Monday, 15 February 2010

Party on Dude!

Had a great time at the friends 40th birthday party on Saturday night. My normal tipple of Morgans & Diet Coke were going down a storm, and seeing as I was sitting at a table with people that I don't know all that well, I decided what better to break the ice than a round of shots............................

Anyway, I know everyone at my table a darn sight better now he he. Largely ignored the buffet table, but had a small piece of quiche, some salad and some coleslaw so not too bad.

Drifted lethargically through Sunday and caved this morning to have a sneaky peek at the damage. I am 1lb up from weigh in on Saturday. On the upside, hubby did not buy me any chocs for Valentine's day opting instead to get me a couple of books - no points in those at least.

Once again, I will be working hard this week to undo the weekend gain and and lose another little bit in time for Saturday.

Saturday, 13 February 2010

Safari - so goody

Well I lost 1.5lbs today and it feels great to be back in the swing of things.

Damien (hubby) and I went out for an Indian last Saturday night which was lovely but a ridiculous amount of points spent. Suffice to say, I have been clawing back some points all week to compensate.

I worked fairly hard and consistently on the exercise front all week. 5 x 3mile walks in the evenings after dinner, and 50 minutes last night on the Wii fit. I invested in wii fit plus, and had great fun with the new features as well as the old hula hoop and step plus favourits.

I think in reality, that my losses would be greater if I didn't spend Mondays to Fridays compensating for the weekend damage.

I would say I will try harder on that front, but realistically it won't be starting this weekend. I am out tonight in my home town, going to a 40th birthday party. With my planned meals today, I will have eaten 15 points, and that only leaves 3 extra for alcohol. That just won't cover it I'm afraid.

My good friend and fellow WW'er started back at classes with me in January. She got her (new) starting weigh in, bunked off the next week, attended the week after that, and has bunked off the last 2 weeks. She is so hacked off with herself at the moment, and I am genuinely sorry for her. I am willing her to get her head back in it, but its that old adage about "no-one can do this for you". Hate not being able to help her with this - we've talked at length about the whole subject - but she has at least come out on the walks I've been doing this week. Her starting WW is what motivated me to start way back in the beginning, and I kind of wanted us to finish together what we started together.

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

Reasons to be cheerful

So I'm back in the weightloss zone, but struggling slightly with my paltry 18 points. Some days slightly over some days slightly under, so over the course of the week it evens itself out. That said I have been back attending classes since 16th January and have had 2 losses totalling 3.5lbs. Not startling, but steady and consistent and better than gaining!!

So, keeping with the positive vibe, I have decided to list the anticipated highlights of the next couple of months.

1. I am going to be an Auntie for the very first time. My niece should be making her arrival anytime between end of Feb and 10th of March.
2. My sister - responsible for making me said Auntie - lives in Belgium. That means I will be taking a week off work to go visit her, my brother-in-law and most importantly, my niece - yay!
3. I will be earning lots of activity points by kidnapping the niece and going for nice long walks pushing a pram in the Belgian countryside.
4. I have a semi-posh dinner/dance event happening in March. It's all of my oldest and best friends and their other halves, so excellent company and a chance to put on the gladrags.

So lots of lovely things are happening, and on top of my reasons to be cheerful, I have decided I need a small "To-Do" list. I am a bit of a procrastinator by nature, so I intend to get my finger out on the following:

1. Make a donation to the DEC, for Haiti
2. Bag up the too big for me clothes that have been heaped in the spare room since October last year (yeah really, talk about out of sight out of mind) and get them to the PDSA charity shop.
3. Get the house decorated. I mean we're only talking emulsion and a bit of glossing here, it's not like I have to renovate, but the thought of spending precious weekends that way is off-putting to say the least.

Yup.....................

