Ok - so Monday this week I decided to move my weigh in day to Fridays to try and escape the perilous weekend food hangover. Obviously, I weighed in on Monday, before I made that decision - which was a lb on. So it's a bit hard to decide whether this is a "proper" weigh in, since it's only 4 days later, or if my first proper weigh in will be next Friday, but I thought I'd share this mornings scale encounter with you anyway.
2 luuuuurvely lbs gone.
Oh yeah.
Lowest weight to date?
Ah hell yeah!
Half a lb shy of my 50lbs gone, but I'm really pleased to see the scales moving in the right direction again. S'all good.
The Ongoing Saga of the Back Injury
After speaking to my physio yesterday, she decided that it would be best I went in to see her, and try and work out what's going on with my back. The verdict is that the ankle pain is a flare up of the sciatica that I had earlier in the year when the nerves in my back were getting pinched after ripping the muscles around my L4 / L5. So we've done more manipulation on my back, more ultrasound, and I've got my back taped up for 48 hours to help keep my posture correct and ease the pressure on my spine. It feels a bit weird, but I'm getting used to it now, and it certainly feels a lot more comfortable today, so I guess it's doing its job.
Kate has said that I'm best staying away for the gym for the next couple of days, but that gentle walking or swimming might be good to keep moving.
So that's me for the minute - I'm having a quiet weekend, partly to rest my back, and partly to rest my purse (payday is Monday, so it's the usual end-of-the-month poverty). Nothing too exciting happening. I was reading KK earlier who's been cleaning her wardrobes out again .... think I'd better make likewise as I haven't looked for a while and it's starting to look a little crowded in there again with all the new stuff!
One final thing - I found a fab new blog yesterday. Actually, more accurately - Nic found me! And I'm glad, because her blog makes for some awesome reading! She'd already lost 45lbs and her blog The Last Twenty documents the last bit of her journey to goal, but it's her writing and her committment that makes it so inspiring. So go read if you've got 30 seconds!!
Showing posts with label weigh in. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weigh in. Show all posts
Friday, 16 October 2009
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Changing the plan
I've decided to change my weigh in day to a Friday for a bit as an experiment.
Why?
I'll explain.
Every week my eating falls into a set pattern: during the week I eat pretty clean. I cook my dinners, mostly from scratch, I eat breakfast and a proper lunch, and I have snacks to keep my metabolism boosted. I get some fruit and veg, and I drink plenty of fluids. I also get some exercise. My weekends then fall into one of 3 categories:
Why?
I'll explain.
Every week my eating falls into a set pattern: during the week I eat pretty clean. I cook my dinners, mostly from scratch, I eat breakfast and a proper lunch, and I have snacks to keep my metabolism boosted. I get some fruit and veg, and I drink plenty of fluids. I also get some exercise. My weekends then fall into one of 3 categories:
- It's a really quiet weekend, and my eating's the same as during the week. Clean.
- It's a normal weekend - I do a bit of planning, but it's a little bit more fluid than during the week. I'll stick to my points, prob including any saved points from during the week, but I might eat out, which will be added sodium and MSG (doesn't particularly agree with me). Not as clean as during the week, but not overly bad.
- All hell breaks loose, and I go massively over points somewhere along the line. My eating is in no way clean, I've probably not drunk enough (or too much of the wrong stuff), and I know I'm on track for a gain. There's no point even trying to regain the points I've gone over, so I just switch to sticking to points for the remaining days till weigh in.
Very occasionally, scenario 4 occurs:
- Sue is broken. I've gone so far over the line, that the line is a distant memory, just a pinprick on the horizon, and I just give up trying to point it, as I don't have that many fingers and toes (I'm an accountant, and it's a well known fact that we can't count very well). All damage control measures are thrown out of the pram along with the toys. I stop caring, until after weigh in. When I care very much.
With all that in mind, weighing in on a Monday is a bit of a traumatic experience, because I never know how the weekend is going to have affected all the groundwork that I layed the previous week.
Ultimately, of course, the groundwork still counts, and in the grand scheme of things, I still lose the same amount of weight over the long run. But how often have I bemoaned the fact, that if I was just weighing in a couple of days later, my weight wouldn't be fluctuating so much.
Well, call me slow, but it's just occurred to me, that I don't have to weigh in on a Monday if I don't want to. So I'm going to move my weigh in day as far away from the weekend as possibe - et voila - we end up on Friday.
(See how I've neatly cycled back to the beginning - beautiful. Unless, you're one of those impatient types who wanted me to actually make my point quickly, in which case my friend, you are on the wrong blog entirely!!)
So there we have it - it's not going to make me lose weight quicker, I'm not that deluded, but it might help me avoid the traumatic peaks and troughs, and make better sense of what I can get away with, and what is genuinely too much.
That said - moving my weigh in day has meant that I have inadvertantly bought last weekend's excesses into this week - oh goody! I've somehow got rid of about 8 points of my deficit already, but I've still got another 11.5 to get rid of.
I optimistically booked myself in for Body Combat last night whilst I was at the gym, but I now realise that I'm still far too stiff to attempt it. I desperately want to know how much longer all these twinges can last for, because my stretches don't seem to be making much difference. Think I'm going to have to back as see my physio again, and hope and pray that she says it will fix itself. Preferably without me having to take 1 or 2 complete weeks of exercise. And definitely before windsurfing in just under 4 weeks. Getting a leeeeeeetle bit worried about it now!!
Monday, 12 October 2009
Fallout
1 lb on. I'm not happy, not happy at all. Mostly, I'm frustrated that it's up this morning, after Friday's excesses, when it had got to a new all time low on Friday morning. I'm frustrated that I can't keep a lid on my socialising, unless I'm actively planning - just winging it doesn't seem to work for me.
You know what I hate the most though? I hate having to come on here and 'fess up that I've screwed up again. Hate it, and I'm always so sorely tempted to just not post my weigh in, or at least weight until I've got past it. Just gloss over it, and pretend it didn't happen. I love reporting the victories, but I got to tell you reporting the fuck ups is just depressing.
I have got to get a good week in this week. The next couple of weeks are relatively quiet, or at least, as quiet as my weeks ever get, which means there'll be dinner with friends and visits to the pub, etc. However, there's nothing outrageously difficult to negotiate past and I'm expecting to do my regular exercise sessions, so there's no excuse to not get some good losses in.
I need to kick my ass back into doing what it should be doing, as the only redeeming point about this weekend, was that I didn't allow Friday's indiscretion to continue over into Saturday and Sunday, and worked to balance those days with the activity points I earned.
I've got a few tight muscles this morning, as they're definitely kranking up the effort in Sunday circuits, but I'll be spinning as usual this evening. Really hoping that I'll feel up to getting back to Body Combat on Thursday this week, but I'll see how that goes, as I'd like to get some running in too.
You know what I hate the most though? I hate having to come on here and 'fess up that I've screwed up again. Hate it, and I'm always so sorely tempted to just not post my weigh in, or at least weight until I've got past it. Just gloss over it, and pretend it didn't happen. I love reporting the victories, but I got to tell you reporting the fuck ups is just depressing.
