Start all over again...

31^st August 2011

Stumbling is not falling - Portuguese Proverb.

That quote was on the Weight Watchers facebook wall yesterday, followed by “What are your tips for re-focusing on the ProPoints plan?”  This week in meetings it’s all about going back to basics and that’s exactly what I did yesterday.  I invested in a new tracker book, took my measurements, worked out my 5% target and was thrilled because my goal is actually less than 5% away, so I’m hoping by the end of this tracker book, I’ll be maintaining my weight. 

I managed to lose the 5lb I’d gained the week before when I got weighed yesterday so I’m chuffed and back on track, I haven’t tracked the last week just been sensible so I was thrilled that I’d managed to get through the bank holiday without doing any damage.  It’s 3 weeks till I get weighed by my area manager so I’d like to do a few more pounds by then. 

I sat yesterday afternoon and picked out a couple of recipes from the new One Pot cookbook, going shopping later to get the ingredients for ‘layered potato bake’ and ‘cheesy spinach pudding’, I couldn’t make it yesterday was missing a couple of ingredients, plus I had leftovers from the weekend that needed eating. 

I’m halfway through my 0-5k 9 week programme, so am absolutely thrilled about that, I’m not very far with my cycling training though and it’s only a month away!  I need to get my behind on my bike or I’m going to suffer after doing a 25mile bike ride, I’m starting to wish Lynne hadn’t talked me into it ;D, but I’ll get a grip and get on it, at least the running is building my fitness levels.

Another member to goal yesterday, I’m just loving the success my members are having on the ProPoints plan, it’s fabulous to see so many get to goal. 

I read this in a magazine at the weekend and thought it worth sharing;

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FIND FUN BEYOND FOOD
Food is addictive because it generates feel-good brain chemicals. The more calories, the bigger the buzz, when times are stressful, food and drink can become our main source of pleasure. Find something else that gives you a buzz: even simple things like a cuddle with someone you love or playing with the children. Plan activities to look forward to, so you don't look to food for your pleasure fix.

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It’s true isn’t it, as soon as we have a bit of stress in our lives we head for the kitchen, if we feel miserable, we know a cake will cheer us up.  I’ve definitely benefited from getting myself more of a social life over the last few months, looking forward to my ladies that lunch Fridays, and even taking the kids out over this last 6 weeks has given me something other than food/drink to focus on.  I loved my life as it was but I have to admit having less time to vegetate on the sofa has definitely given me less time to think about food and getting active has given me more energy to be more social. 

So are you with me, are you going back to basics and heading toward goal? Xx

Tell me what you want, what you really, really want...

30^th August 2011

Car boot sales are Gods way of telling us, seriously - we've got too much stuff. Chris Evans

I had a super early night last night, 8.15 and we were snuggled up, I obviously needed it and so did Alfie because when I woke up at 5 this morning he was snuggled in my arms bless him, that doesn’t happen very often, he usually sleeps on the window sill or at the bottom of my bed.  Yes I’m now fully refreshed and ready for my short working week. 

I did manage to do my ironing and cook a dinner yesterday so I hit my two small goals I’d set myself and rewarded myself with an afternoon in front of the tv with red wine and an early night.  Today’s mini goal is to track and stay within my 29 daily ProPoints allowance, I shall officially weigh this morning as I wasn’t able to yesterday and I’m feeling good about it.  Also if I have time today I’d like to cook a recipe from the new one pot, it’s a spinach something, looks delicious.

What’s kept me going with my weight loss efforts over the last few years is realising it’s not a race, there isn’t one goal to reach, there’s lot’s of them because the journey is continual, I know as long as I breathe, I’ll watch what I eat because if I don’t I lose focus which usually results in weight gain.

It’s possible for us all to reach our weight loss target, and it helps by using goal setting along the way.  And goal setting can be used for any aspect of your life, not just your weight.  It's often easy to focus on one aspect of life and then suddenly feel that other areas have been 'neglected'.

When having a goal in mind, you’ve got to ask yourself how much you want to achieve that goal, for example how much do you really want to be able to run 5k on a scale of 1-10, for some of you it may be a 2, for me right now it’s a 9, I really want to do it, that’s what motivates me to get my trainers on, on a Sunday morning after I’ve already walked the dog for 90 minutes.  You’ve got to desire the goal to be able to motivate yourself.

