Showing posts with label weight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weight. Show all posts

Staying on Track








So last week didn't exactly go as planned - damn those tasty Halloween Monster Mallow Cakes from Greggs the Bakers!

My weight came down by 2.8lbs but then I binged again after that and put it all back on plus 0.2lbs. 

I have been back on track again this week though, so I'm interested to see what the scale will read on Saturday (I have decided to make that my official weigh in day!).    I haven't binged this week and hopefully I can continue this streak I have going! Ha!!  My trainer (who is also studying Psychology - very hand!) told me about a book she is reading for her course.  It's called "The Hunger Fix" by Pamela Peeke.  It's all about food addictions, over-eating and how to overcome it.  I definitely think this is something I should read.  I need to let go of the vicious cycle and just DO IT already!



I created a weight loss reward thingamabob today and it really helps to break down your weight loss in to smaller chunks and look forward to a treat (non food of course!) in the very near future!
My 45 pound loss reward is booking our Florida vacation for next year!!  And my ultimate reward will be a new wardrobe and shopping spree in Orlando.  My other rewards include small things like new leather gloves, mani/pedi, massage, new pyjamas - that kinda stuff.  When I did a similar reward list last year, I did reward myself quite a bit!  Though most of the treats and rewards on my previous list were things I had to do for my wedding anyway! At least I earned those rewards tho =)

I had a new gym program created for me on Monday night, and let me tell you, it ain't no walk in the park!  Prowler shuttle sprints are included in this, and boy, are they BRUTAL!!  I just love being back in the gym and lifting weights again!  My cardio is also a lot more interesting now than it used to be when I worked out at a chain gym.  Also there is nothing better than slamming a ball into the floor with full force ;-)  Gets all the anger and frustrating right out :-)

I'm still thinking of what to write in my "success story", but hopefully I will get it done by the weekend!!  It will be interesting to see what I envisage my future to be like! 





Back to the old!

It's been a reaaalllly long time since I blogged here......or anywhere else for that matter, but I was thinking about this blog earlier today and I realised I really missed it.  I started blogging here away back in 2008 - My goodness has it been that long?!   And I also realised that I've never "made a change".  Not a permanent change that is.  I have been up and down with my weight during this whole time - in fact for the last 8/9 years!  The  lowest I got in that time was last year when I got down to 165lbs for my wedding in Orlando.  And do you know what?  Even though, I wasn't at my goal weight, I realised I feel really good when I stick to my goals, take care of myself and make time for fitness.  I look back at my photos from last year, and I think "Damn, girl!  You did good!  You look good, and more importantly, you FEEL good!"   So, why on earth did I gradually give all that up again.  I realise more and more that I really am crazy!!

So, in the spirit of getting back into health and getting fit again, I figured I would rekindle my old blog. I won't promise I will write every day, or even weekly, but I hope I can use it to help me back on the path to health, wellness and feeling fit!  AND actually Make a Change this Time!  =)

I actually joined a new gym a couple of months ago - and I hope I will be able to share it with you in future posts!  Until then, here are just a few photos!  As you can see (or not see!) there are no treadmills or cardio equipment like that (except for 2 spin bikes!).  Big tyres,  ropes, sledgehammers and prowlers are all you need to get your heart rate up!  Ha ha!!





Happy Monday everyone!!



2nd Weigh in Results!!

Hey guys!  Another week has passed and I am still sticking to my plan!  This is the longest I've stuck to a plan since last year!  


Start Weight:  197 lbs
Last week's weight: 191.4 lbs
This week's weight:  189.4 lbs
Total lost so far:  7.6 lbs 

I'm so glad I'm out of the 190's already.  My work trousers are starting to feel looser again.  They had actually gotten so tight that I had to unbutton them when I was sitting at my desk.  Bad, right?!

Since we had a mini-heatwave here at the weekend, I dusted off my bike on Sunday and had short 3.55 mile cycle.  It felt so exhilirating to be back out and feel the wind and sun on my face.  I have also been doing Cardio Boxing, Step and Goal kicks on the X-box Kinect EA Sports Active.  If you don't have a Kinect, I would highly recommend it!  The options for fitness and fun seem to be endless (I sound like I'm advertising for them, but I'm not! lol)  and I just cannot wait to buy the full version of Dance Central.  I have been doing the demo version over and over.  I can't wait to try Cascada's Evacuate the Dance floor dance routine, it looks awesome!

