Sunday 23 September 2012

Side effects

When anyone loses weight you only ever hear about the positive effects this has. But I have discovered some negative side effects which I wasn't expecting.

Feeling cold!!

I have never felt so cold, so often. I regularly wear a cardigan now and normally long sleeves, unless it's above 25°c. It's obvious why I should feel so cold but something I never thought about. I've lost my cavity wall insulation!

It's only September and i'm already cold most of the time, so am def going to have to get a lovely warm winter wardrobe. But I'm worried about how cold I'll feel when it's really cold & snowing.

Due to feeling cold the heating has been on more than normal. I would put on more clothes, but I don't have any sort of winter clothes yet. This winter is going to cost more than normal :0(

Right, where are my fleece gloves.....?


Today I went to a huge family lunch. We were just about to leave and my son and I were standing to the side. My dad was walking towards us. Then he giggled and came up to me. He said that he was looking at this girl smiling at him and was trying to think who it was. Then he realised it was me. He said that I look so different now, he didn't actually recognise me....his own daughter.

Ok so that's not really negative - but I just wanted to share.

My TV free week - Sunday

8.40am
Just had some fruit for breakfast - apple, nectarine & blueberries. Needed something low calorie as going out for a family reunion at a vegetarian Indian buffet restaurant. So I don't hold much hope for tomorrow's weigh-in. I have actually weighed in today too but I will wait to see what tomorrows weigh-in brings.

Not sure how much exercise I'm going to do today if any. At the moment my aim is to do something this evening.

6.15pm
Just got back from lunch in London. Had 1 plate of main and a bowl of pudding. The problem is that Indian sweets/desserts are incredibly sweet....and totally delicious. They had Gulab Jaman which is my favourite Indian pudding. I had 2 of them and felt totally stuffed. I have allowed just under 1,000 calories for lunch because I'm not sure how much ghee they would have used. Going to just have some toast tonight so that I don't start snacking.

9.15pm
Ok so no exercise tonight and have watched TV - oops ;0) I had my toast and going to get an early night.


This week I have definitely done more exercise this week. Which was my main aim. Plus I've spent some quality time with my husband. So overall I think the week has been a success.

Saturday 22 September 2012

My TV free week - Saturday

9.45pm
Took my son out for a little walk to a local shop this morning.

But generally failed on the whole no tv thing tonight. So no other exercise today.

Been ok on food today although my son & I did have some malteasers for pudding tonight. But I didn't eat all of them and I've counted all the calories.

Friday 21 September 2012

Hairy Dieters

Some of you may have heard of The Hairy Bikers, chef duo in the UK. They recently did a series called The Hairy Dieters. The tv show had about 6 or so episodes.

Both of them were over weight and they wanted to shift some pounds. As chefs they wanted to lose weight, but to still eat great tasting food. So their goal was to replicate everyday good wholesome meals with less calories.

My husband and I watched the series and really liked it. They made some really good dishes. And they both list approx 3 stones each, by cutting down on calories & exercising more. To follow the series they released a cookbook - The Hairy Dieters. I thought that this may just be the cookbook of all cookbooks!!

My sister very kindly bought me the book. I looked though it and couldn't wait to get started. The first meal I made was chicken & ham tangle pie. Well, let me tell you, this was simply the best pie I've ever eaten. It was so delicious and so low in calories. I've made many recipes from the book now including skinny lasagne (pic attached with nice big salad), skinny lemon cupcakes, lamb tagine, paprika chicken and sweet & sour chicken. We had the sweet & sour chicken tonight (see attached pic). It really tasted just like the stuff you get from a takeaway. I've always steered clear of cooking any Chinese food, but I couldn't believe how incredibly easy it was to make.

If you're trying to lose weight by cutting calories I cannot recommend this book enough. The flavours are divine and the recipes have easy to follow steps with a photo of the end result.

My TV free week - Friday

9.20pm
Totally forgot to say that yesterday I actually did watch tv. I was all set to do some light exercise in the evening but I had a very bad hip pain. But I figured 1 day of rest in the week is ok.

Today I also watched some tv. I know what you're thinking....no tv week's not going so well for me. But I watched the tv at the gym whilst on bike, treadmill & cross trainer.

Lunch time today I had a sleep while my son was sleeping which was lovely.

Food today has been ok. Although I did have a very small bar of chocolate this morning as well as a chocolate krispie cake my friend's little boy made. But I added it all onto my food diary. I made sweet & sour chicken and rice for dinner which I've written about in my post called Hairy Dieters.

Really pleased with how my week is going so far. Been moving so much more than I have for the last few months. If I carry on like this until Christmas, I could possibly lose loads more.

Thursday 20 September 2012

My TV free week - Thursday

10pm
I haven't managed to do any exercise today but I have been very good with my food.

Tuesday 18 September 2012

My TV free week - Wednesday

2.15pm
Feeling really rough this morning. I now have a full-blown cold and possibly sinusitis. I was meant to be going for a walk this morning but didn't want to pass on my germs to my friend. Instead I went to the gym. While I was working out my nose was really clear but now it's blocked again. Anywho, managed to do 10 mins bike, 9 mins cross trainer, 25 mins treadmill & 15 mins swim. Was gonna swim for longer but I just couldn't do it with my cold. So pretty pleased with that. I think that's all I'm going to do today.

