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Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Day 5 - from a high angle
Bit of a struggle this one since we live in a ground floor flat! This is the view from my office window of lovely (!) Bracknell. What a delight.......
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
500th post - I am a failure
This is my 500th post on this here blog - a bit of a milestone for me. I expected I'd be a hell of lot lighter than I was when I started out. In fact I think I vowed that I'd never be back to that hideous weight... well here it is people... I am a failure. I am back where I started.
I am exercising pretty well - I feel a hell of a lot fitter than I did a few months ago - but unless the scales are playing some sort of hideous trick on me, I am getting fatter every week. So that just leaves one thing - I am eating too much or I am eating completely the wrong things. I thought I'd had one bad day this week - i..e. Sunday. Turns out every day must've been bad as the scales have me 4 pounds up again this week. I mean that's some serious lardy action by anyone's standards. I just don't know what the hell is going on with my head.
Drastic action is required. We were meant to go out for dinner tonight - that has been cancelled. I can't trust myself to make good choices. We are off to Edinburgh on Friday with 15 of our friends for the Rugby - obviously this is not something we can/ want to cancel - but I have cancelled the lunch we were going to have on Friday afternoon (we arrive a lot earlier than everyone else) at the Witchery. As much as I really want to go, something has to give.
So here are the social events I've to navigate my way around in the coming weeks:
I am exercising pretty well - I feel a hell of a lot fitter than I did a few months ago - but unless the scales are playing some sort of hideous trick on me, I am getting fatter every week. So that just leaves one thing - I am eating too much or I am eating completely the wrong things. I thought I'd had one bad day this week - i..e. Sunday. Turns out every day must've been bad as the scales have me 4 pounds up again this week. I mean that's some serious lardy action by anyone's standards. I just don't know what the hell is going on with my head.
Drastic action is required. We were meant to go out for dinner tonight - that has been cancelled. I can't trust myself to make good choices. We are off to Edinburgh on Friday with 15 of our friends for the Rugby - obviously this is not something we can/ want to cancel - but I have cancelled the lunch we were going to have on Friday afternoon (we arrive a lot earlier than everyone else) at the Witchery. As much as I really want to go, something has to give.
So here are the social events I've to navigate my way around in the coming weeks:
- This weekend - Edinburgh. Cancelled lunch, drink only on Saturday. Stick to SW friendly foods at all other times. Strictly no shortbread, haggis or deep fried anything.
- Next weekend - Tavistock to see friends. Walk a lot. Drink only one of the nights. Stick to SW friendly foods - maybe see if we can rearrange for a later date...
- The following weekend - Dusseldorf for 3 nights. Limit alcohol. Walk a lot. Stick to SW friendly foods.
- End of Feb - Matt's birthday weekend. We've a night in a Spa hotel including dinner on the Sunday - but should be good for the rest of the weekend.
- The weekend after that - home to my parents for a weekend. Should be able to stick to diet and limit booze. Take dogs for walks?
- Then - 10 days in Cyprus.... Aaarghhhhh. Limit alcohol, walk and swim as much as possible. Eat as much fresh fruit and veg and lean meat as possible. Try not to use the "eff it I'm on holiday" attitude.
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
The day I noticed an improvement at PT
It's taken a while - but last night, there was definitely an improvement in my effort at PT - I am by no means a converted gym bunny, but last night, there was a difference. Maybe it's a mental thing, but my Trainer remarked that it was by far my best session to date and I could feel it too.
We started on the cross trainer doing sprint intervals. Normally I struggle to get the speed past 10 on the sprints, but last night I really pushed myself and was around 13. 25 minutes later and after seeing my Heart Rate at 182 (I am fairly sure this reading is dodgy as I am sure I'd be dead now) I was pretty knackered.... but I persevered with the strength exercises. We did lots of reps to the point of failure - i.e. til my arms or legs gave way. I feel pretty sore today, but quite pleased with myself all the same. I just need to try and fit in another few sessions this week.
Now if only I can sort out my eating....
Day 4 of the Photography Challenge - something green
I snapped a load of photos in the gym last night, as that's pretty green... but they were all very mundane. So here is a picture of last night's dinner....
Yup - a lot of gravy on that Broccoli. I am a Northerner after all...
We started on the cross trainer doing sprint intervals. Normally I struggle to get the speed past 10 on the sprints, but last night I really pushed myself and was around 13. 25 minutes later and after seeing my Heart Rate at 182 (I am fairly sure this reading is dodgy as I am sure I'd be dead now) I was pretty knackered.... but I persevered with the strength exercises. We did lots of reps to the point of failure - i.e. til my arms or legs gave way. I feel pretty sore today, but quite pleased with myself all the same. I just need to try and fit in another few sessions this week.
Now if only I can sort out my eating....
Day 4 of the Photography Challenge - something green
I snapped a load of photos in the gym last night, as that's pretty green... but they were all very mundane. So here is a picture of last night's dinner....
Monday, 30 January 2012
Weekend and Day 3 of the Photography Challenge
I've had such a lovely weekend, I feel pretty sad that it's over and it's Monday again.
