I’m kinda struggling to put into words how I feel about my new trainers. They are disgustingly groovy and frankly bordering on distasteful. In other words… I LOVE THEM!

Shiny, limey, turquatic wonders…..

I’ve been wearing (a different pair of) Mizuno Inspire trainers for a few months now and have to say that FOR ME they really are the best runners I’ve ever had.

I started off with a pair of Gel Asics and we didn’t get along at all. Sore sore knees, constantly. Then I got fitted with Brooks Adrenalines (3 pairs) and they were almost perfect despite giving me an intermittent arch blister. I need support but turns out that they were a touch too structured.

After doing lots of reading online and trying on in shops I got a past season pair of Mizuno Wave Inspires. From the day and hour I started wearing them I have had “healthier feet”. Zero blisters, happier knees and just general all round comfort. So when I spotted the Special Osaka Editions on Zalando I just had to have AND having got my first pair of Inspires half price I didn’t feel quite so bad splurging on these ones. See the way I’ve justified it? Yes? Good

Anyways, enough rambling. It’s time to break them in

xo

I’m scarily paranoid about developing shin splints or any of the other numerous injuries that seem akin to running.

Therefore I’ve opted for the prevention is better than cure train of thought. This led me to Sports Direct today where I was kitted out with an “actual” pair of “running shoes” as opposed to the Dunnes Stores special’s trainers I have been using.

The guy was super helpful and turns out I’m a mild over-pronator… (tell me something I don’t know says the husband…) no but really… it’s a medical term not a state of mind.

Basically my feet roll inwards too much, I think it might be what I would describe as fallen arches.

He then gave me lot’s of different trainers to try on that offered the kind of support I needed. “We” (yes it was a joint decision) decided the Asics 1140 ticked all the boxes.

Voilá

Roll on Thursday night so I can break these babies in!!

xox

It’s a new month, what better time to start a new healthy diet and exercise plan?

Since I left Weightwatchers at the start of the summer I’ve gained almost half a stone. Not ideal. That said I’m not completely gutted about it, I had a fabulous summer and food featured highly. It’s not like I’m sitting here scratching my head wondering how on earth it happened

I want the weight off now though, summer is officially over. So how am I going to do it? Well…. I’m re-joining Weighwatchers on Wednesday morning, it works well for me, and I like the support of other dieters.

I’ve also joined a group on Twitter that are aiming to lose a stone (14lbs) in the month of September. We’ll be posting our progress under the hashtag #Septemberstone . Join us!!

Finally and most exciting of all for me…. I’ve taken up running. I am a complete novice and had literally never ever ever ran for exercise until Sunday night past. I’m using an application on my iPhone called Get Running. I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s a nine week fitness plan based on Josh Clark’s famous couch to 5K plan. A professionally recorded voice prompts you at regular intervals, letting you know when to start running and when to walk (it’s a mixture of both to start with), all the while allowing you to listen to the bangin’ tunes on your iPod!

The first leg of training is eight 1 minute runs broken up with eight 1.5 minute walks. Sound easy? Think again. I boked after the third minute. Classy…..

The last two 1 minute runs were more like crawls but I didn’t stop and the feeling of achievement once I heard the voice in my ear saying “Congratulations you just completed your first run” was absolutely amazing! I can’t wait to get back out tonight!

One thing I will say is to make sure you’re well equipped trainer and bra wise if you’re of the female sex. I was totally unaware that every time you pound the pavement 3 times your body weight it absorbed through your feet. Yesterday I had a noticeably sore spine, and my jugs felt like they’d had weights hanging off them (and I’m not a big busted gal). So it’s Sports bra and proper running shoes from here on in.

Current Weight: 11 Stone 11lbs

Dress Size: UK 14

Height: 5ft 6″

Wish me luck   xox

Shoot me now

I have been really good this week, eating within my points, plenty of exercise and figure wise its paid off. My jeans are looser and my husband can see it off me.

Why on earth did Weightwatchers just tell me that I gained 1lb then?????!!!!!