I have got to get a good week in this week. The next couple of weeks are relatively quiet, or at least, as quiet as my weeks ever get, which means there'll be dinner with friends and visits to the pub, etc. However, there's nothing outrageously difficult to negotiate past and I'm expecting to do my regular exercise sessions, so there's no excuse to not get some good losses in.
I need to kick my ass back into doing what it should be doing, as the only redeeming point about this weekend, was that I didn't allow Friday's indiscretion to continue over into Saturday and Sunday, and worked to balance those days with the activity points I earned.
I've got a few tight muscles this morning, as they're definitely kranking up the effort in Sunday circuits, but I'll be spinning as usual this evening. Really hoping that I'll feel up to getting back to Body Combat on Thursday this week, but I'll see how that goes, as I'd like to get some running in too.
Monday, 5 October 2009
Weigh ins and weekends
Morning, morning, morning!!
How's it all going, comrades?
Good?
I hope so!
Weigh in this morning, and I'm down a lb. It's not much, especially since I put on half a lb last week, but on the upside it does take me (just, by the skin of my teeth) into the 12 stone bracket. Oh yes, I have finally, officially, made it below 13 stone.
Yaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!
I'm a little bit sad it wasn't more this week, but the scales have just been very slow to move anywhere. In fact, until this morning, I wasn't sure they were going to move at all, so I'll take what I can get!
Also rather pleasing is the fact that I couldn't find any clean pairs of suze 16 work trousers this morning, so I had to resort to the size 14's that have been hung on my wardrobe for the past couple of weeks, and they pretty much fit. Whoop!
So what have I been up to since we last spoke?
Well, I spent Friday night with my friends Bridget, Tim and Jo enjoying a very relaxed night in. We played a bit of Guitar Hero and chatted a lot, and it was generally nice and chilled out.
Saturday day was also nice and easy ... I slept in and then pottered into town to get a wedding card and have a little browse of the shops. What was nice, was this was the first time I've felt comfortable enough to walk into and around town since my back went again, without being worried that I'd put myself in a lot of pain. Baby steps, but steps none the less.
Sat evening was the wedding of my friends Dan and Emma, and it was a gorgeous evening. They got married at a beautiful barn conversion in the country-side, and when we turned up for the evening it was all softly lit with fairly lights and looked stunning. It was a great evening, and Emma and Dan just looked so happy that it was utterly infectious. The evning passed in a blur of friends, celebrating and dancing. Even better - it wasn't a complete killer points-wise as I'd eaten lightly during the day and decided not to drink for the event. I ended up with 1 and a half (I split the second one with Sid) rolls from the hog roast (soooo tastey!) and a slice of wedding cake, and then I went and danced for over an hour, so it was guilt free too. I haven't seen any photos from the evening yet, but I'll put some up here when I do.
After my late night on Sat, I just had a really long, lazy lie-in yesterday before getting up and pottering around the flat. I had circuits yesterday afternoon and they are definitely starting to ramp up the effort required now. I found the first couple of sessions relatively non-taxing, even with injuries, but yesterday's definitely required some effort.
They'd got it layed out with two circuits down each side of the studio, set up in pairs of antagonistic exercises (so bicep curls followed by tricep dips - that kind of thing) focusing on legs, arms, abs and upper body, and then two cardio zones at either end of the gym. So my circuit was 15 mins spinning, then 8 stations - first 4 for 60 secs work, 60 secs rest, then repeat for 45 secs work, 45 secs rest, then 15 mins rowing on the ergos, and the 4 stations on the other side of the room for 2 sets. By the end of the session my heart rate monitor was saying 145 bpm average over the hour, maxed out at 181 (which I happen to know was on the rower). Oh, and I've got some achey triceps today!
After circuits, I headed back round to Bridget's for more chilling out. I was a bit cheeky, as she'd been baking all afternoon, so I subsitituted a proper tea for two pieces of cake. Perhaps not the most balanced way to do WW's but it seems to have worked. Plus, I'm not too worried as I had an extra healthy lunch of baked salmon fillet, wholewheat couscous and loads of green veggies yesterday.
So, that was my weekend, and I'm back to work today .... booooooooooo! The next week is going to be interesting as I've had to redo my points quiz on WW's and have now lost another point - eeek!! Tonight I'm heading spinning, and then for more physio afterwards. Hopefully, that will clear up a few more aches and pains! Fingers crossed.
How's it all going, comrades?
Good?
I hope so!
Weigh in this morning, and I'm down a lb. It's not much, especially since I put on half a lb last week, but on the upside it does take me (just, by the skin of my teeth) into the 12 stone bracket. Oh yes, I have finally, officially, made it below 13 stone.
Yaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!
I'm a little bit sad it wasn't more this week, but the scales have just been very slow to move anywhere. In fact, until this morning, I wasn't sure they were going to move at all, so I'll take what I can get!
Also rather pleasing is the fact that I couldn't find any clean pairs of suze 16 work trousers this morning, so I had to resort to the size 14's that have been hung on my wardrobe for the past couple of weeks, and they pretty much fit. Whoop!
So what have I been up to since we last spoke?
Well, I spent Friday night with my friends Bridget, Tim and Jo enjoying a very relaxed night in. We played a bit of Guitar Hero and chatted a lot, and it was generally nice and chilled out.
Saturday day was also nice and easy ... I slept in and then pottered into town to get a wedding card and have a little browse of the shops. What was nice, was this was the first time I've felt comfortable enough to walk into and around town since my back went again, without being worried that I'd put myself in a lot of pain. Baby steps, but steps none the less.
Sat evening was the wedding of my friends Dan and Emma, and it was a gorgeous evening. They got married at a beautiful barn conversion in the country-side, and when we turned up for the evening it was all softly lit with fairly lights and looked stunning. It was a great evening, and Emma and Dan just looked so happy that it was utterly infectious. The evning passed in a blur of friends, celebrating and dancing. Even better - it wasn't a complete killer points-wise as I'd eaten lightly during the day and decided not to drink for the event. I ended up with 1 and a half (I split the second one with Sid) rolls from the hog roast (soooo tastey!) and a slice of wedding cake, and then I went and danced for over an hour, so it was guilt free too. I haven't seen any photos from the evening yet, but I'll put some up here when I do.
After my late night on Sat, I just had a really long, lazy lie-in yesterday before getting up and pottering around the flat. I had circuits yesterday afternoon and they are definitely starting to ramp up the effort required now. I found the first couple of sessions relatively non-taxing, even with injuries, but yesterday's definitely required some effort.
They'd got it layed out with two circuits down each side of the studio, set up in pairs of antagonistic exercises (so bicep curls followed by tricep dips - that kind of thing) focusing on legs, arms, abs and upper body, and then two cardio zones at either end of the gym. So my circuit was 15 mins spinning, then 8 stations - first 4 for 60 secs work, 60 secs rest, then repeat for 45 secs work, 45 secs rest, then 15 mins rowing on the ergos, and the 4 stations on the other side of the room for 2 sets. By the end of the session my heart rate monitor was saying 145 bpm average over the hour, maxed out at 181 (which I happen to know was on the rower). Oh, and I've got some achey triceps today!
After circuits, I headed back round to Bridget's for more chilling out. I was a bit cheeky, as she'd been baking all afternoon, so I subsitituted a proper tea for two pieces of cake. Perhaps not the most balanced way to do WW's but it seems to have worked. Plus, I'm not too worried as I had an extra healthy lunch of baked salmon fillet, wholewheat couscous and loads of green veggies yesterday.