Friday night we spent with friends celebrating their engagement. Lots of wedding chat which was nice, we ate Tapas and drank a lot of red wine. I woke up on Saturday feeling somewhat fuzzy headed, but I got up - made a healthy breakfast and then headed to the gym. I've managed to trap a nerve in my back which is making moving a tad difficult, but I did as much as I could - so 25 minutes of cardio on the treadmill, squats, lunges and kettle bells along with sit ups. My legs are still aching in a mental fashion today.
Yesterday started off very lazily, Matt got up early and went to spinning, but my legs and back were having none of it so I lay in bed :) We then went for the most amazing Sunday lunch which ended up being 3 courses, plus Prosecco - I'd decided not to drive so we could walk and get in a bit of exercise - but no car + a lovely restaurant = alcohol. Not clever.
So - plan for this week, take it one meal at a time and keep up the exercise, I've a mental few weeks coming up on the social front (I don't now have a free weekend until the end of March!!) so I am going to have be as good as I can manage.
And finally for today - Day 3 of the Photography Challenge - Clouds:
Taken on my journey to work this morning....
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Friday night we spent with friends celebrating their engagement. Lots of wedding chat which was nice, we ate Tapas and drank a lot of red wine. I woke up on Saturday feeling somewhat fuzzy headed, but I got up - made a healthy breakfast and then headed to the gym. I've managed to trap a nerve in my back which is making moving a tad difficult, but I did as much as I could - so 25 minutes of cardio on the treadmill, squats, lunges and kettle bells along with sit ups. My legs are still aching in a mental fashion today.
Yesterday started off very lazily, Matt got up early and went to spinning, but my legs and back were having none of it so I lay in bed :) We then went for the most amazing Sunday lunch which ended up being 3 courses, plus Prosecco - I'd decided not to drive so we could walk and get in a bit of exercise - but no car + a lovely restaurant = alcohol. Not clever.
So - plan for this week, take it one meal at a time and keep up the exercise, I've a mental few weeks coming up on the social front (I don't now have a free weekend until the end of March!!) so I am going to have be as good as I can manage.
And finally for today - Day 3 of the Photography Challenge - Clouds:
Taken on my journey to work this morning....
.JPG)
Sunday, 29 January 2012
30 Day Photography Challenge
I originally saw this posted on Pink Chilli Vintages Blog and then saw Sue was joining in too so thought I'd jump on the bandwagon in an attempt to make my blog a little less dull.
The challenge is to take a picture every day with a different theme - I tried to start yesterday but Blogpress was not playing ball so you get 2 today. You lucky lot.
Day Two - What I wore today.
We've just been for lunch so this was me. Usually a Sunday consists of PJ's so this is a rare treat. Bird print dress from New Look, Matalan Cardigan, trousers from Evans, shoes by Accessorize. Another rubbish photo - must try harder.
The challenge is to take a picture every day with a different theme - I tried to start yesterday but Blogpress was not playing ball so you get 2 today. You lucky lot.
Day One - Self Portrait.
I look pretty moody - this was last night - I am possibly a bit worse for wear also...
Day Two - What I wore today.
We've just been for lunch so this was me. Usually a Sunday consists of PJ's so this is a rare treat. Bird print dress from New Look, Matalan Cardigan, trousers from Evans, shoes by Accessorize. Another rubbish photo - must try harder.
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Jekyll and Hyde
Radio Silence this week as I've been struggling a bit. Mainly I've been massively busy with work (yet again) but I am just not sure what the heck is going on with me at the moment - it's like I've got two different heads.
My exercise is going great guns. Still doing PT and noticing a massive improvement. I feel fitter, my strength work has improved loads and I feeling a lot better about it all - I actually almost enjoyed Monday's PT session - but I won't tell anyone. I managed 4 gym sessions last week - all pretty full on with 30 minutes of Cardio and then 30 minutes of strength (squats, kettle bells etc).
My meals are also pretty bang on. I am back following Slimming World and have been doing pretty well. Minimal bread, lots of lean meat and vegetables, the odd bit of fruit, enough water to fill a swimming pool. It all sounds great, right?
And that's where the good side of me ends... I just can't seem to stop eating crap in between.
Work is really not helping. This week in the office we have had:
My exercise is going great guns. Still doing PT and noticing a massive improvement. I feel fitter, my strength work has improved loads and I feeling a lot better about it all - I actually almost enjoyed Monday's PT session - but I won't tell anyone. I managed 4 gym sessions last week - all pretty full on with 30 minutes of Cardio and then 30 minutes of strength (squats, kettle bells etc).
My meals are also pretty bang on. I am back following Slimming World and have been doing pretty well. Minimal bread, lots of lean meat and vegetables, the odd bit of fruit, enough water to fill a swimming pool. It all sounds great, right?
And that's where the good side of me ends... I just can't seem to stop eating crap in between.
