I've come crawling back...

Hey there, readers!

Long time no see, eh?  What's been up with all of you?  :)

Well, I fell off the wagon so to speak for practically a year, the whole time I was working really.  But now I'm back with a bang!  Thankfully I didn't actually gain a lot of weight but as of last week I'm about ten pounds off my lowest weight and I'm 20.5lbs away from goal.

Unfortunately I finished up my job last month (it was maternity leave cover) and I decided to rejoin WW the week after.  I thought it might actually give me a focus and stop me from going loopy, along with more frequent updates here, of course.  Last time I was unemployed, that's when I lost most of my weight, so I'm hoping for more of the same this time.  I'm hoping this year I'll finally, finally reach my goal!

Anyways... Here's how I have done so far:

Week 1 (starting week) - 10st 2lbs
Week 2 - 10st 1.5lbs (- 0.5lb)
Week 3 - 10st 1.5lbs (STS)
Week 4 - 10st (- 1.5lbs)
Week 5 - 9st 13.5lbs (- 0.5lb)

So, that's a loss of 2.5lbs in 4 weeks.  Slow and steady wins the race!  :)

I have some little incentives driving me to keep going, plus my friend has started coming walking with me so we're encouraging each other as she's going to Slimming World.  It's a lot easier to walk when you've got someone to chat to!

Here's what's keeping me going:

• I have a top that I bought a few weeks ago in Dunnes Stores that does fit, but it's not quite right.  Losing another 3 or 4 pounds would make it sit just right.
• I'm treating myself to a yummy Chinese takeaway the second I get to 9st 7lbs
• My 50lb cert is sitting in my wardrobe taunting me, saying "Jane, you don't deserve me!" and it's really bugging me!  I'm back to 42.5lbs lost.  7.5lbs more and I'll make it shut up!
• I've also been saying for years that if I ever got to goal that I'd get my belly button pierced AND get another tattoo dedicated to my weight loss journey.

Fingers and toes crossed that I'm on my way to all of the above!

Onwards and downwards!

J xx

It's been a while...

Hi guys,

This is my first post in about 5 months. I've been working so I haven't really had time to post. The few week's work turned into a temporary contract for a whole year, woo!

Well, since the last post I have actually gained 6lbs. I was 9st 1lb. It has slowly crept back up and I'm now 9 and a half stone, meaning that I have exactly a stone left to lose. I'm a bit discouraged if I'm completely honest here. I thought I had been doing okay, but obviously not.

How do I change that? 6lbs in 5 months is a lot. I was doing so well. I haven't forgotten why I started and I know that the goal is still the same, I just seem to have lost my way.

However, it's not all bad! Last Friday I ran my first ever 5k in aid of The RISE Foundation. I ran it in just over 30 minutes. You know what? I am so proud of myself! This time last year j could barely walk 5k, let alone run it! I never thought I would run, full stop. But now I love it!

So, that's how things are now. Help bring my motivation back! Any advice guys?

J xx

Time to start thinking positively!

Okay, enough with the negativity!  Stop moaning and complaining and feeling sorry for yourself because you put on a couple of pounds!  There's a reason for it, you didn't put in the effort.  But you can change that!  All it takes is a little bit of planning, determination and willpower!  You can do this!

Despite my 2lb gain last week, I've still lost 51lbs.  51 of these bad boys!

Yesterday I did another clothes clearout.  I now have a grand total of four pairs of jeans, two of which are getting loose.  Everything else I have fits perfectly at the moment.  I have no bigger clothes to fall back on so I don't have a choice, I'm getting to goal and that's that!

I've got 12lbs left until I reach goal. Things are slowing down because I'm so close and I was beginning to get discouraged until something clicked again.  I've worked so hard to get this far, am I really going to stop now when I'm this close?  Not a chance.  Nothing is going to stop me getting to where I want to be!  It's so nice to be thinking positively.  I was getting stuck in a rut if I'm completely honest.  That 2lb gain has spurred me on and given me the kick up the arse I so badly needed.

ONWARDS AND DOWNWARDS!!!

xx

So long 2013, hello 2014!

Hello everyone!

First of all I must apologise for my disappearing act, this is my first blog entry since September (I think)...  Things got hectic, I had a job interview and then I managed to get some work for a few weeks in a veterinary hospital.  It's only temporary but still, work is work at the end of the day!

Secondly, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!  I really wanted to STS over the festive period but I have to admit I had a bit of a break out.  And by 'a bit' I mean MAJOR!  No tracking, no exercise, and very little willpower = not good!  

I did start feeling down and very very disappointed with myself but I had a little chat with myself a few days ago and I came to the following conclusion after I saw my photos.  Yes, I may I have put on a few pounds and yes, I may have went a bit mental on the old food over Christmas but I'm still over three and a half stone down and feck it, I enjoyed myself!  On top of that, I know I have the strength to lose whatever weight I have gained.  I've lost almost 4 stone, a few pounds is nothing!

TA-DAH!  I'm not at goal yet but I look damn good if I do say so myself!

Next week is my first weigh in since before Christmas.  I have to admit I'm not looking forward to it but not going isn't an option anymore.  It's better to go, get weighed and deal with the gain rather than not go.  I was 10lbs from goal but I'm guessing I must be about a stone from goal now.  Oh well.  I have to push on towards goal now, I know I can do it!  Onwards and downwards!