Do you believe you can achieve?  It’s important to check whether you believe you can do it.  Some of us want things but don’t believe we can have them – are you secretly sabotaging yourself through negative thinking?

Expecting it to happen - begin to speak as if you are going to be doing/achieving it – talk to people, saying that your goal is really going to happen. You might then get support from unexpected opportunities.

Action - do something about it today –taking action will move you out of thinking into doing.

So whether the goal you have in mind is weight orientated or something else, once you’re focused on it, you then “cut the flab out of your life by tracking where you're spending all your time, money and energy. Ditch the things that drain you and concentrate on the gainers.” This can be activities such as watching mindless TV, or gossiping negatively, to not sleeping well. Removing energy wasters from your schedule will allow you to focus more on what you want.

Why not spend some time visualising your success, apparently if someone visualises in their mind’s eye what they would look like, feel like and what their inner dialogue would be when they’ve achieved their goal, this sows the seed of thought in your mind and motivates the person to move towards their goal.  Maybe by doing a ‘walk through’ or dummy run of the future in your mind, it might help to motivate you.

You could pay a life coach a fortune to help you realise what you want from your life, or you could just sit down and be honest with yourself, I think we all know what we want, sometimes we’re just scared to admit it.   

We deserve it...

29^th August 2011

The here and now is all we have, and if we play it right it's all we'll need.  Ann Richards

If all else fails – use blackmail ;D that’s what I’ve done this morning, my mates losing weight and has lost her focus a little over the last few weeks, so I’ve just motivated her with a little blackmail, lose this – get this, it works for most of us.  So what would you like as a reward for losing weight?  Do you reward yourself?

Why not set small goals and relish the achievements you make along your weight loss journey.  Every time my mate loses 4lbs we’re gonna book something to do, so we have something to look forward to, it might be a trip to the cinema, lunch out or a spa day, all depends on how much money we can find. 

It’ll certainly help make the journey more enjoyable and getting to our Goal Weight more likely if we set mini goals and reward ourselves along them way as we reach those goals

By celebrating the small stuff along the way, our long term goal won’t seem so far away, it’s good to stop and realise what you’ve achieved.  Someone once said to me, “You’re constantly looking to climb the next hill, sometimes it’s good to stop and enjoy the view”, that’s stuck with me ever since and now I still enjoying ‘doing’ but I also enjoy stopping and remembering what I’ve done.  If you don’t celebrate the journey, the finishing line can seem a long way away. 

So what kind of mini goals can you set, at the moment, my 9 week goal is the 0-5k running app, I started week 4 yesterday so almost half way through.  It’s important to come up with goals that are unique to you and the challenges you face with weight loss. Keep them realistic and varied, and track them closely. For example, you might make these three goals:

I will walk 30 minutes five days this week.

From now on, I will record everything I eat each day (regardless of my food intake).

I will clean up the kitchen tonight without picking the leftovers off the dinner plates.

Then, when you meet one of your mini-milestones, give yourself a reward. Just like your goals, your rewards should be varied and unique to you. And they don't have to put a dent in the scales or in your wallet (unless you want them to).  Here’s some suggestions;

For £5 or less, why not...

·         Sip on a cup of tea in a cosy café.

·         Finish the day with a long, soak in the tub with a glossy magazine. Everyone loves a good bubble bath once in a while.

·         Enjoy a leisurely Sunday morning — take the phone off the hook and spend the morning in your pyjamas reading the newspaper, a book or magazine.

·         Savour a celebratory glass of wine with dinner.

For £10 or less, why not...

·         Start a 'pamper me' piggy bank: Put away £10 for every pound you've lost.

·         Pick up that new book you've had your eye on.

·         Download the latest album from your favourite band.

·         Buy a relaxation tape and use it daily.

·         Make a delicious dessert from the new Weight Watchers one pot cookbook or from Your Week.

For £20 to £45, why not...

·         Get a manicure or a pedicure .

·         Splash out on a subscription to your favourite magazine and enjoy an hour to yourself when it arrives on your doormat every month.

·         Treat yourself to a haircut or blowdry, or a 30-minute massage.

For over £50, why not...

·         Devote the entire day to a shopping spree for a new pair of shoes. Athletic shoes, that is, to help you earn activity ProPoints® values.