Tonight I hit up the gym too!  I'm following a routine from the bodybuilding.com website which features Jamie Eason - love her!!  If I could look like her, I would be one happy gal =)  

I warmed up for 10 minutes on the treadmill - 5 minutes walking then 5 minutes running.  It always seems to amaze me that I can go for a few weeks without going to the gym and yet I always seem to have the stamina to start running for more than 2 minutes.  I must be fitter than I think.......hmmmm!

My resistance training was as follows:
Upper Body:
Push ups - 2 sets of 15
Side Lateral Raises  - 2 sets of 12 (2kg, 3kg)
Dumbbell Bench Press - 2 sets of 12 (7kg each side)
Tricep Kick backs - 2 sets of 12 (2kg, 3kg)
Seated Cable Row - 2 sets of 12 (15kg) <----wimpy weight!
Alternating hammer curls - 2 sets of 12 (2kg, 3kg)
Back extensions on fit ball - 2 sets 12
Abs - air bike - 2 sets of 12 (24 in total)

Do one circuit with no rest between each exercise.  Rest for 1 to 2 mins and repeat!

I finished off my workout with 2 minutes on the Stair master (hate that thing!) and then 15 minutes alternating running and walking.  I burned almost 600 calories in under and hour!  Holy shizzle Batman =)

That's all I have to report for now!  Hopefully my blog background and things will return to normal soon - it looks crazy right now.

Hope you are all having a kick-ass start to the week!  

Adios, amigos.

Maple Syrup Pancakes, Walking and Pro Points explained.

I am so rubbish at coming up with a good title for my posts!

Anywhoo, back to Weight Watchers.  The new Pro Points!  As I said in my last post - I totally love it!  I weighed in on Thursday at 192 lbs =(  That is my highest weight ever.  And a little too close to 200lbs for comfort!  I am so glad I feel this confident about the new plan, otherwise I'm sure I would be full of despair about my weight.

I won't post a "before"photo yet.  I feel that's all I ever do!  I really need to get moving on making the "after" photo.  I have loads of Florida photos that will make for a good "before" picture anyway!  I will only be brave enough to show them when I see a significant difference in how I look.

How the Pro Points system works:

The new PP system works completely differently from the old Points system.  PP are now worked out by how much protein, carbs, fat and fibre a food has.  Before it was by calories and saturated fat.

Each person will be allocated a personal Pro Points allowance for each day, and everyone gets a Pro Points weekly allowance of 49.  (That is my favorite thing about this new plan!)

You cannot save any Pro Points for another day - so if you don't use 'em, you lose 'em!  And if you go over your daily allowance, fret not!  You just dip into your weekly allowance!   You could have more points each day, or save your allowance for a night out, drinks or just a fabulous meal!

You can still earn Activity Pro Points too.  You can choose to "eat" them, or just use them to help you get to your goal faster =)

Oh and I almost forgot!  Fruit also has a Pro Points value of 0!  Yes, ZERO, ZILCH, NADA!  This also makes me want to reach for fruit a lot of the time also!

But even though you can eat as much fruit as you like, WW advise that you use your common sense and don't eat past the point of fullness.  Just eat until you feel comfortably full, and then STOP.


My allowance for each day is 29.   Tonight, I had a Chinese Takeaway.  Now normally if I have something like that, I would go for fried rice and eat the whole thing!  But I weighed out my BOILED rice (no point in wasting Pro Points now is there?!) and I had half of the Beef and Mushroom dish I had ordered.  And I had a lot more mushrooms than beef!  It was yummy!  And all still within my weekly allowance.

And this was for my lunch yesterday!  Dieting has never been so much fun!
Carrot and Ginger Soup with a Ham, Tomato and Basil Toasted Sandwich with side salad.

For brunch today I made a recipe from my WW Pack we all received when the new system came out.

I added a sprinkle of cinnamon - yummy!

Maple Syrup Pancakes & Pears   - 7 Pro Points per serving (3 pancakes per serving) Serves 4.


