Saturday, December 31, 2011

A prayer for a new year

Goodbye 2011

This is the last day of 2011! It's a year that has seen many highs and a few lows!

In 2011 I managed to get a Diploma in legal studies, finish working for an amazing company and start working for a new one in a totally different industry! I said farewell to friends I made and made new ones.

I got a fiancé!

My fiancé turned 30. My sister turned 18!

I learned that I am the most impatient person in the world. I want it all, and I want it yesterday!!! I remembered how much I love cooking.

I spent the year laughing more than crying, which in the grand scheme of things shows that it was a successful year!

So tonight I say goodbye to a year that has seen me have quite a few dreams come true! And I wait with excited anticipation for the year that is starting!

I can't wait to support my best friend in HER walk down the aisle! Or to watch my cousins tie their respective knots! I look forward to my twin brothers success in college.

There's so much to be thankful for from 2011 and even more to look forward to for 2012!

I hope you enjoy the last night of 2011 and ring in 2012 with people you love I know I will be

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas! I hope that Santa was as good to everyone else as he was to me! It's fantastic to be sitting in my Mam and Dad's house with my brother sister and Fiancé having Christmas breakfast and listening to my dad preparing the dinner! It really can't be beaten!

Today is my 'Get outta jail free' day! Even a deflating bride has to be allowed a guilt free ProPoint free day!!! So I plan on eating and drinking all I want with no thought of my waist line! I especially plan to have an extra big lump of my dads amazing cheese cake!!!! Might even have a second slice later in the day!!!

Enjoy Christmas with the people you love! Its the only way!

Now, even though I am going for guilt free day I'm going to get up now and go for a Christmas run on the beach! Sure why not!!!!

Friday, December 23, 2011

Thought of the day

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Re gonna try out something new post

Unfortunately I was not able to try out my something new due to being up to my tonsils in it in work and not getting home till late! Boo to late working!!!

Kettlebells is on my list of things to master for 2012!

Thought of the day

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.

~ Winston Churchill

Gonna try out something new...

So I've decided that I am going to try out a new exercise. Kettlebells...

"A kettlebell is a cast iron weight that looks like a bowling ball with a handle. Kettlebell training is both a cardio and a toning workout all in one. Along with a healthy diet you will loose weight and tone up your body. You will also increase flexibility, strengthen core muscles and also burn a massive amount of calories!
Kettlebell training is suitable for everyone from couch potato to elite triathlete. There is no impact on joints and kettlebells come in various weights to suit every individual."

I have high expectations. Namely I expect to just look at the ball type thing and be down 2 dress sizes!!

I have spoken with people that have partaken in this particular form of exercise and they say its hard going but good work. The lovely man I contacted for more information has promised me that I will be sore.

Myself and my friend will be heading to the class tonight. Here's hoping two of these classes this week will give me licence to eat a selection box all to myself!!!

Thought for the day...

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, its the size of the fight in the dog

~ Mark Twain

Week Eight, the Verdict

As you know, I am doing this at home for the next two weeks, so I'm a little bit cautious of the scales. It's not a digital one and I'm not great at breaking up the lines. They are too far away for my terrible eye sight to make out properly - even with my specs on!

Regardless, there's no mistaking a distinct drop on the scales. It looks to me like I have lost 1.5lb that I gained last week. I also think that there could be an extra 1lb in there, but I'm playing safe!!

Delighted with myself for loosing the weight I gained when I fell off the wagon!

Now to get over the Xmas eating season!!!!

Monday, December 19, 2011

This Weeks Mantra

Move more and eat less 

It's Weigh Day...



My Unofficial Weigh Day is here. It's Monday. I have had a pretty hectic weekend with cocktails, shots and beer. There was very little exercise done. I had scones. They were lovely. I also had coleslaw and cheese. It was lovely too. I had McDonalds. That! Well, that was delicious!!!!

Other than that, I was quite discplined and I didn't go over my points most days. Although in saying that, I didn't track quite as well as I should have. One might say I'm turning a blind eye?

Anyway. My aim this week is to have lost the 1.5lb that I put on. I am going by my scales, which is different to the class scales and I am only using it as a guideline. Hopefully when I go back to class on the 3 January the losses will match!

Still quite scarred after my epic fall from the food wagon! I'll be heading out for Christmas drinks tonight with my college buddies and plan on being very good. Mostly because I have work tomorrow and can't really hack a night on the raz when I have to get up the next day. Sign of my age?!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Thought for the day

It isn't sufficent just to want - you've got to ask yourself what you are going to do to get the thing you want

~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Thought of the day..

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts!

~ Marcus Aurelius

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

This weeks Mantra

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment
 
~ Buddha

Thought of the day


The purpose of our lives is to be happy.

~ Dalai Lama

My Christmas Plan

So I had my last weigh in of the year last night, and failed miserably! My goal of loosing 7lb by 31 December is edging nearer and nearer and I spent all last week self-destructing all over the place! But I'm in a new week now, the goal is still there waiting to be achieved so here's how I plan to do it.

Cook! On Sunday I spent the day cooking dinners for the week and portioning them up and freezing them. That's what I plan to do Sunday. I don't want any excuse for not eating correctly.

Soups. Lots of soups for lunches and snacks. I will make loads of soup for the coming weeks and drink it like its water to keep the hunger at bay! I'll use my soups as a hunger buster for going out for dinners etc (which will be a lot during the festive period).

Exercise. Lots and lots of exercise. I am aiming to do 1 hour a day. It can be broken down into 2 half hour sessions, but 1 hour a day. That's 7 hours a week. Need to do it if I am going to achieve my 7lb goal by 31 December.