·         Splurge on a bottle of expensive Champagne and toast this celebratory occasion — you deserve it.

·         Enjoy a spa day.

·         Hire a professional cleaner for the day — they can iron, cook or clean while you relax.

I’m sure you can think of lots of rewards, some that don’t even have to cost a penny, my reward usually includes making time for me to do things I enjoy that don’t usually cost anything.

My reward today is if I cook some meals for the freezer I can sit and watch tv for the rest of the day, if I iron too, I can have wine later.

Gutsy Smurf

27^th August

I would rather regret the things I have done than the things I have not. Lucille Ball

Mmm opps did you spot my typo yesterday!  I missed the F out of ‘shift those pounds’, if only it was that easy ay, an extra trip to the toilet every day and lose a few pounds – never gonna happy so more activity and sensible eating it will be instead then. 

Spy kids film wasn't as bad as expected, I actually enjoyed it - popcorn and happy meals not helping the plan though but I only had a happy meal (because I wanted a gutsy smurf) rather than big mac meal and I happily left the popcorn - I'm getting better. Kids are so comical and clever, little Jen yesterday said to me, 'I think I know why you don't want children - because your stuck with them forever' this way you get to take us back. Wise child! Will (9yrs) on the other hand spent a car journey explaining the war to me and Jen and telling us we don't need to worry because we are safe here.

If you ask my mates, they’ll tell you I’m a bit of a big kid myself and that’s why their kids like me, I’m known as “Looney Longsden” and “Barmy Bev” by their kids, Friday they were singing a song about me which went, “Bev is bananas, B A N A N A S yes Bev is bananas…. You get the drift ;D but I can be a ‘responsible adult’ when I have to be and obviously just spending a short amount of time with kids means I’m able to give them my undivided attention which they love, heck isn’t it what we all love, we all want attention.  There’s nothing worse than being ignored, I experienced it myself yesterday, I was having a conversation with someone and I realised it was one sided, they were talking but not listening, I tested my theory by stopping my sentences midway a few times and he didn’t notice!  Very frustrating and it made me stop talking, not much point if no ones taking any notice is there.  Another thing that’s great for kids and also adults is PRAISE, the power of praise is phenomenal, and some suggest it’s the single best thing you can do for your child to build up their self-esteem, if they do something good – tell them.  I people watch and yesterday when the two I was looking after were playing in one of those soft play areas I was watching a kid desperately trying to get his mom or nans (not sure which she was) attention to show her something and she just kept ignoring him, his little face was mortified - attention and praise is what we all want and need.  Whether it’s a child being praised for their amazing drawing or a Weight Watcher member being praised for their weight loss, focusing on the positives and not on the negatives is definitely the way to go.  I tell everyone they’re amazing and gorgeous, I call people beautiful all the time because everyone I know IS all of those things.  So make today the day you observe, pay attention and praise those around you.

Today I had planned to do mostly nothing, but after just completing Day 1 of Week 4 of my running app which meant a total of 16 mins in the 30 mins after I’d already been out with Alfie for over 90 minutes, I feel energised, I’m going to paint the gate and clean my car, then I may tackle the ironing or if I’ve started to flag by then I’ll leave it till tomorrow, I'll see how I feel.

The weather doesn’t look too bad today so hopefully some of you will get to enjoy the bank holiday and get out and about. 

Whatever you’re doing – do it with a smile on your face and you’ll enjoy it so much more. xx

Anyone seen Batman?

August 27^th 2011

You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it. Margaret Thatcher

What a glorious morning after yesterdays rain, not sure what it was like here but in Melton Mowbrey at Twin Lakes park it never stopped all day but we still managed to enjoy ourselves and have a fabulous time.  Never thought I’d hear myself say it but I was glad of indoor soft play areas with that rain.  The kids had a fabulous time and they’re so well behaved, the two I took were just brilliant and Katie made my day with her comment, “I can speak some Welsh Lynne”, so I said, “cymru am byth”, her response, “Not that one”, well I just cracked up, so dry, so seriously but so funny.  She actually meant she could do the Welsh accent like in the Gavin and Stacey show and I have to say she did it very well but it really tickled me.   

