More come backs than Britney...

Yes it's true, this deflating bride has had more come backs than Britney - without the money, trainer, clothes and blonde hair of course! Its been 1 calendar month and 2 days since I last updated my blog and I'm ashamed!! Well, I was, until I came and got weighed and now I'm not so ashamed!

Despite my inability to exercise and all the sitting around and taking tablets I've been doing, added to that the lack of attendance to my classes, I am down 1 pound! Now while I realise that 1 pound in 8 weeks is not exactly going to make a poster girl for weight watching success, I am very happy because I was so sure I was up weight!!!

Why haven't I been committed to my deflation? Well partly laziness. But mostly I haven't been well with my joints. They ache and pain me and sometimes, when I'm really lucky, my feet and ankles swell out so much that I don't have calves and ankles, I have cankles!! And I don't know if you've walked around in pain all day, but if you haven't I can tell you it's no fun. And exhausting! Specially when your a busy bee with no time or patients for such inconvenience!!! So the last number of weeks by the time I get home I am so tired and sore I just lie on the couch and fossilise! I'm still waiting to find out what's wrong but sure it'll all be grand in the end!

So there are 7 weeks until Christmas and I have 6lb to loose to get my next silver 7 so this week I'm back with a vengeance! I've all my soup made as dinners ready to go! Exercise may be an issue and is very much dependant on these old joints of mine - I knew turning 30 would just be a disaster!!

We only have 43 more sleeps until Santa arrives, I am so excited! But, and I never in a million years thought I'd say these words, more importantly there are only 143 more sleeps till I am a bride!!!! Yep, I'll be getting hitched in 143 more sleeps and I'm not going to lie. I am excited.

Despite my painful joints I've been busy doing wedding things like getting facials and booking make up trials and getting the colour of my hair right and basically tormenting everyone and anyone that'll put up with me and all my wedding talk. I'll literally have nothing to talk about when the wedding is over!!!

Finally, my wonderful and kind WW leader is a little bit ill and needed an operation and I would just like to let her know that she's really missed in our class and I personally cannot wait for her to return to us. Get well soon Nikkers xx

The Weekly Verdict

I think the picture above speaks for itself, yes?  The weekly verdict is a good one. I got away with not doing anything by the skin of my teeth!! I haven't lost any weight but I haven't gained anything either, so happy days! I was so sure that when I got weighed she'd be taking my stone back from me!

On a sad note, I didn't get my paper clip for loosing a pound... well, when I say I didn't get it, I mean it wasn't given to me. So I stole it! Yep. Stole a reward for myself. I am using it as a visual to encourage me to behave while I am in mourning.  (It's OK, my leader said I could use it as a visual to keep me on track, but I had to give it back on Monday).

Yes, you heard me. In mourning. On Sunday myself and my Twinnie will be saying RIP twenties... Damn it I don't feel old enough to be turning 30! Although, this week, perhaps I do feel old enough. My joints are creaking and aching like those of an arthritic old woman of 90. I think it's my bodies way of telling me to lie down and drink some more wine.

I will be wearing my paper clip around my wrist this weekend as a reminder to eat well, drink less and try to creak around, i mean move around, more. Although I am particularly excited about a little trip to Keshk for my dinner on Friday, followed by a beautiful birthday dinner made by my Mama and my Papa on Sunday... I have requested roast beef, garlic potatoes and maybe I might even get a birthday Yorkshire pudding... I am also extremely hopeful that at some point over the weekend my Papa will light me a fire and make me his dreamy creamy mash potatoes (not necessarily at the same time)!!! Fingers are crossed!

I am under Doctors orders not to do any exercise this week. Yep.  A Doctor has actually told me that it is OK to sit down and do nothing. And you gotta do what your Doc tells you to do.  Why I hear you ask? Eh, well apparently the creaking and aching of the joints is not normal, even for someone that's nearly 30 and I may have a virus. Doing too much by way of exercise could lead to injury and my body my just need to rest a bit. We'll know more after there's blood tests taken.

I thought I was being very clever and pre-empted the need for blood tests. So I fasted last night. Woke up this morning and my stomach thought my throat had been slit.  I could literally feel my body going into famine mode. I sat in the Surgery waiting to be seen, all the while a harmonious tune emanating from my empty stomach. I'm pretty sure they could hear it at the bus stop. Which is across two roads and a car park! It was all for nought any way. The blood nurse wasn't there so I literally starved myself needlessly and when I left the surgery I fell on my breakfast like it had been 12 months since I last ate. (it was only 12 hours. I would be the worst anorexic in the world.)