Weigh day: I'm keeping up my weigh day. It'll be next Monday and I know that I will have lost that 1.5lb I gained and then some by next Monday!!!

Patients... Lots of patients. It's something I have come to realise I do not posses. In my head, I woke up one day overweight and in need of Weight Watchers. So logically, now that I have decided that I don't want to be overweight, I should just go to sleep tonight and wake up my ideal weight in the morning. My lack of patients is whats making me feel that way.

My WW Leader gave us a tool to help us through the next three weeks till weigh in. She told us to light a candle that represents something to keep us on our weight loss path, or bring us back to it should be wander of it.  I need a candle for patience, moving more and eating less. Sure  the house will be a fire hazard by the time I get to January!!!!

Week seven The Verdict

I was MIA last week! I don't know what the heck got into me - actually I do but more on that later!

I had to work late last Monday so missed my class Monday night and then betwixt and between work and other things I never got round to going! Boy did I pay the price!

I am up 1.5lb! Feckin raging! But I've literaly no one to blame but myself...

Now to what got into me! This is over the course 10 days...

To be precise, there was;
Vodka jelly, wine, beer and spirits on Friday 2 December;
Large chicken fillet roll with egg mayo Saturday afternoon 3 December;
half a beef curry with fried rice and prawn crackers on Saturday evening;
Christmas dinner with all the trimmings at 1pm Thursday afternoon;
Goats cheese tart and bruschetta Thursday evening;
10 pints of beer Thursday night;
Buffalo wings and blue cheese sauce Thursday night;
Croissant with mozerella and Parma ham Friday morning;
Double cheese burger as fries Friday Afternoon; and
Three in one and spring rolls Friday night.

I quite literally ate my way through a number of different fast food cuisienes and apparently wanted to go back for more. It was the blow out of all blow outs! I woke up saturday morning and realised what I had done - handed back my silver seven for starters!

Totally disgusted and horrified with myself. When I see it on paper exactly what a pig I'd made of myself last week I'm mortified! I did some exercise Saturday and Sunday. In my defence, I had given myself a mild electric shock on Sunday 4 December and was feeling a bit off colour so went to the Doctor who recommended taking a break from exercise for the week. She forgot to mention not to eat my own weight in junk food!

Oh well. Sure look, the damage is done, and in fairness, looking at all that I ate it should have been a LOT more damage. So I've put it behind me and looking forward to being a big looser (of weight that is).

Note to self: Discipline is a learned art! Start learning quick!!!!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Exercise Junkie?

Is it a possibility that I am becoming an exercise junkie? I think so. Mainly because I got up at 5.45am this morning for a date with Davina, and as tired and all as I am, I will be heading out for a run when I get home from work. That to me spells out addiction to exercise.

(Please ignore the fact that it is the first time in 29 years that I have gotten up at 5.45am to work out. Please also ignore the distinct lack of a developed habit! In my mind I need only do it once for it to become a habit.)

Either way I just want to boast about the fact that while y'all we're snoozing your heads off I was bouncing around my sitting room, flinging weights about willie-nilley and huffing & puffing my way through squats, sit ups and leg pulses. I hope that you can sense, from the tone of my writing, the glow from my healthy halo! And while you might say to me that self praise is no praise at all, I would argue that if I don't tell people about my early morning workout(s) then how will they know to praise me?

Thought of the day

This is something I definitely need to remember....

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

My well done I lost 7lb reward aka A haircut

So here's what I got done as a little treat for working so hard!! See learning all the time! Once upon a time I would have rewarded myself with a snickers, crisps and a Chinese takeaway!!!!

My hair can now rejoice and be slinky and shiny once more as all the split ends have been removed and replaced with blunt cut and healthy ends!!!

Here's to the next 7lb!!! The reward? I'm thinking a fish pedicure!

21 Suggestions for Success ...

1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.

2. Work at something you enjoy and that's' worthy of your time and talent

3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully

4. Become the most enthusiastic person you know

5. Be forgiving of yourself and others

6. Be generous

7. Have a grateful heart

8. Persistence, persistence, persistence

9. Discipline yourself to save money even on the most modest salary

10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated

11. Commit yourself to constant improvement

12. Commit yourself to quality

13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power, prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect

14. Be loyal

15. Be honest

16. Be a self-starter

17. Be decisive even if it means you are sometimes wrong

18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life

19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life you will regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.

20. Take good care of those you love

21. Don't do anything that wouldn't make your mam proud


~ H. Jackson Brown Jr.


How many of these do you live by?

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Thought of the day

To succeed with your weight loss don't cut out anything you are not willing to give up for life - Elaine Madden

Monday, November 28, 2011

Week Five ... The Verdict

Well people... I'll have a cyber-high-five please and someone get me the name of a good hairdresser!!!

Yes. It's happened. I've achieved my personal short term goal of 7lb by the end of November. I have never been more proud of myself and my achievements. All my hard work, food swaps and exercise has paid off and I honestly feel like I've won the lotto!

When I walked in there  this evening, I was actually nervous. I didn't realise just how important this goal was to me until I walked up to that scales. I think I had a lot hanging on achieving 2lb this week. Mentally that is!

When the lovely leader gave me the news I felt like crying with happiness!!!

So, heading into week six I am more determined than ever!

The new goal for the month of December? To loose a further 7lb by the 31 December.

I am officially the happiest weight watcher in the world!!!

Dear Santa

It's weigh day....

Image courtesy of wardrobereimagined.blogspot.com

I can't believe its weigh day again!!