I’m not rushing this morning, I initially needed to be in Burton for 8.30am but now I can get there about noon, so I’ve had a lie in till 6, Alfie’s took me on a 90 minute walk, we’ve stood a foot away from a robin, we’ve seen two swans with their 5 babies, it’s been lovely, I bumped into my sister and walked with her for a while and chatted.  Great start to my day and now the suns shining, let’s hope it stays that way.  Although I’m off to the cinema so it doesn’t matter what the weather does.  Picnics aren’t so much fun indoors, I ended up bringing most of it back and we had a pub dinner on the way home, the kids aren’t interested in food when they’re playing, if only we were of the same mind ay?!

So my weekend is mapped out in front of my, how you spending your bank holiday, will you be able to stay on track.  I plan to do my babysitting duty this afternoon the watch XFactor and relax tonight, tomorrow/Monday  I’ve got a mountain of ironing to do and a gate to paint and other than that I’m doing diddly squat, I’m mostly going to be relaxing, watching tv, maybe some cooking but I’m not planning anything, shall just do what I feel like. 

Diet wise, I’m not being great, I’m not eating to excess but I haven’t been totally focussed, I just need to make it to the end of the six weeks holidays with these kids and I can refocus – lol, I sound like a lot of my members ;D but seriously we’re having fun and as long as I don’t do too much damage and keep getting weighed and doing my best, that’s all that matters.  This summer has done my mental health the world of good and my physical health is improving too now I’m doing that 0-5k training programme.  As long as you’re doing what you can to keep yourself fit and well, that’s all that matters.  Next weekend will be our last ‘day out’, it’s looking like Blackpool at the moment so we’ll see, then I can get focused and shift the summer poundage and hopefully some of you will be returning to do it with me!

Well I better get a wriggle on, I’ve got two kids waiting for me, and I still have a few jobs to do first.

Have a sensational Saturday.

Feeling good about my life...

26^th August 2011

If you want to succeed in life, pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, 'Make me feel important’!

Good morning, YAY it’s Friday, we’re off out to play today at Twin Lakes, I’m a little tired but I know I’ll soon get going, and I can relax Sunday and Monday because of the bank holiday.
It’s been another great week in my meetings, 3 members achieving their goal and one getting her 50lb certificate and at least half a dozen of you are so close to your goal it’s frustrating for both of us :D

I love to see my members happy and a full meeting, it’s so fulfilling, I’m a very lucky lady to have a job and a life I enjoy so much.  My friend text me yesterday and told me that I was definitely going to heaven, my response was “I don't need to go to heaven chick, I'll be quite happy to go to sleep and never wake up when it's my time, cos for the past 40+ years I've had a ball.”  And as I wrote it, I realised how true it was.  I really do love being me, don’t get me wrong those 41 years haven’t been all roses but I’ve learned from all the experiences I’ve had.  Yes I’ve had a weight problem for at least 24 of those years but without it I would never have the job I do, so those pounds gained were worth it. 

The last few weeks I’ve been noticing how negative people can be on facebook and in person and it saddens me a little to see these people focusing on the negative, instead of trying to see the glass half full.  Yes I have a moan now and again, who doesn’t but dwelling just gets you down so it’s best to say, “o well” and move forwards. 

I’m a responsible adult today!  My mates letting me take her two girls out for the day, I’ll be okay though as I’ve got Lynne bringing her two so I’m not the only grown up.  I’ve got a grown up picnic in the fridge to help us stay on track, it’s all premade except the cobs, I’m too busy on a Thursday/Friday morning to prepare anything so this is the best I can do.  Almost worth going for the food, it looks scrumptious.

Only got one more Friday after today before the kids return to school and I can relax and sleep, I don’t know how you moms do it 7 days a week.
Well my niece and nephews both did well in their GCSE results yesterday, and it seems most of the teenagers I know did well, isn’t that great, I left school with no qualifications at all, but I come good in the end, so if you know someone who’s not done so good, reassure them success is still possible.  I did it, great job, own house and I went back to uni in my 20s and got me an HND or something in business.

Well I best get a wriggle on, I’ve got to be out of the house by nine and I’ve lots to do first.

Have a fabulous Friday. xx

I can afford to eat again ;D

25^th August 2011
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face...you must do the thing you think you cannot do.Eleanor Roosevelt

Today’s the second day I’ve slept till my alarm I really need to turn the volume down and change the station, bhangra on full blast at 5am is not a good sound to wake up to.

