others
Girl I'm soo proud of you 👏 thanks for always being real and being you. You rock !! 🤘
Thank you for verbalizing what I've been saying to my friends since I started my weight loss in April. It's been slow but steady, and I just started the gym yesterday (oh the pain, today!!), but people seem to be very surprised when I, with calorie deficit and low carb diet, seem to have more diverse (and dare I say tastier) than them! It's l about knowing your food and not making anything forbidden. Just know your limits and adjust what you eat to your needs.
Good luck on your journey! And pat on the back for starting the gym!
Exactly!!! Xx
I absolutely love how happy you look Helen, it’s so lovely to see you enjoying life ☺️💛
Well done you !!!! I’m
Loving the horseshoe necklace where’s that from please ? Xxx
still absolutely amazed by the fact that people with adhd who can cook different meals each night and clean up the pans and dishes and do it again the next night and plan the meals and ingredients and go to the shop to buy them exist. like how. pls tell me i'm all ears. my meds work okay but not as well as they used to i'm 60mg mediknet but i'm still a mess even with meds. and she makes videos and edits them also like how are you so functional i'm so jealous. task initiation is my worst executive function, i do work full time also which makes it hard too
Watching while on the treadmill 😅
This makes me more motivated helen.
I had a baby 6 months ago and i finally have gone back to the gym. This is week 2 I am taking it slow because its been like 3 yrs since i worked out 😅 i use to go to the gym everyday and i have lost weight but than pandemic hit and a baby and i told myself "take it slow and gradually get better" and yes mindset is key, being able to allow yourself some sweets is good! I understand and agree that both sides CAN be toxic but to find a balance is wonderful.
Thanks helen for another amazing life sit down and chat video i adore these. ❤
7:11 that’s why i’m taking a break off social media, especially Instagram. i there’s so many fitness influencers reels on my feeds and i’m always pressured to be where they are, to the point i worked too hard and felt overwhelmed and messed up on my diet and workouts..
knowing your macros is a great aspect of enjoying fitness too and I highly recommend as its really helped me understand things a lot more too! what you're doing is amazing as always! you look incredible! xxx
Yes Helen 🙌 You are sooo right about these body positivity accounts. I feel like they are dangerous in the sense that they may give people a greencard to let their health dwindle. I think its healthy to have a line that you draw for your own body, so that you dont get yourself in an unhealthy state.
Love this! I'm currently trying to lose some weight and get healthier, and it's nice hearing someone speak more frankly, but not negatively about weight loss in this era.. Shame all the disclaimers are a thing now... People! You can love your body to bits, and dress and feel like a queen/king AND STILL want to lose some weight to feel better.
Self love and weight loss do not have to be mutually exclusive
Yes!!! Xx
Thank you for your honesty, Im about to start my fitness journey again and this was a great perspective!
Been watching for years, finally commenting haha! Hope you had a great time in Houston!
Good luck! Xx
That's so awesome you're achieving your goals! I gained 20kg due to Covid stress and pregnancy with #2 baby. I am so needing to get back into a proper way of eating. For me with likely ADHD, and insulin PCOS I just need to be very strict on carbs and sugar. It's hard when food is so expensive but chocolate is cheap!
You look terrific, and that was a very sensitive and supportive presentation. Thanks, and congratulations.
I call it sometimes foods and all times foods. Foods aren’t bad they are meant to be enjoyed within reason.
Love that! Xx
Thanks for posting this. I'm at the start of my weight loss journey, and this has really motivated me!
Yaaay xx
TW: EDs
“Love yourself no matter what” can definitely be toxic in some ways. I’ve seen, and experienced, the “you’re fine as you are” attitude from body positive people (and from not so positive people but that’s a whole other rant). It’s one thing to love yourself in spite of what society tells you about how big or small you should be, it can be negative when it turns into “why are you changing yourself, you should love how you look and never change, you’re giving in to societal pressures so if you do this then clearly you don’t love yourself”. It’s entirely possible to love ourselves but still want to make some changes, changes that could help us love ourselves more fully and confidently. We can love ourselves, but not be happy with certain things or how we physically and mentally feel about our bodies. As long as the drive to change is coming from you, not other people and you aren’t falling into the danger zone and develop disordered eating habits then that’s a much healthier approach to it. Loving yourself is simply doing what you believe to be the best thing for you whether that's nothing at all or making changes.