So, today is the day that I have set as a goal to have lost 7lb. It's the final weigh in of November, and I am 2lb away from achieving my goal. As always, I'm nice and confident that I've done well until this morning!!! I got up and the first thing I thought was "Damn it, why did I eat those Jelly beans?"... Now, in a more rational part of my brain I realise that a few jelly beans are not going to be the cause of my failure, but still! I shall sit and analyse every last thing I put in my mouth until I get up on that scales.

Looking back over my tracker, I should be feeling more confident. I've exercised. I didn't eat out. I didn't drink a drop of alcohol the whole weekend and I stayed within my points.

I'll be gutted if I don't loose 2lb this week. I badly need a hair cut. I think my hair is starting to take on a bit of a life of its own. I don't think in all the 29 years I am on this planet my hair has ever been this long. The split ends! Oh the split ends. You'd die of embarrassment if you saw them! Sure I can nearly take either side of the split end and pull it to make two strands of hair they are that bad! What does my needing a hair cut and loosing 2lb have to do with one another? Well its simple. I cannot get a hair cut until I reach my short term goal of 7lb!

Wish me luck!!

This weeks mantra

“Those who indulge, bulge.” Anonymous


Thought of the day


Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.

~ Dale Carnegie 

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Friday, November 25, 2011

Thought for the day


People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.

~ Dale Carnegie 

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Never mind only girl in the world, try unfitest girl in the world!

To make up for not working out last night, I decided that I would do two of Davina's 30 min workouts, back to back. I have just spent the last hour and a bit bouncing around my sitting room (in the worlds most unsupportive bra I would like to add- ill have to sort that out at the weekend) huffing and puffing and now I'm zonked!

I had great ambitions to do the full three in a row, but by the time I reached the end of the boxercise I could literally not stand! My legs were like jelly! Literally! I couldn't get off the floor!

Once I regained my breath I tried walking up the stairs. It took me forever!

Then trying to lift my pins up to get into the shower.... Well, suffice to say it took a lot of time and patients!

Better see the required results on Monday otherwise I think my calves, thighs and glutes will leave me for ever!!!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Thought of the day

Every minute of life carries with it its miraculous value, and its face of eternal youth.

~ Albert Camus

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Monday, November 21, 2011

Week four - The Verdict

I am over the moon with myself! Down another 2.5lb. Really delighted. I wasn't expecting such a loss, thought maybe 1lb, but who's complaining. Clearly all my dates with Drill Sarge McCarthy and Davina McCall are paying off!

Thankfully Sushi-gate didn't effect my loss too much (although maybe I would have lost 3lb if it wasn't for the deceptively fattening stuff!)

Only 2 more pounds to go and I reach my goal of 7lb by the end of November. It also means I get a much longed for and over due haircut! I swear, I'm like a haystack in the mornings... a haystack with ridiculously split ends!!! I can't wait to get it all trimmed and lovely and possibly a fringe for my 5lb lighter face!!! What we think?

So the goal for this week is to loose 2lb. I'm going to drink no point soup till it comes out my ears! I've already set up a date with Davina for the morning and Drill Sarge Mc is making me go for a trot tomorrow night.

The leader this evening made a suggestion of taking up skipping. I think I might give it a bash, sure whats the worst that can happen? She told us about a lady who has lost a whopping 11stone! That's a person! Can you believe that? Imagine how that lady must feel. But the story gave me an idea. The leader told us that the lady got a dog to make her go walking.

Do you see where I am going with this?!!!! I think I should tell himself that we need to get me a dog so I can be a skinny bride!!!

Here's to weigh in number 5 and getting my silver seven!!

This Weeks Mantra

Image courtesy of imagesdisney.com

Think happy thoughts and you can fly!

Thought for the day

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm

~ Winston Churchill

It's Weigh Day....


Yep, its that time of the week again where I fret and worry about every piece of chocolate, every crisp and every crumb that passed my lips wondering if they are all now resting on my hips waiting to make a holy show of me on that scales.

I think I was very well behaved this week. I didn't do as much exercise as I would have liked, mainly because I have been a bit blue and browned off with things in general. But I didn't do my usual and turn to comfort food (apart from Sushi-gate, which I have just about gotten over, but not quite - still feel rather cheated!)

I was out for lunch on Saturday and have a really tasty treat for myself. Cesar salad, with the dressing on the side (and dipping the fork into the dressing instead of forking the salad and dipping it in!!) That was my starter and my main was a delicious, but really spicy, garlic and chili prawn pasta.

But I earned that lunch, I went running and core strength conditioning (no less) Saturday morning. Felt marvelous. I was tittering away to myself when I got back! Me, running, at 10.30am on a Saturday morning. Why I never!

So here's hoping my core strength conditioning and various other bits of trotting around the place has paid off!!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Retraction with regard to the sushi ProPoints

Apologies, I must amend a miscalculation!

The California Roll is 5 ProPoints
The Salmon and Avocado is 5 ProPoints

The total amended ProPoints for my lunch today was 28 ProPoints, not 31ProPoints.

~ But I still could have had a big mac and chips with 6 points to spare for Jelly Beans...

Sushi - Should have had the Big Mac!


I just finished a delicious lunch of sushi. It contained:

2 Salmon Nigri (1 PP)
1 Tuna Nigri (1PP)
2 Prawn Nigri (2PP)
2 California Roll (7)
2 Avocado Roll (5)

I made a HUGE mistake of not checking my ProPoints before eating. Your never going to guess how many ProPoints (according to http://www.weightwatchers.co.uk/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=51031&sc=3030)

31 ProPoints!

I can't believe it. Again, I realise that this is my own fault and my own doing for not checking the PP before eating. But bloody hell! I thought Sushi was a healthy option! I don't think there's 31 points in a ham and cheese toastie!