I am going to do what I can to survive this weekend and am allowing myself the grace of gaining 2lb in the celebrations. That's the plan. Not to gain them, clearly, but this way I won't feel too poohy if I do, and I won't be afraid to face TSC on Monday when I get back from my family.

The Weekly Verdict - Lost 14lb but got a Stone

Today is a very happy day. And it's been a loooooooooooooooooong time coming...


This little blue thing has made me the happiest lady in all of the land!

What, pray tell, is it? This is my stone to represent the 14lb that I have lost. And to think, I very nearly chickened out of going to WW tonight. And if I had, I wouldn't look like this...

When my lovely lovely leader Nicola told me that I was down 3lb, I was smiling. When she told me that meant I was getting my stone I did a jig, jumped up and down on the scales, let out a big scream and gave her a bear hug that could have cut off her air supply!

Last Monday I chickened out of going to my class because I hadn't had a very good week with my running and eating and tracking. I decided that if I went to my class and I was up it would discourage me so I would do my best this week and do well in my class tonight.  As it turned out, I didn't necessarily do as well as I could have. My lack of tracking really put me off. My over eating the wrong things put me off and I was just generally not feeling very confident in my efforts... Lets put it down to a lack of exercise hormones boosting my mood!

But last weeks exercise must have helped. And by last weeks exercise I am referring to the half marathon I did last Thursday evening.  I decided to run home from work.  And when I couldn't run any further I would walk the remainder. This is the walk I did:

That's right. Over 15k.  I ran for 9k and walked for 2k and then hobbled / wished I could crawl for the last 2k. I didn't quite make it all the way home.  I had to lie down on some grass about five minute walk from the house. I lay down. My legs seized. I couldn't go on. For two reasons:

1. Literally, my legs had seized and could not move any further. I thought I was going to go into a cramp
2. There's a really really big, fast and aggressive eh, Jack Russell, that lives on the road on the way to my house.  He chases you. He makes you run. He might bite you. I knew that if he chased me I couldn't run and he would eat me.

So I lay on the grass and waited for himself to come and get me. I was like a big red faced, fuzzy haired zombie rising from the earth and hobbling toward the car.  Himself was doubled over, roaring laughing at the state of me. I wanted to cry. He couldn't stop laughing at me.

While that walk clearly contributed to my wonderful weight loss, I shan't be doing it again in a hurry.  Think I may stick to building it up slowly rather than full on going for it and killing myself.

As a result of my half marathon I bruised my foot and have been hobbling around all weekend unable to really put much pressure on it so, in fact, it was counter-productive (that's my story and I am sticking to it!)... Back to the baby steps I have been taking and which have been serving me quite well!

In other news (equally as happy and exciting as my reaching a stone loss!); himself is a romantic little so and so I can tell you now! He instructed me to take a half day from work last Friday. I came home and I was instructed to get dolled up. He took me into town for a cheeky glass of wine of a Friday afternoon while the sun beamed down on us.  Then he took me for dinner on the MV Cill Airne on the quays and then, just when things couldn't get any more exciting he produced two tickets to see Nora Jones in the Grand Canal Theater (I know that's not the name but seriously, come on, how crap is the name The Bord Gais Energy Theater??). It was a lovely afternoon / evening!  

Here we are dining on the Liffey

All that was in aid of my birthday. There are only 13 days left of my twenties. It's actually happening. I am going to be 30. A real grown up. I'm handling it a lot better than I thought I would.  30 just seems so much older than I feel. But I'm OK with it because I'm going to be 30 and at the very least 1 stone lighter than I was on my 29th Birthday! Woop Woop..

Hmmm... what shall I reward myself with? I saw a beautiful french connection dress that I may just purchase for myself as a well done for loosing a stone / happy birthday to me / well done you did 15k in one go gift. (Completing 15k will be something I will not let go of. I will ALWAYS bring it up. Unless I do 16k, in which case it will replace what shall forever more be known as "The Great 15k Trot")

Whats the plan for the next stone?

There's 12 weeks until the 3 December. So I am signing myself up to loosing 1.5lb a week between now and then.  I have set up a running training programme on my iPhone and will get stuck into it and by the 3 December see what the outcome is!

Here's to this week being an equally big success!
 

