Thou Art Being Tested Verily..

Wednesday my mother goes 'ooh I have chest pain'.. 999

Thursday.. ECG & blood test indicates a minor heart attack (if it can be minor in the circumstance), gets told she is staying in 8 days so they can monitor her & perform an angiogram +/- stent removal/reinsertion.

Friday.. Interview at 1330.

This is a week to test even the most erudite & dedicated of followers of watching the weight. But I have been good & am sticking to it.. I can't slip.

But the good news is my mum is doing okay & it's just a matter of waiting now until the procedure. At least I am getting exercise with the housework.

But I really don't like being tested. As the saying goes 'What doesn't kill me will only make me stronger'.. That is a test I really don't want to test if you get my drift.

Woo Hoo!

I am now 17 10.5lbs following a 3.5lb loss this week at Weigh In..

Am so happy I could run around naked, but I shall spare you that.

I can't think at present, so I shall leave it here & think of something to say later.

bye x

A Notification On Differentiation..

Took a pic of myself Thursday night & wanted to see if there was much of a difference.. It sounds stupid, but I may feel different, but to me, I didn't look different. It is hard to put into words how I feel about my body sometimes.

So here we go..


Above is me at 20 stone 8lbs.. & below is me at 18 stone exactly..

I still have a ways to go, I mean my body is still holding onto a lot of fat that you can't see in this pic & my face still is a little chubby, but I am getting there.

Ooh one more thing, I am having (3 minute) boiled eggs in the morning with soldiers, yum! I can't wait.

The journey of a thousand miles..

Is said to begin with one step.

That's what I thought when I ventured out of this afternoon & did a 15 mile walk.. I followed the canals of Manchester & ended up on one of the best walks I have done up to now. The weather was mild, & I even wore 3/4 length pants which was really good. I did wear other clothes by the way, not just me walking around in just pants.

Oh yes, & I lost 2lb as well.. Which was nice.

I am now 18 stone exactly & am chuffed to bits.. It is slowly coming off & I am beginning to see the difference more each time. My skin is healthier, my body is liking its new shape a bit more, I can walk better & (as today is testament to) further. Some of my old clothes fit & friends are beginning to notice too.

I read in Men's Health that walking on an incline is as effective as jogging on a straight road, ask long as it is brisk & increases your heart rate, you can burn off as near enough the same calories as jogging. Well, I am not sure if that is true, but it means even though I am walking I can be safe in the knowledge that I am doing myself just as good as if I was jogging. I did the whole walk in 3 hours, which is pretty good if I say so myself & most likely have destroyed some nasty calories too.

But the main thing is I am walking twice a week & seeing the benefits, I no longer get breathless even climbing the stairs, or even up a hill.. It is funky.

So am now off to bed as my body has decided to reward me with this tiredness.

Good night x

A Deliberation On Determination.

I had some bad news before.. Basically this job that I wanted I didn't get.. Slightly depressed.

So what do I do? I get a banana & 2 apples.. Hmm? Normally I would say 'feck the diet' & go eat something that was extremely greazy (yes I know it is with an 's', watch the ape of death scene in The Mighty Boosh) & has dubious acclamations to its origins..

But I unconsciously went into the fridge & got those 3 pieces of fruit out.. Which I think is an amazing milestone. Pat on the back for me x

So I wonder if I can carry this on, & bring myself to stop eating emotionally, or because I like it. This shows me I can do it..

Yes I enjoy fast food, because it tastes nice. But so does the food I cook from scratch.. I made a fab chilli con carne using WW sauce, vegetables & minced beef (obviously) & it tasted divine.

But is fast food enjoyable cos it is readily available, or is it education vs ignorance?

I can attest to the love of fast food, as after work I came home, ordered it & just vegetated.. It is that simple. Because of this, I fell into a habitual circle that exacerbated & ended up with me being morbidly obese. That was me being ignorant to healthy foods, or a healthier lifestyle, & it impacts on everything you do.. but being overweight his habit forming & the circle just sucks you in.

Now though.. I still have some way to go, but I am saving money & also, feeling much better. I can walk better, sleep better, I feel more confident & my friends see it too. .