I checked the Eating out guide. I could have eaten a Big Mac, Chips and a Cadbury Creme Egg McFlurry for 31PP!!!

I feel so cheated!

Guess it'll be zero point soup for my dinner tonight kids!

Thought of the day....

Plans are nothing; planning is everything.

~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Who knew exercise is like chocolate?

It's funny really. I'm 29 and, well I'll be honest, up until now my exercise regime - and I use the term rather loosely, has been the odd walk here and there, a guilt filled and stressfully occasional gym membership and a profession to really enjoy doing it when I get to it, but it's just getting to it is the problem!

This week, being week four of the new me, I've realised something. Exercise gives me that same happy feeling as a square (or six) of my favourite chocolate. And the great thing about it is that unlike chocolate, I can do as much exercise as I want and I wont be drown in a river of guilt! Although, I can't imagine that I Will ever be guilty of over exercising!

I also noticed something curious! I haven't had the best week this week. In fact, some might say that I have been like a bag of cats! Obviously those brave few who have voiced this fact have not loved to tell the tale! I've been up and down on that roller coaster ride called emotions all week. I didn't do any exercise on Tuesday night and it made me feel worse!

On Wednesday evening I had no more interest in squating and lunging and feckin planking than I had in learning to do a hoe down. When I came in from work Drill Sarge Mc was waiting. I'd had my night off the night before and wasn't having two on the trot. So he took me through my paces.

I'll be frank. I wanted to tell him to feck off and mind his business I am a grown woman that does not need to be told what to do. Then I got defiant in my stubborn, emotional little head and decided that he was waiting for me to quit, the way I always do. I'll show him, says i! And I did. I went through the paces and i worked my butt off, Abd guess what...

By the time I was warmed down and eating my dinner I was in great form. I was relaxed and happy and delighted with myself.

So apparently all this talk of exercise being good for fighting your moods ad depression and stuff isn't a ploy to trick you into working out!

My biggest concern is, what of exercise becomes my new chocolate?

Thought of the day...


We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think.  When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.

~ Buddha

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Thought of the day...



It is health that is real wealth, not piece of gold and silver

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Thought for the day




Believe you can and your half way there

~ Theodore Roosevelt


Monday, November 14, 2011

Week three - The Verdict

Disappointment all over my face!

Got up on that scales and before I got up, I knew that the last couple of days was going to go against me! And it did!

I am up half a pound! Now, I do realise that it should have been a lot worse. If I hadn't done as much exercise as I did then would probably gained even more!

It's all the vinegars fault! Had I not got a whiff of it leaving that pub, then I'd never have gotten the chips! Damn my lack of will power! Damn it's tasty smell!

So the plan for this week?

I have decided that since the old vino, beer and cocktails appear to be the root of my downfall ( and perhaps the root of all evil) I will have to cut them empty calories out!

Part two of the plan is to exercise like nobody's business! I'll be seeing more of Davina and her team than my loved ones! And shall be pounding the pavement like a woman possessed!

Part three is zero point soup till it comes outta my ears!

I am gutted that I gained. I had really hoped that I wouldn't but to put it I perspective: it's four weeks since I joined WeightWatchers and I've lost 3 and half pound!

Next week will be better!!

Danger! Danger! Self Destruct in T Minus....

Image courtesy of extremekites.com.au

It would appear that my finger is hovering dangerously close to my self destruct button!

I have totally and utterly blown today. I have no idea what has gotten into me at all! I had my meals all planned out. I had my 1 ProPoint soup and was prepared with a plan. Lunch came and what did I do. I ignored my soup and instead I ate:

1 Granola Bar (5 points)
1 Packet of Hula Hoops (which are five ProPoints and you might just say that I locked the gate after that particular horse bolted because I calculated the ProPoints AFTER I ate the blood things)
1 packet of Popcorn (that was in my meal plan and it was a 15g packet and were only 2 points)
3 Weight watchers Crackers with butter and jam (3 points in total)

So adding it all up I ate 15 ProPoints at lunch and actually ate nothing at all!! Instead of sticking to a planned 4 ProPoints lunch of soup, yogurt and fruit!

Somebody help me remove that self destruct! Quick, before Rachbomb blows it!

Thought for the day


It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed

~ Theodore Roosevelt

This weeks Mantra

It's weigh day


Damn it! It's weigh day and all my confidence in the hard work put in is slipping away as the hours tick tock towards 7 O'clock! All I can remember is the 5 meals that I ate out (6 if you include the chipper, but I am trying to block that particular fail out!). I know I worked out and I know I ate well for the majority of the seven days, but I don't think it was enough! Damn self doubt. Damn that intoxicating scent of chips and vinegar. Damn it all to hell!

So here's hoping that regardless of all the meals out and alcohol consumed, I will have least lost 1lb. That's what I am aiming for, a loss of 1lb!

Fingers crossed

Sunday, November 13, 2011

UhOh... What was I thinking!

Do not know what I was thinking. I have had a MENTAL weekend. Cocktails on Friday and beers on Saturday. Haven't cooked myself a dinner since Thursday evening.

Out on Friday night with my lovely college ladies! We went for Tapas.

Tapas are a peculiar experience. They are nice, but a bit on the disappointing side. Its hard to describe. All this food comes at once, little tasters. And your eating away at it, and you feel full. But it's almost anti-climatic. There's no 'main course'. Now don't get me wrong, it was all lovely but it kind of left me wanting more.

