What a day!

So today I splashed out on a new computer for the household, bought a SodaStream, took the dog to Balmedie Beach for the first time ever, made arrangements to meet the man's cuz tomorrow (very excited for our catch-up!) and made supper. I'm also in agony from the strain put on all my joints over the course of today. I have a feeling there's something building and getting worse, but I'm too scared to go to the doctors in case they tell me I do have some form of condition. I'm hoping I haven't got hypermobility syndrome, but seeing as my joints are super duper flexible, crack all the time, I struggle from knee and back pain and have done all my life, and my hip seems to dislocate itself but doesn't really go the whole hog, I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that I may well have the condition, or something even worse!

However, I'll be doping myself up with painkillers for the next few days to see how things go and take it from there. If there is no improvement what-so-ever, I'll go to the doctor and find out what's going on. But for now, I'm happy to carry on living my life. Let's face it, I might not have much time to do all the active things I really want to do! I could well be dependant on medication within a couple of years and unable to go horse riding, or walk the dog along the beach. I struggle as it is because of the strain in my wrists and right elbow, but if it gets much worse, I'm going to have to get creative on how to exercise her with the minimum of input from me!

Anyway, my plans for today sort of went out the window. I did do a couple of loads of washing, put the dishwasher on, clear up the kitchen and tidied most of the bedroom, but there is so much more I should have done. Saying that, I'll rather save it for when it rains again and take full advantage of the sunshine and warmth when it's here! I'd be a bit crazy if I didn't...

Tomorrow consists of a coffee and catch up session with the lovely L and then home to do some more cleaning/tidying and maybe even a spot of cooking. I also need to catch up on all the laundry and set up the gym in our old bedroom. Can I be bothered? I'm sure you all know the answer to that!

And now, a new section of my blogs: Question time!

Q: Does anyone know how I can improve the pain in my joints? I already take glucosamine, have been losing weight and trying to work out but so far, nothing has made any positive changes. If anything, it's getting worse! What can I do?

Answers on a postcard!

Holidays

I have finally managed to get 3 days holidays from work. Woohoo! But these days will be very busy. On Monday, I plan to gut the house, build my desk, set up the gym then go buy our new PC, and also a soda stream so that we can have fizzy diluting juice as often as we like.

On Tuesday, I plan to start pushing for new fiddle pupils, travel round putting out mini flyers and business cards, take the dog for a walk up the ben (if its a nice day) then get ready for the next day. I also plan to do some cooking but that's low on my list of priorities right now.

Wednesday brings about a new start. I am going to meet my new pupils in Insch and then getting my hair cut at home by a new hairdresser. I'm excited. I'm excited about the whole week, really. But it is going to be a hard one. I would also love to be a fly on the office wall tomorrow, lets just say that!

Right, sleep times for tonight. I have a busy day ahead of me...

Crazy Day

I've been horse riding, I've hadn't car in the garage, bought supper and have been unable to eat it. I feel like rubbish and have been cold since I got home. I have a feeling I am getting another stomach bug but I hope not! However, I'm a happy bunny. I got to go horse riding and booked myself a hack for next weekend.

I'm also on the look for a job - even if its just a part time one. I am starting to teach on a Friday night shortly but there's a chance it could turn into a full time job. How appealing that is! Imagine, earning money for doing my hobby?! It would mean going self employed but that doesn't worry me at all, what with having my dad on hand to help and give me the advice I so badly need at times!

I had hoped to get back on plan this week and so far has been ok but tonight, after having no energy and feeling poop, we ordered a take away. However, I've been unable to eat so haven't put on any weight!! I also took the dog for an extra long walk last night. Donald said he would take her out this afternoon but he was very tired when he got home from work so that never happened. But she'll get a good walk in the morning and then when I get home from work. At this rate, she will be walked out! Good job, really. It will save her demolishing the kitchen...

P.s. I like my iPad. It's ace and I can type on it like a laptop! Roll on the day I get a Bluetooth keyboard for it too. Saying that, I'm awaiting a new cable since the cat ate mine within a minute of being plugged in. Little psycho.

Oh well, good night! Lets hope I sleep tonight after all today's excitement!

Improvement?

No. Not really, anyway. I'm still off my food since Thursday and I've had a stomach bug all weekend. And the man is still down too. This has been a long 4 days and counting :(

But, on a different subject. We have decided to stay where we are and not move for a few years. We're going to upgrade this house instead as its perfect for us and it just needs some touching up and a little work. If we put our stamp on it, we will be happier here and hopefully it will also increase the value a little. We're not expecting it to rise by much, but the work we have planned should at least increase it by a couple of grand.