How about that rain last night, my poor members got soaked as it started just as they were walking through the door!

Well despite being a little tired this morning, I’m an extremely happy girl as I’ve just been paid for the first time since I became employed by Weight Watchers on July 3^rd, that’s a long time and to celebrate I’ve ordered posh food for delivery this afternoon from Waitrose, some of it will be used to take on our day out Friday so we can stay on track and still enjoy lunch.  In the meeting this week one of the things we’re looking at is what I could take on my day out for lunch and I have to say we can be guilty of being a little uninspiring; it isn’t until we really start thinking about it that the tasty stuff starts to get mentioned.  Good food can be healthy and within your daily allowance,  so when you’re thinking about what to eat, really thinking about it.  We spend enough time thinking about ‘eating’ that we may as well make those thoughts really tasty ones.  The recipe below has had so much feedback that I thought I’d better share it with everyone as everyone that eats it seems to love it.  Plus its really easy to cook.

Cheese & Bacon Lasagne,

Serves 6 - 9pp each, 8pp if using gammon

Prep: 35m, cook: 40m.

This freezable, family-friendly recipe is economical and has a wonderful comfort-food feel about it and recipe can easily be doubled.

3 large onions, halved and thinly sliced

1 ½ tbsp olive oil (6pp)
1 tsp dried oregano (optional I didn’t have any & it was still delicious)
300g pack lean smoked back bacon, chopped (17pp) or 300g lean gammon (11pp)
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes in rich juice
20 basil leaves, roughly torn, plus extra to serve if you like (optional I forgot to use it & it was delicious)
250g pack fresh egg lasagne (check pack for cooking instructions) (10pp)

For sauce

600ml skimmed milk (6pp)
50g each butter (5pp) and plain flour (5pp)
Generous grating fresh nutmeg
50g grated Parmesan (6pp)

Fry the onions in the oil for about 15 mins until golden. Add the oregano and bacon and fry for 5 mins more, stirring frequently. Tip in the tomatoes, season and bubble uncovered for 5 mins. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil.  Meanwhile, make the white sauce. Pour the milk into a pan and tip in the butter and flour. Whisk continuously over a moderate heat to incorporate the flour, then simmer, stirring until thickened. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Spoon a third of the tomato sauce on the base of a lasagne dish. Top with a third of the lasagne sheets. Then top with a third sauce, a third lasagne, and the last of the tomato sauce and finally the last sheets of lasagne. Pour over the white sauce and scatter with the cheese and an extra grating of nutmeg. Chill. If eating straight away, bake at 190C/170C fan/gas 5 for 40 mins until golden and bubbling. Scatter with basil, if you like, and serve with a salad and garlic bread.

To freeze, cool completely, then wrap in cling film, then foil. Will store for 3 months. To serve, thaw for 6 hrs in a cool place. Unwrap and bake at 190C/170C fan/gas 5 for 50-60 mins until thoroughly heated through

Everyone will eat it, not just those trying to lose a few pounds.

Yesterday was week3, day2 of my 0-5k and at the end of the second 3min run when he told me to walk, I didn’t I carried on running and managed 7.5minutes not bad to say the first 1 minute run 3 weeks ago made me think ‘this is never going to happen’, and so far so good my body is coping with the stress of it all, no pains yet.  No running today though, too much to do – starting with Alfie walking.

Have a great day. xx

Ooo what to have?

24^th August 2011

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows." Helen Keller

The best thing about having a weekend of over indulging is when you do get back on track you enjoy it.  I made yet another twist on lasagne yesterday and then for tea last night I had poached egg on toast – mmm sometimes the simple things in life are the best, although I have to say with eggs I only ever buy organic free range, it initially started because of a ‘being nicer to the chickens’ mentality but now I have to say they just taste so much better, so I’m being virtuous and enjoying my food, plus even if each egg cost 50p that’s still a reasonably priced meal when you look at the price of some ready meals!

Sometimes with meals it’s deciding what to have, I love variety and can’t stand the idea of eating the same food all the time, so I’m always looking for new ideas, that’s why I love Weight Watchers because members tell me what they’ve eaten and I go and have it.  Last night my friend text me to say she was on track and had poached egg on toast for tea just as I was leaving work thinking what shall I have, so thanks to her I wasn’t tempted by any of the other stuff when I got home.