Aside from that, myself and my arch nemeses 'Vino' had a meeting in the restaurant. I had two glasses and drowned the effects by drinking about a litre of water. Then I was on to the cocktails. Mojito and Strawberry Daiquiris. I love SD's... Mojito, on the other hand, I just don't understand it. They are lovely and refreshing, once you scoop all the foliage from them and actually get to the alcohol. I spent so much time scooping the mint out I was beginning to think I was gardening and not clubbing! I decided to go back to the SD's, far less effort!

How I woke up on Saturday morning feeling as bright as I felt, I shall never know. I got up and I made Roast Butternut Squash soup, had a lovely breakfast and I didn't cancel my date with Davina McCall. Headed on up to my gym (aka my bedroom) and worked my little ass off! I was thinking that between all the dancing around I did the night before and the work out, I was golden for working off the cocktails. Sure on Friday night, in my less than sober state, I decided that it would be best to leave my high heels on while dancing, despite my feet throbbing so much that I actually think my heart beat could have been found in them. My reasoning? Working out my thighs, calves and bum of course!

Things were going very well yesterday. I chose wisely in the restaurant. I came home and got ready to go out. I decided I was drinking Korona and I stuck with it. Fun and laughs were had by all.

Then we left the pub, and I was assaulted.... by the smell of vinegar.

Oh yes. I did. I went to the chipper. I bought chips and a battered sausage. I drown them in so much vinegar I think I began wearing it as a perfume! I ate my battered sausage. I loved every bite of that greasy battered meat. I started on the chips. The vinegar sodden, crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside chips. Delicious. But! I didn't eat them all. Instead I ate about half and threw the rest in the bin. That's progress!

Why progress? Well let me outline;

  1. Three weeks ago if I ordered a chipper, I would have ordered garlic dip
  2. I would have ordered a 1/4 pounder and cheese
  3. I would have eaten it all.
I think that's good, right? Or am I just fooling myself?

Regardless, I've to go now and extend my appointment with Davina to an hour long, perhaps an hour and half! What was I thinking?!!!

Thought for the day


Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

~ Thomas Edison

Friday, November 11, 2011

Thought of the day ...


Well begun is half done

~ Aristotle

Clearly loosing the run of myself

Determination seems to be winning the battle between my thighs and its cronies. There is a lot less complaining out of them the more I move.

I have a big week of eating out. I was out for a lovely meal with my wonderful friend. It definitely lived up to my expectations (both the company and the meal). Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I am heading out for a 'good luck with the baby' lunch this afternoon. Have been pouring over the venues menu trying to choose something that's suitable. I have chosen Smoked Salmon.

I have Graduation Tapas and Cocktails with the ladies from college tonight to celebrate successfully making our way through a gruelling (in my eyes) diploma in legal studies.

Finally, I have a Brides dinner and drinks tomorrow night with one of my besties.

All in all, its a lot of eating out. The reason I am loosing the run of myself is not on account of all the eating out. Its on account of knowing I'm going to eat out, and actually exercising! Even if I am tired. I think I'm becoming one of those people. You know. The people that actually enjoy exercise.

This is a very big shock to me. Exercise has always been something I have scoffed at. I have always counted as the walk to the car and back. Weight training is the lifting of a glass of vino from the table to my mouth and refilling it. Aerobic exercise was hoovering (and I usually get himself to do that!). I mean, this week I've been running twice, walking once and did a half hour of boxercise last night.

Thankfully my body seems to be slowly coming around to the idea of this extra movement and is not protesting as loudly. Here's hoping that I can maintain this level for the rest of the weekend so I can really enjoy myself! Have to keep remembering, 4 days till weigh in...

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Working-out for my Grub

I am meeting a very good friend for dinner tonight. I haven't had an opportunity to sit with down and enjoy a meal and catch up with her for nearly five months, so some might say it is well and truly overdue! We always have such a giggle when we're together so I am really looking forward to it.
 
Just how much I am really looking forward to our catch up was on my mind yesterday morning. I decided that I would go for an hours walk yesterday evening after work and then I can pick whatever I like and not have to worry about the points (within reason of course). My thighs had finally stopped protesting and started to move normally again. I am thinking this is down to the fact that I gave them a night off on Monday and lulled them into a false sense of security. Yesterday morning while making my decision, I could feel them groaning! But, on the way home when rain sploshed down on to the window of the car, I could hear the rejoicing! "There's not a hope of her taking us out in this weather!" Their delighted squeals were silenced by my new found determination "I pity the foolish thighs who fear rain. Tonight I am going to introduce you to my friend pain!" (For reasons unknown my determination seems to have taken on some form of an extra Cheesy Mr T).
 
When I got home, myself and H2B headed off for our little trot. He left me eating his dust as he took off for a "jog" - looked more like a sprint to me but what do I know. I decided, much to the protesting of my thighs, that I would do the Couch to 5K training. This is five minutes of walking to warm up and alternating between 1.3 minutes of running and walking for twenty minutes, then five minutes of cooling down.
 
I don't run. For many reasons, one of which being that as a child I was told that I run like Sonia O'Sullivan. Me being the innocent and not at all unkindly minded assumed that meant that I was really fast. I was later informed that she looks really funny when she runs, and that I, infact, looked like her when she ran, I wasn't as fast as her. Anyway, I took off at my little pace and I completed the training. On the return to the car, emboldened by my achievement, I did another bout of running and walking. By the time I crawled into the car I was feeling very impressed with myself. my "Determination" was doing an "I told you so" dance in the face of my thighs (who had now dragged my glutes (new favourite word), calves and stomach into our falling out).
 