Work is really not helping. This week in the office we have had:
- Carrot Cake
- Red Velvet Cupcakes
- Nutella and Bailey's Cheesecake
- Mini Chocolate Doughnuts
- Mini Toblerones
- Mini Green and Blacks bars
Seriously, it's like some sort of Sweet Paradise every bloody day and despite the fact that I don't have a sweet tooth (at all - I can have chocolate in the house for months and ignore it) I have pretty much tried all of the above at some point this week. I am so blooming annoyed with myself.
The scales yesterday had bounced up 4lbs from last week. I just don't really know what I am playing at. I seem to love being a big fat blob.
Back to the drawing board again, I am wondering if I need to try something drastic - I just don't know what that drastic is. I get married in 8 months time - so if that's not enough to kick my ass, I really don't know what is.
So - I am going to keep on with the exercise and maybe try wiring my jaw shut for a few weeks. Failing that, I'm going to eat raw chicken in an attempt to poison myself off food (ok, I am kidding...)
In other news - here is the first proof of our wedding invitations... I am over the moon with it. My mother is not impressed - but then I am not sure she is overly impressed by any of my not very weddingy wedding plans. Ho hum.
This weekend we've a few social events to attend. An engagement celebration tomorrow night (Matt's best man has just proposed to my friend and we introduced them - such matchmakers), A Burns Night party on Saturday but I am going to drive and then Sunday lunch - again I am driving. Gym is happening tonight and at least once over the weekend. I just hope I can stop eating crap that I don't even want or particularly like. Wish me luck.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Improvements
Thank you all for your lovely comments on the wedding dress post. You are all very lovely people. Since I didn't bore you all to death with wedding chat, expect more to come!
I've had another mixed bag this week. I've bitten the bullet and signed up for Slimming World online again and am enjoying planning a few meals to try and motivate myself to stick to it. Exercise is still in full flow - I am not finding PT is getting any easier at all. I had another session on Monday and here I am, 2 days later, still in total agony. I ended up with cramp in my tricep on Monday and went on ridiculous - you'd have thought I'd been shot. I'm such a wuss - in my defence, it was bloody painful.... my arm still hurts now.
I've noticed a massive improvement in my sit ups and arm strength, but my squats are still pretty poor. I was beating myself up about it a bit, but my trainer did point out that my thighs are my 'problem' area so I am doing squats with a lot of extra weight. I guess if I keep practising, they will get better. I'm off there again tonight, so here's hoping I can move a bit better by then.
The weekend was a bit mental - we went for lunch with 3 other couples to Brown's in Reading on Saturday which should have been a civilised affair - by 3pm we were drinking shots of Sambucca amongst other things. It was all very messy. Let's just say, we were passed out in bed by 9pm. I can't really remember what I ate - but I am fairly sure I drank my bodyweight in alcohol, so it wasn't a very healthy day! Sunday, we did absolutely nothing other than a quick walk to try and blow away some of the cobwebs.
Since then, not much else to report. I've stuck to SW pretty well, had another session in the gym and had my hospital appointment yesterday for my Urticaria - she is testing my thyroid as she thinks this could be related... so let's see what the blood tests come back with next week. I have a cocktail of tablets to take to try and stop my face from exploding whenever I get hot, so fingers crossed.
Oh - and a hop on the scales this morning shows a 2.5 pound loss - more than happy with that so here's hoping a full week of SW will add to that. I am going to try and get in the habit of posting a bit more regularly to try and keep my focussed. Expect a lot more inane drivel from me.
I've had another mixed bag this week. I've bitten the bullet and signed up for Slimming World online again and am enjoying planning a few meals to try and motivate myself to stick to it. Exercise is still in full flow - I am not finding PT is getting any easier at all. I had another session on Monday and here I am, 2 days later, still in total agony. I ended up with cramp in my tricep on Monday and went on ridiculous - you'd have thought I'd been shot. I'm such a wuss - in my defence, it was bloody painful.... my arm still hurts now.
I've noticed a massive improvement in my sit ups and arm strength, but my squats are still pretty poor. I was beating myself up about it a bit, but my trainer did point out that my thighs are my 'problem' area so I am doing squats with a lot of extra weight. I guess if I keep practising, they will get better. I'm off there again tonight, so here's hoping I can move a bit better by then.
The weekend was a bit mental - we went for lunch with 3 other couples to Brown's in Reading on Saturday which should have been a civilised affair - by 3pm we were drinking shots of Sambucca amongst other things. It was all very messy. Let's just say, we were passed out in bed by 9pm. I can't really remember what I ate - but I am fairly sure I drank my bodyweight in alcohol, so it wasn't a very healthy day! Sunday, we did absolutely nothing other than a quick walk to try and blow away some of the cobwebs.
Since then, not much else to report. I've stuck to SW pretty well, had another session in the gym and had my hospital appointment yesterday for my Urticaria - she is testing my thyroid as she thinks this could be related... so let's see what the blood tests come back with next week. I have a cocktail of tablets to take to try and stop my face from exploding whenever I get hot, so fingers crossed.
Oh - and a hop on the scales this morning shows a 2.5 pound loss - more than happy with that so here's hoping a full week of SW will add to that. I am going to try and get in the habit of posting a bit more regularly to try and keep my focussed. Expect a lot more inane drivel from me.
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