So, that was my weekend, and I'm back to work today .... booooooooooo! The next week is going to be interesting as I've had to redo my points quiz on WW's and have now lost another point - eeek!! Tonight I'm heading spinning, and then for more physio afterwards. Hopefully, that will clear up a few more aches and pains! Fingers crossed.
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Weigh in
I'm feeling a little more sane this week. I'm back on track - 2 good days in the bag, and after circuits on Sunday, I managed to make it to spin last night. I didn't go at it full pelt like I usually would, but I found I could do most things without aggravating my various injuries too much.
Even so, weigh in yesterday showed a small gain of 0.5lb. Pretty much the smallest gain I could have had, but a gain none the less - can't escape the scales when you've been over-eating pretty much 6 days out of 7 of the previous week. It did occur to me yesterday to check my diary though, which partially explained last week's temporary food insanity - I must have PMS'd my way through the latter half of the week without realising it, which multiplied the effect of my doom-and-gloom over everything else. Ah well - as I say - normal service has now been resumed.
I've also decided to bite the bullet and book some private physio again. I've got less than 6 weeks before windsurfing, which will be a pretty rough week on my body, so I need to get myself sorted out, and clearly waiting for the NHS to forgive me for missing an appt (through no fault of my own) and give me another one is not going to work. That and the fact that I'm still eating painkillers like their candy, and I'd quite like to have a stomach-lining left when I get old and disgraceful!
Even so, weigh in yesterday showed a small gain of 0.5lb. Pretty much the smallest gain I could have had, but a gain none the less - can't escape the scales when you've been over-eating pretty much 6 days out of 7 of the previous week. It did occur to me yesterday to check my diary though, which partially explained last week's temporary food insanity - I must have PMS'd my way through the latter half of the week without realising it, which multiplied the effect of my doom-and-gloom over everything else. Ah well - as I say - normal service has now been resumed.
I've also decided to bite the bullet and book some private physio again. I've got less than 6 weeks before windsurfing, which will be a pretty rough week on my body, so I need to get myself sorted out, and clearly waiting for the NHS to forgive me for missing an appt (through no fault of my own) and give me another one is not going to work. That and the fact that I'm still eating painkillers like their candy, and I'd quite like to have a stomach-lining left when I get old and disgraceful!
Monday, 7 September 2009
2lbs down ... and it could have been more
Whoop - I'm in new territory again. Finally!
After hovering around that 3 stone lost point for bloody weeks now, I've finally moved forwards and broken through it officially! Fabulous!
Which is lovely, because it means the "left-to-lose" numbers finally, finally shift to 1 stone something instead of 2 stone something. That sounds sooooo much better don't you think?!
So I'm off to a cracking start on my 1 stone challenge for holiday in November - 13lbs to go to hit my weight target. It could have been a bigger loss this week, as I've seen lower numbers over the weekend and late last week, but we had dinner out last night quite late, and I feel super full of food still. That's cool though as it means the other numbers will be back later in the week - gives me an easy strive to aim for. Also, I'm now only 2lbs away from that golden moment when my BMI moves from obese to overweight - awesome!
Clothing-wise I feel like I might be on plan to get my holiday target there too. My work trousers are starting to move into that annoying hinterland of between sizes again, where they're looking pretty baggy around everything except the waist, although there's even a little room for manoeuvre there .... there maybe a size 14 somewhere in my future, and my near future at that!
Aside from pub dinner last night (although that didn't blow my points - just weighed me down with food), food's all good again. I bought some of the home-made cake to work today from one of the little foil wrapped parcels in the fridge. It was one of the 2 slice parcels, so I gave the other slice to my friend who I sit next to, who appreciatively wolfed it down.
Exercise tonight will be spinning and probably a quick run after, and I'll also find out tonight whether I'll be able to do the Biggest Loser challenge at the gym .... fingers crossed for me! Even if I can't, I'm going to be working super-hard over the next couple of months. I'm finally starting to feel like the end is in sight, and I can't wait to make this final push and get my (obviously slimmer) ass there. I'm such a flibberitgibbet normally that I'm rubbish at seeing stuff through to the end, so meeting this goal will be amazing. Even if I do then do an evaluation to see if I want to lose anymore - the fact that I've done the first huge chunk will be brilliant.
So - this morning I was 13st 5lbs - I'd like to aim for another 2lbs off this week - I already saw 13st 2 / 3lbs this week, so let's get it on the scales officially! This week's another quiet one socially - evening's will mostly be exercise, whether in classes at the gym, or with friends. As well as a running buddy in my neighbour Sid, my friend Bex has now volunteered herself for a swimming buddy which would be lovely - although I'd better be careful to make sure I don't get carried away chatting and don't do my lengths! Got another nice quiet weekend at home ahead - there'll be a few more friends around this time, but nothing too destructive on the cards as far as I know.
I'm purposely keeping my diary fairly free at the moment to give me some bank account / body recovery time after the hectic summer. There are some events coming up over the next couple of weeks and months - birthday weekends and weddings, but I'm planning for them already. I'm on FIRE at the moment!!! :O)
After hovering around that 3 stone lost point for bloody weeks now, I've finally moved forwards and broken through it officially! Fabulous!
Which is lovely, because it means the "left-to-lose" numbers finally, finally shift to 1 stone something instead of 2 stone something. That sounds sooooo much better don't you think?!
So I'm off to a cracking start on my 1 stone challenge for holiday in November - 13lbs to go to hit my weight target. It could have been a bigger loss this week, as I've seen lower numbers over the weekend and late last week, but we had dinner out last night quite late, and I feel super full of food still. That's cool though as it means the other numbers will be back later in the week - gives me an easy strive to aim for. Also, I'm now only 2lbs away from that golden moment when my BMI moves from obese to overweight - awesome!
Clothing-wise I feel like I might be on plan to get my holiday target there too. My work trousers are starting to move into that annoying hinterland of between sizes again, where they're looking pretty baggy around everything except the waist, although there's even a little room for manoeuvre there .... there maybe a size 14 somewhere in my future, and my near future at that!
Aside from pub dinner last night (although that didn't blow my points - just weighed me down with food), food's all good again. I bought some of the home-made cake to work today from one of the little foil wrapped parcels in the fridge. It was one of the 2 slice parcels, so I gave the other slice to my friend who I sit next to, who appreciatively wolfed it down.
Exercise tonight will be spinning and probably a quick run after, and I'll also find out tonight whether I'll be able to do the Biggest Loser challenge at the gym .... fingers crossed for me! Even if I can't, I'm going to be working super-hard over the next couple of months. I'm finally starting to feel like the end is in sight, and I can't wait to make this final push and get my (obviously slimmer) ass there. I'm such a flibberitgibbet normally that I'm rubbish at seeing stuff through to the end, so meeting this goal will be amazing. Even if I do then do an evaluation to see if I want to lose anymore - the fact that I've done the first huge chunk will be brilliant.
