A Bump on the Head, A Lot of Bread, and a Brave Goodbye to 2024
So here we are: the end of December.
The final chapter of 2024.
The time of year when we reflect on what we’ve achieved, what we’ve eaten (answer: everything), and how many times we actually made it to the spa (answer: not enough).
And while my Christmas break has been mostly sitting, sipping, chewing and occasionally regretting—I am still here, still on plan, and still moving forward. 🙌
💉 Mounjaro Update: Round 2, Still Smooth
I’ve started my second pen of 5mg Mounjaro this week and I’m happy to report—no major side effects.
I’ve definitely learned that hydration is key.
If I don’t keep chugging water like a contestant on Love Island, I do get the dreaded headaches. But I’ve improved my routine now and I’m practically a human water feature. 💧
That said, even with my effort, my hydration readings are creeping up very slowly. Possibly because my blood type was mulled wine from Dec 24–26.
Still, we take the win. Progress, not perfection, as always.
🎄 Christmas Chaos (aka The Sofa-Kitchen Shuffle)
Let’s be honest:
Christmas and Boxing Day involved approximately zero exercise.
Unless you count walking to the fridge, rearranging the cheeseboard, or arguing over who ate the last chocolate orange segment.
I could have done some gentle stretching. I could have gone for a walk.
I did not.
Instead, I achieved elite status in lounging.
And honestly? I don’t regret it. My body needed rest, and my mind needed stuffing. 🛋️🍗
🥂 Friday Drama – Headfirst into Afternoon Tea
On the 27th, we took the sister-in-law (yes, the sister-in-law who bailed at the last minute on Christmas) out for a post-holiday afternoon tea.
Lovely idea in theory.
In practice? Not my best morning.
Post-shower, I started feeling a bit dizzy… then next thing I knew, I was waking up on the bathroom floor with a bruised forehead the size of a hot cross bun. 🥲
(Suspected culprits: hot shower, sudden movement, and/or the Universe reminding me I’m not 25 anymore.)
Cue me going out to a swanky hotel with a lump on my head, drinking champagne (forgot it’s fizzy = bad idea), and trying to look glam while very much not feeling it. 🥴
Still, the afternoon tea was gorgeous, even if my appetite was missing in action.
Classic: eyes said “EAT ALL THE TINY CAKES,” body said “absolutely not, madam.”
💇♀️ Saturday = Hair Day (No Spa Allowed)
Saturday was hair day—which means no spa, no sweat, no risk of chlorine turning me accidentally platinum blonde.
So I sat, I sipped coffee, I read trashy magazines, and I emerged with gloriously fresh roots and very little motivation to move.
The festive food fog was strong.
🍜 Sunday = Operation "Let’s Leave the House"
In a sudden burst of “we really should move before we fuse to the sofa,” the husband and I booked a last-minute breakand headed away for a few days.
We checked into a lovely hotel and had dinner at Wagamama—I had the spicy chicken ramen, aka soul in a bowl. 🥣💛
Warm, spicy, comforting, and surprisingly low-calorie—honestly a win/win.
🐅 Monday = Longleat Safari Park Adventure
Now this was the highlight of the week.
We’d booked a trip to Longleat Safari Park, and it was exactly the kind of day I didn’t realise I needed: fresh air, fun, and finally some proper walking!
We strolled through the beautiful grounds, explored the enclosures, and laughed far too hard at the antics of the monkeys (who I’m convinced have a side hustle in petty theft). 🐒
The safari drive was magical—up close with lions, tigers, and one very cheeky zebra who refused to move off the path like a sulky teenager.
And as the sun went down, we stayed for the Festival of Light, and wow—what a show.
Giant illuminated animals, glittering trees, whimsical lanterns stretching across the sky—it was like being inside a storybook. ✨
Honestly, my feet were killing me by the end, but my heart felt full.
It reminded me how important it is to make memories, not just count calories.
⚖️ The Final Weigh-In of 2024
Tuesday = weigh-in day, and despite the bumps, bruises, bubbles and brie...
I was down 0.8lbs. 🎉
Is it huge?
No.
Is it a miracle considering what I’ve eaten and drunk and not done in the exercise department?
Absolutely. 😂
🎆 Goodbye 2024. You Were… a Lot.
So here we are. The end of 2024.
And what a year it’s been.
From emotional eating and chronic pain, to making the decision to start Mounjaro…
From side-eyeing myself in changing room mirrors, to actually walking down stairs without pain…
From panic-buying mince pies to standing in a sparkly safari park, feeling free and hopeful and more like me again…
I can’t say I’ve done everything perfectly.
But I’ve done it consistently. And bravely. And with heart.
And as we head into 2025?
👉 I’m not hiding anymore.
👉 I’m not starting over—I'm continuing on.
👉 And I’ve got big plans, a full water bottle, and a spa membership that is 100% getting used.
Let’s go.
With love, a slightly bruised forehead, and very hydrated vibes,
Helen x
One small step at a time. 💫💛🧡
