Long Island Hangover...

I am finding work fairly ridiculous so far this week so I am currently on strike and taking 10 minutes out to write an update. Let's hope no one notices.

I spent a lovely weekend with the boy. We made it to the gym on Friday which left me feeling utterly exhausted for the rest of the night. Alcohol was avoided (success - this never happens on a Friday) and we ate a home cooked Lamb Curry packed full of Veg. 

Saturday started off fairly successfully, I made a healthy breakfast of Bubble and Squeak, Grilled bacon, poached eggs and beans before we headed off to Pennyhill Park to spend the day in the spa. Such an amazing hotel - our room was ridiculously large with an actual four poster bed....

The bathroom was bigger than our flat.

We spent the day lazing around in the spa, in the outside jacuzzi (amazeballs) and then got ready for dinner.. That's where it all went a bit wrong. We drank Prosecco (smuggled in so as to save cash) I made decent enough choices food wise. Pan seared Duck Liver with puy lentils to start, Char Grilled beef tenderloin with Bone Marrow for main with tomato and shallot side salad and then baked apple for dessert...   We drank a bottle of wine (it was paid for so it'd have been really rude not to) and then decided to retire to the bar for an after dinner cocktail....

Look at the price of these little beauties.. Only we could have a free weekend and manage to turn it into the most expensive night out ever by ordering numerous Long island Iced Teas, thus resulting in the hangover from hell on Sunday and a stupid hotel bill (£75 for a pedicure!!). Oh well, you live and learn.

Sunday was quite difficult, but we went for a 45 minute walk since the sun was shining, I really couldn't face the gym so it was a good compromise. My eating has been pretty ok since. Lots of lean meat and fresh veg. We've just been for a team curry (ridiculous idea at lunch time) but I ordered Shaslick to try and be slightly healthier.

I've got PT tonight which I imagine will be a challenge after a large lunch, so let's hope I don't see it again.

Really not sure what WI will bring this week, hand on heart, I've not been 100% committed, but it's a definite improvement on recent weeks so fingers crossed. 

My name is Linz...

.... and I suck at losing weight.

I seem to have entered some sort of weight gain contest in my head. 1.5 pounds on last night. Totally deserved so I am not going to bang on about it. I'm almost back where I bloody well started. Harumph.

The conversation in my head went like this last night:

Me: No point going and getting weighed, you know you've put on weight.
Me: Just go and get on with it. Face the scales and be done with it.
Me: But I really don't want to go. I will feel demoralised and fat and like a total failure.
Me: Just being an eejit and man up.
Me: But I really don't want to.....
Me: FFS do it!

So I went, got weighed and came home in a huff. My head is just not in the right place for dieting, the exercise bit seems to have clicked thankfully, so at least I am feeling somewhat fitter, if not fatter.

I got up early on Wednesday to do a walk, but ended up just doing shy of 2 miles as the darkness and the fog wasn't really conducive to a leisurely stroll - Nice huh?

My eating I thought had been ok. I made a big vat of Kale, Goats Cheese and Bacon Pasta (I'm drowning under a mountain of Kale) which I've had for lunch most days, breakfasts have mainly been toast or bacon Sarnies and dinners have been random. Clearly, I'm not properly focussed so I need to get back to planning my meals.

So, yet another plan of action (forgive me if I am repetitive). Stop eating crap, stop eating when I am full, start following SW properly and crack on with the exercise. One meal at a time, one day at a time.

Gym is scheduled for tonight and Sunday. We've a night at Pennyhill Park hotel tomorrow which was an engagement present from Matt's best man. We get a 3 course meal included, so I am just going to have to make the best choices I can. Booze will be limited and exercise will occur.

My weight loss journey is like Ground hog day....

Have a lovely weekend everyone. Hopefully I won't be any fatter the next time I write.

Exhausting

This last week has really taken it's toll on me. I love to be busy, but I think I might have over done it of late as I feel utterly drained today. I spent last night dreaming I was marrying Matt Goss as well as hearing numerous strange noises which had me parading around the flat starkers with a hammer in my hand to confront any intruders (Matt is away this week). I am fairly sure the sight of me naked would be enough to scare anyone off.

The ridiculously busy weekend was in the end very worthwhile. I have ordered my wedding dress!! The designer was lovely, listened to exactly what I wanted but also gave me a few ideas as to what would work with my shape. Despite my large thighs and backside, I am apparently an hourglass - so this dress will flatter that. The top is a very fitted bodice which supports my large breasticles and nips me in at the waist and the skirt will be a very full tulle ballerina style tea length skirt. I just hope it is as lovely as I am picturing. I am almost excited!

Eating is still a bit suspect, I'm not being a pig by any means but I'm not as focussed as I should be. On the other hand, exercise is going well. I made it to the gym on Friday and did an hour of cardio and various weight exercises. Last night was PT again and it literally exhausted the hell out of me. I had to sit in the car park for 10 minutes afterwards as my arms were feeling too weak to drive. As you can imagine, everything bloody hurts today. Thankfully I'm working from home so the office is not subjected to my constant groans every time I try to move.