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Ahem.........A Brief History of Time

So I haven't blogged for an eternity, probably connected with the fact that I went WW AWOL for November & December. Here's why:

30th October - Off to Thailand for 2 weeks "summer" holiday. Stayed at an Ibis Hotel for the first time. Not so much a room as a room-ette and not so much a balcony as a balcon-ette. Getting the picture? This place was tiny but new, spotless and well located. Had a ball. Swam a minimum of 40 laps each day, walked for miles, ate sensibly during the day, drank Singha beer insensibly at night. Got beer munchies and ate things like pizza for first time in eternity. And Swenson ice cream - chocolate and peanut butter ice cream should be a class A drug. Went to The River Kwai, Temple of the Tigers, Climbed Erawan Waterfall, visited Cambodia and visited some amazing temples including Angkor Wat and Siem Reap to name but a few. Visited the Killing Fields at the same time as the King of Cambodia who waved at us, the only tourists at that point, from his procession! Came home 7lbs heavier!

Rest of November - Bit of a blur, but hard going at work getting caught up after holidays.

December - Didn't shift any of the holiday gain, but managed to maintain it for first few weeks of December. Then comes the many many many Christmas events - nights out, days out shopping and lunching, Christmas itself. Wahhh - hello another 4lbs!

New Year - More parties but officially bored with the excess now. Manchester on the 2nd for the last big wahoo - a Golden Wedding Anniversary party. Getting back to WW is now no longer a "need to" situation, it is also a desire.

January 9th - Should be 1st class of the New Year but the awful weather means its cancelled. Start getting into the habit of pointing again, and find I am struggling to keep to the 18 points I should be on. Averaging around 22, but certain that is many many less than what has gone on for the last 8 weeks.

January 16th - Hooray. Back to class and to normality. Gain was 11lbs as expected. Thank God it was less than a stone - a very small mercy at least.

January 23rd - Motivation, willpower, focus and drive all present and correct. TOTM arrives most unwelcomed. Lost 2lbs though, so at least going in the right direction.

And thats it folks. I'm all caught up and ready to go go go.

Thursday, 24 September 2009

Scunnered with myself

Right then, confession time. I go to WW with a good friend of mine and we both had cack weeks diet-wise last week. I guess the slow-down in weight loss has started to get to me and I just found myself not really trying on a few days last week. Which translates to I over-ate on 3 days out of a possible 7. The upshot is - we bunked off the class. I am completely SCUNNERED with myself. (In case you don't know, scunnered means "hacked off". You can be scunnered, have the scunner etc). When I think of the number of times I have coaxed people to go when they know they are in for bad news. Double standards or what?
So a mental slap in the face has been administered and I am really trying hard this week to make up for things.

I went swimming at 9am on Sunday at our local pool, and thats the first swim I've had since my holidays in November last year. Also, swimming on hols is usually more about cooling down rather than exercise so I don't exactly push myself. Well on Sunday I pushed. I am not a great swimmer - breast stroke and back stroke only - but I did manage 26 laps in 1 hour and I was really pleased with that. Fast forward to 2pm Sunday afternoon when the pain in my arms was so excruciating I would've believed a heart attack was imminent. I couldn't believe how sore my arms were!!! Anyway, glutton for punishment that I am, I am going back to the pool again today.

Its the Glasgow holiday weekend this week, meaning I am on holiday on Friday and Monday. The boss, in an act of benevolence, has decided that we can all finish up at 1pm today to "get the best out of the weekend". Three cheers for the boss then!! Hip hip hooray!!

I am still on target to reach my 50lb loss before going on holidays on 30th October. I have a dress that I am still struggling to do up at the boob area, so I am hoping that with continued losses - even if they are small ones - plus some exertion in the pool I will get that bloomin zip up in time. (I'm actually tempted to take a picture of me in that dress and then poll for opinions on how much weight I'll have to drop to get it zipped up fully hmmmmmmmmm)

I do have one NSV that I am delighted about though. 12 years ago (hard to believe its that long ago) I weighed around 9 stone after having lost a lot of weight without the aid of a slimming club. I bought a gorgeous Calvin Klein suede jacket as my reward, which I think I would've worn twice, cos I would've been keeping it for "good". Even though I grew too big for it, I could never bear to part with it along with the other "skinny" clothes that went the way of the charity shops. I tried it on this week - just out of curiosity - and I can button it up!!!! Don't get me wrong - I'm not comfortable in it cos its still tight, but I'm getting there. It's a small thing really, but I was tickled pink with that. And of course its way cool now that its "vintage".