And always remember fed is best, cus food is just fuel. All food is good food as long as you’re fuelling your body. You can always come back to the healthy stuff, you can’t always fully come back from severe restriction.
Hey Helen! You look super well at the moment. I'm on a similar journey, started running and calorie counting in Jan. Thanks for sharing 😊
Thanks so much for this video Helen! Really inspired me, you're a boss!
Love you and your honesty!
Love this & you are looking so happy & glowing! Thanks for sharing and you're honesty 💚
Thank you so much!!
Most people lose weight when starting ADHD medication. Stimulants have this effect.
I’m not on stimulants. They only had an effect on my appetite for a couple of weeks, the rest was actually dieting and exercise
Currently struggling with the whole "dieting" thing because I'm always hungry when dieting. Snacks become important and difficult. I've learnt that prepping my meals is so important, breakfast in particular.
Thank you for being so honest! ❤ ❤
Always!
One thing I heard recently that really stuck with me is that we use food as entertainment ...the nice brunches or dinners with a few pints. When I realised I was just automatically just going for takeaways, pints or brunches as part of my weekend or evenings I started thinking of other things to switch to even if it's a coffee catch-up or walk. Really helped me with getting past the weekends of overindulging
Yes! I started lifting weights seriously 10 months ago, and seeing food as fuel, rather than something connected to my emotions has made the biggest difference.
Yep this is a big one for me!! Xx
Love this Helen, very refreshing. I am starting to CC and gym in hopes to shift some weight, for health reasons more than aesthetic. What did you use to measure your TDEE?
Loved this ❤ You should do a girl talk/lifestyle podcast xx
So proud of you!
Would love to see what you eat in a day video or something. Always love those vids as need inspo!
Coming soon! ❤️
This has been incredibly helpful because i am currently on this mind set shift. ive been circling for so long and seeing the logs realy helps me focus because similar to you i will just lose momentum or focus and give up then punish myself. Thank you for being so honest as always and i hope youre feeling great for you!
You got this!
I love this new honest straight forward version of you! Not to say you've been dishonest but, in the past I've always felt like you've put up more of a front? If thay makes sense? This was very nice to listen to and I appreciate the transparency ❤
I feel it's so difficult to lose weight when you have a family and you're in a relationship because I really don't want to be having different dinners from my family, but I've started thinking of like, how can I eat THIS meal in the best way. Like, proportion wise! And that helps in the long run.
I feel that a lot of people who are overweight tend to overcompensate with the ‘I love my body’ stuff (toxic body positivity). It’s easier to kid yourself that way than be honest and say ‘I’m this way because I eat too much and I don’t like it’. 🤷🏻♀️
Hello Helen you are throwing true facts! Thank you and you look amazing woman💗
When you checked in about your journey in March it kick started mine and have lost a stone so far and this has come at a good time as I’ve plateaued for the last few weeks. I do think though you said ‘making the healthy choice’ and often that’s not even it.. it’s ‘making the lower calorie choice’ I think the word ‘health’ can be bandied around a bit too much in what is usually a calorie counting game and can be unrelated to how healthy something is. Love the chat though and you really look yourself xx
Well done! No I know what you mean! Sometimes it’s difficult wording these things 😂
Well done, you look amazing!!
You look great! So happy for you!
Thank you so much!!
You look so good! But you did before anyway. Glad you’re feeling good. Where’s your amazing horseshoe necklace from?
Certain ADHD meds also suppress appetite, both my husband and a friend has lost a lot of weight being on them.
I’d be interested in what you’re doing now. Have you finished losing weight? Are you still tracking?
I’m tracking in the week and not at the weekends. So maintenance 😊
THIS VIDEO 🙌 THIS APPORACH 🤌 THIS HONESTY 💪 This is the kind of discussion thay needs to be un-demonised! Hats off to you, Helen🤠🖤
Thank you!!! Xx