Anyway, I'm going back to bed. Not that I've been out of it much since last week. I think we also need to debug the house as its probably toxic in itself due to the amount of time we've spent in it.

I must buy a steam cleaner...

The lurgy!

Well folks, it's been a while. I've lost weight, put on weight last week and this week I missed group because I had to take the man to hospital - he was rather unwell. However, what we thought was something more sinister has turned out to be a dangerous flu. Which is also highly contagious! Within 6 hours of him having symptoms, I was starting to feel clammy and ill. So here we are, on Saturday night and we've been in bed the whole time, with fevers and horrific coughs. And the odd bout of sickness thrown in for good measure. Put it this way, we've become well acquainted with our toilet recently.

I've managed to eat a banana today after all the food I had yesterday made a reappearance at 3am on Saturday morning. After an emergency trip to Tesco to get flu mixture, cat food and lucozade, we haven't moved or had anything else. I wonder if we will have lost weight by next group...?

Lets hope this dreaded lurgy passes soon. I don't think I can take much more of it!

Ax

Decisions.

Lots of things happened today. My application to move our mortgage was declined because I'm not earning enough money to pay the new mortgage which is less expensive than this one that I'm managing easily to pay. Go figure. I also found an interesting job which I may well go for. It's an admin job at ARI with the NHS. I'd be working in the Occupational Therapy unit, doing data logging, referral logging, stat collecting, salary paperwork, general office work like photocopying and the likes, answering phones, booking appointments for clients, yada, yada, yada. Basically, everything I do now :) it's a great opportunity to get my foot on the proverbial ladder and I'd really enjoy the challenge, and all the typing, copying and stapling the job promises! Is that sad??? I just love typing and speaking to people and filing things. What's not to love?

I phoned dad tonight to get a bit of advice - is this the right thing to do, what should I do? That kinda thing. So his verdict was YES, go for it. Once you have a foot in the door, you're in. It's more money, there are options to move through the service, train for what you want to do. Go and apply. So I will :) I will have it completed tomorrow once I find a second referee. I can't wait to send it in and see if I can get it. I'm young enough to train up, I get on well with everyone and I am very hardworking. All good points, I think! Anyway, I'm off to bed. I have lots to think about and do tomorrow before work. Lets hope I get things sorted out!

Night night :) x

Small world?

It's been weird this week. Been off for most of it because of these damned gallstones or whatever is going on beside my stomach, but I made it for a swim tonight - 50 lengths!! And I made a new friend :) I'm getting quite good at that and it certainly makes the time go quicker if you have someone to swim with. Hope I meet in with her again!

And I've been looking at some other career options, like opening up a coffee shop or youth cafe or something similar. Or a wee restaurant with homely food. It would be ace. It's my dream job and I could do it no problem as I have my hygiene certificate so that's a huge plus! Woop!

More to come on that at some other time. I'm now watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Shame I'm sore again but I'm hoping that after the man from Scotia has been, I can have a nice relaxing weekend and anniversary :) it's 3 years tomorrow, by the way!

Cheerio for now. I currently have a cat licking my hair. Pleb.

Disaster

I've been feeling quite poorly lately. We fell off the band wagon after finding a fridge empty of any meat, nothing that would be ready immediately and the lack of enthusiasm to do anything in the house. So I've likely put on weight this week. And to make things worse, it looks like I now have gallstones. Could this year get much worse?

However, we've had a good day on plan today. I know it's not enough but I'm going to get my stone loss next week. I'm sure of it - as long as I can actually do more than sit around in pain next week. I really want to go swimming but I'm scared to in case I do some damage to myself. Typical!!!

Naughty weekend

After losing 2lbs last week and starting back at the gym, we were naughty this weekend. Friday night was pizza night (after a swim), Saturday lunch was left over pizza and supper was steak with my cream sauce. Today wasn't much better with having chocolate, museli for breakfast (the good part!) and a roast chicken dinner with the skin. The rest was free but the skin made it bad!

But we got it out of our system so it's back on track from now on. I've stocked up on veg and fresh meat so we are ready to go! And out gym plans will be ready for our gym sessions tomorrow.

However, we have a crazy few days coming up with selling the house but the gym and a swim session will relax me every night so fingers crossed I will be ok and lose some more weight, while making up for the weekend. Lets hope so!

Off to bed now with supernatural playing in the background. Happy bunny!