I’m hoping to shift that 5lb this week because I don’t think it was ‘fat’ more food retention!  So hopefully it’ll be gone when I get weighed, although that’ll be Saturday this week because I’m not at work Monday which is usually my weigh day, although I suppose it should be Tuesday – we’ll see.

I love that I’ve changed so much over the last ten years, I’m smiling just lately because people think I’ve had a personality change regarding children, they’re all surprised I’m spending time with them – I haven’t changed don’t worry, I still don’t like noisy, nasty kids in my meetings :D, but borrowing a few on a Friday to go out for the day is just fine, plus if I wanna play out with my mates in the holidays, the kids are part of the package.  And lastly – they are seriously great kids, and great kids can be a lot of fun when you’re a big kid yourself.

Not everyone likes change, but it can be good, most people have a love/hate relationship with change. If things stay the same for too long, they get bored but when too many things change all at once, they find themselves desperately seeking comfort.

Losing weight involves a great deal of change, and it’s mostly positive, so usually my members are genuinely happy about it all. Yet, there are occasionally changes through losing weight that can be scary or unsettling.  Have you felt that way? Believe it or not, however you’re feeling about your weight loss or any other kind of change in your life - change is good for you.  WHY?  Firstly because change makes you flexible. Being stubborn and resistant to new things will make a normally stressing situation even more so. Change helps you be adaptable and go with the flow.

Change makes you smarter. If things never changed, you’d never learn anything new. And every time you learn a new skill — even if it’s just how to adapt — you are that much smarter than you were yesterday.

Finally change reminds us that anything is possible. It’s easy to think that anything that’s stuck will always be that way (i.e., the career that won’t lift off the ground or the marriage that’s coasting on neutral or that spare tyre round your middle). But when you see things change, whether it’s in your life or someone else’s, it’s encouragement to know that nothing stays the same forever.

So if something’s not great in your life right now, be brave – CHANGE IT!  You can because you are amazing and you can do anything you decide to do. xx

Those pesky scales!

23rd August 2011

You can make your life whatever you want it to be. Wally Amos

What will you be?

Do you love your life?  Are you happy?  I am, I enjoyed every second of this weekend, the weight will go but the memories won't and that’s why I was still smiling when I got off the scales yesterday morning and it told me I’d gained 5lb – HOW the hell did I do that in just a week, there really is a fat girl in me screaming to get out and she tries every now and again to lead me down ‘Sod it Street’, imagine the damage I could do if I stopped watching my weight, if I stopped tracking and taking care of myself.  Oh my word it doesn’t even bear thinking about, because the last time I did that, I gained 3 stone in a year and I’m never going back there.

How do you react when the scale registers a gain, disappointment can hit hard. Sometimes it’s expected and other times those pesky scale can surprise you. You may have stuck to the plan diligently this week and you're looking forward to weighing in, you step on the scale and you’ve gained, how did that happen when you’ve been on track and got more active? And why bother sticking to it, if it doesn't show on the scales?

I can’t begin to remember all the times I’ve been frustrated with the scales after a gain, and I used to get de-motivated, but these day’s I’ve realised I shouldn’t, instead I congratulate myself for my hard work and stay positive about the coming week. We all know if we stay on plan, eat healthy foods and keep focused the results have to follow.

If you have stuck to the plan and still gained, remember that any number of factors could be the cause: starting a new exercise regimen, not measuring your portions accurately, or consuming too much sodium (which can cause water retention).  So if you don’t already maybe decide to try to be varied in what you eat: get plenty of protein and carbohydrates. Learn to eat real food now so you'll be able to do it when you reach your goal weight.  Why not look at your salt intake, try eating lots of high-fibre foods and make sure you’re drinking plenty of water

Use the weight graph to keep running calculations of your average weight loss per week. Then even if you have a gain, it’ll show that you are losing at a pace that is considered steady and healthy.  Remember you’re aiming for up to 2lb a week.  Why not get that tape measure out and see how you’re body shrinking.
If you’re still not happy go online and vent your frustrations on our facebook group and stay to your meetings for the support you’ll need. 