Tonight is my first free night since last Sunday, so I am planning to do absolutely bugger all. I'm meeting a friend in the morning at 7am to do a quick 3 mile walk before work and then I will attempt to get to the gym on Thursday before I face the scales of doom.

Right, I am off to hobble to the kitchen to see what delights I can come up with from this weeks Veg Box. Parsnip, Beetroot and Kale... hmmmmmm.

Purple and pain

I am missing WI tonight as I don't have time to get there and get back to town to see Sarah Millican. I should probably find another class, but since I've managed to make myself utterly ridiculously busy, we shall assume I won't. I will hop on the scales at home tomorrow so they can berate me in their usual fashion.

I've not made it back to the gym since Monday's torturous session and to be honest, I am struggling to work out when I can fit it in. If I leave work early enough tomorrow, there is a chance I can manage a quick visit... but seriously, how likely is that on a Friday? Perhaps that's not that right attitude.

Another lesson learnt this week - if you drop something behind a chest of drawers, move them to reach it. Don't presume you have Mr. Tickle arms or you will end up in excruciating pain with 2 twisted vertebrae. Thankfully my Osteopath has managed to sort out that little disaster I'd created for myself, although I'm still feeling a little bit on the sore side, I shan't feel too sorry for myself.

My food hasn't been hideous this week, but I've been famished and craving comfort. Shepherd's pie and soups have featured mostly - including this strangely coloured delight.

Red Cabbage Soup. Very easy to make and fairly tasty - Red Cabbage, Onions, Garlic, A couple of Potatoes, Chicken Stock and seasoning. Dry fry the Cabbage, Garlic and Onions, Chuck in Stock and potatoes, simmer til veg is soft. Blend and season. Voila. Oh - and be careful if you are blending this with a hand blender - there is a chance you'll end up with purple all over the walls and yourself. Not clever if you're wearing white.

And finally - a shameless show off as to how clever my little sister is, she clearly gets it from me. 

Learning

Hello Tuesday, how are you all? I'm good, slightly tired today, but mainly due to the evil that is Personal Training last night. In other news, I've had an enlightening few days. A summary of my learning shall follow:

1. I should not drink a lot of Cava/Prosecco on an empty stomach as I will be up at 430am on Saturday morning feeling like death warmed up. Saturday will mostly be a write off.
   
2. I should not park my car under a tree as birds will use it as a litter tray and I will not be happy. 2 car washes will not be able to remove the crap.
   
3. My fiancé is devious. He knew on Friday afternoon he would need to work on Sunday, but he kept his mouth shut until an hour before we were due to leave the house and meet my parents in Milton Keynes. Thus, annoying me immensely, but limiting the amount of time I had to be annoyed at him. Clever.
   
4. Sat Nav cannot be trusted - if I blindly follow it to get to Milton Keynes, I will end up in the middle of a field on a dirt track which will eventually run out. Choosing the 'shortest' route is therefore not the best idea.
   
5. Performing a 3 point turn on a dirt track in a muddy field is quite difficult.
   
6. I will drive to Milton Keynes for lunch - to discover that everyone had a big breakfast and no one is eating, therefore I will have spent 1.5 hours driving to have a pint of Lime and Soda.
   
7. I should never tell my Personal Trainer that I am tired in the hope he will take it easy on me or even better still, cancel the session so I can go home for a nap. Instead, he will work me harder than ever before so I am sweating so much I cannot see due to sweat pouring into my eyes.
   
8. The day after Personal Training will forever be painful and I will spend most of the day groaning when trying to get out of my seat.

I think that about covers it. 

My eating is still a bit on the suspect side, yesterday I had a sterling SW day and then snarfed 2 packets of Love Hearts before I went to the gym - why do I do this? I then got home from PT and was ravenous so I ate a bit of Game Pie that I've been ignoring on the fridge and a slice of bread. Today should be better, but it's definitely very much a case of one meal a time at the moment. On a positive note though, I am starting to feel fitter. 

So, this week looks mental:

• Tomorrow night, visit the Osteopath and then pop in to see my half child (I didn't make it at the weekend due to alcohol consumption). 
• Thursday night, dinner out with Matt and then we have tickets for Sarah Millican.
• Friday night, I am out in Windsor with the girls.
• Saturday I fly to Newcastle for the day to meet my wedding dress designer (she's normally based in Cheltenham which is obviously a bit handier) - I couldn't risk staying  the weekend at my parents in case aforementioned half child had not yet been born.
• Sunday meet a friend and go for a massage and then lunch 
• Monday - then it's PT again.

I am exhausted just thinking about it. 

Porker

3.5 pounds on - expected and totally deserved. I flogged my guts out at the gym beforehand - so I'm fairly sure I was in a state of total dehydration when I did actually get weighed, so possibly I'd actually put on even more. Sigh.