- J xx

"Oh you've lost enough weight, you can come off the diet now..."

Hello readers,

Firstly I must apologise for not updating in so long - it's been almost two months!  I've been very busy.  For the last seven weeks I've been doing work experience in a local nursing home as part of the Healthcare Support course that I did this year.  I was working Monday to Friday from 7.45am to 4.00pm and I found it very tough work.  My last day was Thursday so I should be updating a bit more regularly from now on.

So, onto the subject of this blog entry.  Dealing with comments.  Last night three different people in the space of literally about a minute told me that I'm "too skinny" and that I have "enough weight lost".  I've worked so hard to get to where I am right now, I'm 17.5lbs away from goal and comments like this really really irritate me!  I laughed it off at the time but

Maybe it's just me but I feel that these comments are negative rather than positive.  I think people think it's perfectly fine to say things like this because they were so used to me being fat and they think I'll take it as a compliment.  Maybe it's jealousy.

I don't see myself as too thin.  I want to get to goal and see how I look and how I feel about myself and if I am too thin I'll be able to do something about it.  If it were me and someone I knew was working as hard as I am to change their life around I wouldn't tell them to stop, I'd encourage them.

I also wish that people would stop calling it a diet.  A diet to me implies that it's a temporary thing.  It's a lifestyle change for me.  I have no intention of putting the weight back on so I'm going to continue eating healthily and getting my exercise.

Well, I suppose that's the end of that little rant.

Starting this week I'm going to a new class.  Unfortunately my own one has been closed down due to low numbers and my leader is also retiring from Weight Watchers.  I feel a little strange about going to a new meeting with a new leader.  Still, I feel like I'm going one step forward and two steps back for the past few weeks.  Maybe a new class and a new leader is exactly what I need to get back on track.  I feel like I'm stuck in a rut or something.  A kick up the arse is what I need!

Well, anyway, that's all I wanted to say.  I'll probably update after my new class on Wednesday.

Onwards and downwards!

J x

3rd stone and into the 9s - check!

Ta-dah!  This week I lost 2lbs more and got my next 2 mini goals all in one!  I got my third stone and I'm into the 9s!  Okay, I'm 9st 13.5lbs but still, I haven't been that weight in literally about ten years, maybe more!  I can't believe it.  When I saw the reading on the little computer screen tonight saying 3st 0.5lb lost I almost cried with happiness.

I was asked tonight how it felt to have three stone gone.  It's a cliché but I feel like new person.  This time last year I was so unhappy, I was wearing clothes ranging from a 16 to a 20.  Clothes really were just a means of covering myself up because I hated what I looked like.  Today in Dunnes Stores I bought 2 trousers, both size 12 and they fit perfectly.  With tops I'm wearing a 12-14 depending on the shape of the top.

I really don't know if anyone reads this blog on a regular basis but I can only hope that I encourage and help even just one person to take that first step in the journey to lose their weight once and for all.  Do it.  I guarantee you will not regret it.  I've been there, I know all the things that weight stops you from doing - going out, trying things on in changing rooms. buying nice things instead of something to cover you...  Once you take that first step and take control you'll feel your confidence creeping up and it's amazing.

So my next mini goal is my next silver 7, 6.5lbs to go.  My birthday is in 5 weeks exactly so I hope to have it by then or even the next week would be great.

A brand new week begins tomorrow, onwards and downwards!

J xx

Closing in on 3 stone!

Hello peeps, hope you're all well.

Well I'm very happy to say that I'm down 2lbs after a very rough weekend.  I'm 3.5lbs away from my third stone.  I never thought I'd get this far.  I've actually decided to change my goal.  I wanted to have my 3rd stone by August 6th.  I have 3.5lbs more to go and I think I could have that off in 3 to 4 weeks.  So I'm setting myself a 3 week goal so I'll have to push myself a little.

I've decided to put a recipe up in this blog entry for a French Toastie.  I found the original recipe on the Weight Watchers Ireland website.

Here it is after it's been cooked and it's all yummy looking:

And my plate afterwards...

So here's the recipe taken straight from the website:

Ingredients

• 4 medium slices wholemeal bread
• ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
• 60g (2 oz) wafer thin smoked ham
• 25g (1 oz) low fat mature cheese, grated finely
• 1 egg beaten
• 3 tablespoons skimmed milk
• Low fat cooking spray
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Spread two of the slices of bread thinly with mustard, if using. Divide the ham and cheese between these slices and top with the remaining slices of bread. Cut each sandwich into two triangles.
2. Beat the egg and milk together in a shallow bowl and season. Dip the ham and cheese sandwiches in the egg mixture on both sides, until the mixture has been all soaked up.
3. Heat a non stick frying pan until hot and spray with the cooking spray. Add the egg dipped sandwiches and fry for 2 minutes on each side over a medium heat until golden brown and crisp. Serve immediately.

Just a couple of notes.  I was confused.  The ham I have is 2 slices for 1PP so I just used 2 slices.  I used 1 tsp of the mustard for each sandwich.

So that's it from me this week.  I'm off to the zoo tomorrow, weather permitting so I might do a blog entry and post some of my pics.  

Onwards and downwards!

J xx