A little late, but feeling great!

So, my last weigh in was scheduled for on or around the 7th April ... well I did say I was on annual leave so I might be a bit late. I didn't expect to be a month late but there you go!

I have just weighed in for the first time in about six weeks and I have put on 2lb. Ah well, not the end of the world and certainly not unmanageable. I have had a weekend of excesses (a stonking hen weekend in Cardiff for one of my very good friends) which involved copious amounts of alcohol, plenty of cake and at least two burgers so I am hoping a return to normal everyday eating and drinking will sort that out fairly quickly. I have also just completed my first month of my new job, which is challenging (in the very best way) and also full of temptation in the form of vending machines full of M&M's, very good latte just a moments walk away and a convenient supply of fresh rather large baguettes which has certainly had an affect on my diet that I admit to being fairly poor for the last few weeks. That will all settle down though, and hopefully once I get back into the swing of something resembling a routine I should find time for aerobics again too.

My current plan is to try and fit in listening to the McKenna CD to try and summon up some motivation for exercise and a compulsion to eat more healthy options and less crap. I have to say, the "eat if you're hungry, stop when you're full" rule seems to have stuck with me quite well though and I am definitely not mindlessly stuffing my face to the point of bursting. I also feel more happy with my body than I have in a while, which is probably why I haven't felt the need to blog or weigh myself in such a long time. I still have no jeans that fit. I'm working on that one lol.

So, I am hoping to shift this excess 2lbs before the next weigh by getting "Back to McKenna Basics". It's our niece's wedding on spring bank holiday weekend so I will weigh in just before then. If I gain weight my dress simply will not fit (it's a squeeze as it is) so I hope my faith in McKenna proves justified again.

Gem x

More McKenna Magic

It has been over two weeks since my last weigh in ... and the result is not as impressive but quite astounding to me nevertheless. I weighed in last night when I was actually due to do so last Friday but as it was my husbands 30th party that night I was far to busy making myself beautiful in between slicing baguettes and cutting up quiche to be getting on the scales! One point of note is that my party dress was a bargain last minute purchase from warehouse and was in fact a size 10! Oh yes.

Anyway, the weigh in result was *drum roll please* ... stayed the same LOL. However, I am absolutely pleased with that result and here is why. I have been very, very busy this month with several celebrations and meals out and general consumption of booze and because of that my exercise regime has taken a bit of a slip too.

My plan for the next couple of weeks is to get back in to listening to my McKenna CD (which is worryingly starting to skip occaisionally) and back into doing my exercise DVDs and going to aerobics regularly. Listening to the CD is not at all a chore and it is BRILLIANT at motivating me to exercise which is exactly what I need to be doing.

Next weigh in is scheduled for on or around the 7th April ... I'm on annual leave that week so it might be later though.

Gem x

The Second McKenna Weigh In

Friday was my second weigh in since starting to follow Paul McKenna's weight loss programme. It seems bizarre and surprising that I am able to tell you that I have lost another 2lbs this fortnight! That's 4lbs in 4 weeks and probably a personal record lol. I wasn't looking forward to getting on the scales I must admit. After all, I had been on meals out and had various "naughty" foods and all the things that spell disaster on weight watchers but I am now 10st 7lbs and officially the lightest I have been since starting this blog. And only 7lbs away from goal, which if my weightloss continues as it has been could be achieved by the end of May. I am now starting to trust that this actually works but I hope that doesn't mean I will get complacent and start scoffing with blissful ignorance. There have been three occaisions in the last 24 hours where I have thought to myself "I don't want to eat this!" but eaten it anyway. I think a top up session with the CD might be in order this evening followed by a quick blast on Davina Fit to get myself back on track.

In other news ... I have a new job! It will be of no surprise for anyone to learn that I was ready for a change of scene work wise and an opportunity has presented itself for me to make my escape. There has been some celebratory wine and cake consumed ... but I think that might be the law so there.

Gem x

Looser

Hi Girls

Well i have stepped on the scales this morning, can't remember last time i went on them, gotta be a few weeks.

I have now lost a stone since the new year, very chuffed with myself. Can't say it was the gym, as what with everything going on i've been very hit and miss there. Can't say it's dieting either, as again, hit and miss with whether i'm eating anything somedays. So would imagaine the last few llbs of the stone has been through all the stress and heartache that we're going through at the moment.

Good that it's come off though, could do with getting at least another stone and half off and then i'll be happy. But as you both know, much more important things going on at the moment.

vic xx

The Experiment Continues

After last weeks fairly successful weigh in I was quite tempted to get on the scales again this week to see how I've been doing ... but I resisted. The handful of people who know what I am doing have been asking how McKenna is going for me and it's one of those that is quite difficult to answer. I definitely do feel happier and more in control and I definitely do not feel fatter. I am quite happy with that and I am certainly pleased about how much more activity I am doing. I do feel compelled to exercise a lot more than I had been and I am far less likely to binge to the point where I can barely move. In fact, eight days ago I bought a large bar for Nestle Crunch (I absolutely LOVE chocolate with bits in it, co-op fair trade white with crispie bits is my ultimate fave but Crunch will do me) and there is still about half of the bar in my fridge. After EIGHT days there is still half an open bar of chocolate in my fridge. I think if I was on weight watchers and feeling even the tiniest bit deprived that chocolate bar would have been gone after a couple of days at best.

