After years of feeling concious about my body and weight, I decided that I would give up weighing myself and just go on how I felt and looked - if I felt good in an outfit and in myself that was all I mattered.
After a pretty rough February I initially dropped to a size 8. But it wasn't long until I re-discovered my appetite and began eating my feelings (which it seems I had a lot of!)
I ballooned! I didn't feel comfortable in anything, I felt self-concious in everything I wore and I struggled to find anything I liked about the way I looked.
After a couple of months, I realised I needed to snap out of this vicious cycle - I was sad, so I ate, then I put on weight, which made me sad, so I ate...
With my holiday looming and my bikinis purchased (and looking horrendous, as you will see later...) I decided it was time to take action.
So, I started eating salads, more fruit and veg, cutting out rubbish food and exercising more.
I'm a very impatient person, though, so after a day of eating healthy and a couple of hours in the gym I expect to immediately look like Michelle Keegan.
After about six weeks of my new healthy lifestyle, I was feeling pretty demoralised that nothing was happening. My bikinis still looked horrible on me, I had no desire to go out and buy holiday clothes, I didn't want to go out and get dressed up because I felt nothing suited me...
That was when I discovered Bootea. I had seen a lot of people talking about it on Twitter and Facebook, the transformation pictures on Instagram, and all the success stories of people who had tried it really encouraged me to give it a go.
For those who haven't heard of Bootea, it's a 14 or 28 day course which detoxes and cleanses your body. It involves drinking a cup of green tea every morning for the duration of your course, and a night time cleanse on alternate nights.
The only problem with this? I hate tea. Tea, coffee, green tea, herbal tea... I can't stand the stuff. I pondered it for a while and decided that if the outcome was as good as it promised, it would be worth a couple of nasty tasting teas. My logic was that I am sure I have drank worse things in my time, I've been to uni after all...
So, I ordered my 28 day teatox and eagerly awaited it's arrival. In the meantime, I had stepped up my gym attendance and really gone for the healthy eating. I was also drinking more water than ever before, hoping that would also maybe make some sort of difference.
By the time my tea arrived, I was feeling more fed up than ever.
This was my dire attempt at a bikini body the day before I started my teatox:
I constantly felt bloated, no matter what I ate/drank, and I could think of nothing worse than having to bare all in a bikini for two weeks.
In all honesty, this was a particularly bad day. I don't think I usually looked like that (as far as I am aware, anyway!) And, before anyone pipes up with any sly remarks - no I was not breathing out, this was me actually trying to breathe in!
But, nevertheless, it was what I looked like the day I started my teatox: BLOATED and uncomfortable.
Just four days into it and I already felt better. It was like a miracle!
The bloating was gone, my energy levels were up, I was sleeping better, and I was so much more motivated. Whether this was psychological or not, I am not sure. But to feel so much better than a week previous can only be a good thing.
I have carried on eating healthily as I did before, although I have maybe been more strict on myself. I have cut out crisps, chocolate, sweets (all the good things, basically) and, hardest of all, have cut out alcohol.
I've been going to the gym about 5 or 6 times a week and doing at least an hour of cardio and interval training whilst there.
I feel better in myself, more confident and finally excited about getting into a bikini.
This is my bikini body after two weeks, so just half way through my teatox.
I'm very aware that I am still no Victoria's Secrets model, but I don't think I ever will be! I still want to tone up a bit more but to be able to notice such a difference in just 14 days is good enough for me.
Since beginning Bootea 14 days ago I have lost just over half a stone (yes, I reverted back to weighing myself during this experiment). I am no longer bloated, I feel better in myself, I have more energy, and my appetite is suppressed; though this could be because I am drink between two and three litres of water a day.
I would highly recommend Bootea to anyone. Obviously if you eat rubbish and don't do any exercise I can't imagine it being that successful. They provide you with a free meal plan and a fitness plan (£1.99) which you can download from their website, along with any other information you may require: www.bootea.com.
Bootea isn't supposed to be a meal replacement 'diet' like Herbalife or Juice Plus or whatever else is on the market at the moment. It's designed to work alongside a healthy, balanced diet with lots of exercise thrown in for good measure.
You don't just drink tea and stop eating - that would be very silly, unhealthy and bad for you. It's one tea every morning for the duration of your course and a bedtime cleanse every other night before you go to sleep.
A lot of people worry about the side effects of the 'bedtime cleanse'. It contains senna leaves, liquorice leaves and other ingredients which result in laxative effects. They recommend that you first try the night time cleanse on an evening when you are not at work/going anywhere the next day. Everyone's body obviously reacts differently so it is wise to be cautious.
Without going into too much detail, I didn't notice anything different. So, if that is the only thing putting you off, I wouldn't worry.
I can't wait to see what my results will be like after the next 14 days!
If anyone wants to give Bootea a try after reading this, I have a 20% discount code which can be used if you buy your Bootea through this link.
Happy teatox-ing!
You may also like: My 28 day transformation and final Bootea results
Thanks Natalie - your comments about Bootea have spurred me on and reassured me re the night cleanse!!!! It's my first Bootea day today
ReplyDeleteAww that's great, good luck! :) xx
DeleteWow,you look great!! Carry on you're doing soo well;i can't wait to start this!
ReplyDeleteAlso well done on the clean eating and exercising to :) you look amazing xx
ReplyDeleteYou look fab!! Just wondering what size and weight you were when you started the before pics are like looking in a mirror! also what height are you? I too tend to be an emotional eater and it plays havoc with my waist line! My wardrobe is like a shop with clothes from and 8-14! Your w very similar shape to me so would be keen to know the above if you wouldn't mind! Your looking amazing hope your enjoying the new clean living! Xx
ReplyDeleteHiii! Aww thanks :) I don't like to weigh myself so I tend not to do it normally, but I think I lost just under a stone. I'm 5ft 9" :)
DeleteBefore I was probably a tight 10-12 on top and after was a comfortable 8-10.
Bottom I've always been bigger (big bum) so was 10-12 before (a bit tight but comfy) compared to a very comfy 10-12 after :) hope this helps! Anything else just let me know xx
I've just bought the 14 day cleanse and I'm so excited to get started! I loathe exercising but walk to and from work every day (4 miles in total) so I'm hoping that will do ;)
ReplyDeleteYou look great, I can't believe the difference after just two weeks!!
Katie xoxo