I make it sound like it was no problem for me to complete this 50 minutes of fast movement. Please do not misunderstand me. By the time I reached the car my face was redder than a tomato, I was lightheaded from the amount of oxygen and the speed at which it was reaching my brain and I was drowned in sweat, like I had just decided to dip myself in to the sea.
 
H2B took me home and the drill sergeant that he is made me do about ten minutes more of stretching and sitting up. I swear I thought I'd never get off the floor again. But I did. And I felt wonderful after it. Kind of wonderful you feel for those split seconds after you eat a bar of chocolate (after it leaves your mouth and before you have an attack of the guilt's)
 
So I definitely earned my dinner tonight! And I look forward to enjoying it guilt free. I have once again lulled the thighs and its new cronies into thinking they have a night off, but "Determination" is sneaking up on them and making them do Davina McCall's work out after dinner! sssh don't tell them!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Using Pregnancy Hormones to Loose Weight

I am following a fantastic blog called Snack Girl and she has posted this article... unbelievable what people are willing to do!

http://www.snack-girl.com/snack/hcg-diet-review/?e=kQYDHBIR

Thomas Edison said

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

~ Thomas Edison

Monday, November 7, 2011

Week two - the verdict

All my hard work this week. All the arguments with my thighs. All the zero point soup and the resisting fizzy jellies. All the pointing and tracking and cooking... What was it all for?

I'll tell you! It was all so that I could loose a whooping 4 pound!!!! Oh yes that's right!

I am absolutely delighted! I was nervous heading on up there to stand upon the dreaded scales! In a fit of madness I wanted to turn around and go home. In that split second I forgot all that hard work my thighs have been protesting about! When the lovely leader gave me the news, I nearly kissed the woman!!!

So three pound to go and I reach my short term goal of 7 lb by the end of November!

And a special thanks goes to H2B for all his support and drill Sargent exercising!

It's weigh day...


Weigh in 2 has come around! That week flew by in a blaze of points, exercise and pains!! Here's hoping it all paid off and the falling out with my thighs has been worth it. Up until this morning I was feeling relatively confident, sure I'd even go so far as to say extremely confident of a loss on that scales. But now... Well! Feeling less and less sure of myself and doubting whether or not I've done enough to see the results I want (in my dreams: 7lb down... but realistically 1lb down!)

Wish me luck!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

This weeks Mantra

“The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!” -Marvin Phillips


(courtesy of http://www.lovingabundance.com/day4-30-funny-weightlossquotes-dietquotes/)

Dieter's Prayer

As I wake up from my sleep,
I pray my diet, I may keep.
But if temptation makes me slip,
I pray to God my pants won't rip

How to weigh yourself, courtesy of 1lucky3bucket's Public Profile on Photobucket

After 29 years together, my thighs have decided they want to leave me....

It's Saturday morning at 11.15am.  My thighs have fallen out with me. They say I've changed. They say that my attitude has become unbearable. They can no longer take it. They want to leave me for a lazier less motivated woman. I told them to go, I want a skinnier model any way! This is how it all began...

It all started with a walk on Wednesday for about 30 mins with himself (aka H2B - Hubby 2 Be). He took off on a little jog while I walked at a smart pace. And then I decided, sure I'll give this jogging (pronounced with a soft J H2B tells me so it sounds like Yogging!!) a go. Anywho, the lungs weren't long about protesting, and then the thighs had their say and that was the end of that.

So when we got home I asked H2B if he would teach me and coach me in the ways of 'excercise'.. Nothing to strenuous mind, just a few sit ups and the likes (something to battle the bingo wings). When I came home last night Drill Sarge McCarthy was ready and waiting to make me sit up and press up and lunge and basically use muscles that, to be quite frank, I really didn't know I had! That was the second straw as far as the thighs were concerned...

I received an email from one of my best friends wondering if I was around for an early morning walk this morning and a catch up. Sure, I said. Sounds great I said. Pick me up at 8am, I said. Within two mins of the 'walk' I realised what I forgot about my best friend. For every step she takes, I take three. So while she's out for a nice relaxing stroll, I'm walking at full pelt, sweating like a donkey in a sauna and struggling to catch me breath! Sure she hasn't even broken a sweat at this point and is full of chat. Our walks are the only time that she can get a word in edge ways with me because I'm too out of breath to speak!!! (and during our chat she informs me she's going to the bloody gym after the walk while all I was fit for was my bed!!)

Nevertheless, it was a lovely walk, and I felt fantastic after it, full of beans (and sweat). That was straw three for the thighs....

The final straw came when I decided that I would continue on my exercise buzz and throw on Davina McCall's 30 minute workout and give it a bash. I've never lunged and squatted as much in my life!!! Once I completed the 30 minute workout and fell to the floor, my thighs informed me of their decision...

I'm afraid to tell them that H2B is coming back at some point today to put me through my paces again!

I can practically feel myself deflating as i type!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The Power of a Positive Mental Attitude

Last nights class got me thinking about the power of a PMA. The lovely leader was talking about how empty the class was and asked if any of us thought about not coming tonight and waiting until next week because of the bank holiday weekend.

I was too shy to say 'hell yeah!'... I was also afraid that verbal  squirts would take over and I'd be all of a sudden telling her how I was arguing with myself in the car the whole way up to the class like a child with an invisible friend. And the only reason I actually made it to the class was I needed petrol and there's a petrol station beside the class...

Nevertheless, she was saying how a person should be proud of themselves for coming to class, even if the week did not go to plan. That taking that step last night was the start of changing my NMA (Negative Mental Attitude) to a PMA.