So through education of WeightWatchers I am able to see a better me, a healthier me.

I never used to tell anyone I was on WeightWatchers, now I proudly tell everyone.

It is something to shout about x

Consider My Timbers Shivered!

& why would the main brace need splicing for that matter?? Oh well..

Have just come back from WI & lost a remarkable 5lbs! Which I am so chuffed about, as this is the weight I was prior to the christmas inhaling incident.. So with renewed vigour I can begin again x

I think it is partly because I have cooked fresh all week & done some good walks.. either way, it has worked.

Also, I can fit into my old suit (well, when I say old, I wore it once 3 year ago when it fitted) so there is a bonus.. Have got an interview later on, so will be wearing it with pride.

So today is, I have declared, a good day.. So arr harr Jim Lad, Yo Ho Ho, & a bottle of Diet Coke..

There be treasure upon that map arrrr!

x

Destination: Unknown

I fear my minions on my challenge will not love me when they check their inboxes this morning.. I have set a mini-goal which I don't think they will like..

Allow me to explain. Each week I give them a mini-goal to separate the monotomy of the challenge & to provide a distraction to an otherwise stressful time when we have to lose weight. Mostly it has been simple things..

• For one day of the week, instead of having that treat, eat a piece of fruit
• Reduce one product you use, such as Flora Light to Flora Extra Light
• Do one Press Up a day

But this one, oh boy.

I have asked my minions to not use their bonus points for a week (well, up to wednesday anyway).. & I feel it is a good one, just not going to be widely accepted.

The idea came to me when I was watching Supersize Vs Superskinny, & it was that the club that Anna Richardson has set up g & go on these challenges each week, then show how many calories are lost & offer them the choice of being able to eat a treat (cheese, cake, chocolate) or bank the points, ie just don't use them at all.

It then came to me that you find people having Bonus Points & occasionally staying the same or putting on, & usually the saying 'well, I did my exercises' & I wondered, could it be down to the Bonus Points?

I am not trying to take anything away from them (well, for a week anyway), but I sometimes think do they give themselves more points than they should or because they are exercising thinking 'well, one more X won't do me any harm'..

So until wednesday I have requested they don't use their Bonus Points. & for the people who don't exercise? I have asked them for half an hour a day to exercise, be it in whatever form they desire; Oh & to not use the Bonus Points.. Should be interesting.

Am feeling good this morning, have had scrambled egg on toast at 0700 & feel more human for it. Not planned my meals today, I shall stick my head in the fridge & mooch about.

Which gives a bit of randomness to the solemnity of the event.

Bye x

Well..

Um? Do you know last post I said I know I have put on weight this week?

I lost half a pound.. I don't know how, & I am not going to question it. I'm just grateful I didn't put on.

& on the plus side, I didn't pay for it & I got a free weightwatchers magazine, for helping out.

Which was nice x

Okay who stopped time?

Last thing I remember was it being last wednesday.. Has it been that long since I last posted? Sheesh..

Okay, not the best week this week, have followed the diet for 5 days roughly (& not all in order), I partly blame the half pound I put on.. But I mostly blame myself.

It is so easy to say 'Well, it's because I put on' rather than say 'I couldn't be bothered', so I am to blame & now the truth has come out, I can begin afresh.

Because that is what this is about.. Weightwatchers isn't a quick fix, it isn't about being good all the time, it isn't a competition. It is about discovering yourself, eating well & most of all, changing your lifestyle. So what if I have a week where I can't be bothered? That is just an admittance of being human, not weakness.

We need to have breaks in the diet otherwise we would all go mad. It is about being able to realise that & try not to blame others, or inanimate objects that do not govern us, or are there because we put them there.. that half a pound of fat for example.

So that Itch has succeeded temporarily to halt my path of righteousness but only for this week, there are still more to come.

I know I have put on this week, I can feel it.. But, I have done 2 big walks this week (one took 2 hours, the other took 3 hours) so I have still had my exercise.

So back on the diet now.. No excuses. I have to be slim for July.. Apparently it is going to be a really good summer & my tshirts are crying to be freed from oppression.

All in good time x