Remember it’s not just a short term weight loss thing; it’s a permanent life change, eating better and exercising to become a healthier and happier person.  Stick with it. Slow and steady wins the race.  Let’s not forget it took my mom about 40 years to get to goal but now she maintains better than anyone I know and still eats cake!

The nights are getting darker, it’s 5.30am and still dark outside, so make the most of these last days of summer and get out when you can.

Just another Manic Monday

22^nd August 2011

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. Abraham Lincoln

I wasn't ready to wake up this morning after such a full weekend I could've lay there a little longer. My walk with Alfie has sorted me out though, I'm good to go and ready to get back on track too.

If I ever go to Drayton Manor Park or anywhere similar again, I'll definitely take food, I enjoy fast food as much as the next person but only if it's good fast food, not the nasty stuff like they had on offer yesterday and it was overpriced - £2.95 for curly fries that filled a paper cup – ridiculous! At least we had coupons to get in buy one get one free (they're on Drayton website if you’re interested)

Having said that the rest of the day was brilliant even though we didn't go on many rides because of the queues the kids loved it and that's all that matters. Long day though got there at ten and left at seven, boy did I sleep last night.

Today in looking forward to some healthy eating and gonna drink lots of water to rehydrate my body. It's really important to drink plenty of fluids whilst the weather is so hot.

I did manage to do my 30mins of my 0-5k before I went yesterday though, it was day one of week three and I'm up to 3mins running at a time now and still feeling like I want to continue.

The scales are definitely going to be saying 'oh dear Beverley, what you been doing this week', it's not gonna be pretty but it's ok because it's not staying, I plan to get it shifted and the six weeks are almost finished so won't be entertaining kids on days out much longer. We are out Friday for the day again but I'm packing a picnic I'm not eating overpriced junk food that I don't like again.

This weekends a Bank Holiday and I'm going to be earning activity and brownie points painting the gate for mom and catching up with my ironing which I haven't touched in a couple of months I reckon!  And hopefully I’ll get to fit in a bit of cooking too out of the new One Pot cookbook which arrives on Wednesday, I’ve got my advance copy and there’s some great stuff in it.

A week at work to get through first though ;), unlike most people I love Monday mornings, it sets me up for the week and because I had a bit of a lie in this morning, this is gonna be a short blog.  If you don’t like getting up to go to work on a Monday, maybe it’s time to rethink your job, because I saw a lot of people working yesterday who were as miserable as sin – if you’re not a people person, don’t work at a theme park!

Have a marvellous Monday xx

Weight Loss unlikely this weekend...

21st August 2011

The best things in life aren't things.  Art Buchwald

The weekend so far has been fab Friday I was trusted with my mates two girls for a couple of hours. We went to crash, bang, wallop and it's so loud but eventually the noise just becomes background music! After a few hours we all went to the pub for food, four kids and three adults but it sounded like forty five when we were trying to order, I had a great day but it is so tiring entertaining kids and I take my hat off to all parents out there!

Yesterday I went for a spa day and me and Lynne sat round all day doing nothing but chatting, reading, snoozing and eating and it was fabulous. Her son asked her why she couldn't just read her book at home, how do you explain that to a nine year old?

Today we are off to Drayton Manor Park for a day of fun, 12 of us, can't wait, I haven't been to a theme park for a few years.

DIET and weight loss mmm not been a priority this weekend, my happiness and wellbeing has though and life's all about balance. It's important to take care of yourself and just as important to enjoy yourself.

I've realised over the years there's no such thing as a quick fix for anything in life, whether it be your weight or anything in your life. I accept that for the rest of my life I will need to watch what I eat because I have a tendency to overeat, and I happily accept that because I like being me. If a genie turned up tomorrow and told me he could make my weight stay at my chosen number forever but the condition would be I'd lose interest in food and only eat to fuel my body, I'd refuse because I love to eat, I love the pleasure of spending time with friends, enjoying a meal and a laugh. Unfortunately though when we have a really bad weight problem it's rarely about that kind of enjoyment of food, its more often a negative form of overeating that comes from being unhappy in some way. It's the eating we do behind closed doors, the hurried eating, the not even tasting it eating that leads to being unhappy and overweight.