I am still listening to the CD but not every day as its just too much and if I only have time for one thing or the other I am tending to opt for 30 minutes of Davina Fit rather than twenty odd minutes of McKenna. Incidentally I haven't managed to stay awake through the whole of the CD for over a week now so I hope it's still sinking into my subconcious while I snooze lol.

So, it will be weigh in on Friday and I am aiming to fit in at least 2 more goes at Davina and 2 more listens to the CD before then. I have my fingers crossed for a bit of a loss ... even just half a lb would make me smile!

Gem x

Mckenna Day #14 - The Moment of Truth

Right well, Friday was day 14 of the McKenna experiment.

In the last two weeks I have had a couple of meals out, a couple of takeaways, several cooked breakfasts, a few glasses of wine and couple of gin and tonics, some chocolate, crisps, cookies and pre-packed sandwiches. If you were to look at that list from a weight watchers point of view you would see an epic fail of a weigh in.

However, after two weeks of not counting a single solitary point and eating whatever takes my fancy whenever I am hungry I have managed to lose ... drum roll please ... 2lbs!

Ok, so it's not a jaw dropping gob smacking amount to have lost BUT it is a loss. And more than I had lost on weight watchers recently so it seems like a good thing. It takes me to 10st 9lbs (almost the lightest I have been since before the blog started ... according to my weight watchers record card I was 10st 8lbs for one week once in the autumn). The biggest thing for me is that I have stopped being a complete nightmare when it comes to eating and always being torn between what I want to eat and what I think I should eat and making myself thoroughly miserable. Oh ... and also it means that all that time spent reading the book and listening to the CD was not a complete waste of time, that was a big thing too LOL!!!

So, the verdict on McKenna is that the common sense approach seems to be doing the trick. I'm guessing the two week weigh in rule is supposed to remain in place so the next one will take place on Friday 5th March but I will be blogging between now and then. I'm going to continue listening to the CD as often as I can and just carry on following the rules.

Gem x

Paul McKenna Day #11 and #12

Well it's been another couple of days trying to follow McKenna ... Its a bit strange because I don't feel like I'm actually following anything. I am starting to wonder if perhaps I am doing it wrong? Maybe by the time Friday comes I will have piled it on and be heavier than ever?

I didn't make it to aerobics on Wednesday night and I haven't listened to the CD since Monday ... is that why I don't feel good? Is that why I don't feel like it's working? Or is it just that pre-weigh in bloatedness feeling that I always have when I know it's almost time to get on the scales?

I chatted to my Mom again about McKenna ... she asked me if I was feeling better about my diet since I stopped following weight watchers. I think the answer is yes, I am certainly happier about my diet and am not obsessing over every last little morsel. I have definitely been doing a little more exercise than I had been too. This can only be a good thing surely.

I am worried about getting on those scales though ... I really feel like I don't want to get on.

Gem x

Paul McKenna Day #10 - Monday

It is Monday, and I have indeed managed to get in a listen of my CD ... but no Davina I'm afraid. I could have done with jumping about for a bit to be honest but it's too late now and im tired and Hubby is on the playstation so I would probably get in his way LOL!

As working Mondays go I suppose today was bearable if a little less exciting that I would ideally like, but then it's half term and when the school is empty apart from a few staff it can be a bit errrrrmmm lifeless. I enjoyed a tasty cooked breakfast, and a non-weight watchers sandwich with a handful of crisps for lunch. I had a crispy chocolate bite thingy with a cuppa and then Hubby cooked a nice chicken pasta dish for tea. I am now sitting trying to decide whether I am hungry or just tired and bored (and a little seasick from the playstation). I think tired and bored is probably more likely so I think I'm going to take myself upstairs with a highlights hot chocolate and watch some trash on TV for an hour or two.

Still not sure if McKenna is actually making me thinner ... although I did have a nice compliment of one of the women at work today about how much weight have lost but I'm not sure if that's only because I look better in my own clothes than my usual dull office suits? It's also quite funny when people notice that I'm not eating my usual diet food ... at least it will be funny if I have lost any weight at the end of the week, but if I'm fatter I'm going back to counting my points and being miserable ... LOL that was a joke Mr McKenna, I'm just kidding!!! It works, it'll be fine.

Gem x

McKenna Day #8 and #9 - The Weekend.

This weekend has been the first weekend in a while where I haven't felt like I have gone off the rails and stuffed my face. Don't get me wrong, I've had a few alcoholic drinks and eaten a few things I wouldn't have dreamed of had I been point counting (bacon sarnie, jam doughnut, galaxy cookie crunch, camembert) but I dont feel like a great big porker today. I managed to get in a couple of Davina DVD sessions too. I didn't get round to listening to the CD though, but I will make an effort to do that during the week.

So, is it working? It's hard to say without the measure of the scales ... I will be extremely dissapointed if it doesn't work at all though after putting in so much effort. Actually that isn't strictly true as it hasn't been an effort at all really has it? In fact the most effort has been to NOT get on the scales and keeping up with my blog writing. But I do feel like I have invested a lot in trying it out so if I get on the scales on friday and I have remained exactly the same I shall be most unimpressed and I'll feel a little bit stupid.