The Weekly Verdict

I think it's safe to say the above image summarises the result this week... TSC (The Soul Crusher)lived up to its name. It crushed my soul... despite running 21.77k in total this week I was up 1lb.  Now, in the grand scheme of things, this is not a big gain. I didn't get to my classes two weeks running, and I did do a lot of celebrating of finding my other "one" (the dress)...

I just knew that it wasn't going to go well this week despite my activity.

I jest when I say my soul was crushed today. Because it wasn't! I left the class in great form - must be all the additional exercise induced endorphins zipping around my body! Instead of spiraling, feeling like pants and going to the shop to buy a months supply  for the Bad Result Monday Nest (the months supply would be consumed tonight by the way!), I feel very positive.  I haven't necessarily achieved the weight loss that I say I wanted to. But I have achieved loss of inches and I feel really good about myself. My fitness is up, I can actually run for over 52 minutes straight, I never in a gazillion years imagined that that is something I could do or would even want to do. But I really enjoy it.

So this weeks verdict? A gain in weight, but it's not a bad thing.  As I sat listening to all the other girls stories and telling a few of my own, and hearing the others be supportive of one another I felt really positive about how far I've come and how far I have left to go in this deflation!

Two ladies in particular stood out to me.  One a lovely lady, her loveliness is fairly obvious just from her name (it's Rachel by the way), helped me out a couple of weeks back when I was feeling extremely bad about myself and dress shopping etc.  "Other Rachel" told me that the whole class were behind me and made me feel so much better and gave me a good kick in the bum to get back on track.  The other lady, I think her name might be Ger (only met her tonight), came to me after the class and congratulated me on getting my wedding dress, gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek and told me that I was going to be a beautiful bride.  Now if that doesn't lift your spirits your clearly dead inside and need to go and get that looked at! Complete strangers, brought together to try achieve a similar but very different goal.

I also left feeling great because, whether she knows it or not, our Leader Nicola is pretty darn good at giving her members a boost and encouraging them to achieve what they want. She knows exactly how to give you the lift to make next week your lighter week!

POA this week? Totes avoiding the vino. Have accepted that I cannot celebrate the wedding dress any longer for fear of not fitting into it!!! Aim to achieve 30k running in total by next Monday. Stick to my points. Bite it? Write it!!! Keep hydrated. Buy new tights...

Birthday month is fast approaching and with it, the end of my twenties!  I will go into my thirties and never weigh this amount ever again!

Finally, to all those reading this considering going to a meeting. Do it. Bite the bullet and take that first step. You really don't know how good it can make you feel to achieve your little goals and you never know what kind of people you are going to meet and how their words can help change your life or your words could help change theirs.

Now, enough of the sappiness! Tiredness has made me totes emotes so off to bed with me.

Weigh day... The Verdict

I have run, I have drank gallons of water, I have eaten lettuce and spinach and fruit till its come out my ... [ears].  And it has all paid off.  Yes.  I hopped up onto that scales and I am 1.5lb down this week.  That's a brilliant 3lb in two weeks. Delighted with myself.  I am 2lb off my stone and I am going to get it next week.

Granted, 1.5lb is not the 4 stone I feel I deserved to loose, but it's still pretty darn good.

The plan for next week?

Well, I am going wedding dress shopping next Monday with my Mum and Sister (eeek... too excited, can't stay off the website of the shop!) So going home for the weekend means good hearty home cooked meals, real butter (literally drooling at the thoughts), my dad's mashed spuds (i hope) and wine.  Plus there may be a bit of birthday cake for a special someones 19th birthday and did I mention wine?  With all this in mind, I must plan...

POA:

1. There will be running.  I am up to about 3.5k - 4k jogs so this week I am aiming for 5k at least three times and 3.5k at least twice. (Don't mention it to my calves, they are only recovering after yesterdays run!)
2. Three sessions of Davina McCall's DVD; and
3. Sticking to 26 ProPoints a day.

With all that in mind, I am fairly sure I will  be able to get my stone next week....

Oh, and just to give a visual of 1lb loss, see the pic below and add half of that to make up the 1.5 Ib lost today... It's gross but true!

Image courtesy of http://logomachia.blogspot.ie/

I am baaack (again.....)

Oh my God! I've been dreadful. Truly dreadful and rather ashamed at my lack of commitment to my deflation / blogging about the deflation! A disgrace is what I am! I have been more committed to inflation than deflation if the truth be told...