Just made chicken Caesar salad for lunch and it was so yummy all for under 190 calories :0) saving my calories for dinner tonight. Going to do some sort of exercise this evening, but not decided yet.

8.50pm
No more exercise tonight. Sinus' are completely blocked and feeling really yucky. Glad I got a workout in early today.

Monday 17 September 2012

My TV free week - Tuesday

2pm
This morning I sorted out my son's bedroom. Took out all the clothes too small and organised his wardrobe. Then my husband, son and I walked to a toddler group which is a 20 min walk each way.
Then I made omelettes for my husband & son when we got home, sorted out my husbands tea (he's on a late shift) and then made my own lunch.
Today my son did sleep so I managed to do 2 sections of my salsacise DVD which totalled 45 mins.
Tonight will be the real test. As I said my husband will be at work. But I've got a plan of what exercise to do plus some housework bits.

10pm
No problem without tv tonight. I ate dinner with my son at 6pm. Then he had a bath, story & bed. After that I did 75 mins of wii fit.

Another good day without the tv. Looking forward to tomorrow as my husband is off work.

My TV free week - Monday

Today is the first day of no tv for 7 days. I've done my exercise plan for the whole week which looks pretty good.

3pm
Today I was meant to be doing tae bo whilst my son slept at lunch. This hasn't happened for 2 reasons. Firstly I have developed a pain in my back and hurts quite a bit. Secondly my son didn't want to sleep. I was worried that on the first day my plans wouldn't go to plan but I went to the Dr and it looks like I've just strained some muscles. I was worried I was going to get a chest infection. So I decided to do salsacise, ignore my back pains and get my son to join in. This was not an easy task. He had a massive tantrum and didn't want me to dance. But after a while (and being put on time-out) he decided that he wanted to join in. So we both did salsacise. The last time I did this workout DVD was about Jan/Feb. I noticed that I had so much more energy and was able to do more. That was a really nice feeling. I eventually managed to 30 mins.

Food so far today is going well. Monday is shaping up to be a great day :0)

9.30pm
Just got back from the gym and managed to have a good workout. I managed 35 mins on treadmill, 6 mins on cross trainer & 30 mins swimming. I tried a bit of jogging but I was getting a bit wheezy so I stopped.

First day of no tv has been a success!

Sunday 16 September 2012

Reflecting

I've not really had my eye on the ball recently. Had an ok week this week but expecting to stay the same again. I feel as though I've hit a bit of a brick wall.

Had a chat with my husband last night to try and figure out why I feel like this. My biggest thing is not exercising. For me I can't just diet to lose weight, I MUST exercise too. I've got a whole list of excuses why I've not been down to the gym (and only a few are actually valid). I've not really done anything properly for 3-4 weeks.

For some reason I hit that 5 stones mark and I feel like I've finished....don't know why i feel like that. But I know that I would like to lose at least another 2 stones (possible 3st). Food wise I've been ok I guess. Bad at the start of the week and then really strict at the end. I have found myself falling into the trap of having treats on Mondays 'because I've got a week to make up for it'. This is not what I wanted at all. By having that thought process I'm turning this into a diet and not a way of life. I need to see mondays as just another day.

My life now is already a very different one to the one I had 9 months ago. Everything is so much easier, I don't feel as embarrassed or ashamed of myself, I don't avoid doing things. I do not ever want to go back to what i weighed before (mum - don't worry, I'm not going to give up). I just need to refocus and think of new ways to keep going.

So I just need to stop talking and start doing.

In order to combat this my husband and I are going to have a TV Free week starting tomorrow (with the only exception of letting our son watch tv, or using tv to do exercise). We did this back in January and it was great. So I'm hoping that it will prove to be a kick up the backside with regards to exercise this coming week. I'm going to set up a chart so that I can follow it all week and shift some serious lard!

I've set myself a couple of goals to help motivate me which are:
1) to lose 7lb by the 8th November
2) to lose a further 7lb by 2nd January 2013.
I would then have lost 6 stones and that would a be such a massive achievement. There is 15 weeks & 2 days until 2nd Jan 2012 (one year since I started) so I think I've set myself a realistic goal of approx 1lb per week.

It's so hard to keep going with slow weigh loss. It's so easy to think its not worth it. But I must remember why I'm doing this and how I feel now, compared to how I used to feel. I have changed my life for the better and I'm not about to go back.

Right, I'm off to write up an exercise plan for my week ahead.

Sunday 2 September 2012

Quotes that motivate & inspire me

Here is a collection of my favourite quotes that have really helped motivate me.

I hope they offer some inspiration to any of you who are trying to lose weight.

Why choose failure, when success is an option?
- Jillian Michaels

You can either be the sickness in your world, or you can be the cure.
- Jessie Pavelka

Finish what you started.
- Bob Harper

Pain is temporary. Pride is forever.
- Tracy season 8 contestant, Biggest Loser USA

Unless you puke faint or die, keep going.
- Jillian Michaels

The past does not define you, the present does.
- Jillian Michaels

At the end of the day your health is your responsibility.
- Unknown

Be the change you wish to see.
- Jessie Pavelka

No matter how slow you go, you're still lapping everyone on the sofa.
- unknown

Slimming World

I got a leaflet for slimming world through the door.

I worked out that I could have paid between £150-£200 if I'd have been going for the last 8 months since I started had a healthier way of life.

Feeling pretty pleased that I've managed it on my own.

Now, what are the chances of my husband letting me spend that £150 on something pretty?