Gem x

Loss.

Hey Girlies

Thought I would do an update rather than lurking about reading everyone else's blogs.

I have been attending the gym since the beginning of jan an have had a sneaky weigh in and lost 11lb so far. Don't get too excited, hasn't come off easily and had given up weighing myself for a while, have been on a couple of times....probably less than once a week.

As Jayne and Gem know, going through a very stressful time at the mo, so whether that has something to do with the weightloss who knows. I have definately got out of the dieting mindset and it seems to be making a difference....although after a very stressful week last week and a few more to come, perhaps it's that that's making it come off? Who knows.

I am feeling better going to the gym, although I find it very easy to talk myself out of going sometimes.....half term week shall be a pain in going as shall have madam off school....so may only get there once next week.

xxx

McKenna Day #7 - Half Way!

It's friday, ever since last night I have been feeling a bit agitated. I don't think its related to McKenna ... its other general life stuff. Mainly work stuff probably if I am honest. I haven't had a big old binge though on chocolate, or wine, or both. I have eaten chocolate this week and drank some wine too but not to excess.

The plan for today is to go home from work, give the living room air a good kicking with 30 minutes of davina and then chill out to McKenna for a bit. After which I might walk over and see my mom for a cuppa and hopefully I will feel a bit more relaxed by then.

However, I DO really really want to get on the scales to prove to myself I am not wasting my time. One of the FAQ's in the book was "Its been a week and I haven't lost any weight yet. What should I do?" and the answer was "You aren't supposed to be on them anyway" followed by some comforting words that I can't remember but I will have a reread of later on to try and avoid putting on the wii fit for a sneaky weigh in.

I don't know what I'm going to have for dinner tonight either. Fridays have always been a bit of a diet nightmare for me, so being able to eat anything in the whole world that takes my fancy might very well lead to a KFC but we shall see.

Gem x

Paul McKenna Day #6 - Thursday

I woke up today feeling in a much better mood. Maybe it was a coincidence or maybe it was because I took the time out to fit in my CD listening session the night before, I don't know. Either way my day was not cast under a grey cloud from the moment I woke up.

I had a big long chat with Jayne about how McKenna was going and whether I thought she should give it a try. I am trying to reserve judgement about the whole "I Can Make You Thin" thing until I have finished my two week experiment and get on the scales. However, my current feelings about it is that I feel significantly better in myself. Happier and more relaxed around food, not constantly preoccupied with what I'm going to eat next, and I'm not sure if I feel thinner but I definitely do not feel fatter. I think Jayne, or anyone else for that matter, can only benefit from feeling that way if they can find a way to.

I went to Asda at lunchtime to buy a sandwich and I deliberately avoided the right hand edge of the middle shelf in the display cabinet. That is where they keep the weight watchers chicken fajita wrap that I usually choose. I looked at the variety of other sandwiches on offer and read the descriptions of the filling on the front of the packet rather than the nutritional values on the back. I chose a think and tasty looking sandwich of topside of beef with caramelised red onion, rocket and something else on sundried tomato bread. It was SO tasty!!! I truely enjoyed it and also had a small handful of crisps on the side (I bought a whole packet but couldn't eat them all, my colleages helped me out by finishing them off). After I had finished (leaving the last corner of sandwich on my plate with the few remaining crisps) the weight watcher in me glanced down at the packaging without thinking and looked at the NVs and discovered that I had actually made a healthy choice unconsciously ... McKenna said that would happen. And when I was especially naughty and worked out how many points were in the sandwich I discovered that it was exactly the same as the ww wrap with its fake mayo and sticky plastic tortilla.

The lesson I have learned is this ... I need to trust me. My body knows what it needs and I know what is good for my body and without someone telling me what I should or shouldn't eat I have made a healthy balanced tasty choice that I can feel good about.

Anyway, after work I managed to get in another completely uninterrupted listen to McKenna but afterwards all the rest of my plans for the evening got jiggled around and I hate it when plans get changed and I don't know what's going on so that put me in a bit of a mood. Mainly because I didn't know what to do for tea as I didn't think I was going to be cooking and then it turns out I was lol. Ah well, tomorrow is another day.

Gem x

Paul Mckenna Day #5 - Wednesday

I was feeling pretty darn miserable on wednesday ... all day. Not for any reason in particular, I just woke up feeling a little grumpy and it followed me like a miserable cloud all day. My day at work was pretty rubbish and I generally felt a bit useless.

In terms of the McKenna experiment I ate what I wanted but felt in control and didn't stuff my face in order to try and make myself feel better about my crappy day. I did have a chocolate crispy cake from the school canteen at lunch time which I would never have considered buying while on weight watchers and I ate a little after my sandwich, a little later in the afternoon and ate the rest on my way to aerobics ... which I didn't end up going to because my aerobics buddy was having neck troubles so we skipped it. I went home, got under the duvet and listened to the hypnosis CD. All of it. Without getting interrupted by the cat, or the neighbours, or anyone at all. I may have drifted off to sleep a little lol. I was woken by McKenna saying "... and now you will awaken fully alert in 3 ... 2 ... 1!" And I did feel fully alert, and rested and a bit less miserable.