So - this morning I was 13st 5lbs - I'd like to aim for another 2lbs off this week - I already saw 13st 2 / 3lbs this week, so let's get it on the scales officially! This week's another quiet one socially - evening's will mostly be exercise, whether in classes at the gym, or with friends. As well as a running buddy in my neighbour Sid, my friend Bex has now volunteered herself for a swimming buddy which would be lovely - although I'd better be careful to make sure I don't get carried away chatting and don't do my lengths! Got another nice quiet weekend at home ahead - there'll be a few more friends around this time, but nothing too destructive on the cards as far as I know.
I'm purposely keeping my diary fairly free at the moment to give me some bank account / body recovery time after the hectic summer. There are some events coming up over the next couple of weeks and months - birthday weekends and weddings, but I'm planning for them already. I'm on FIRE at the moment!!! :O)
Monday, 31 August 2009
Post-holiday weigh in ... good grief!
Event: post-holiday weigh in
Emotion: ecstatic, and mildly disbelieving
Result: absolutely no gain what-so-ever
Yep - read it and weep. I had to step on the scales 4 times just to check the result. I was braced for another 4 lb gain, or worse, anything up to half a stone, and there it was - still my lowest weight to date!
This is fantastic - I've really enjoyed my holiday, so it feels like major progress to stay in control like this. I'm straight back on plan this morning - I've been excited to get home and back on plan for days now, and I feel so incredibly refreshed and re-motivated.
Emotion: ecstatic, and mildly disbelieving
Result: absolutely no gain what-so-ever
Yep - read it and weep. I had to step on the scales 4 times just to check the result. I was braced for another 4 lb gain, or worse, anything up to half a stone, and there it was - still my lowest weight to date!
This is fantastic - I've really enjoyed my holiday, so it feels like major progress to stay in control like this. I'm straight back on plan this morning - I've been excited to get home and back on plan for days now, and I feel so incredibly refreshed and re-motivated.
Monday, 17 August 2009
And that scales say ...
I have totally lucked out with an incredibly fluky 2lb loss this morning. However, I fully realise that I haven't earned this, and that it is probably only due to the large volumes of activity I've done this week, and I'm still on somewhat shaky ground with my eating.
Today, as promised yesterday, my aim is to eat clean, stay in my points, and try and find some time one way or another to shift my ass this evening. Spinning if I have time, a run if I don't.
That's my goal. My little green light lit up on my tracker this morning to say I'm back in the 180's; what I want to see next is the one that says 3 stone officially gone. It's 1.5lb off, so I won't hold my breath for seeing it in the next two days, before I go on holiday, however I'm not going to give my body any excuses for heading in the wrong direction.
That's all for the moment. Over and out.
Today, as promised yesterday, my aim is to eat clean, stay in my points, and try and find some time one way or another to shift my ass this evening. Spinning if I have time, a run if I don't.
That's my goal. My little green light lit up on my tracker this morning to say I'm back in the 180's; what I want to see next is the one that says 3 stone officially gone. It's 1.5lb off, so I won't hold my breath for seeing it in the next two days, before I go on holiday, however I'm not going to give my body any excuses for heading in the wrong direction.
That's all for the moment. Over and out.
Monday, 10 August 2009
And back up we go!
Ok, so I'm somewhat depressed this morning. I weighed in this morning, and I've managed to go back up half a pound. Bugger.
My weight's been hovering up and down all week in honesty; I did see it drop down to 13st 8lb's during the week, but it wasn't to be and I finally finished back up at 13st 9.5lb. I latterly realised that part of the fluctuation will have been due to TOTM, and some is most likely a hangover from last week's epic eat-out-a-thon when I flukily managed to drop 2lbs last Monday, and the rest - who knows? Choices not as good as I thought they were? Just my body taking time to catch up with itself?
Anyhoo, no point bitchin' as it won't change it, so nothing to do but keep going.
Annoyingly, my walk on the hills never materialised yesterday, as after much faffing, my friends decided they couldn't be arsed, and I got caught up in bagging up old clothes and taking rubbish to the tip in the morning. On the plus side, that means that lunch out never materialised either, so it kind of balances itself out. I did get out for fresh air, just not any energetic form, when I went to meet my friend Sheena in the park to listen to the band playing, so that was a really nice couple of hours spent lying in the sun and gossiping. I then had a quick dinner at home and swung by my friends Graeme and Bec's house to sit in the garden with a group of them for half an hour, before dashing off to meet other friends Jo, Lissa and Ellie for a summer evening drink in a picture perfect pub garden. My points were ok yesterday, thanks to diet coke or water drunk when out.
So here's to another week plodding along. I hate these little set backs - they're so depressing, but it's no reason to stop. It just makes me wonder exactly which bit I went wrong on so I could make more of an effort to avoid doing it again, but with so many variables, who knows! What I can cling on to is the fact that although I haven't got rid of my holiday gain yet, I am still smaller in inches than I was at the beginning of June.
This week is going to be spinning tonight, hosting girls night tomorrow, running club on Weds, Combat on Thurs, resting on Fri and a beer festival on Sat. Sunday will be packing and running final errands for holiday and sorting out logistics for next Wednesday's departure. Somewhere in between all of that, I need to do all the clothes washing ready for packing, order my currency, check all my paperwork is in order, do my tax calcs for the year ready for my refund claim, take my clothes recycling to the collection point, do a food shop and do a mahoosive clean of the flat.
Me thinks I'm not going to have a lot of spare time this week!
My weight's been hovering up and down all week in honesty; I did see it drop down to 13st 8lb's during the week, but it wasn't to be and I finally finished back up at 13st 9.5lb. I latterly realised that part of the fluctuation will have been due to TOTM, and some is most likely a hangover from last week's epic eat-out-a-thon when I flukily managed to drop 2lbs last Monday, and the rest - who knows? Choices not as good as I thought they were? Just my body taking time to catch up with itself?
Anyhoo, no point bitchin' as it won't change it, so nothing to do but keep going.
Annoyingly, my walk on the hills never materialised yesterday, as after much faffing, my friends decided they couldn't be arsed, and I got caught up in bagging up old clothes and taking rubbish to the tip in the morning. On the plus side, that means that lunch out never materialised either, so it kind of balances itself out. I did get out for fresh air, just not any energetic form, when I went to meet my friend Sheena in the park to listen to the band playing, so that was a really nice couple of hours spent lying in the sun and gossiping. I then had a quick dinner at home and swung by my friends Graeme and Bec's house to sit in the garden with a group of them for half an hour, before dashing off to meet other friends Jo, Lissa and Ellie for a summer evening drink in a picture perfect pub garden. My points were ok yesterday, thanks to diet coke or water drunk when out.
So here's to another week plodding along. I hate these little set backs - they're so depressing, but it's no reason to stop. It just makes me wonder exactly which bit I went wrong on so I could make more of an effort to avoid doing it again, but with so many variables, who knows! What I can cling on to is the fact that although I haven't got rid of my holiday gain yet, I am still smaller in inches than I was at the beginning of June.
This week is going to be spinning tonight, hosting girls night tomorrow, running club on Weds, Combat on Thurs, resting on Fri and a beer festival on Sat. Sunday will be packing and running final errands for holiday and sorting out logistics for next Wednesday's departure. Somewhere in between all of that, I need to do all the clothes washing ready for packing, order my currency, check all my paperwork is in order, do my tax calcs for the year ready for my refund claim, take my clothes recycling to the collection point, do a food shop and do a mahoosive clean of the flat.
