Giving blood

Weight gain, weight loss.
People talking about my weight gain, my weight loss.
Listening to people tell me about my weight gain, my weight loss.
(Ok more about my weight loss).
It's boring.

It's enough to stress me out, enough to make me lose weight.

My eating habits aren't great; I have a real sweet tooth. I'm vegetarian(!!). I can sleep without needing to be full up first. I get bored with food easily. I like my food hot (total microwave junkie). I don't have a passion for cooking therefore don't allocate time to it. I place more importance on talking/being social than on eating. I have thin bones. I've been blessed with genes that mean all my food goes straight to my stomach and my underarms, but no where bloody else (ha you think i'm joking don't you? I'm not. I have diagnosed underarm fat - who knew.).

Also, my eyes are MASSIVE and my chin is pointy. If I don't get a good night's sleep, my cheeks deflate (apparently).

These are things I know about myself but just sound like excuses should I try to use them to answer the continuous question of "have you lost weight since the last time I saw you?".

My cousin gave me the best response to use, and I sometimes I really wish I was jokingly sweet enough to get away with using it... "Yes, and you look like you've found it!"

I'm not moaning about being small at all - I'm fine with my body weight. I'm pretty strong so that's enough for me. It's actually having the same repetitive conversations which come with an hint of "do you have an eating disorder?" or "are you ill?" that I really have no interest for.

So on December 31st 2015, when I decided to Donate Blood as my New Year Resolution for 2016, I knew it was going to be a challenge.

To give blood in the UK, one must weigh at least 50 kg. I could never get over the 47 kg mark. Over the next 12 months, I went to work in India for a couple of months where I did nothing but over eat, over drink, and swim in the sun. I came back to London and signed up to 2 months with a Personal Trainer (I really recommend him if anyone in NW London is looking - Mark Dini!). I then gymmed at Fitness First, and at home. I went to Hot Yoga. I tried spinning - not for me, I fell over just trying to get my feet off the bike. I ate like someone following a nutritionist plan: Granola and Greek Yoghurt for breakfast, precision nutrition portion sizes of 2 or 3 other meals during the day, minimal white carbs, a protien+veg shake a day, and a high protein / high good fat snack in between meals. It wasn't cheap. But as of yesterday, it was so worth it...

This is my "I feel so proud" face!

P.S. Over-eating in India wasn't enough and I also had to wait for 6 months after returning back to the UK before being eligible to donate.

Yours Truly,
TML