I got up fully intending to go downstairs and do 30 minutes of Davina but I ended up talking to Mom on the phone and then Hubby came back earlier than expected so we ordered a chinese and watched a movie together instead :)

Gem x

Paul McKenna Day #4 - Tuesday

I don't know what to say about Tuesday ... I started the day with a juice and a cuppa and shreddies for breakfast (I didn't finish the whole bowl) and then I had a packed lunch with me (cheese and cucumber roll with a yoghurt) which was fine I suppose. Then after work I had an appointment to get my hair done. Hubby was supposed to be putting some jacket spuds in the oven but when I arrived home at about ten to eight in the evening the oven was still turned off and the potatoes still in the cupboard. I was looking forward to my spud with tuna mayo and a sprinkling of cheese and now it was too late to start cooking it. Drat. So I stand in the kitchen trying to decide what to eat - Hubby has now decided he isn't hungry so it's cooking for one which is always more of a chore than cooking for two. In the end I have a portion of leftover lasagne from the freezer which was completely average and I drink three glasses of wine and scoff a few aero bubbles. Listen to me ... obsessing about everything I ate and I didn't really enjoy any of it if I'm really honest.

I was going to listen to the McKenna CD when a friend of ours popped in for coffee ... by the time he had gone I couldn't be bothered with anything but bed so the CD session was missed. And because of the hair cut I didn't get any exercise either. Aerobics on wednesday though.

I have no idea how much I weigh and I do not feel thinner yet.

Gem x

Paul McKenna Day #3 - Monday

I was worried about today. I was worried about being in work and having to eat when it was time to eat rather than when I felt hungry. What if it got to lunch time and I was ravenous? Or worse ... what if I got to lunch time and I wasn't hungry at all and then after lunch I was starving?!

Well, I got to breakfast time and had beans on toast ... I forgot one of the rules which is to eat slowly and enjoy every mouthful. I shovelled it in while talking and paid no attention to it. I'm not sure if I enjoyed it or not. I think my beans might have been a bit cold.

Anyway, by lunchtime I needn't have worried. I was a little hungry but not starved. I made a conscious effort to pay a bit more attention while I was eating and pause between mouthfuls. I had leftovers of the chorizo pasta hotpot which is just delish (it was also the first time I had put anything other than liquid soup in the pink flask ... it worked). I had brought with me a yoghurt and three plums too but I was full before I had finished my pasta.

Yes, I left some on my plate again.

This is starting to freak me out.

Maybe this actually does work?

The main challenge of today has to be not going to get weighed at weight watchers. (Well, not getting weighed at all is a bit odd but strangely liberating.) I still have a few weeks left on my monthly pass but I am not supposed to get on the scales for two weeks so there is no point going. I'm not bothered about missing the class but I was a little bothered about telling my mom I wasn't going with her. She was OK about me not going and even requested a copy of the CD for herself if it works. I did get the feeling she is a bit sceptical about it, but then when I was explaining it to her (like when I was explaining it to hubby) it all sounds soooo obvious when you say it out loud that it can't possibly make any difference. All I know is that I feel completely calm and in control. I am enjoying food without stressing out about the number of points that may or may not be present and I haven't craved anything or binged since I started out.

Also, I did the 30 minute "Kick Fit" from the Davina DVD after work ... it rocks! Loads of fun. However, I skipped the abs section right at the end in favour of getting in my listen of the CD as I was short of time. The cat insisted on miawing and climbing on me during my twenty five minutes of "mind reprogramming" and the next door neighbours grandkids were leaving, slowly and noisily, right in the middle of it too. Maybe tomorrow I'll get chance to listen to it uninterrupted from start to finish? I won't hold my breath lol.

Gem x

Paul McKenna Day #2 - Sunday

I woke up having had a really good night's sleep on saturday night. I felt really energised so I got up and did one of the workouts on the new Davina DVD, "Davina Fit". I did the 30 minute aerobic workout (although I fancy the kicking and punching one for after a hard day at the office!) and that seemed to do the trick on using up the energy that got me out of bed before 9.30 on a Sunday morning lol. So, after that I decided it was time to give the "Mind Reprogramming" CD a try ... it was quite amusing really but a relaxing experience overall. McKenna talks to you in his soothing yet slightly creepy hypnosis voice, and gets you to lie down, relax, close your eyes and listen to him. He asks you to count backwards from 300 ... which is really hard when he starts wittering on, I wasn't able to get to zero. I'm not sure if you are supposed to or not. He talks through some of the visualizations that are also explained in the book. They are like the sort of thing you might do in a yoga class "imagine yourself in a ball of light" etc. etc. except you are imagining yourself thin and happy. Then there are bits when he's talking about one thing and then out of the other speaker he's talking about something completely different. (I guess thats the subliminal bit as I couldn't hear both at the same time. The cat came in miaowing her head off about five minutes from the end and disrupted me but I'm sure it did the trick. I actually had a pretty good day. I felt in control and I got loads of laundry done which is probably unrelated to the whole hypnosis thing (unless hubby has switched it for one that makes me more domesticated lol).

