A Quick Update

It's been a few weeks since I last posted, but I promise I've been working hard! I've just been weighed tonight and am now down to 12st9.75, which means I've lost 1st7.75 altogether. That's 21.75lb or an average of just shy of 3lb per week. I'm quite pleased with myself! I also had my measurements taken last week and it's encouraging to see the change in my shape - I now have a waist!

My slimming class finishes in 3 weeks, and I'm toying with the idea of signing up for the next course. I'm scared that if I'm left to my own devices I'll revert to my old KFC-eating ways. As I've said before, a captive audience gives me someone to prove myself to!

Other than a little walking I haven't been exercising much at all, so this is going to be my focus for the next few weeks. In a months time there is going to be a 1-mile charity fun-run here in Belfast and I'm going to look into that. On that topic, I've never liked the term "fun-run"; seriously, what's fun about running? But I figure that if I've made the progress I have by diet alone, I can do far better if I get more active. I just need to find some motivating music - suggestions very welcome.

If I can lose 3.25lb per week I'll be down to 12st by the time I finish my slimming class and I'll have just one more stone to lose, so the goal for this week is to get active every day and see if I can make that happen. The weather is getting better and the nights are brighter, so there's no reason not to get out there walking or jogging, plus I have a few gym day passes to use. Wish me luck! xx

Winner, winner, chicken dinner

First things first. This weeks weigh in; not as a big success as previous weeks. I lost half a pound. It's no big deal though, I was expecting my weight-loss to level out a bit, and I know I wasn't as strict with myself this week as I had been previously. And a loss is a loss, right? The main problem I've had this week is that I'm getting bored of the same meals day after day. I've been eating chicken one way or another (fajitas or soup, usually both) on a daily basis and I need to change things up a bit.

That was the not-so-great news. You may or may not remember that one of the incentives for me joining my slimming class was the cash prize for the person who had the greatest percentage weight-loss. Well, the good news is... I'm winning! For the time-being anyway. It's a really great (and motivating) feeling to know that the hard work is paying off, now I just want to stay at the top, and take that cash home! Of course it isn't all about the money, but £150 could go towards some nice new clothes in a nice new size. I have size 14 jeans on today and they're really loose.

All-in-all I'm feeling great. My shape is definitely changing and I'm feeling much more confident. I bothered to straighten my hair, but on some makeup and a nice outfit today, and for once I was strutting down the street thinking, I look pretty good! That's such a nice (and unfamiliar) feeling.

Last week I set myself three goals, and I'm sorry to say I only achieved one; taking my supplements every day. I'm currently taking a green tea capsule (for metabolism), a multivitamin (because my diet can be a bit limited), acidophilus (for digestion) and a silica complex capsule (in an attempt to thicken my hair).

So, this week, I'm resetting last week's fitness goal, and setting two more;
1. To reach 15 minutes of walking/jogging interval training
2. To walk 10 miles a week (outside of the gym). I've found this to be a really handy tool when planning walks; http://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-distance-calculator.htm
3. To try soya mince to make a healthier cottage pie

The next time I blog, I'll officially be "overweight" as opposed to " obese". Here's hoping anyway! xx

1 down, 2 to go!

Yesterday was my third weigh-in. And... I lost 6lbs! So, in the space of 3 weeks I've lost a stone! I'm terrified I'll have some kind of weight rebound next week as it all just seemed too easy. Also, we all know the mantra about healthy weight-loss being 1-2lbs per week. But don't get me wrong, I really am delighted. So, I'm now 13st3 and I'm aiming for 11st. So, in 2st3lb I'll review and decide if I need/want to lose any more.

Another.. interesting side effect of my new regime is that I've suddenly become a lightweight when it comes to alcohol. I had my fortnightly drink on Saturday (as planned in my last blog) and it all got a bit messy. I didn't drink any more than I normally would, and was drunk before we even left the house. Even worse, I was throwing up by 10pm. I rested up for a bit and did end up making it out, but did no more drinking that night! I just wasn't prepared for the changes in my body, and I'll know to take things a bit slower next fortnight.

