THE journey to thinking like a slimmer person is always going to be an interesting and eventful one. Just when you think it’s going so well, bang! An obstacle appears which throws you off course and you stumble.

Obstacles are a real pain but they need to be looked at for what they are – an obstacle and not something that’s going to make you fail for the umpteenth time!

Life is full of ups and downs and obstacles – and so is your journey to sustainable weight loss.

Recently a lovely lady called Catherine posted a message in our Slimpod Club and it helped so many people.

So with her permission I’m sharing it with all our lovely people outside the group because it’s so useful and enlightening. This is what she wrote:

“Apologies in advance for what is bound to be a long post. I’m going to use this as a way of working out all the many complex feelings I’ve been having this week. Spoiler alert – it has a happy ending!

“I’ve just started week 10 and it’s been two weeks since my last update. Some of you may know that I’ve been one of the lucky ones who noticed changes very quickly but I’m also one of those who has been happy to take this journey slowly.

“I don’t weigh and haven’t since the end of week one. I have lost 7 inches from my waist and have noticed quite a change in my body shape.

“My wins have been largely based on my transformed attitude to food – I’ve gone from being a serious binge eater who would secretly raid cupboards to being able to enjoy treats without guilt and in moderation.

“I listen to Chillpod and Slimpod every night before bed and have just introduced Fitpod. Last Monday I woke up feeling dreadful. Not ill, just inexplicably miserable and down.

“I soon realised it was the dreaded PMT but it hit me like a train and I began to feel what I haven’t done since starting this – like I was going to ‘fail’ and that, once again, I would not be able to sustain the excellent start I’d enjoyed.

“Same old, same old  

“I commented on a previous live chat that this programme has helped me to be a more positive person, that by nature I’m quite cynical. When I first heard Sandra talk about the need to keep things positive in the group, I knew I’d find that a struggle.

“I’m used to having a good old whinge when things have ‘gone south’ as they have always done.

“So, mindful that I couldn’t come on here and moan (although I did post a brief message at the start of the week and really appreciated the support I got) I have waited until today to come on here and write my update.

“I’ve kept writing in my diary, trying hard to write three things I’m grateful for and my three wins even when I felt like I just wanted to give into the slump and give up.

“At my lowest point this week the only win I could come up with was ‘I did my best’. But it was better than nothing.

“I’ve still come on and interacted with people – liking their wins and giving support when I felt I could. Having to stay positive for the sake of the group has been really good for me.

“So, I kept going and this morning, although still not feeling great, I got up and prepared to face the day. During a phone call to my mum this morning, who I’m going to be seeing later this week for the first time since the beginning of December, I was telling her about my progress and, as I was talking, something clicked in my head.

“I told her all about my wins and my inch loss, about the clothes that fit better and about no longer finding myself eating all the biscuits, about my changed attitude to food and my new found walking habits (thanks to Heather for organising the Fitbit challenges!) and I realised something important…

“This week does not define me. It is not the end of the journey nor have I reached my destination or come as far as I can. I don’t have to ‘give up’ or ‘throw in the towel’.

“I can keep going. I can keep putting one foot in front of the other. In fact, when I think about it rationally, I haven’t even been that ‘bad’ this week. I haven’t gone back to bad habits or wiped out all my good progress.

“I’m still ‘winning’.

“So, storm Dennis is raging outside and I’ve finally cleared the ironing pile. Then, feeling more motivated than I have all week, I finally got around to trying a Lucy Wyndham Read workout and – guess what – I finished one 7 minute ab workout and loved it so I did the next one that popped up – 7 minute legs. Then I found a 20 indoor walking and toning workout and did that too.

“So I suppose what I’ve learnt – and the message I want to share – is this. It’s normal to have ‘off days’ – even a number of them. But they don’t have to turn into off weeks. Even off weeks don’t have to be off months.

“We are human and life throws so much at us. Sometimes we have to roll with the punches, pull up our big girl pants, step over the bump in the road, pick ourselves up, pat ourselves down and keep moving forward. Only that way will we ever reach our destination. “

I’m so grateful to everyone here who has supported me. If you’ve given up half your life to read this ridiculously long post, thank you. I hoped reading it has helped someone. It’s certainly helped me to write it .

“Stay safe everyone and keep podding.”

How has Catherine’s story resonated with you? How do you step over the obstacles in your way? Please leave a comment below – I love reading them all and they inspire everyone else more than you could ever imagine.