Today is a milestone for me. I have lost 6st exactly, 84lbs since I started my Keto, then Carnivore lifestyle. While I am extremely happy and proud to have hit this milestone, it has made me reflect on the 6 years it has taken me, since my starting weight in June 2020.
Looking back on my data, I have lost 4st 4lbs since January 2025. Which means I have spent four and a half years losing 24lbs over and over again. Seems like a monumental waste of time and energy to me. The question is why did I do that?
The key word for Simon and myself this year has been consistency. Earlier this year, somebody said to us that if we are eating is so healthy, why aren’t we skinny? That comment hit me hard, instead of getting upset, I used it to galvanise my why. Not that I want to be skinny, I want to be strong, healthy and happy. Don’t get me wrong, slipping on a size 14 jacket feels wonderful, knowing that it would have been a size 24 at my heaviest, but that is not my why.
This is because I had FOMO, which was very often induced by others. The fear of missing out on birthdays, anniversaries, Easter, Christmas, holidays, or because I was comfort eating. The having a “little treat” every now again won’t hurt, everything in moderation mentality is a false economy for me. Having treats last Christmas led both Simon and myself astray until mid March. Now my mind focuses on JOMO. The joy of missing out of inflammation, painful joints, sciatica, worsening my Lipoedema and Lymphoedema. The impact of eating sugar, seed oils, processed foods and carbs is even greater on Simon
I wish I had had the strength years ago to not people please. To be able to say no, when someone encouraged me to eat something, or to go out to restaurants that would put temptation in front of me. The only person who will be affected by my negative health is me, and Simon by his. It is not the person that I have appeased, just to appear to be nice.
Why am I writing this? Just maybe something I say might resonate with someone, maybe you might recognise the spiral of people pleasing, when you really need to change something in your own health. I know exactly why I need to eat as I do for my health, and I am ready and happy to explain to anyone who tries to “encourage” me to do otherwise. Simon and I are not being rude or ungrateful, we are simply choosing to be as well as we possibly can be in our 50s.
If there is something you want to achieve, do it for you, as you will be the one living with where your choices take you.
Jen x