I am stopping all this nonsense about keeping clothes "for good". I am going to wear all my lovely new (or old) gear and enjoy it.

Wednesday, 16 September 2009

Then and Now

What a laugh we had in the office at tea-break today. Conversation was all about food from our childhood, most of us were kids in the seventies, and I noticed the common theme was "heavily processed".

Ahh the memories of crispy pancakes, king ribs, foreign foods such as ravioli from a tin alphabetti spaghetti, french bread pizza to name but a few. Frequently followed by angel delight or arctic roll or jam roll 'n' custard.

I actually cannot remember the last "ready made" main meal I ate, but suspect it was probably a WW lasagne from several weeks/months ago.

Thats another thing about WW - suddenly we are all "chefing" and into making our food from scratch. Even the most inexperienced cooks would be hard pressed not to follow a typical WW recipe.

Anyhow, I am having a good week points and exercise wise this week. I am at my midway point till next WI and I decided on Sunday that the Sneaky Peaks that have been getting out of hand - daily checks am and again at pm - were going to be cut out. Then I panicked and promised myself that I would cut them down - cutting out altogether seemed too much to bear.

Well I managed 2 days without peaking and blew it unintentionally this morning. Got up still a bit sleepy, went to loo then stood on scales!!!! I wasn't in my right mind, I tells ya. Anyhow, I am down a whole quarter pound. Just as well there are 3 whole days left to go then and TOTM will have passed by then too. Honestly hacked off at doing that this morning - it has actually been liberating just assuming that because I am doing all the right things the scales will deliver justice whether or not I am SP'ing.

Of course, if I was really really determined not to fall off the No SP wagon again, I would move the scales somewhere else wouldn't I................................? Maybe when I'm feeling stronger.

Saturday, 12 September 2009

Zipadee-doo-dah

My oh my what a wonderful day!!

I lost 1whole lb today and am very pleased with that. It's been ages (or so it seems) since I've had a whole number to report. Don't get me wrong, 1/2 lbs are okay, but I'd prefer not to make them a habit especially when I am trying so hard.

The weather has taken a turn for the freakish up here in Rainy Town. We are basking in the sun and to celebrate, the hubby and I went for a bike ride. We had to cut it a bit short though, as both of us had very soft tyres, so the going was quite tough. Schoolboy error - we should've checked the tyres before we set off but we are still relatively new to our bikes. Should make for an extra wee bonus point though - we still managed 6k though. It's funny though - I have no recollection of ever pumping my tyres up in my youth. Either tyres back then were more hard wearing, or more likely, my Dad would've done it without me realising.

Got stuck in traffic on the way to WW class today, meaning that I didn't get a chance to have the chat about my ultimate goal weight with my leader that I had intended on initiating.

I have decided that for now, my main goal is to get to 50lbs off before I go on holiday on 30th October. Thailand here we come and I cannot wait. I've had so much enjoyment this year in purchasing the new holiday wardrobe that I may, for once, struggle with my baggage allowance.
I have so many nice things now and its been a long long time since I had to worry about having too many outfits. Normally I would have to get items laundered on holiday to see me through.

Anyhow, in deference to the good weather, a relatively good result at WI today and my bike ride, I am off to treat myself to a very summery drink - 1 Gin and (diet) bitter lemon is being poured out as I type.

Chin chin everyone.

Wednesday, 26 August 2009

The Circle of Life

Well its been a couple of weeks since I updated my blog, and I can't put it off any longer. I have effectively stayed the same for 2 weeks - I lost 1lb and gained it back the next week.

August was always going to be tricky, as I seem to have had a lot of events. I was at my pals sons christening 2 Saturdays ago, I was at my Boss's wedding on Saturday there and I am going to a funeral tomorrow - husbands aunt. I have pictures from the Christening and the wedding that I was intending to put on this blog, but I am such a techno-phobe I need my hubby's help to do all that - so these will come soon.