These days I eat well not for weight loss but because I care about myself and my body and I want to be healthy and live as long as possible because I'm having a great time.

Its important to take care of yourself because you love yourself and your worth it.

Think about it if your house is left empty and no one takes care of it, it starts to decay. If you don't tend your garden - you get weeds! We're the same, if you don't look after yourself you don't last and you certainly don't smile much.

And I know lots of women feel guilty about spending time and money on themselves but they shouldn't, you're worth it. When you take care of yourself, look after your body, take some time out then you start to feel good and that filters through to every bit of your life. If you're happy and in a better frame of mind at home you'll be more chilled out with your kids and your partners. They'll love the new you!

So today why not try it, give yourself some attention - it's important, you need it and regularly top it up!

Non-scale victories...

19^th August 2011

“The big, big thing I’ve discovered, the big secret, is that it’s all about how happy you are. People forget your flaws and imperfections if they see you’re happy.” Sienna Miller

It’s ten to six in the morning, I’ve slept like a log and I’m sat drinking a cup of tea before me and Alfie go out and the sky looks gorgeous and rosy, this is my ideal start to the day, the added bonus is I know I haven’t got to rush this morning because I don’t have to be anywhere till 12.  I’ve still got lots to do but nothing hopefully I should have enough time to do it in.

I’ll finish my blog when we get back, Alfie’s ready to go and my tea is drunk, I think he can tell by the noise of the cup when it’s empty because he comes and stares at me.

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I’m back and feel fab; I’ve just covered 5 miles in the last hour and 40 minutes!  My pedometer already has 11,116 steps on it and 2pp earned ;D, me and Alfie did some together then I went out again on my own.

If you stayed to my meeting this week you know we discussed ‘non scale victories’, they are those things that prove to you how well you’re doing even when the scales don’t cheer, you know the kind of thing dropping a dress size, receiving a compliment, running up the stairs and still being able to talk at the top, being about to bend down and tie your shoe laces anything that proves to you that you’re doing fabulously without having to look at the numbers on the scales.

Well my ‘non scale victory’ at the moment is my 9 week C25k challenge which for those that don’t know is The Couch to 5k in 9 weeks running program and I’ve just completed week two and I’m a bit pleased with myself even though I’m still not convinced I can get to the end of it.  Having said that, I’ve just made a promise to myself if I do manage to make it through to the end of the 9 weeks and I manage to run 5k without injuring my joints or body then I will continue to run 5k three times a week to keep fit. 

I kept it secret at first, but I’m rubbish at keeping my business to myself – I’m way to open for that, the reason I kept it secret from everyone was because I was starting something that I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do.   However after being inspired by a friend who already does it and a member who told me she’d gone from not being able to run 30 seconds to running 10 mile and in September she plans to do the Great North Run, I toyed with the idea of giving it a go myself.  It’s something I used to do 25-30 years ago at school and I didn’t like it, I did it because I was made to and I quite good at it back then, but never quite GOOD ENOUGH to win the final and I think that was why I’ve not done it since, I didn’t like the competition side of it, having to go through the heats to get to the final, I’m not a competitive person, the only person I compete against is myself, so I never enjoyed running back then.  I do like the being outside in the fresh air though and I love spending time on my own, giving my head time to sort my thoughts and clear itself out,  so I thought I would give it a go but keep it to myself so I could always back out.   So I downloaded a 9 week training app onto my phone and I’m now running for a minute and a half with walking inbetween and I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’m enjoying it in a weird proud kind of way because I didn’t think I could do it, and it’s making me feel great after I’ve finished.  I might not feel so great when I’m actually doing it but who knows maybe in time I will.  So whatever the scales say for the next few weeks, my non scale victory is risking failure by starting to run.  And I like it because it only takes 30 minutes, so it’s great because I’m so busy and I already get up at stupid o’clock.  What are you thinking?  If it’s mmm I wonder if I could do that, give it a go, the NHS have a free podcast, I paid about £2 for mine as I wanted to play my own music. 

It’s a glorious day out there, hopefully you’ll get to go outside and enjoy some of it.  I’ve got a packed weekend planned, girl’s night tonight, Spa day tomorrow (so you may not get a blog) and Drayton Manor Park on Sunday; I’ll be shattered by Monday again ;)  Whatever you’ve got planned, enjoy yourself. xx