That got me thinking about how negative thoughts really can destroy your best intentions (again, happy enough to blame anything or anyone as long as the blame doesn't directly lie at my door!!). I began thinking about all the times I reached for the bar of chocolate and told myself, sure you've no will power at all! And that made me grab another bar of chocolate.

Now, I realise that some might say that yes, indeed,  you have no will power if your scoffing two bars of chocolate in one sitting. My reply to them is stop sending me NMA and it was two fun size bars, not real size bars, sure one of them would only be teasing yourself!

So I want to address my PMA and think of three positive things.

1. Even though I need to loose weight, the extra layer is keeping me warm in this wintry weather.

2. I am not overweight, I am under tall.

3. I have big bones.

Ah I realise that I am poking fun at myself, but in all seriousness, I have realised that an unchartered step from the journey is only a mistake. Its not the end of the world and it should not encourage me to give up!

So people. Lets get thinking positive thoughts and stop the negativity in its tracks! In the wise old words of Mr President Obama "Is Feidir Linn!"

xx

Week One: The Verdict! Dundundun

Really! I am never talking to wine again.... EVER

Went and got weighed. The regret of my complete inability to behave myself was ringing in my ears. I knew it wasn't going to be good. The fear that I was going to blow up the scales with it shouting 'cannot compute' or 'ouch get off me' had settled itself into my stomach for a good long stay. Sure it even brought popcorn and drinks to enjoy the show!

The lady was welcoming. She asked me kindly, 'how'd it go last week'. I declined to answer on the grounds that I didn't want to incriminate myself as a gluten!

I got on the scales. Fear was having a good oul expectant chuckle while dropping popcorn all over the place. But I got the last laugh on fear. The scales didn't blow up. Or shout ouch! In fact. The scales did nothing. It went neither up nor down.

So I stayed the same. No loss, but no gain (all the dancing I did must have helped loose a few wine pounds).

Happy days! I stayed to my meeting, like a good lady and have resolved that I shall make two changes this week. In the words of a hypnotist my cousin once saw this week I am going to:

"Zip my Lips and Shake my hips"



Tuesday, November 1, 2011

It's Weigh in Day

Oh why can't I stick to a plan? I was supposed to go walking for 2 hours over the weekend to make up for the Vino etc... But I didn't (the vino being the reason for the inabilty to walk)

Anyway, Week one weigh in is tonight! I am dreading it. I think I may have to change this blog to a Diary of an Inflating bride!!!

Wish me luck!

A Frightful Halloween....

A frightful Halloween is correct! Make a plan, they say. Allow yourself a treat, they say. Everything goes better with a plan, they say! Well I'd like to meet this famous they and give them a piece of my mind....

I made a plan. It was to have a bottle of vino with my dinner on Friday night. I was even going to make spritzers. Such a good girl am I, I decided that I would do the same on Sunday night in my other friends house. So when I went to Tesco and saw the Pinto Gricio that I like on special, I bought two!

That was flaw number one in the plan.

I made a wonderful Prawn Nachos (9 points thank you very much) for dinner. It was delicious. I drank the wine, sans spritzer... (flaw two). Then sure the party mood took over and I drank the second bottle. And when we ran out of Vino, it was decided that we would head to Wrights for a dance (the Final Flaw).

Who's decision it was to go dancing is a little bit on the sketchy side. My friend says it was mine. I say, I had a plan, and Wrights was not part of said plan, so I really don't believe that I would go so far away from the plan (eh???? See Flaw 2 for verification of ability to deter from plans)...

Regardless of who's decision it was / what plans were or were not made, we went to Wrights. There were Jager bombs (I DREAD to think of the pro points in those badboys and I use the word plural indicating there was more than one!)

Upon waking up the following morning feeling like I'd been hit by a bus and looking like a sniper wouldn't take me out, I proceeded to blame the wine and my friends bad influence. Mainly because, I had a Plan and they say a plan makes it all go right!

Saturday was spent in an terrible state of 'the fear' induced by the vino. I didn't eat a lot on Saturday. Probably down to the mix of Vino and Jager Bombs.

Sunday went considerably better. This time the plan was to drink a few largers. Not eat takeaways and not make a holy bloody show of myself. I stuck to the plan this time.

Next year I'll remember to be afraid of the Halloween spirits!!!!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

My biggest fear

I have realised what my biggest (and newest) fear is. I literally break out in a sweat. My stomach clenches in that 'something bad is happening' kind of way. My palms are clammy. My heart is pounding. It's awful when I think of it. I can hardly bare to think of it, that's how bad it is!

My biggest fear is that I go to find a wedding dress and I can't. When I go to the shop, the lady will hand me some hideous looking dresses for ladies of my size. And then the unthinkable will happen. It doesn't fit. But I insist that it will. And I force it on. And I break it, or rip it, or get stuck in it and have to be cut out of it.

The shame! The mortification if that were to happen. Can you imagine. I'd never show my face again!

This is the fear that I must cling to when thinking of eating those American Hard Gums!!!

Surviving day 2

I survived day 2! I knew I would, but it wasn't without it's struggles, I can assure you! I know that I can get as far as  day 7 or 8, still full of enthusiasm and raring to go... then the complacency slips in and I 'forget' to track, pack emergency supplies (for the long trek home from work!) and generally loose interest! I'm a great one for getting started, its the finishing I have problems with.