I made chorizo pasta hotpot for dinner which was yum ... and I didn't clear my plate for the second time in two days because I felt really full up. I also enjoyed a couple of G&T's. One of the FAQs in the book is "Can I drink alcohol and still lose weight" and the answer was yes, stating that he has met many skinny alcoholics which made me chuckle. Although the general advice was try not to eat while drinking as you may not notice when you are full. As an additional note McKenna says that if you think you have a problem with alcohol then please see an appropriate professional ... Hahaha! Priceless advice :)

I had a bit of a moment later on in the evening when I had a few spoons of ice cream even though I wasn't hungry exactly, I just wanted some. I didn't feel right about it but i didn't scoff it to the point of feeling sick, which I might easily have done if I thought it wasn't "allowed".

All going OK so far anyway so fingers crossed.
Gem x

Paul McKenna Day #1 - Saturday

As I had said, on Saturday morning I read the Paul McKenna Book from cover to cover before getting out of bed ... after i finished reading it I felt really positive about my ability to lose weight without continuing on this food obsessed state I seem to have got myself into that if I'm honest has been making me quite miserable for the last few weeks. I tried to explain to Hubby what I had read and what it is that I am going to be doing. He didn't appear overly impressed by anything that I said because a lot of what is in the book is obvious, anyway I told him that I am going to be giving it a try for two weeks and asked that if he comes home from work in the middle of me listening to the hypnosis cd then he should not laugh and let me get on with it. He agreed, especially as it seemed that it was going to get rid of this miserable food-hating version of his wife.

Anyway, I had a nice day relaxing with Hubby. At this point I want to tell you that he made boiled eggs and soldiers and that I enjoyed every mouthful, however the whole point of this is to stop being so pre-occupied with what I should or shouldn't have eaten so we'll skip that part. I had to use one of the techniques about stopping when I am full and left one soldier on the plate. I am a fully paid up member of the clean plate club so leaving one measley soldier that I could have easily forced in was quite difficult to do. But I did do it, and I didn't miss it afterwards lol.

Later when I was hungry for a snack I took a marmite ceral bar from my moms cupboard ... it was revolting actually, and I am a marmite lover in general. I threw it away when normally I would have eaten it regardless and ate something else which I enjoyed instead.

Later, when I thought I might be hungry again but wasn't sure I had a big glass of fresh water and gave myself five minutes to check if I really was or if I was just bored. Turns out I wasn't hungry at all. Go figure.

I had a nice dinner and some pudding and had a quiet movie watching night in and I went to bed feeling satisfied, not stuffed (which is unusual for a Saturday night) and had a really good nights sleep.


Gem x

An Experiment with Paul McKenna

I don't know if you heard it but a couple of weeks ago Paul McKenna was on Radio 1 with Chris Moyles ... he did a little on-air thing with Comedy Dave and Producer Rachael to stop them craving chocolate. I was stuck in a queue of traffic trying to get off the M54 so I joined in and to cut a long story short I haven't had a chocolate craving since.

So, after this bizarre experience of Paul McKenna basically ruining chocolate for me I decided to order his book and CD "I Can Make You Thin" from Amazon. It arrived a few days ago and yesterday morning I read it from cover to cover in about two hours before I even got out of bed.

The general idea is that you follow four rules, which aren't really rules at all:

1. When you are hungry, eat
2. Eat what you want, not what you think you should have
3. Enjoy every mouthful
4. When you are full, stop

Obviously the book goes into more depth than that, but that is the basic gist. The book also gives you tips on recognizing when you are truly hungry, techniques for managing cravings, generally feeling positive and good about yourself and various other things that make absolutely perfect sense and for the most part, we all know already.

There is also a "Mind Programming" CD which I am supposed to listen to every day for the first two weeks. Its supposed to reinforce the theories in the book and help me feel compelled to exercise ... by that he just means move more and not necessarily punish myself at the gym every day. I listened to it for the first time this morning. It's a little bit funny but quite relaxing. The cat interrupted me a few minutes from the end but hopefully some of the subliminal messages will sink in. (Subliminal messages? What am I thinking?!)

The final thing is that I am not supposed to weigh myself for the first two weeks. I weighed myself on friday and I had put on 1lb since monday, whatever that makes me I'm not sure but its recorded on the wii fit so i'll be able to tell you in two weeks time whether this is working or not.

I plan on blogging every single day for the next two weeks to see if it really will make a difference or not. There is no reason why it shouldn't at all and if it doesn't then at least you know not to bother trying it yourself lol.

Gem x

Davina tried to kill me.

Just thought I'd update you on my exercise regime so far this week.

I went to the gym on Wednesday and managed a 200 cal loss. I went yesterday and did a 300 cal loss and feel so much better for doing it. Also, I went home last night and did some of the Davina "power of 3" dvd that I had from Vix. Mmmmmmmmy god. I think she tried to kill me!!! I did the warm up which was ok, HOWEVER, when I got to the Legs and bum section it was soooo hard. I did it all, but jeewizz it was tough. Can feel it in my legs today for sure. I didn't have time to look at anymore of the dvd but I do feel good for doing it and I can tell that this workout is really going to tone my legs, and hopefully my bum. Going to do the dvd again tonight, but will do the other sections of the body this time. I also did some sit-ups before bed.