Me thinks I'm not going to have a lot of spare time this week!
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Damage report
Big breath .....
4lbs on.
Well, it could have been worse I suppose. A bit depressing, but hey, holiday happens but once a .... well, 4 or 5 times a year.
I'm pointing again properly today, and in a weird way I'm looking forward to a quiet evening at home. No alcohol. Just as much food as I need and no more. No drinking games to tempt me. No staying up ridiculously late.
On the other hand, no friends, as they're pretty much all still in Scotlandio without me. Sob.
I want to do a gym workout this evening, but I'm also in desperate need of doing a food shop and running errands, so I might have to go for a ride or run later in the evening or something similar, as I'm going to run out of time otherwise.
The one awesome thing about last week was how active I was. Most days we were out - I went out on my bike 3 times, including an epic mountain bike ride with the boys, Andy and Tim, on Sunday. We tackled the Fire Tower Trail near Lochgilphead, and although 6 of us started out - 4 girls (my friends Hannah, Nia and Bridget) and 2 guys, the other 3 girls caved fairly quickly and headed back to the car. From an entirely selfish point view this was actually quite a relief as it meant we could really pick up the pace, stop waiting half-way up hills (and a quarter of the way up, and three-quarters of the way up ...) and really pelt down the downhill sections.
Far more technical than anything I'd done before (i.e. a damn-site steeper .... new trousers were required after a couple of sections ;o)) and challenging, and with just the three of us, I became tail-end Charlie, meaning I had to work my socks off to keep up with the boys. I freakin' loved it. It was the first time I've actually done downhill that was demanding enough that I had to drop my saddle down in order to hang off the back of the bike, and also my first go at a water-splash (it was only 20cm's deep, but we've all got to start somewhere!).
We did a 2 and a half hour walk across country on another afternoon, which was glorious, scrambling up and down hills, and hopping across bogs and streams. It's funny how much more challenging and interesting it is when you're walking on moorland that is a footpath-free zone - wading through waist-high bracken and having to pick your feet up extra high in the heather - you can practically feel the toning effect on your bum!
We rowed out to some of the islands in the loch in the old boat - it's about half an hour's solid rowing each way with a 8 or 9 foot oar - having to keep time with the other rowers and concentrating hard, but worth it when you moor up on a desserted heather-strewn island to eat your picnic and explore the ruined churches and bothies.
We spent a day down at the beach, shrimping in the shallows (i.e. running up and down with a net in front of you in the hope of catching something), dodging the monster red jellyfish (the bastards are a foot or so across) and then I tried my hand at a bit of windsurfing on Graeme's rig. Somewhat challenging as he uses a smaller board than I'm used to and a bigger sail, but I got up and going in the end. Minor problem when I came to tack and turn back though as I was wobbling all over the place and then promptly fell in and flipped the board upside down. You've never seen anyone get the board the right way up again and back up on it so quickly as me, when I looked down in the clear waters and realised there were about half a dozen big jellyfish floating in a ring around my feet!!!! Major fright! I did eventually manage to get back to shore without any stings, but I did fall off again and smack my head on the board on the way down, which is still a bit sore. Still, if it weren't for the jellyfish, it would have been a fun session of windsurfing.
I think I had one quiet day when I stayed at the cottage and crashed out, but I still pulled my running gear on in the afternoon and went out for a half hour jog up to the end of the lane and back.
So really, it was just the food that did me in. My meal time choices were generally fine, it was all the eating between meals that really did me in. That and the fact that I used the excuse of all the exercise as a get-out for snacking on returning to the cottage in the afternoons.
One thing that did make me feel really happy - one of the guys up there, Andy, was ridiculously fit - he climbs, mountain bikes (100 miles in a day!), walks, plays football, and it shows. So how chuffed did I feel when for some reason someone asked him what he weighed, and he said 14 st something - I know he's a guy, so it's a bit different, but it felt uber-good for me to weigh less than someone that fit and healthy for once.
And another good thing - I saw a picture that my friend Bec took of me in my wetsuit down at the beach - and it didn't look hideous. Good lord, I hear you say!
So there we go - holiday over, reparations began this morning, and hopefully I'll see the scales drop away again this week. For one thing, my metabolisms going to be a bit like Wil E Coyote running over the cliff this week - after all that food last week it's going to be scrabbling around wondering what the hell happened!
3 weeks tomorrow til I head to Croatia, and I'd like to have made a little bit more progress before I go!
4lbs on.
Well, it could have been worse I suppose. A bit depressing, but hey, holiday happens but once a .... well, 4 or 5 times a year.
I'm pointing again properly today, and in a weird way I'm looking forward to a quiet evening at home. No alcohol. Just as much food as I need and no more. No drinking games to tempt me. No staying up ridiculously late.
On the other hand, no friends, as they're pretty much all still in Scotlandio without me. Sob.
I want to do a gym workout this evening, but I'm also in desperate need of doing a food shop and running errands, so I might have to go for a ride or run later in the evening or something similar, as I'm going to run out of time otherwise.
The one awesome thing about last week was how active I was. Most days we were out - I went out on my bike 3 times, including an epic mountain bike ride with the boys, Andy and Tim, on Sunday. We tackled the Fire Tower Trail near Lochgilphead, and although 6 of us started out - 4 girls (my friends Hannah, Nia and Bridget) and 2 guys, the other 3 girls caved fairly quickly and headed back to the car. From an entirely selfish point view this was actually quite a relief as it meant we could really pick up the pace, stop waiting half-way up hills (and a quarter of the way up, and three-quarters of the way up ...) and really pelt down the downhill sections.
Far more technical than anything I'd done before (i.e. a damn-site steeper .... new trousers were required after a couple of sections ;o)) and challenging, and with just the three of us, I became tail-end Charlie, meaning I had to work my socks off to keep up with the boys. I freakin' loved it. It was the first time I've actually done downhill that was demanding enough that I had to drop my saddle down in order to hang off the back of the bike, and also my first go at a water-splash (it was only 20cm's deep, but we've all got to start somewhere!).
We did a 2 and a half hour walk across country on another afternoon, which was glorious, scrambling up and down hills, and hopping across bogs and streams. It's funny how much more challenging and interesting it is when you're walking on moorland that is a footpath-free zone - wading through waist-high bracken and having to pick your feet up extra high in the heather - you can practically feel the toning effect on your bum!
We rowed out to some of the islands in the loch in the old boat - it's about half an hour's solid rowing each way with a 8 or 9 foot oar - having to keep time with the other rowers and concentrating hard, but worth it when you moor up on a desserted heather-strewn island to eat your picnic and explore the ruined churches and bothies.
We spent a day down at the beach, shrimping in the shallows (i.e. running up and down with a net in front of you in the hope of catching something), dodging the monster red jellyfish (the bastards are a foot or so across) and then I tried my hand at a bit of windsurfing on Graeme's rig. Somewhat challenging as he uses a smaller board than I'm used to and a bigger sail, but I got up and going in the end. Minor problem when I came to tack and turn back though as I was wobbling all over the place and then promptly fell in and flipped the board upside down. You've never seen anyone get the board the right way up again and back up on it so quickly as me, when I looked down in the clear waters and realised there were about half a dozen big jellyfish floating in a ring around my feet!!!! Major fright! I did eventually manage to get back to shore without any stings, but I did fall off again and smack my head on the board on the way down, which is still a bit sore. Still, if it weren't for the jellyfish, it would have been a fun session of windsurfing.