But most importantly, I am to be an Auntie for the very first time. My wee sister (aged 35 but will always be my wee sister) and my lovely brother in law are expecting their first baby in March 2010. They have just had the 12 week scan so I am officially allowed to blab. Hooooorrrrrraaaaaayyyyyyyyy. I've known for about 5 or 6 weeks but was sworn to secrecy.

I have really mixed emotions about this. My beautiful Mum died 4 years ago, so never lived to see a grandchild. My Mum's death led to an estrangement from my Dad for both my sister and I (too hurtful even now 4 years on to write about) so my Dad won't know he will be a Grandpa. And lastly, my brother in law is in the Army and so they live in Belgium - and I hate that distance at the best of times but especially now. I had a miscarriage 3 years ago at 11 weeks, so I have a bit of a pang over what might have been for myself and my hubby too - it's just never happened for us and I have never investigated this - yet! I am also 38 and aware that time is ticking on - but I just can't face the emotional side of starting the ball rolling with doctors & tests etc. I am such a coward really. Even typing this, I am tempted to hit the back button and erase a lot of this message, but maybe its time I was honest - even if no-one reads this blog I suppose I have "put this out there" instead of internalising like I always do.

The over-riding emotion though is joy and I can't wait to meet my new niece or nephew. I just selfishly want to put my sister in my pocket so I can be a part of it all. When it comes to family we are all each other has got to rely on - excluding our respective OH's of course.

I have pulled my WW finger out this week and am pointing and exercising, so hope to see a return on that when I get to the scales on Saturday. We'll see. I have just over 9 weeks till I go on holiday and I am really trying to focus on that for now. I have one (aged) summer dress that I still can't zip up, and even if I don't take it on holiday with me, I at least want it to fit so that it is not discarded from being packed due to a size issue.

Be excellent everyone!!

Thursday, 13 August 2009

Ouch!

Well I lost 1.5lbs on Saturday and was really pleased with that. Class was interesting too - we did an interactive session. My team was to take on the role of the Unsuccessful Weightwatcher. We had to discuss how things can "go wrong" for you eg not tracking, not weighing portions etc, and we had to list some reasons (excuses!) for not being successful eg TOTM, too busy to plan. We then had to describe how the unsuccessful weightwatcher might feel and just about everybody in the group chorused "Guilty" & "Depressed". Makes you think doesn't it? A half hearted approach isn't going to get you to goal, and if you are in control of your WW plan then you have no reason to feel guily or depressed.

So, all inspired I did mucho exercise at the weekend, walking, cycling, wii-ing - I did the lot. Then I cleared out a cupboard on Sunday and knackered my back lifting a heavy box bound for the tip into the car. So I have been off work for 3 days this week due to excutiating pain and the inability to sleep. Back at work today feeling stiff but with minimal pain. So far so good anyway.

Really really really annoyed that I am going to have to be careful on the exercise front for the time being though. I don't want to waste the good weather by being couped up indoors, so will just stick to some walking. Hope this doesn't have an adverse affect at WI on Saturday (which sounds like an excuse the unsuccessful ww'er from above could come up with)

Gah!

Thursday, 6 August 2009

August Is Conspiring Against WW & Me

But I'm going to try really hard to get into September a few pounds lighter.

After hovering at the same weight for 2 weeks now I am really hoping that WI this Saturday will see me at least 1lb lighter. A sneaky peek this morning is showing a 0.5lb loss - not exactly stirring stuff but I'll take it.

I have been really inconsistent with my exercise regime these last couple of weeks and weightloss has paid the price. I did a huge bike ride Saturday before last and then did nothing worth mentioning for about the next week. Have got back into it now and have been out clocking up the miles on the old WW pedometer. It's amazing how much harder it expects you to work as you get lighter. I have a particular route that used to earn me 3.5 points that now only gives me 2 points.

I should also admit that I have been really struggling with my 18 points daily allowance - I've been feeling a bit deprived for the first time in a long long time. I've kicked my backside into gear over that one though by shaking up my menu choices. I need/want a wee something nice of an evening so I am just making sure I have the points to cover it by lowering points elsewhere. Gone are the days when I could have a Curly Wurly willy nilly cos I had plenty points to spare. I am 4 points a day lower now than when I started and I now have to view the choccy fix as a treat rather than a right!