Gem will be getting her hands on the new Davina Fit DVD, so I will be able to alternate these workouts and tone tone tone.

I have got back in to exercise over the last 2 weeks and I am really enjoying it.

Jayne x

I Finally Made It!

Don't pass out everyone ... but I actually made it to aerobics last night. Oh yes! I tell you what, I am feeling the burn this morning but actually, despite some moaning and groaning and not really wanting to make the effort to go, once I was there I quite enjoyed myself. That's the feeling I need to remember. The feeling of adrenaline energy and nicely aching muscles. It's all good.

I have my gym stuff in the car ready to go for a quick blast in the gym at work next time I can find someone to go with. That might even be tonight ... I'd like to try and get 20 minutes in today if I can. I'm even considering a spin class at the weekend if I can find someone to go with :O Exercise is definitely the way forward for me. I just need to get moving and stick at it.

Gem x

Cheating the scales!

This weeks weigh in was better than anticipated. I did a pre-meeting weigh in on the wii fit before I went to weight watchers and it looked like my weight had stayed pretty much the same. So, I went upstairs and changed out of my jeans and into my leggings and when I got on the scales for the official verdict I had lost 1.5lbs. That's the same 1.5 lbs that I put on last week so that means I'm back to 10st 11lb. It also means I have to weigh in wearing my leggings from now on LOL.

I guess swapping clothes was cheating, but I don't care. The numbers on the scales actually made me feel pretty good, despite knowing full well that I had actually bent the rules ever so slightly! It's given me some motivation to actually try and follow the diet this week, which is a start AND I have my aerobics kit in the car ready to go and a buddy to go to class with so there is absolutely no way I can wriggle out of exercising tonight. If I can eat what I ate last week and not gain then there is no reason why I shouldn't lose next time if I try a little harder and move around a bit. In theory my weight loss should be AMAZING on monday. Here's to a week of hard work and determination. Whoo!

Gem x

And so we have begun...again

As you know. I skived weigh in last week as I was too scared to see the damage. However, since last Wednesday I have been saintly. I have been staying within points, eating lots of fruit and I went to the gym 3 times (wed, thurs and fri).

Monday's weigh in showed that I now weigh 10st 5 and a half lb. Which is what I weighed on 18th January. So what ever I put on last week I have luckily lost. I did 30 mins of my exercise DVD last night and I am going to the gym today and tomorrow with my gym buddy Leigh. I will try to get motivated and do my exercise dvd at the weekend. But I am thinking of buying a new one as I have started to find the one I have a bit boring. I'm thinking 'Davina Fit' may be my new purchase.

I am going out for a pub lunch on Saturday, but will make sure I choose wisely and have no pudding as I really want to loose again on Monday and get to goal by 22nd Feb. Giving me 3 weigh ins to loose 5 and a half lb. That is doable if I can stay motivated and keep my willpower in check. It's going to be incredibly hard because of Valentines weekend. But, I have to give myself a goal so lets see if I can do it.

Jayne x

Aerobics Schmerobics

Ok, ok. I didn't make it to aerobics after all last week. I went out for a lovely meal on tuesday and had far too much wine for a school night. I got up late and a little hungover so I stumbled out of the door in a daze without my kit. I didn't really attempt to do anything else remotely like exercise all week ... apart from a walk over to my Ma and Pa's on friday afternoon which isn't exactly far away at all, it's half a mile or less. I had a second meal out on Saturday evening. At some point a big mac might have slipped in there too. It's ridiculous really, considering how much its costing me to go and get weighed that I can't bloody stick to something so simple as eating less food than I burn off during the week but I'm shit and I can't help it.

Anyway, it's weigh in tonight. I've not set foot near the scales so I am expecting a gain. Ah well, just need to deal with that and move on. I have had an advanced warning text from my aerobics buddy to get my gym stuff together. I think i'm even going to get it ready and in the car tonight so that if the inclination takes me I might even do a bit of a session in the work gym on Tuesday night. Yes, you heard me ... don't faint anyone.

I'll let you know my punishment on the scales tomorrow.

Gem x

I'm hhhheeeeerrrrreeeee

Hey Jayney, you monkey!!!

I am here, I do occasionally check out the blog girls, honest...just crap at posting.

Well we all know my dieting mishaps, on off on off....at a risk of repeating myself...it's still on off on off.

New year, new me I hear myself cry.....I have joined the new Pure Gym at Wednesfield and have been aiming at 3 days per week....this week has been crap, only managed to go once, as had a vile week and also got another stinking cold. Am back there Monday and gonna sweat it out...grrrrrrr. I was enjoying it, but what with my bad chest first, then this chuffin cold....feel a bit sorry for myself.

Gem will know of my mishap yesterday, which consisted of a cake, M&M's and a bloody red thai curry (which i am pleased to say, was vile, so chucked most of it away!)...have also managed to consume my whole bodyweight in bread this week too.....it has been wholemeal but have still ended up with a bloated belly...not attractive

I have put the scales away, as was finding myself on and off them all the while and since ive been going to the gym i seem to be putting the weight on!!! I have been told this is normal...so they're away for a bit...not really bothered what i weigh, as long as i can get rid of these thunder thighs!!