I think I had one quiet day when I stayed at the cottage and crashed out, but I still pulled my running gear on in the afternoon and went out for a half hour jog up to the end of the lane and back.
So really, it was just the food that did me in. My meal time choices were generally fine, it was all the eating between meals that really did me in. That and the fact that I used the excuse of all the exercise as a get-out for snacking on returning to the cottage in the afternoons.
One thing that did make me feel really happy - one of the guys up there, Andy, was ridiculously fit - he climbs, mountain bikes (100 miles in a day!), walks, plays football, and it shows. So how chuffed did I feel when for some reason someone asked him what he weighed, and he said 14 st something - I know he's a guy, so it's a bit different, but it felt uber-good for me to weigh less than someone that fit and healthy for once.
And another good thing - I saw a picture that my friend Bec took of me in my wetsuit down at the beach - and it didn't look hideous. Good lord, I hear you say!
So there we go - holiday over, reparations began this morning, and hopefully I'll see the scales drop away again this week. For one thing, my metabolisms going to be a bit like Wil E Coyote running over the cliff this week - after all that food last week it's going to be scrabbling around wondering what the hell happened!
3 weeks tomorrow til I head to Croatia, and I'd like to have made a little bit more progress before I go!
Saturday, 18 July 2009
40lbs!!
Guys!!! (Spot the fact I'm a little bit excited!)
See that tracker over on the left? See what it says? Just over 40lbs gone, and less than 30lbs to go!!! I am literally 1lb off losing 3 stone, and once I'm there then it's less than 2 stone to go, and to me saying oh, I've only got 1 stone something left to lose sounds soooooooo much better :o)
As you may have guessed, I managed to lose again this week. Despite my foody ups and downs and a small sprinkling of chaos thrown in I lost another 1.5lb on my short week from Monday to Saturday. I wanted to have lost 3 stone before I went to Scotland but I'm happy that this is totally close enough!
The next week's going to be a bit different to usual what with being on holiday and away from the computer but I'm going to try and make it an ok one anyway. I've got to start my packing in a sec, and then I'll be gone, gone, gone for about 10 days. Wish me luck! I'm going to miss my daily session of chit-chat and catching up on what you're all up to while I'm gone. Don't let me down - be good little troopers while I'm gone - I want to come back to read all about your fabulous losses and achievements!
Better go start the dreaded packing I guess - I've been putting it off for long enough! lol
See that tracker over on the left? See what it says? Just over 40lbs gone, and less than 30lbs to go!!! I am literally 1lb off losing 3 stone, and once I'm there then it's less than 2 stone to go, and to me saying oh, I've only got 1 stone something left to lose sounds soooooooo much better :o)
As you may have guessed, I managed to lose again this week. Despite my foody ups and downs and a small sprinkling of chaos thrown in I lost another 1.5lb on my short week from Monday to Saturday. I wanted to have lost 3 stone before I went to Scotland but I'm happy that this is totally close enough!
The next week's going to be a bit different to usual what with being on holiday and away from the computer but I'm going to try and make it an ok one anyway. I've got to start my packing in a sec, and then I'll be gone, gone, gone for about 10 days. Wish me luck! I'm going to miss my daily session of chit-chat and catching up on what you're all up to while I'm gone. Don't let me down - be good little troopers while I'm gone - I want to come back to read all about your fabulous losses and achievements!
Better go start the dreaded packing I guess - I've been putting it off for long enough! lol
Monday, 13 July 2009
Horse racin' and bunny chasin'
Sue 1 Weekend 0Just about.
I've had a most excellent weekend, and now I'm knackered. But I'm proud of the choices I made, and I managed to lose a lb this week, so all is good.
After Friday's model choices, I was up early on Sat (7am - far, far too early for a weekend) to drive the boys down to Bristol, pick up Hannah and then head over to join the birthday party at Ascot. A slight error in dress code, based on my judgement of the weather first thing in the morning, meant that I was feeling pretty underdressed compared to the rest of the party who had rocked up in little cocktail dresses and heels, but I got the last laugh when the rain caught up to us, and we had a loooong walk to the restaurant in the evening, when my long flat boots trumped everyone else's heels lol.
We had a fabulous day. There were 40 of us in our party, so we claimed a whole little section of the grandstand for ourselves, which was mostly sheltered from the rain, and from there it was easy to make our forays out to the bookies, and we had a great view of the whole finishing straight.
I am very pleased to report that I did not eat an Ascot burger in any way, shape or form. Success!! In actual fact, we'd stopped at the supermarket on the way out of Bristol in the morning, and I bought a Weightwatchers chicken wrap and some fresh mango, and I had that for my lunch whilst everyone else chomped their way through their picnics or the burgers. I also showed restraint in the presence of big bags of sweets in the car on the way there and back, and I limited my alcohol intake to a moderate level - enough to enjoy without feeling deprived, not enough to kill off my common sense.
I'm telling you - if you looked up self-restraint in the dictionary this morning - there'd just be a picture of me in place of the definition.
To add to an already lovely day, I had a really good day gambling-wise, and won on 5 of the 7 races, meaning I walked away with my modest £20 stake in tact (I worked out what I could afford at the beginning of the day, and that was what I gave myself to play with - mostly it was £2 or £5 bets though - last of the big spenders, huh?), plus an extra £30 in my pocket, which rather conveniently paid for the post-races dinner! How nice is that?!
I was also really proud of myself at dinner. Apart from the drink that someone bought for me without asking (but it was a vodka and slimline tonic - how well do my friends know me?), I stuck to water with the meal. We had massive platters to share for starters, so I just took one of each little thing and stopped at that (which was about 5 mini tid-bits I think), and of course I had already pre-booked my healthy main, but I also kept to plain rice.
And the birthday cake? One piece, which I shared with my two neighbours at the table. Incidentally, it was freakin' amazing! Chocolate, with raspberry filling and blueberry icing - heaven!
So, I stumbled home yesterday, just a few points over for the whole week, but not having counted all the walking from Sat, as I couldn't even begin to work it out. I got home absolutely starving, and then promptly committed the cardinal sin of eating too much as a result. Once I'd digested a bit, I thought I'd go for a run to feel a bit better, and then remembered I'd put all my kit in the washing machine. Rather than admit defeat, I used it as a reason to finally take my newly fixed bike out for a spin, and I'm glad I did - it blew away the cobwebs and was just what I needed. I did just over 5.5 miles in 40 mins, and my loop took in both commons in town (they're at opposite ends of town), so I got to go off-road down across one, and enjoyed the slow climb back up across the other.
As it was late evening, I virtually had them to myself and as it was so quite all the rabbits were out on the second one. As I slowly climbed, I ended up almost herding the rabbits with me up the hill as they all just slowly hopped along for a bit in front of me, had a little nibble and then hopped a bit further - I had a bow-wave of bunnies!
I also picked up a cat at the bottom of the hill, who seemed to want a fuss, and weaved in and out around me for about half the length of the common - I felt like I was walking a dog, except for her being small, black and feline!