Ax

Back to the gym

So we signed up to our new gym on Monday and I paid on Tuesday morning. Today was my first day in and guess what I did? I went SWIMMING! Ok it's only a 12 metre pool but I did 25 lengths :) 15 then 10 after a breather in the jacuzzi. It was fab and I've never felt better! I feel so much better for it and didn't feel sore or tired after so long may this last. I'm looking forward to going back too! I may manage a quick session tomorrow or a bit of the gym too but will depend on the packing situation.

It's also group tomorrow night so I'm hoping for a fairly decent loss for once! I've been a bit disheartened lately but this week has been so much better and I've had so much fun cooking delicious food. However, I have a bit of trouble when it comes to buying something for lunch. Ill have even more trouble tomorrow as I'm not going to be buying anything from a shop but from a cafe or something similar! Unless we go to the Spotty Bag and I have bacon and a fried egg with beans. That would do me fine!

A wee side note about swimming. I must pack a better shower bag and make sure I have moisturiser as my skin has been so dry today. Even tonight, it's not taking on my cream. This could be interesting!

Anyway, I'm off to sleep. Going to get up early again so I can fit in a gym session before leaving for Banff. I'm sure I will have time if I get everything done by 9am which means I will be able to get a plan made up at the gym and a quick swim afterwards. I think this is going to work. Gym and swim before work? I think so!

Night folks. I'm very optimistic tonight :)

Hopeful

Hey guys an' gals! I'm not long back from group and have now lost a total of 9.5lbs. Not a huge loss but its better than putting it on! I'm back on track finally and going to stick to it totally this week, increase my exercise and hope for a much bigger loss! Aiming for 3 lbs this week so lets go.

I'm looking for ways to increase my exercise, and Sarah, we need to get going at the gym - time is growing shorter ;) haha! I'm also looking for volunteers up help me pack up the house this weekend. I will pay you in food and drink and banter?! Pleeeeease??

That's all for tonight but I'm going to try and write more often. It really helps me stay focused! Oh and I met some really cool people at group this week so at least I won't be a loner again!

Happy bunny :)

Monday...

After my third trip to "group" last Thursday, I've lost a grand total of....... 5.5lbs! I'm fairly happy with that as it's a more constant weight loss and more achievable every week. However, Mr M, in two weeks, has lost 13.5lbs! Not fair! I really must up the exercise to lose some of this weight! If the loss just increased to a steady 3lbs a week, I'd be laughing :)

I must admit though, this last few days have been a little more challenging as I've not had the energy to go shopping for the food we need to eat healthily all the time. I need to make more of an effort but I've been tired and I feel so ill :(

On the home situation, I have a dog who has decided that eating flour (and the bag it comes in) is a great idea. She also thinks stock cubes are fantastic and enjoys eating the little foil packs and the box they came in too. She's a total fud. Very cute, but a numpty. When I came home from work, there was flour everywhere - even after D had cleaned up most of it - and she had it all over her nose, up her nostrils and it was gloopy around her chin where she'd tried to drink water while covered in flour. I'm surprised she's not stuck to the floor yet!

Anyways, I'm thinking of packing off to bed. After feeling tired, dizzy and crappy all day, I need some sleep in my comfy, cozy bed!

Night!

Food Diary - Take one!

As requested, I'll put a food diary up. Don't get me wrong, I can have my off moments but hopefully this will give a jist of what to aim for!

Today - 18th January 2013

Free Foods: fat free natural fromage frais, sweetcorn (including corn on the cob), bacon (all visible fat removed), eggs, mushrooms, baked beans in tomato sauce, beef, carrots, cabbage, courgettes, onions, noodles, rice, liquid stock concentrate, chicken, coffee, tea (including herbal tea), low calorie squash, low calorie fizzy drinks, mineral water, potatoes

Healthy Extras:
a) 250ml semi-skimmed milk
b) nothing today... (other starch products go here! Wholemeal bread, cereal bars, etc)

Syns: Sugar 1 level tsp (1 syn), Blue Dragon Stir Fry Sauce sachet Chow Mein flavour 1/2 pack (2.5 syns)

The free foods category should be as FULL AS POSSIBLE! Anything in here is totally free, meaning you can eat as much of it as you like. Just make sure any meats you have are lean and cooked without fat (or use some fry light)

You get two healthy extras a day - an A choice and a B choice. A is your calcium choice and B is fibre, so use them! I just suck at having bread during the day unless I have toast at some point.

Syns are the fun part! Each food outwith your allowances or free foods carries a syn value. You can have between 5 and 15 syns a day. USE THEM! They stop you feeling deprived of anything you'd normally eat. You can save them up for the weekend if you're going out, like I'm doing, and then just be good the rest of the week to make up for it. Simple!