Will promise to keep updating on here again

Vix x

Where's Vix?

Like the book, Where's Wally. We seem to have lost Vix, Can you find her?

She has not been on the blog for months now, But I safely let you know that she is fine and well. She has lost weight since Christmas and she has also joined the gym. Lets hope she finds her way back to us soon.

Jayne x

Someone stole my mojo.

Ok. I am rubbish. You can say it...Go on...shout it...RUBBISH.

I wanted a 2lb loss and instead scoffed and got too scarred to weigh in. I then continued to be naughty Monday night and Tuesday. I ate so much on Tuesday that I gave myself belly ache. How bad it that. Anyway. In a strange way it helped me and I woke up Wednesday morning with my diet mojo back. I was good all day and went to the gym. I was good all day yesterday and again went to the gym. It was Finley's 3rd Birthday so I did have some birthday cake. But only had a very small amount and only had cereal for tea so defiantly stayed within my allowance.

I have my food with me today which consists of mainly fruit and...guess what...I'm going to the gym after work. Sounds good doesn't it. However it is now the weekend, which is the hardest time to diet for me. I do promise I will weigh myself on Monday though.

I really do hope my willpower and determination will stay with me from now on as I am bored of having a good week where I behave and then a very naughty week when I put weigh back on. I just need to stick with being saintly, get back to goal, continue with the gym, and then maintain. maintain. maintain.

Jayne x

Weakly Weigh In

As predicted my weigh in for this week was not a happy experience ... I put on 1.5lbs and it was thoroughly deserved. I earned that gain for sure lol. Tonight I am going out with the family to celebrate BG's graduation. I fully intend to order something that comes with chips and the spectacular banoffee pie with the free glass of wine that I have a voucher for. However, on wednesday I WILL make it to aerobics to burn off some of the excess and I WILL NOT continue the excessive eating over the weekend so help me god!!!

That's a fact.

Honest.

Gem x

Urgh ... Where is my Willpower?

I seem to have lost every once of willpower this week. I have eaten untold amounts of rubbish including pie and chips, cheeseburger, bourbon pecan pie, monster munch and a cadbury's creme egg PLUS finishing off the best part of a packet of hob nobs and two bottles of wine over the course of the last seven days. It's not looking good for tonight's weigh in and to be honest I don't think I care LOL. That sounds bad doesn't it? I don't mean to sound all deflated I just feel quite comfortable at the moment and all this bloody dieting is SUCH a bore. I look around me and it's not like I'm a great big bloater with seven chins and I know my weight is within the healthy range so really it is only vanity driving me to lose more weight. And to be honest I'm not uncomfortable with how I look so that drive to say no and eat less is kind of missing. What I do feel that I need to do is exercise and I am starting to wonder whether that £17.95 a month I am spending on monthly pass could be better spent on exercise classes and new work out gear. Monday is one of the days when I used to do aerobics ... If I wasn't at weight watchers meetings talking about all the sorts of things I shouldn't be eating and all 'good choices' I could be making it would free me up to do that again some times and allow me to be a bit more flexible with my week. I am paid up until the 1st of March and my direct debit comes out around the middle of the month so I have a week or two to decide whether to cancel but at the moment I'm thinking about going it alone and getting active instead.

Gem x

It makes you sick!

Since my last blog I managed to either catch a bug or get food poisoning ... not at all fun. I became ill on Friday morning after having (close your ears Jayne) a takeaway pizza on Thursday evening. I suppose you could call it karma for eating something I had no business to be eating in the first place. In any case I was horrendously sick and ate barely anything for about three days. On Sunday I managed a few hob nobs and a bagel but that's about it.

You might guess that not eating for a few days meant I had a brilliant weight loss on Monday? Think again ... after all that suffering I only managed to lose a measly 1.5lbs! How very unfair LOL.

Anyway, This week has been OK so far ... I haven't had much of an appetite which has been helpful despite being massively out of character. I haven't managed to fit in any exercise AGAIN so far. I would say it has been an average week overall so far and hopefully it will continue. I have a hurdle at the weekend for a meal out for a friends birthday ... getting active is the only thing I can do to counteract that so I will need to make an effort towards the weekend to do something.

Jayne set me a challenge yesterday ... she thinks I can be at goal by the end of march. She's thrown down the gauntlet and I'll do my best to oblige but I am dubious at the moment about whether or not I can do it. I'll need to set myself out a plan.

Gem x

My 1st loss of 2010.

Last nights weigh in went ok. I lost 2 and 1/4lb taking me to 10st 5 and a 1/4lb. I was hoping for a 3lb loss, but thats all my body and mind allowed this week so can't grumble.

I haven't been to the gym since before Christmas. Mainly due to snow, early closing and being lazy. I did make myslef do some of my exercise dvd last night once Fin had gone to bed. I did'nt manage the 50 mins like I used to do, but I did push myself for 30 mins so better than doing nothing at all. I did then pack my gym stuff to go to the gym after work tonight, but then rememberd that I am taking Fin to the dentist so I am leaving work early. So I will go Wednesday.