All in all, a lovely way to finish the weekend! Well, except for losing a lb - that was a good way to finish the weekend.
Going to be having an early weigh in on Sat this weekend before I head off to Scotland for holiday, so let's see if I can improve it just a tiny bit more!
Monday, 29 June 2009
A big fat nothing
Brilliant.
After a week of being good with my eating (hit my points exactly by the end of the week), exercising (including a 5 sodding km run) and saving some points by the end of it all (17.5 freakin' activity points), not to mention conquering the void of boredom that was Sunday evening, the result on the scales: absolutely bloody nothing.
What the hell was the point in that? I'm exactly where I was at the start of last week. In fact, technically, I'm the tiniest bit heavier, but since I don't bother working outside of the nearest half lb, I've effectively stayed the same.
Talk about bloody disheartening.
After a week of being good with my eating (hit my points exactly by the end of the week), exercising (including a 5 sodding km run) and saving some points by the end of it all (17.5 freakin' activity points), not to mention conquering the void of boredom that was Sunday evening, the result on the scales: absolutely bloody nothing.
What the hell was the point in that? I'm exactly where I was at the start of last week. In fact, technically, I'm the tiniest bit heavier, but since I don't bother working outside of the nearest half lb, I've effectively stayed the same.
Talk about bloody disheartening.
Monday, 22 June 2009
Halfway there!
Just a quick update - I did my official weigh in this morning, and lost 4lbs.
FINALLY!!!! That's all I'm going to say!
2.5 stone gone (and 5th Weight Watchers' silver star collected), under 14 stone for the first time in I can't remember how long, and over half way along my current journey to goal. Awesome.
I'm going to have to put some new goals in on the sidebar now, since I've finally achieved all the ones that are currently in there ... I shall go away and have a think.
FINALLY!!!! That's all I'm going to say!
2.5 stone gone (and 5th Weight Watchers' silver star collected), under 14 stone for the first time in I can't remember how long, and over half way along my current journey to goal. Awesome.
I'm going to have to put some new goals in on the sidebar now, since I've finally achieved all the ones that are currently in there ... I shall go away and have a think.
Monday, 1 June 2009
Weigh in, measurements and the weekend dissection
Weigh in first - I lost 2lbs. Yay!!! Still a shade above 14 stone, but I'm still pootling along in the right direction.
Measurements - I seem to take these at completely haphazard intervals. This time it was prompted by the start of the Summer Challenge that Ang is running over at Get Fit After 40, and if I'm going to do the challenge I should do it properly with the measurements as well as the scales. So since I had the tape-measure out anyway, I thought I'd update them on here (numbers in brackets are the previous measurement):
Hips: 44" (46")
Lower Waist (at belly button): 43" (44")
Upper Waist (at narrowest point): 36.5" (39")
Chest: 44.5" (44" - don't know if this because I had a different bra on this time!)
Upper Arm: 12.5" (12.75")
Thigh: 26.5" (26.5")
There are some losses in there since last time which is great, but I think the nicest thing about those, is that for the first time, my hips are smaller than my bust - wooohoooo!!
On the other hand my waist measurements need some work as all the running and biking is taking the weight off my hips and not my waist - I'm going to start looking like an egg on legs at this rate!! lol
And so, finally, down to the weekend. I have a confession to make - I got to Saturday, and honestly I didn't think too hard about points. Hmmm ... I know .... not the best idea I've ever had. It could have been a lot worse, as including the over-run I had on Monday at the picnic I finished the week at 19 points over, but I did indeed drop the ball. Actually, I take that back, because I've just thought of something else I didn't point up - DAMN!
After my lovely lunch on Friday with my Dad, I was up super-early (for me) on Saturday to tootle off to London. I had breakfast before I went, but I think that was the last thoughtful piece of eating I did until Sunday morning. I met one of my school-friends for lunch in Clapham, where we sat in the sun sipping vodka tonics and munching on a panini for long enough that my shoulders were decidedly pink. Strolling to and fro across Clapham common was about the most exercise I did, although I loved how good I felt about myself in my lovely knee-length denim shorts, gladiator sandals, loose-ish vest top, trilby hat and sunnies (and a healthy smattering of chunky jewellery!), even next to Koks whose a size 8 and 5 foot 3 if she's even that!
Back across the common to the boys flat after lunch, grab some more long, iced vodkas and I settled in to watch the rugby with them and pretty much stayed in that position on the sofa all evening right through the party! I never even got changed into the nicer clothes I'd bought along for the evening or put any decent make-up on, which is rather unfortunate since I later found myself happily chattering away (and drunkenly talking complete bollocks) to a rather lovely guy. lol - always the way.
Yesterday was better - straight back on the points, and even managed to wangle in a pub dinner with dessert in the evening without completely stitching myself up.
On my way back from London, I detoured to Bristol to swing by the Snow and Rock store there. Turned out to be quite an ego boost! I wanted a new waterproof for Norway, and some walking trousers. I didn't find the walking trousers, but when I tried on the size 16 North Face jacket that I wanted, it turned out to be massive, so I got a size 14 instead! I know it's just because it's cut really big (and indeed the reason I didn't get trousers was that they were all cut really small), but it was still lovely buying something with a 14 on the label. I also got slightly distracted by the cycle shop there, and thought I'd have a peek at the cycle shorts as I've been wanting a pair of baggy mountain bike ones for ages now. I thought it would be quite a traumatic business buying them, but the first pair I tried on were a perfect fit in the 16. In fact they're cut so loose, and the fabric is so stretchy that if they'd had a 14 in stock I'd have probably tried and got them instead so they'll last longer, but it wasn't to be. Still - I have my lovely new shorts, and I can't wait to try them out. Think I'll probably be living in them over the summer as they also double up as decent looking general outdoors shorts and I should make the most of them while they fit!
Also bought a new bike helmet to replace my slightly battered one, and a new drinks bottle for running, as well as random miscellaneous spare parts for the bike that I needed. An expensive but altogether satisfying shopping trip.
Since I'm off on my trip on Thursday and the first half of the week is going to be pandemonium whilst I try and pack and organise last minute stuff for the trip and navigate my way through month end at work, I'm just going to try and eat sensibly each day until I go and get in the exercise where I can. I've also got to go for my final physio appointment tonight (ouch - going to be expensive!). Once I'm away, I'm going to be away from the internet, so I'm just going to have to wing it. I'm not going to stress it too much - just going to try and make sensible choices and not go nuts because it's holiday, and hopefully there'll be loads of walking and cycling and possibly some swimming to offset that.
Measurements - I seem to take these at completely haphazard intervals. This time it was prompted by the start of the Summer Challenge that Ang is running over at Get Fit After 40, and if I'm going to do the challenge I should do it properly with the measurements as well as the scales. So since I had the tape-measure out anyway, I thought I'd update them on here (numbers in brackets are the previous measurement):
Hips: 44" (46")
Lower Waist (at belly button): 43" (44")
Upper Waist (at narrowest point): 36.5" (39")
Chest: 44.5" (44" - don't know if this because I had a different bra on this time!)
Upper Arm: 12.5" (12.75")
Thigh: 26.5" (26.5")
There are some losses in there since last time which is great, but I think the nicest thing about those, is that for the first time, my hips are smaller than my bust - wooohoooo!!