I went back to WW three weeks ago. I know, I know! I was going to start blogging about it, but The Soul Crusher wasn't exactly telling me things I wanted to hear! In fact, it told me that I was up 1 and half lb.  Which, considering what had been happening the weeks preceeding the weigh in, isn't that bad a result.  But I was still incredibly disheartned with myself.  All my goals and plans and stuff and sure I was going to wrong bloody way! Diary of a Deflating Bride? Eh, more like an Inflating bride!

I went and got weighed last Monday and I was only down 0.5lb, which I have to say was quite disappointing, cause, you know, I worked my ass off.  I was up at 5.45am lunging and squatting around the sitting room like a woman possesed.  I was out walking and trotting about the place like no body's business.  But in fairness, when I looked back over my tracker... well lets just say that I am happy enough with a half pound loss...

I began last week with a plan to eat as many zero points foods as possible. I was going out to eat three times before my next weigh in. So I needed to up my game. And I did.  And it paid off.  I am now officially back on track. Lost 1.5lb! Delighted with myself thank you very much!

There is so much to talk about.  Being a Bridesmaid was amazing. My beautiful best friend was a stunning bride and not a trace of bridezilla about her either. It was an unbelievable weekend and the worst thing to happen was it ending. I would love to invent a time machine, travel back and just watch it all happening again!

I am back on the hunt for 'the one'... not a replacement for himself, no. A new dress.

The beautiful dress I thought I had didn't quite work out. Mainly because of the bridesmaid dresses she produced for Fiona's wedding!  A disgrace is what they were! Pink sacks! So I had to fight and fight and fight to get some of my deposit back (even though she didn't do any work at all whatsoever, she still got to keep 50% of my deposit, boooo).  I would only recommend using www.wedding-dressparty.com if you are 100% sure you want to go with her and you leave lots and lots of time between when you order the dress and when you want it - just so there is time to fix anything that might go wrong or, as happened in Fiona's case, replace them altogether with something new (and definitely improved!)

So I have to start again, which, to be fair, is not a big hardship really! I begin the hunt on the 13 August in the hills of Donegal! I'm very excited about it all!!!

So here's to a good and active week followed by a MASSIVE deflation!! Wish me luck!

The weekly verdict

So here we are, another weigh in another half pound lighter! Oh yeah! I am down a total of 10lb and am offically fabulous at 5%!

I'm delighted considering the week I have had and the massive fall from the Lenten wagon! Obviously my thigh busting squat-tastic workouts with miss McCall helped a lot with that!

So all in all not a bad week!

The Verdict

This week was excellent for me I was down 2.5lb

But there's also been some very sad news about a wonderful guy that has passed away so perhaps a happier entry next week.

Mental illness awareness needs to be dealt with openly and without worry of shame or embarrassment. It's the only way to deal with the issue. Making sure no one ever feels that it's a taboo. It's the only way to help prevent suicide and the loss of wonderful people that are loved dearly and see no other way to deal with their pain.

Rest in peace Screech. Your a massive loss to all that knew you and for all the good you were made to do in this world. I hope you have found the peace this world couldn't give you.

Week 12 - the Verdict

I'm down -2.5lb and delighted with myself. I said that I wanted to loose a minimum of 2.5lb this week and I have achieved that, although I would be happier if I lost a little bit more!! But it's ok! I've achieved this weeks goal and am proud of myself.

Next weeks goal is the same -2.5lb. The same amount of work is going to have to go into this weeks effort plus some!!! Here's to an excellent week

Week 11 - The Verdict

I am a little disappointed that I am up 0.5lb but it's not a big deal. It's only half a pound and if I am entirely honest, I am not that surprised. I think I got off a little lightly over chrsitmas and that maybe it's taking me a little while to ramp up.

I am completely motivated to loose 7lb by the end of January. It is happening!! I am joining Kettlebells tonight with two lovely friends of mine. I have heard tales of marvelous weight loss and body shape changes and all sorts of magical things that come from such a class. So I'm going to go at it like a bat out of hell (or something else that goes really fast).

Here's to a new week with wonderful losses!

Week 10 - The Verdict

I am delighted to report that the scales did not explode / blow up / yell at me to stop squashing it. I thought that it might. Instead it was rather kind to me and told me that I am only up 1.5lb, which is far less than what I imagined or expected because lets face it, my alcohol consumption over the Chritmas period had reached 'drink it off a sore leg' levels!

So i'm only up 1.5lb, but I absolutely did not achieve my goal that I set, so I shall not be treating myself this month. But next month, by the end of January 2012 I'll have smashed my goal to pieces!

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!!!!

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!!!!

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!!!

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!!

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!!

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!

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"