125g Self Raising Flour
2 Medium Eggs - beaten
175ml Skimmed Milk
6 Tblsp Maple Syrup
1tsp low fat spread (suitable for cooking)   - I would just miss this out if you have a non-stick pan!
2 x 400g tins of pear halves in natural juice, drained




Place the flour into a large bowl.  Make a well in the centre, add the eggs, milk, and 2 tablespoons of maple syrup.  Whisk together until completely smooth.


Warm a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat.  When hot, add the spread and leave to melt.  Add the batter in large spoonfuls to make little pancakes about 8cm across.  Cook for about 1 minute until bubbles start bursting on the surface, then flip over and cook for a further 30 seconds until both sides are golden.  Continue with the remaining mixture until all 12 pancakes are cooked.  Set aside in a warm place.


Increase the heat and warm the empty pan.  Add the pears and remaining maple syrup and cook for 2-3 minutes until hot through and starting to caramelise a little.  Serve a stack of 3 pancakes with the syrupy pears on the side.  





Because the pears are zero points, you can have as much as you like - just don't overeat past the point of fullness.

ENJOY!!  You can also freeze the pancakes - but don't freeze the pears!

This was delicious!!  The pancakes weren't too sweet, but with the pears they were just right!

I also went to the park with Molly today and walked 2 miles (around the park twice!)  It was a lovely brisk cold day and it felt good to get out in the fresh air!  I took some photos, but the light wasn't very good - the sun was disappearing quickly!

Molly loves just jumping around the leaves!
Molly wanted to get to those swans so bad!





















Lesley, thanks for your support too!  We can do this =)

I'm going to go have an Options Hot Chocolate with a Galaxy Bubbles bar and watch Keeping up with the Kardashians!!  

If you want to know anything else about the plan, just ask!

Here's to a great week!!!

New bike!!


Kenny got me this for our 9 year "anniversary" on 11 August! He is so adorable! I love that guy!!

For the last few weeks, I had been thinking about getting a bike - as I have been so inspired by Bitch cakes and her biking adventures on her gorgeous "Hello Kitty" bicycle in New York! She got to goal just recently and she is just awesome! So I had been looking online, and just thinking about what kind of bike to get. On Wednesday, Kenny was doing some overtime and texted me asking if I wanted to go to KFC (ha ha!) and he would pick me up from home on his way back from work. So, I thought this was an ideal time to go into the bike shop, which just so happens to be across from KFC!! So I was wandering around, and I was immediately drawn to the bike shown above! And then Kenny came over and said, "that is your bike, we're here to pick it up" I was just in shock!! He knows me so well! I almost started crying, but the bike guy was looking at me funny! lol

You can't really tell from the picture, but it is dark pink with butterflies on it - it's so cute - I totally love it!!! I went on it last night for a test ride and I ended up with about 5 kids running alongside me! And wanted to know what apartment I lived in so they could ask me to go out and cycle while they ran! Now anyone who knows me, knows I do not like children! lol They are too loud, cheeky and just messy - I much prefer dogs - they are cute, furry and do not talk back to you (well sometimes!! lol)

Kenny has also ordered himself a new bike, so we will be able to go bike rides together! I did suggest a tandem but he didn't like that idea!


On diet news, things are going BADLY! I have been stuffing my face with everything in sight for the last 3 weeks. I don't know why I do it. It makes me feel sick, guilty, horrible, fat! But I seem to wake up every morning and think "what can I eat first??"

My training at the gym has been good though! I had a half hour PT session on Monday and boy was that TOUGH. I then did the half hour spin class straight after my PT session and I loved it this time around! I really pushed myself and burned 700 calories all in during the hour! My legs and shoulders were so sore for four days afterwards. It's only now I feel I can walk properly again!

Only 3 more weeks until we leave for Florida!!! I am so excited!!! I need to get my diet under control and at least lose 10 pounds before I go.............. sounds easy, huh?!


A quick post!


Hey y'all!! Hope you are all well!

This is just a quick post because it's already late - and nearly my bed-time! I rejoined Weight Watchers last Monday, and weighed in at 182 :( That was bad! Tonight was my first weigh in and I lost........

3.5LBS!!!