I would like a 2lb loss next Monday but will be happy with any loss. Oh, just thought. Having a little party for Finley's 3rd birthday on Sunday and we will have some party food. Will have to be really well behaved at that as buffets are my fave haha.

Good luck to us diet girls for next weigh in.

Jayne x

Oh... What's Occurring?

Oh my god. I haven't blogged since October so I can only apologise and promise to pay more attention to my diet and the blog from now on.

Since my last blog I can't really tell you what has happened as...well, I can really remember. I do know that my weight went back up to 10st 7 and a half lb after Christmas. TUT. However I was having lost of fun so that can't go against me...can it?

It has taken me a while to get back in to the diet rhythm after not being on the wagon for what feels a VERY long time. Last Monday (11th) I had a stern word with myself (after scoffing my face) and decided enough was enough and that I need to start being saintly once more as I was very unhappy.

Anyway, that telling off worked and I have been very saintly this week so there better be a loss. I am weighing in after work tonight and will let you know the outcome.

Feels good to be back :)

Jayne x

Bad News Good news

First the bad news.

• Weight watchers was not called off due to the snow.
• I've gone back under 11st so I lose that extra point and am back to an allowance of 19 per day. That one point doesn't half make a difference you know!
• Our weight watchers leader Angie has given up taking our Monday meeting to spend more time at home.

And the good news?

• I lost 2.5lbs this week taking me back into the 10st bracket which does make me feel a lot happier (despite losing that extra point).
• I also feel so much healthier having spent a week NOT stuffing my face.
• The new weight watchers leader Carol seems quite nice, even if she is little nervous at the moment. She confessed to gaining 11lbs in 3 weeks over Christmas. That especially made me like her.

So, plans for this week are to get in some exercise ... hopefully some aerobics, weather permitting. I also need to eat more fruit and veg. I've not been getting anywhere near my 5 a day. Even though I have been eating low fat low calorie foods they have not necessarily been of the high nutrition good-for-you variety. I have made a start by making my own roast butternut squash, carrot and onion soup. Its the first time I have tried cooking soup from scratch and also the first time I have ever cooked squash. It's no points and I have got it in my flask for lunch today. I had a sneaky spoonful last night and I must say it's pretty darn good even if I do say so myself and very easy to do. It sort of made itself while I was cooking the tea. The vegetables roasted in the oven for 30 minutes along with my jacket spuds and then simmered in some stock with a couple of bay leaves for 20 minutes while I was eating the aforementioned jacket spud with a tuna steak, salad and grilled tomato. I gave it a quick blitz and ta-daa! I have got it in my flask for lunch today and I'm pretty sure I'll make it again.

Other new things I have tried this week are Aldi weetabix (which are v. tasty and just like the 'real' thing) and Aldi low fat breakfast selection fruit yogurts (2pts and not as good as a muller but perfectly acceptable as long as you like strawberry ... you cant get a multi pack without strawberry and they don't do any raspberry as far as i can tell). I also bought a new set of kitchen scales after mine packed up (also from Aldi as I seem to have taken to doing my grocery shopping there after a shiny new store opened near Sainsbury's ... the fruit and veg is really fresh ... I got my squash from there).

Gem x

New Start 2010

Weigh in was more than a little disappointing. I almost didn't go. I knew I had gained, and I knew it was a lot as I could feel it in my clothes and my stomach felt like it had been stretched so much it was almost painful. However, I was a bit upset to discover I was back over the 11st bracket. 11st and 1lb to be precise. Drat.

So, things I need to note at this point are:

1. I must remember how horrible I feel now after three weeks of junk food and alcohol consumption so that I can avoid making the same mistake again.
2. It is up to me to take control of what I put in my body. If I find that willpower to make the right choices I will succeed.
3. I am actually 8lbs lighter than I was this time last year. That's an improvement for sure.

It is snowing quite a bit here at the moment, which means that aerobics will probably be cancelled and I would prefer not to risk getting snowed in on the carpark so I shall be going straight home tonight after work. Exercise is likely to be in short supply this week but at least I have got the food side relatively under control for the time being.

Gem x

Disaster December

After spending the last two weeks fully in the festive spirit celebrating and socializing today it is back down to earth with a bump. A big one. A big wibbly wobbly bellied bump.

It is the first weigh in of the year this evening ... not a prospect I am looking forward to in the slightest. I know there has been a huge gain but I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I have stayed under the 11 stone bracket. To be honest it's going to be a close call. It is quite disgusting to think that I could have consumed so much in such a short space of time to have gained almost as much as I have lost in the entire year but that is the long and short of it. And now we have to deal with the consequences.

I am glad to be back to normality today. Not glad to be back at work, that would be insane, but glad to have my routine back with a clear focus of what needs to be achieved and no excuses for gluttony. My brand new cool pink Stanley food flask is having it's trial run today and contains a nice tin of Asda GFY Tomato and Basil Soup. It has a wide opening which provides opportunities to use up leftovers that are more chunky than soup too ... i'm thinking ravioli could be good ... or curries mmmMMMmmm. Either way its going to help give me a bit of variety AND a nice hot meal should help me feel nourished at lunch time without costing me several million points OR having to resort to salad *shudder*

So I'll report back on the first weigh in of the year soon ... if I'm not too revolted with myself to confess.

Gem x