Anyways, as I said August is busy busy. I have a free-ish weekend this weekend and then, in order : A Christening, Italian Car Day, A Wedding Reception, Girlie Night in Millport. ( I laugh as I type Millport. Any Scottish person reading this would snigger and think "what the bleep is there to do on Millport? For those not in the know its a tiny Scottish Island and one of my best and oldest friends lives there now. We will be entertaining ourselves in the usual fashion - gossip, food & alcohol and there will be 5 of us - so thats a lot of gossip!!)

With the exception of the Italian Car Day, all events include food and alcohol. I don't want to "just" limit the damage - I want to lose weight. I am totally up for that - are you listening WW Gods???

Be good or be careful - TTFN

Monday, 27 July 2009

Where'd the weekend go?

It doesn't seem to matter whether I have a no plans weekend or a hectic one - they all go by too fast.

Had quite a busy weekend as it happens. Got home from work on Friday feeling knackered and shivery and was out for the count by 9pm. Hello TOTM - you snuck up on me this month. Got a STS at weigh in which I'm fine with - the odds on a loss this week were already poor thanks to Hovis thick white slice and Cadburys...............and of course my over-indulging in both of these products!!!

Anyhow, I went on a fairly heavy going 13 mile bike ride on Saturday with hubby and friends. Its amazing how everyone is chatty at the start of a ride and how quickly the chat falls off as concentrating on ignoring how tired you are takes over. It was really hot on Saturday and I found myself wishing for a bit of an arctic blast at one point!

Sunday was all about the "Keep Johnny Walker in Kilmarnock" March & Rally. The day was to kick off at noon at one of the local parks and it had been hoped that many thousands of people would turn out in support. Got to the park just before noon - it was bucketing down with rain and OMG there's only about 100 people there. Looked like it was going to be a total non-event. Anyhow, the plan was to leave the park at 1.00pm and march around the town to finish at another park where the rally was being held. Well I have to say I am very proud of my home town - around 20 thousand did turn out, the weather brightened and if it makes no difference to the final outcome, at the very least no-one will ever be able to say that Kilmarnock didn't care and went out with a whimper. (Got a bit of a lump going just typing this)

Plans for this week are straightforward - best points behaviour! I have been invited to a wedding reception on 22nd August and I have a gorgeous dress that is about 1/2 a stone off of fitting me perfectly. It fits already, but I reckon another few pounds (or a bit of a tone up) will give me a better comfort factor. So that, my friends, is my next mini goal.

Wednesday, 22 July 2009

Just needed to share..............

Well after having achieved my nice 3 stone target on Saturday, I found myself celebrating with lots of thick white (nutritionally derelict)bread - toasted. And then just for laughs I set about a hunk of Cadburys chocolate. How smart and non self destructive am I? In all I went 16 points over my allowance at the weekend and have spent all this week so far clawing them back in points saved and activity points earned. I have 6 more to save/earn before Saturday.

I have to say I am only mildly annoyed with myself. I don't blow out often - I think I needed to indulge those 2 food groups and now I have it out of my system, its back on the straight and narrow for me.

Remind me of this if I am bemoaning a gain or sts this weekend.

Encouraging news on the holiday front though. My good friend and fellow WW buddy has just returned from a lavish 2 week Med cruise with Royal Carribbean. OOOOh the strategising that we had done in advance of her going to minimise the expected gain upon return:
1. Weigh yourself at home before you go so you will know your "home scales weight" if not the ww ones
2. Make use of the on board gym
3. Join in all the pool activities
4. Try to exercise restraint with the food - at the very worst have a good day after a bad day.
5. Have a really good week in the lead up to going on holiday - you won't be weighed in that week so you will hopefully have a couple of pounds lost that WW won't really know about.
6. The promenade deck is a mile long - walk the circuit at least once after dinner.
7. You will have a full week to be a WW angel before you have to face the music and officially weigh in again.