Initially, I said to my leader "Awww, is that all??" But now I realise losing anymore is just unrealistic - I have been eating my treats, having pizza at the weekend and still having my chocolate at the end of the day - I so look forward to having my Cadbury's Crunchie! :-D I also tracked every day last week! I tracked online, in my tracker I get each week at the meeting, and on my WW points calculator!! Phew! I'm not sure how long all this tracking will last, but it makes me feel more in control. I have also noticed that my diet is sadly lacking in veggies, fruit and protein! Oh dear! I did managed 4 servings of fruit and veg one day last week - but I know this is not enough! I find it difficult to get all that in! I am back on the Green Monsters too!! They are so good :)

I took a load of pictures last week, and I kept meaning to do a post, but time just got away from me. I'm working a bit more just now as sadly one of my colleague and friend got some devastating news last week. Her husband has just been diagnosed with leukaemia, just a bolt out of the blue, and she is under so much stress. I can't begin to imagine how she is feeling and managing to cope with it. It's just terrible. I hope you will keep him and his family in your prayers. I pray he is going to get through this.

Sorry to be a downer on this post. I hope to finally set some proper time aside in the day to do a daily post, but before I know it, 2 weeks have passed!

I need to go prepare my lunch for tomorrow, and hopefully I will be able to hit the gym after work!

Hope everyone has had a great start to the week!!

Hugs to you all!

Last year vs This year! Comparison pics!

I was looking through some pictures the other day and found my "before" pictures from when I started this blog almost one year ago! Click here if you wanna read it! I then compared them to the pictures I took for the "Biggest Loser" Challenge and although I am nowhere near where I want to be - I was surprised at the difference!

My measurements from 7 November 2008

Waist: 37inch
Hips: 48 inch


I took my measurements on 24 October 2009 and are as follows:

Waist: 33 inch
Hips: 44 inch

I took more measurements but I don't have a comparison from last year! But yay, a total of 8 inches just from those 2 measurements!! Imagine what I could have lost by now if I hadn't gone up and down all year! But hey, imagine if I just gave up! I would probably have a 40 inch waist if I had given up -thank god I stuck this thing out!

So here are my pictures!
BEFORE - November 2008


DURING!! September 2009


This week hasn't been as good diet or exercise wise. I have been off work this week (vacation time!) and because I have been out of my routine, I have been snacking way too much - I forgot to post my weigh in result from the weekend! I was down to 172.8lbs! So close to the 170....... I hope I haven't gained too much when I weigh in this weekend!

Speaking of the weekend - we are going to the Roller Derby!! The Glasgow Roller Girls in Carrie on Skating!! I can't wait - I would love to try Roller Derby - it would be so cool! I will take some pics and post them at the weekend!

I so need to catch up with my blog reading - I am WAYYYY behind!



Biggest Loser Challenge - Starting stats and photos!

Oh my god, I'm scared to post these! It is as bad as I feared :-( Hey it can only get better, right?! So here are my stats:

Weight: 175.8 lbs
Body Fat: 42.7% - LBM: 95.6

Waist: 34 inch
Hips: 46 inch
L thigh: 26 inch
R thigh: 26 inch
L arm: 12 1/4 inch
R arm: 11 3/4 inch (my arms have always been different sizes! Weird!)
Bust: 41 inch
Under bust: 35 1/2 inch

So there you have it. My starting stats for The Biggest Loser Challenge - check out Losin' My Thighs Blog if you want to take part!! We can all support each other in this journey!

And here are my "before" photos!!!



I can't wait to see the BL show tomorrow night - as part of the challenge, we have to try to exercise while watching the show! I will hop on the exercise bike at home while watching it! Yay! So ready for this!!!


A new blog, a fresh start


This blog, will  hopefully become a place where I will regularly update what's going on in my life while trying to lose weight and get fit.  I have had other blogs before, but never seemed to be able to keep them going.  This time I want to make that commitment to keeping this thing going, no matter how little or how much I have to say!  There are so many great bloggers out there, and to follow in their footsteps would be great :-)

So here goes....... since this is mainly about my health and trying to lose 60 pounds, I will post my stats below.......eeeek!

According to Tanita scale.... Measurements:
Weight: 187.6lbs                   Waist:  37inch
Body fat: 45.4%                        Hips:  48inch
Lean Mass: 97.4lbs

Yikes, those are scary numbers.  They can only go down from here!! 

Here is a before pic.......



7 November 2008



Here is a pic from Feb 2006........around about the time I started gaining weight....


Approx Feb/March 2006