September 2017
Hello and welcome back, it’s been a while 🙂
I cannot quite believe it has been a year already, and what a year! So much has happened where do I start? New job, new business, back to college (again),got married, modelled on live t.v, did a gig.
Firstly, an update on the new body. During this last year my weight has stabilised at around the 12.4 stone mark (76 kg). The bariatric surgery has effectively done it’s job and as was explained to me by the surgeons is now just a ‘tool’ to help me maintain my weight loss. I admit is was a bit of a shock and a little difficult to deal with gaining a few pounds, but as was also explained to me, this is absolutely normal and expected due to the fact I can now eat better portions. So, whereas before I could only consume around 1000 calories a day, I can now eat the ‘normal’ amount recommended by the NHS of around 1800 calories. I am comfortable with this weight and my shape, I have a far from perfect body underneath my clothes, but as I am often told, who has a perfect body?. I have flabby bits, and wobbly bits and of course you could do dot to dot on me with all of my scars but it is all good.
I would have to be honest and say that it is always on my mind, the fear of what I refer to as ‘the fatness’. I am regularly told by friends and family that it is normal to be aware of and concerned with staying a healthy weight and that there are very few people in the world that do not worry, even if just a little, about their weight.
So as I was saying, during this last year I have appeared on This Morning as a ‘real women’ model twice. GREAT fun! I met loads of celebs including Trinny who was a force to be reckoned with and was very interested in my journey. She ended up doing my make-up for me so we had a long conversation about what I had been through and she mentioned it when she introduced me for my slot. Who would have thought it, me, a model!
I have also had an article published which was cool.
The biggest event of the year was my wedding on Christmas Eve. I will share something with you, my husband (still feels weird saying that) actually asked me to marry him the day after we got together, I said yes, but told him that I would only marry him when I was a size 14. Well, that kinda happened didn’t it, so I had to go through with it ha ha ha. Anyways, here’s me all dolled up:
I also got the old vocal chords out after 3 years without singing a note. I was great fun, and for the first time ever I did not mind people taking photo’s or filming me at all. The following day there was images and photo’s all over social media and I didn’t cringe once, well maybe just a little at some bum notes, but hey I am out of practice! In amongst all of this I started a new job at the very university I studied at. I worked in enterprise helping students start their own businesses and other cool stuff like delivering workshops and running events.
So what’s happening now? Well, the biggest news I guess is that we have moved back to Wales. A whole new chapter is about to begin and I am super excited. All of the hard work, pain and sheer determination has motivated me to really go for life now. The most exciting thing is the starting my new business. My personal experience has fuelled a passion in me to get involved with helping other people through the challenges they face when they feel ready to address their health. I am currently working with my partners to build a website offering a free support network. I am aiming for launch early 2018. My website will be online very soon for people to subscribe and then be notified of the launch. I will keep you updated 🙂
Thanks for all for reading my blog and for your continuing support.
Claire xx