Well all good intentions went to pot on day 2 (having been only 6 points over on day 1). The upshot is her home scales were showing a 9.5lb gain as at Saturday night, and she reckons she has lost 5.5lbs just by behaving herself since then. Of course, this is all semantics and the real results can only be revealed this Saturday at class. But good to know that a rapid gain can be followed by a fairly rapid loss.

All the same, I do not want a gain that big when I get my own holiday in November.

Caught part of an episode of Biggest Loser US on Sky last night - looked like the 1st weigh in. Have to say I'm hooked already - even if I can't quite condone the methods, you'd have to be a rock or something not to feel the joy and despair of these individuals as they battle the bulge.

Saturday, 18 July 2009

Hip Hip Hooray - 3 Stone Lost Today

Or at least 2.5lbs lost today taking me to 3 stone lost in total. This loss is quite significant to me as my last 2 losses have both been a 1/2 lb. Now, I know all losses are good but still........................

I got singled out a bit in class this morning, being that I am the epitome of greatness of course, to tell the class how I was feeling, what I'd done differently this week etc. I got a round of applause too! I told the class I am feeling great, but as to what I've done differently?? I haven't done anything differently except I have eaten all my points (as ususal) and most of my activity ones too. In the past I have had an odd one or two activity points to boost my food ones - but probably less than a quarter of those earned. This week I ate at least half of my activity points. Maybe thats the trick, but I don't know if I'm ready to test that theory week in week out.

It is the Glasgow Fair weekend, meaning that I am on holiday on Monday. Weather is a bit cack but I'm hoping to squeeze in a couple of bike rides between showers. Was considering visiting the Next sale, but as I spent a bomb at Monsoon mid week I might give it a miss - don't want to melt the plastic. Hope to see Harry Potter at some stage this weekend - might try the latest possible showing in order to avoid the over-excited kids.

Lastly - I have finally added a picture of me to my profile. Have to say that was taken about 20 minutes ago. Sadly, I seem to have pretty much avoided the camera for the last number of years - speaks volumes doesn't it? I do have some fatter photos though - I just need to find them.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Thursday, 16 July 2009

A Blog? Me? With my reputation?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Seriously, me with a blog? How 21st century and therefore so not me. I am the least IT savvy person I know, but hey, I'm prepared to give it a go. This from a girl who still finds a calculator with a back button on it a revolution! Will enlist the help of the hubster to make it fancy with photographs and stuff, so more to come on that later.

So after reading the blogs of others, I have a rough idea of how I'd like this blog to go.

I started Weightwatchers (with my friend Marion) for the 1st time in 2007, stuck at it for about 2-3 months and lost a little over a stone (from memory). Then I went on holiday in the November, and by the time I came back I had just lost the impetus to count points, track and basically get on with losing the weight - also Christmas and all the feasting that brings was approaching........................

I quit and can honestly say that I didn't even step foot on a set of scales for the whole of 2008.

Then 2009 came around. My good friend, Marion, decided that she was going to sort herself out and rejoin Weightwatchers and asked if I wanted to come along again. I was not persuaded. And then a mixture of panic, bloody mindedness and determination set in. I knew I couldn't sit back and watch her lose the weight and continue to get bigger myself, cos I knew I would be kicking myself for not getting the proverbial finger out! It was inevitable to me that I would have to do something about my weight "one of these days" so why not just get it done? As a result, I re-joined the week after Marion, on 14th January. We keep each other going, share WW friendly food, swap tips and exercise together.

So, are you wondering why I am only just starting this blogging malarkey this far in? Well, I'm just over the halfway mark now in terms of the weight I want to lose. I am feeling a bit chuffed with my appearance, I am enjoying clothes again, I am fitter and healthier BUT I wanna go all the way. I am hoping that the blog will keep me focussed and add a new element to my journey, and to be honest I think it will help stop complacency setting in.

As for my Blog name? If you know the AC/DC track that this pays homage to, Rosie's vital statistics are 42-39-56 - probably not that far off my own starting measurements.

Here's to success everyone!