On the other hand my waist measurements need some work as all the running and biking is taking the weight off my hips and not my waist - I'm going to start looking like an egg on legs at this rate!! lol
And so, finally, down to the weekend. I have a confession to make - I got to Saturday, and honestly I didn't think too hard about points. Hmmm ... I know .... not the best idea I've ever had. It could have been a lot worse, as including the over-run I had on Monday at the picnic I finished the week at 19 points over, but I did indeed drop the ball. Actually, I take that back, because I've just thought of something else I didn't point up - DAMN!
After my lovely lunch on Friday with my Dad, I was up super-early (for me) on Saturday to tootle off to London. I had breakfast before I went, but I think that was the last thoughtful piece of eating I did until Sunday morning. I met one of my school-friends for lunch in Clapham, where we sat in the sun sipping vodka tonics and munching on a panini for long enough that my shoulders were decidedly pink. Strolling to and fro across Clapham common was about the most exercise I did, although I loved how good I felt about myself in my lovely knee-length denim shorts, gladiator sandals, loose-ish vest top, trilby hat and sunnies (and a healthy smattering of chunky jewellery!), even next to Koks whose a size 8 and 5 foot 3 if she's even that!
Back across the common to the boys flat after lunch, grab some more long, iced vodkas and I settled in to watch the rugby with them and pretty much stayed in that position on the sofa all evening right through the party! I never even got changed into the nicer clothes I'd bought along for the evening or put any decent make-up on, which is rather unfortunate since I later found myself happily chattering away (and drunkenly talking complete bollocks) to a rather lovely guy. lol - always the way.
Yesterday was better - straight back on the points, and even managed to wangle in a pub dinner with dessert in the evening without completely stitching myself up.
On my way back from London, I detoured to Bristol to swing by the Snow and Rock store there. Turned out to be quite an ego boost! I wanted a new waterproof for Norway, and some walking trousers. I didn't find the walking trousers, but when I tried on the size 16 North Face jacket that I wanted, it turned out to be massive, so I got a size 14 instead! I know it's just because it's cut really big (and indeed the reason I didn't get trousers was that they were all cut really small), but it was still lovely buying something with a 14 on the label. I also got slightly distracted by the cycle shop there, and thought I'd have a peek at the cycle shorts as I've been wanting a pair of baggy mountain bike ones for ages now. I thought it would be quite a traumatic business buying them, but the first pair I tried on were a perfect fit in the 16. In fact they're cut so loose, and the fabric is so stretchy that if they'd had a 14 in stock I'd have probably tried and got them instead so they'll last longer, but it wasn't to be. Still - I have my lovely new shorts, and I can't wait to try them out. Think I'll probably be living in them over the summer as they also double up as decent looking general outdoors shorts and I should make the most of them while they fit!
Also bought a new bike helmet to replace my slightly battered one, and a new drinks bottle for running, as well as random miscellaneous spare parts for the bike that I needed. An expensive but altogether satisfying shopping trip.
Since I'm off on my trip on Thursday and the first half of the week is going to be pandemonium whilst I try and pack and organise last minute stuff for the trip and navigate my way through month end at work, I'm just going to try and eat sensibly each day until I go and get in the exercise where I can. I've also got to go for my final physio appointment tonight (ouch - going to be expensive!). Once I'm away, I'm going to be away from the internet, so I'm just going to have to wing it. I'm not going to stress it too much - just going to try and make sensible choices and not go nuts because it's holiday, and hopefully there'll be loads of walking and cycling and possibly some swimming to offset that.
Monday, 25 May 2009
A fresh new week
The verdict's in from last week: no change in either direction. I officially stayed the same this week, and I can't quite work out whether I'm relieved or disappointed. On the one hand it's obviously good that I made it through the crazy amounts of food at the weekend without completely destroying all my good efforts, but on the other hand, you can't help feeling a bit disappointed that all that good work in the early part of the week counts for nothing!!!
We've spent today having a picnic at the nearby Ragley Hall, and playing in the park - no kids involved, just a bunch of very immature and childish young adults! I pointed my picnic before I went, but I fear I may still run over my points today, as I've just said sod it to having pizza next door with the boys for dinner. I do hearby solemnly vow to only have 2 pieces though, and to fill the rest of my plate with spinach and some sweet chilli sauce.
It's been a gorgeous day - the weather was a bit shakey earlier, but we persevered through it and the sun eventually made its much awaited appearance - yay!!! Aside from the picnic, we've played in the dual-layer maze, messed around in the adults adventure playground on the zip-wire and trampolines, and the big slides, we've played frisbee and rounders and I've been goofing around with my mate's diablo.
So today marks the start of a fresh week. No crazy saving of points this week, as although I am away in London this coming weekend, it shouldn't be anything too lethal on the healthy-eating front. It'll be nice to be free to play with my points a bit more this week, which allows me the little luxuries of things like pizza tonight. There should still be plenty of exercise, as B will be over tomorrow night, and I've got spin and running club on Weds and Thurs. I also think the hotter weather helps, as I'm more inclined to eat lighter meals and have more salad on my plate.
I've got a little mini challenge on for myself to try and beat the 14 stone marker round about the time I head to Norway in a fortnight - I have no idea if I'll get there in time, and honestly it's not the end of the world if I don't, but it's a nice little thing to keep me focused for the next two weeks.
Hope you've all be enjoying this early summer sun - I certainly have as my somewhat red right shoulder will bear testament!! I'm going to leave it here for today and potter about and do a bit of tidying before the pizza's ready.
Catch ya later, kids!
We've spent today having a picnic at the nearby Ragley Hall, and playing in the park - no kids involved, just a bunch of very immature and childish young adults! I pointed my picnic before I went, but I fear I may still run over my points today, as I've just said sod it to having pizza next door with the boys for dinner. I do hearby solemnly vow to only have 2 pieces though, and to fill the rest of my plate with spinach and some sweet chilli sauce.
It's been a gorgeous day - the weather was a bit shakey earlier, but we persevered through it and the sun eventually made its much awaited appearance - yay!!! Aside from the picnic, we've played in the dual-layer maze, messed around in the adults adventure playground on the zip-wire and trampolines, and the big slides, we've played frisbee and rounders and I've been goofing around with my mate's diablo.
So today marks the start of a fresh week. No crazy saving of points this week, as although I am away in London this coming weekend, it shouldn't be anything too lethal on the healthy-eating front. It'll be nice to be free to play with my points a bit more this week, which allows me the little luxuries of things like pizza tonight. There should still be plenty of exercise, as B will be over tomorrow night, and I've got spin and running club on Weds and Thurs. I also think the hotter weather helps, as I'm more inclined to eat lighter meals and have more salad on my plate.
I've got a little mini challenge on for myself to try and beat the 14 stone marker round about the time I head to Norway in a fortnight - I have no idea if I'll get there in time, and honestly it's not the end of the world if I don't, but it's a nice little thing to keep me focused for the next two weeks.
Hope you've all be enjoying this early summer sun - I certainly have as my somewhat red right shoulder will bear testament!! I'm going to leave it here for today and potter about and do a bit of tidying before the pizza's ready.
Catch ya later, kids!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)