Hope this helps a little :)

The Big Moment

Week One Loss: 3lbs!

Booooo yahhhhh! I ate whatever I wanted, as much as I wanted and I lost 3lbs! Just think what I could have achieved if I actually got off my bum and did some exercise? In just a few months at this weight loss rate, I'll be at my personal target weight. It's maybe never going to get me into the orange area on the BMI scale, but that's not important to me. I'm too big in build to be 11st. I looked ill when I was 13st. So how about 13.5st? That's a happy medium!

I just can't believe I managed to do it. I'm so glad that I have some readers and that I have the support around me that I need to follow this journey. You're all amazing!

Anne x

Group Week 2

It's my second "group" tonight and I'm a little nervous. And excited, I suppose. I want to see if I've actually lost anything, because I can't see any difference and I can't believe that I can have lost anything while eating that much food! I've had heaps during the last week, not felt hungry at all and yet apparently most of the foods I've been having have been "free". Well, I hope I've lost something because, if I haven't, I won't be going back! Well, I probably will because I need to lose this weight, but I'll be cutting down to tiny portions so that I'm guaranteed to lose weight. I mean, right now I'm sitting having a Muller Light Greek Style Luscious Lemon yoghurt, which is only 1/2 a syn. It tastes so creamy and tasty that it should be illegal, and yet I could have 30 in a day and still lose weight. Well probably not, but you get the idea.

Anyways, after joining the club, the inside of our fridge is totally different. There's veg, meat and some salad items. I have tons and tons of pasta and rice and tatties in the house too because we can eat loads of them all too. And I have fry light which, believe it or not, is a godsend! That stuff is brilliant. I always thought it would taint the food, but you don't taste it and it really stops everything sticking. If anyone wants to cut out the oil and fat in your diet, GET THAT STUFF!

I can't say I've done any more exercise than I ever used to, but I have a Zumba and Your Shape Fitness Evolved games for the Xbox that I'm going to start doing (if I have the energy!) so that should certainly help, and will help me keep track of the exercise I do without having to do any extra stuff outside. The dog is enough in this darned weather! She may love snow and ice, but I certainly don't!

I'm just trying to waste time now before I go to group. If I get too bored, I'll either end up eating something I shouldn't (not that there's much in the house to choose from) or I'll leave so early that I'll be the first person at the group. If I leave in 10 minutes time, that should get me there with plenty time to spare and will maybe avoid me sitting there like a loner - I might even make a friend! Well, maybe that's pushing it, but you never know!

Would it maybe be a good idea to start putting up some food diaries? What do you think? Let people see what I'm eating and maybe encourage others to follow suit?

SPEAK TO ME!

Too Good To Be True?

There is a debate in my head whether this eating plan (it's not a diet) is too good to be true or not. I've eaten breakfast every day since we started, I've munched constantly on "free" snacks like fruit and yoghurts, and my meals are still as huge as ever even though they're packed out with veg and cooked with no fat (except some Fry Light on the odd occasion). However, after stepping on the scales today, I appear to have lost 4lbs. What? I am seriously sceptical, but I'll keep going til Thursday then will weigh myself after group to see if my scales are right. If I really have lost 4lbs in as many days, I'll be at my target in no time!

On a more serious note, Dad has been in hospital so today was spent running back and forwards to Insch, with a visit to a show home in between, as well as dumping off two rather large cheques and buying three boxes of sweets for him to give to the staff at the hospital. However, we've found a house we really want to go for. It's a 4 bedroom semi-detached house in the middle of a new build estate so it's going to be completed in October. And it's in Insch. Woop! There's also a massive garden which is completely fenced in - perfect for the pup. And there's plenty space for the cats, good shops nearby, excellent walks to take the mutt on and many of my friends stay in the village. Ace!

So, yeah. Things are a bit weird just now, but I've lost (possibly) 4lbs, Dad's out of hospital and we've found a new house. Blimey, what could happen next?

"Group"

Well, that wasn't so bad. It was nerve-wracking going in, since we were bang on 6.30pm but the room was a hive of activity. The first person we met was so friendly and introduced us to Tracy, our group leader, who was so encouraging. She sorted us out with packs and paperwork to fill in and then set into the discussion of the new pack. It was so much easier to understand once she had gone through it with everyone. After that was finished, it was time to sign up officially and then get weighed after we received our cards.

