Reflecting on the last year as I turn 51!

Over the last few weeks I have been thinking and reflecting.  And to help me do this I looked back over some of my blog posts, the ones that I wrote as I planned my 50th birthday celebrations, as I thought about gifts and what I shared after the event.

As I have said before my blog is mostly my hobby, it is a place for me to write, share, think and reflect.  I hope that along the way I can give inspiration and encouragement to others, whether that is what I am wearing or what I am doing.  One day I might make a little bit of money out of my blog but that is not my aim, I am not a professional blogger.  But I hope that it makes me more real - I share outfits I am wearing not what a brand has sent me for free.  When I show you what I am wearing, it really is what I am wearing and not a modelling shot - then taken off in favour of PJ's!  

Some of the blog posts that I looked back on are:

Plans for my 50th Birthday

Countdown to my 50th Birthday - being fifty and fab

​My Birthday Wish List

Less is More - Quality over Quantity

Reading through them got me thinking, how did I do?  Did I have a good year, did I do what I wanted to do, did I achieve my goals?

Last weekend I got to wear the dress I wore for my 50th birthday again, I attended a charity gala dinner in Milton Keynes, it was organised by my friend who has set up the Facebook support group for all those wanting to get lean, A Big Girls Journey to Lean.  We had a lovely evening and I really enjoyed wearing my dress.  It was from Karen Millen but was last year and nothing similar available but I do recommend Karen Millen for party dresses - and they fit so well too.

First of all I had a goal to treat myself to a Louis Vuitton handbag and a new car - my longed for mini!  Both I achieved - the LV I decided to save for and the mini well now that my daughter is about to learn to drive I no longer needed to be practical so I was able to choose a car just for me!

So I feel very fortunate and very spoilt and I am very lucky. 

​But one of the biggest changes this year has been to my health and fitness - and the journey I have been on to get back to a size 8-10 after allowing myself to nudge into 12's.  I finally realised I needed to make some changes when we went skiing in April 2016 and I was unfit and couldn't fit into my beloved ski trousers.  I came home and started The Body Coach SSS Plan and yes I did lose the weight and the inches and was back to a size 8.  But then I needed to embark on a plan to maintain and at the time I thought to lose a bit more.

I was at the smallest I have been in a long time when I celebrated my 50th birthday and it felt good but I still wasn't satisfied - I wanted a 'flatter' tummy and so I carried on trying various plans etc but in the end I realised that I was trying to achieve the unachievable.  Yes if I gave up all alcohol, if I exercised a lot and consistently, if I watched everything I ate then I could probably do it BUT I didn't want to give up 95% of my life to weigh 5% less.  

It has taken a lot of soul searching, coaching and giving myself lots of common sense talking to's for me to appreciate that I am perfect just the way I am.

Yes I did need to lose that stone and the inches.  But my body is happy with that,,  I have maintained through this whole year despite trying to lose a bit more.  I am happy with where I am.

Stress became a big problem for me this summer and I have written a bit about it in previous posts so I won't go into detail again but one thing I did learn is that sleep and stress play a huge role in the body's ability to lose fat.  I was too stressed and I wasn't sleeping well.  Once I took time off to sort these two factors out then I started to feel better and in fact have lost an inch or so more (without really trying).

So coming to terms with who I am and my body and the fact that actually at 50 I look pretty damn good has been a big goal achieved for me this year.

I'm allowing myself a bit of time off formal exercise because it was causing me too much stress - seeing everyone else managing to fit it in and me not being able to - was really driving me mad.  In the end I said enough is enough - I am me and you are you - I am doing what I want with my life and I will not beat myself up any longer. 

So here I am a year later, more positive, more accepting, happier and determined not to compare but to be happy in my own skin.

My health and fitness is important to me and I am looking forward to starting exercise again in the new year - I have a 12 week goal - I go skiing in February and I can fit back into my ski trousers but they are still a little snug so if I can make them just a little more comfortable and if I can keep up with my family on the slopes then I will be very happy!

Peri-menopause arrived this year and a holistic approach is something I want to find out more about - mindset, eating well and moving more - to beat the symptoms.  I found the Wellness in Menopause Workshop I went on to be really helpful and I want to incorporate some of the ideas into my daily life.

So that is me, feeling reflective!  Lots of challenges this year but lots of positives too.  

I continue to get great feedback on my blog from my lovely followers.  Someone at the gala dinner came up to me and said thank you for my ideas - she has been inspired by me to try outfits that she would not normally consider.  Recently I attend a Dementia Friends session and someone who I met on Facebook and who follows my blog was there, she recognised me and loved my outfit!  I love to hear from you - so keep in touch.
​
Celebrating my birthday this year will be a quieter affair - my daughter is 17 and so we are much more excited about her getting her first car and having her first driving lesson.  I will have family here for a stay at home dinner!

Love from
Michelle xx