I did 25 minutes of Cardio last night, followed by various vipr pole exercises and those blasted kettle bells made a reappearance. I am in agony today... I must persevere however.

Kick up the bum has duly been received. I turned down the offer of a pub lunch today, I've had SW friendly meals so far and I've tracked everything which is better than previous days.

We're meeting friends for dinner tonight at a Spanish restaurant, visiting my half child tomorrow (since I was present at his birth, I am claiming parentage) and seeing my parents on Sunday in Milton Keynes. Hopefully I can retain some form of control. A trip to the gym is also planned for tomorrow.... if I can move my arms.

Have a good weekend everybody.

P.S - Amy, I've changed my layout as it was getting a bit tired - is that any better?

It's all going horribly wrong

I've totally lacked focus on my food this week. I don't get myself really. I almost kill myself (gross exaggeration) at Personal Training (hello Kettle Bells - you are hideous) and then I proceed to pick at all sorts of crap food all week. My body is aching like buggery (well not literally, but you get me) and instead of feeling all pleased with myself for having had a really good workout, I feel fat and bloated as I can't stop blooming eating. Clearly I want to be a big fat bride in some sort of marquee for a dress.

A hop on the scales this morning almost produced tears, I am officially dreading getting weighed tonight. I'm going to go to the gym beforehand - kind of last chance workout (Biggest Loser stylee) in the vain hope it will shed a pound or so from the horror story I saw this morning.

I am hoping whatever the news, there will be some form of massive shock to the system and it will inspire me to be a super star Slimming Worlder from now on. Failing that, I'm opting for a frontal lobotomy to try and fix my thinking.

Wish me luck!

Tales from Morocco

So I am back - back to drizzle and grey skies - and hopefully back to some form of sensible eating.

Morocco was most definitely an experience. We stayed in a lovely hotel which we got via Groupon, so it worked out quite good value. We nearly didn't make the flight due to an overheating car - but thankfully Green Flag came to the rescue and transported us there (via recovery truck) just in the nick of time.

So Marrakech - well, our hotel was about 10 minutes away from the centre - or the Medina, so we didn't actually get to see much of the place until Saturday as we had already decided Friday would be a day of 'nowt' i.e. reading, sleeping and a Hamam which was part of our deal.

The Medina was a totally crazy place - like nothing I've ever really experienced before. As soon as we stepped off the shuttle bus, we were besieged by men offering to be our tour guide - warning us of the dangers of 'going it alone' and generally just making a nuisance of themselves. A tad overwhelming. The place is really busy - tourists, snake charmers, beggars, motorcycles carrying families and sheep (yes sheep) and just a general sense of chaos prevails. I loved it - Matt hated it!

We ended up taking a tour bus to get us around and to escape the chaos - it was a good way to see main sights without fearing for our lives on the mental back streets and roads. There is no sense of road safety! Literally there are people hanging off the back of vans and trucks and no one seems to drive with any sense.

The Medina:

Compare this to the relatively tranquillity of our hotel

I'd love to say I ate sensibly - but I didn't overly. In the 4 days we were there we only had lunch once - but that's mainly due to eating too much at breakfast (a buffet is never a winner for me). Dinner was either Tagine or Cous Cous, so nothing too hideous and I did go to the gym, but I feel fatter and somewhat out of control. I'm trying to reign it back in today - but it's not been a resounding success so far.

Anyway, I've Personal Training again tonight, so that will give me the kick I need to refocus I am sure. I shall find out the damage on Thursday I guess.

Oink

It's been a strange old week. I've gone a bit off the Slimming World rails because my routine has been all over the place. After seeing my best friend on the operating table having a baby by emergency sun roof extraction (let's just say, I'll be having my steak well done for a while), I was somewhat hyper for most of Monday morning before I totally crashed and burned around 1pm. I woke up and proceeded to eat Super Speed Soup, a pitta bread and cheese and then cooked a massive Bolognese which I had with Spaghetti Squash. Piglet.

Yesterday was also a bit messed up food wise. I was fairly good for most of the day, then I had PT. Seriously, that man is evil personified. He looks all innocent and charming and then he nearly kills me. Last night's session almost saw me faint (an improvement on the projectile vomiting), so I had to spend 5 minutes lying on the gym floor with my legs in the air. I'm so cool. After the initial feeling of impending death, and once I no longer resembled a giant beetroot, I felt able to socialise, so went out and proceeded to polish off a 3 course meal with a couple of girlfriends. Eejit.

Today, I've reigned it back in a bit, but since I know I'm not getting weighed tomorrow as I'll be in Morocco, it's been an internal battle with my inner pig. For once, I've actually packed my trainers, so I am going to attempt to use the gym whilst we are away. I will also try not to gorge myself on tagine and cous cous - or whatever else is typical Moroccan fayre. At least now I can relax for the 4 nights we are away without worrying about an impending child birth.

Right, I've just realised it's almost 9pm and I've not eaten anything since this morning, so I'm off to eat vegetables. Yummy,