I'll admit I wasn't quite as heavy as I anticipated, but I was only a stone off the 20 mark. EEK! So, with a new found confidence in myself, the group and the plan, I believe I can do this. In fact, we went in past Morrisons on the way home to buy fruit, veg and items which we're allowed to have by the bucketful. Then, I made up pasta boxes for D and I with chili chicken that we bought. Mine has broccoli and sweetcorn in it. YUM!

So, I'll update tomorrow after I've sorted out my food diary, worked out what I'm going to have for the next few days and find my feet with this whole plan and new lifestyle.

Wish me luck!

Today's the day...

We start our weight-loss group tonight. To say I'm a bit nervous is an understatement. However, after reading the advice and success stories from other people who have been on the plan, I've decided it's definitely the right way for me to go. I can't wait to feel my jeans being just that little bit looser than they are now. I can't wait to see my bingo-wings shrinking, my double chin becoming a single one. My turkey neck turning into a human one. It's all so exciting, this new journey I'm about to embark on.

But. There is one question that has been niggling my brain for a few days. If I lose all the weight I need to, what will happen to the excess skin? Will it just shrink away or will I need to have an op to remove it? It's just my brain over-thinking things again but it seems like a valid question to which I can't find an answer.

Anyone like to advise me on this?

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the meeting, making new friends, finding people to exercise with and share stories with. You never know, I may even develop a social life!

I'll let you all know how I get on tonight... if I make it through without bubbling, crying, fainting or turning into a giant tomato. Going bright red in new situations is not the best look...

EEEEK!

Only two days of normality to go. When I say normality, I mean unhealthy eating and a SERIOUS lack of exercise. We're starting our plan on Thursday (random day, but that's when the group is) so until then, I'm going to enjoy my last two days of eating huge quantities of baguettes, Jarlsberg cheese and generally things that I shouldn't be eating anyway, but will.

So for lunch today, I had 3 chicken thighs from Morrisons - including that juicy, juicy skin. A half baguette stick thing, with some Country Life spread and a massive chunk of Jarlsberg. I'm washing that down with a can of Barr's Cola. Yum! For pudding, I'm going to have a Muller Light Strawberry Yoghurt and probably some chocolate too. So bite me.

Yum!

Day One

Breakfast was a fail. After sleeping in, I'm only having some form of breakfast now. And that comes in the shape of coffee. Some nice, strong, milky coffee. I did use semi-skimmed milk, right enough, but still. I'm now ravenous. And it's not even lunch time!

Saying that, lunch has been planned - we're having the hairy bikers beef and ale casserole I made a couple of days ago, along with some new tatties and maybe a few bits of broccoli too.

I need to get a drink of some sort, though I suppose it needs to be something without sugar in it. I could maybe accustom myself to drinking Earl Grey tea most of the time? And maybe some green tea thrown in as it apparently burns 70 calories a cup. Oh the things I over hear while out shopping...

So far this morning, I've not snacked, and I'm very impressed. Although the vending machine right outside our office door is very tempting right now. It's not long til lunch though (hopefully) so I'll get a good feed then!

Determination

It's Sunday, 6th January 2013. I'm around 20 stone. I really need to lose weight for various reasons, including health and upcoming events, so there's no better time than the present. I have healthy cookbooks and have decided that I shall be attending my local Slimming World class here in Inverurie, which starts on Thursday next week. Wish us luck - oh yes, Mr Podge is coming with me too. Moral support, and also he wants to lose a bit of tub too. I want to lose 7 stones, and the mathematicians among you will work out that my target weight is 13 stones. Genius.

After the meeting on Thursday, I shall update on the plan we're going to follow, our height/weight stats, and anything else I think will be relevant. I will also make sure we both take "before" photos, but I won't be posting them up as I don't think you want your eyes to bleed with the sight of me, really. If you did, I'd be hellish surprised!

Anyway, That's my plan for losing weight and keeping it off. I might even try to include food plans every few days and also how I've found it, update on weigh-ins, etc.

So, today:

Breakfast: 2 rashers bacon (dry fried), one large mushroom and 5 cherry tomatoes (halved) dry fried with black pepper, one poached egg, one slice 50/50 bread with a little olive spread. The mushrooms and tomatoes got a drizzle of balsamic vinegar over the top too. Usually breakfast never fills me up, but it filled me up completely!

Lunch/Supper: We went to the carvery, so I had lots of roast meat (lean!) and loads of boiled carrots, cauliflower and a little gravy over the top. I had 3 roast potatoes and a yorkshire too, with a glass of irn bru, but it was my last chance to indulge like that for a while!

So wish me luck as I embark on a proper lifestyle change and lose weight while I'm at it.

Ax