I've managed to secure a couple of good gym deals on groupon, so I'm all gymmed up until the end of March. I'm hoping to go at least twice a week, and at the minute my best friends are the cross-trainer, bike and treadmill. I intend to run/jog the 5k Race For Life this summer and I'm starting by doing a little basic "interval training". I'm not a natural born runner, so I was really pleased with myself when I managed to do 11 minutes of brisk walking for one minute, then jogging for one minute. I am aware of the benefits of weight/resistance training, and will probably introduce this at some stage, but truth be told I don't really know where to start, and the weight room at the gym can be at bit intimidating for a beginner.

I'm going to start setting myself weekly goals, so here are 3 for this week;
1. To try a new fruit/vegetable. This is something set by my weight-loss group, and I'm dreading it. I'm really not good at trying new things..
2. To manage 15mins of interval training, as described above
3. To start taking some supplements religiously, namely, a multivit, a green tea capsule, a probiotic and a silica supplement (to improve my hair)
I'll check in with these goals next week, and then set some more - any suggestions gratefully received!

Til next time! x

Well, I had my second weigh-in on Wednesday this week. And, in 2 weeks... I've lost 8lbs! I'm really pleased, as no matter how hard you've worked there's always that sneaking suspicion that you might not have lost anything! Having said that, I really have worked hard to shift that weight, so I'm relieved I've seen some results. I've made big (but sustainable) changes to my diet and I've started to exercise too; here's what I'm doing;

* Counting Calories, not obsessively, but I've been limiting myself to around 1300kcal per day
* Upping my Protein Intake with shakes, bars, and loads of chicken
* Limiting Carbs, at least later in the day
* Eating More Often, typically 6 small meal/snacks each day
* Drinking More Water and no Coke!
* Finding Healthier Alternatives, so that I don't feel at all deprived
* Cutting Out the Takeaways, although I am allowing myself a Chinese every other Friday
* Keeping my Alcohol Intake Down, but on the weekends I don't have my takeaway, I do have a boozy Saturday night out, so once a fortnight
* I've Got 10 Day Passes for LA Fitness, I went twice this week and am attempting a bit of basic interval training

So all in all I'm pretty pleased my new "regime" is yielding results, but at the same time I don't feel like I'm on a "diet" as such, so I'm pretty sure I can sustain it! We'll see...

Time for an update!

So, I haven't blogged since New Year, but I promise you I have been making (some) progress!

First of all, I ended up not starting my new regime on New Years Day like I planned, the reason being I signed up to a local slimming class beginning on Wed 4th, so I decided to start afresh then. My reasons for joining the class were much the same as my reasons for writing this blog; I want an audience to prove myself to. Going to the class and knowing I am going to be weighed and measured each week will definitely give me the drive to succeed. At least thats the plan. The other reason I signed up was that they offer a cash prize to the three people who have the highest percentage weight-loss over 12 weeks. Now, call me greedy, but that definitely appealed to me. And I believe I can win.

I had a fair idea of what weight I was, so I didn't get too much of a shock when I was weighed, but of course it's never a nice feeling to be weighed by someone else. So, (drumroll please!) my starting weight on 4th Jan was 14st 3.5lb, about 4st heavier than I'd like to be. That means I have a BMI of 32, placing me in the obese weight range. The good news is that when I was measured, I discovered I have an exact hourglass figure, my bust measurement being the same as my hips. Given all of this, my first goal has to be to get my BMI under 30, and into the "overweight" range.

I also had a one-to-one with the lady who runs the class, which was great. We spoke about my diet and lifestyle, and she measured my body-fat (which was horrendous). Then she tried to sell me some stuff, namely protein bars and powder, herbal tea, and a multi-vitamin. Actually, she did a great job of selling it to me, but as my job is in a health food shop I made my excuses to her and used my staff discount to buy it at work instead. Cheeky I know. My shopping bag contained soya protein powder, green tea capsules and a few other healthy treats.

So, my weight-loss journey has begun. I have my starting measurements and I've set my first goal. My diet has improved dramatically, so I'm looking forward to my second weigh-in tomorrow. 

Wish me luck!