Anyway, headed straight to the supermarket after work and had a wee rumbly in my tumbly, so I made the 'smart' choice and ate an apple to tide me over till I got home for my dinner. Realised that I had no change for the trolley. I had to go into the danger zone (also known as the newsagent). There was an array of lovely colourful sweeties and chocolates and crisps, all clamouring for my attention. The ones that spoke loudest to me were a packet of Barrets Cola Bottles. I picked them up. I looked at them longingly. I bargained with myself. 'It's only day one. You could spend some of your weekly points on a little packet of cola bottles. Your not going to get dinner for at least another hour. Sure you might as well'... Thankfully, there was a lady in front of me taking her sweet time so this internal persuasion wasn't noticeable to the average on looker. Eventually, common sense prevailed and I got a packet of chewing gum instead!

On I travelled through the supermarket, picking up the various fruits and veggies I would require for my weeks cooking. It all went really well. But another obstacle hit me as I trotted towards the end of my shopping... the feckin sweet stand at the checkout. A particularly tasty looking bag of American Hard gums caught my attention. I could taste the little buggers just looking at them. I had them in my hand. I was going to buy them. Then I reminded myself of my biggest fear.... I put them back (with pro American Hard gum arguments ringing in my ears from that crazy bitch inside my head who thinks we are a size 8).

So now all I need to do is survive day 3! Anyone any tips for me?

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

My new Mantra!!!

Some 'Thin-Spiring' Quotes for day 2 of my deflation

v     I keep trying to lose weight... but it keeps finding me! ~Author Unknown~
v     I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond. ~Mae West
v     I've been on a diet for two weeks and all I've lost is fourteen days. ~Totie Fields
v     Rich, fatty foods are like destiny: they too, shape our ends. ~Author Unknown
v     I'm on a seafood diet. I see food and I eat it. ~Author Unknown
v     The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat are really good friends. ~Author Unknown
v     Forget love - I'd rather fall in chocolate! ~Attributed to Sandra J. Dykes
v     Stressed spelled backwards is desserts. Coincidence? I think not! ~Author Unknown
v     The biggest seller is cookbooks and the second is diet books - how not to eat what you've just learned how to cook. ~Andy Rooney
v     Food is like sex: when you abstain, even the worst stuff begins to look good. ~Beth McCollister
v     Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever. ~Author Unknown
v     I am not a glutton - I am an explorer of food. ~Erma Bombeck
v     I'm in shape. Round is a shape... isn't it? ~Author Unknown
v     I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting my pantyhose on fire
v     Inside me there is a thin person struggling to get out, but I can usually sedate her with four or five cupcakes.
v     Every time I get the urge to exercise, I lie down till the feeling passes.
v     The only exercise I get is jumping to conclusions.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Week 1 - Picture of my face


This is me week 1! I will upload a new picture every week and see if there's a noticeable difference.

Please bare in mind that I suffer from a bad case of Body Dismorfia, in my mind I'm a size 8, so it's always a suprise when I look in the mirror!

It all went dreadfully wrong!

I went at lunch time and I did it. I joined WW again. Much to my dismay, things are a lot worse than initally anticipated. The weight gain since the last time I went is considerably higher than my informed / dillusional guestimation. But there ain't no point in crying over the spilt milk (or all the milk that I have drunk without thinking of the lb heavy consequences)....

Nevertheless, its a new start and a new day. I have a goal of 7lb to loose and I plan to loose that by the end of the November. How's that for PMA!

It would appear that should I want to enjoy my glass (aka 'the bottle') of Vino in a night, it will cost me 20 pro-points, which is nearly a day's worth of food! And having that second glass (aka 'the bottle') will cost me 40 pro-points, which is infact all but 9 points of my weekly bonus! Best get my ass out and doing some excercise!!! So that would mean I'm moving more for Vino!

Anybody any suggestions fun excercise DVD suggestions or otherwise. Bearing in mind that I am not 'sporty' and have little or no balance or co-ordination!!!

Help me loose 2lb this week!

Welcome to day one of my deflation

It's day one of my Deflation. My reason for deciding to do a blog for this is so that I can document how I'm doing, and hopefully, if I have a few followers, that might encourage me to succeed.

Lunchtime today is 'D' (D for deflation) day, as it were! I am heading to the local weight watchers (WW) class, signing up, climbing up on that scales for the last time the weight I am. (I'm not too sure how confident I am about putting up how much I weight just yet. Think it might take me a little bit of time to pluck the courage up for that one!)

I will be aiming for a total loss of 4 stone and three dress sizes!

I have been attempting to loose weight for over three years now, and failing miserably! I do well for a while, think I'm fanstastic and then loose the plot (and interest) and have to start all over again. Although I did loose a stone and half that I haven't regained, so I must be doing something right!

I am nothing short of brutal! When I don't have a goal to achieve I am quite happy to plod along with my 1 - 2 pound loss. I will generally stick to the 'system' and everything will go well, until I excercise... then BAM! Loose the run of myself! I think because I've been trotting along on a treadmill and have burned 300 calories its a licence to go and eat a mars bar, packet of crisps, large bag of fizzy jellies and supersize buger and chips! By the time I've finished eating I'll need to run for about 10 hours on the treadmill just to burn off the extra food, never mind the already, well and truly settled in for the long haul, weight!

Then when I have a goal to achieve! By jaysus but I do everything possible not to achieve it.

Now you see, the thing about me is, I don't like being told what to do. Even if it's me doing the telling. It's like a red flag to a bull. The minute someone tells me not to do something, or to do something, I'll head on out there and do the exact opposite. Which is fine. When someone else is telling me to do something. But when I'm standing looking in the mirror saying 'jaysus it's time to loose some weight' and then I rebel against it, its a bit of a pointless battle.

So, lets see how the scales has changed since the last time I joined WW (for the last time)....

Shall keep you posted