I feel completely deflated and demotivated. I wanted to grab the WW scales and hurl them across the room. No…. but really… I did… I kinda wanted to drop kick the leader too…

I felt good this morning, liked the shape I saw in the mirror, but according to WW I’m still 11lbs overweight and now I feel like a fat cow.

Gutted

You may have noticed that I didn’t go to Weightwatchers last week….. well to be completely honest I was very fed up with the whole thing. I guess I was on a bit of a weight loss downer.

I spoke to my WW buddy Kelly and basically explained how I was feeling (I’d have been lost without you this week bird)…. very much like I was on a diet & deprived.

This wasn’t WW fault, it was purely mine. I wasn’t following the programme properly, I was being lax about it. So I’ve had a week off, wallowed a bit, felt sorry for my fat ass and I’m over it now.

I took myself to todays meeting with the attitude of, I can fix this and pull it back…

No need. I lost 1lb

Now you could literally have knocked me down with a feather, I was utterly convinced (partly because I’d weighed myself in the house this morning) I had gained at least 1.5- 2lbs.

Uh-uh.

I’ve learnt 2 major things from this episode.

• The scales in the house aren’t accurate and they need to be binned if I’m to stop torturing myself and dreading weigh ins.

• My weight problem is 60% in my mind, 40% in my body. I have a bad body image and I need to work on that. I’m going to start by booking myself into the college beauty salon for some pampering treatments

I also purchased a Pedometer today to try and up my exercise again. Pretty nifty little device that bascially calculates your steps and tells you what wine activity points you earn, if any.

It can seem a bit arduous clocking up activity points as before you earn any you need to reach do what is classed as a “normal” amount of healthy exercise, namely 10,000 steps per day. Thats the hard point, once you break that barrier though, the points clock up quite quickly! Already today just walking a short distance from WW and collecting youngest from nursery I’ve done over 3,000 steps.

Hope everyone else has done ok this week too, special mention to the gorgeous @lizzclare who lost 5.75lbs this week. Her secret? No meals after 5pm!! Well done Elizabeth xxxx

If you follow me on Twitter you’ve probably already heard the unexciting news that I stayed the bloody same again this week!! Ugh! Frustrating!!

3 weeks = no loss, no gain either which I know I should be pleased about, and I am, but at the same time this plateau is annoying/ boring the life out of me!

A few people have recommended that I perhaps need to vary my meals more, to kick start weight loss again and so I’m definitely going to do that. I’m also going to remove alcohol out of the equation COMPLETELY this week, as I’ve noticed with this stunning weather, my beer in take has increased again, and lets face it, beer is NOT waist line friendly!

How is everyone else getting on? Is the good weather having any positive/ negative effects on your weight loss?

xox

Stayed the same!

Nothing on, nothing off!!

I’m happy enough with that, as I enjoyed my time in London, eating pretty much what I liked

I think I haven’t gained because although I didn’t eat particularly well in my own eyes last week, I was still eating MUCH BETTER than I used to!

Proves that sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too, everything in moderation really is key

How did everyone else get on??

xox

I’ve said this before, but I’m going to say it again because I truly believe its helpful.

If you’re about to embark, or are already on a weightloss journey you should remember to document it in photos. I realise that initially that might feel like the last thing you want to do, but please trust me when I say its the most invaluable thing I have done.

Without photographic proof I’d still be arguing with myself that theres not really a noticeable difference in my shape etc. The brain is a powerful thing and let me tell you, on “fat days” I feel I’ve made no progress at all, even though my clothes say I have. So I get the photos out and thats when rationale wins. I can see the difference, there is no disputing it.

I’d recommend taking pictures every 6-8 weeks.

The picture below is me almost 5 months ago at Christmas Time. Just look at my thighs! Yikes! I’m a UK Size 16 here.

*Click on pictures to enlarge (at your peril )

This is me last week. 16 weeks after joining Weightwatchers. I’ve dropped 2 dress sizes and I’m a UK Size 12!!!! Weirdly my feet are also smaller by half a size!

I hope I don’t sound like I’m blowing my own trumpet too much, but I guess thats what I am doing to a certain extent. With purpose though, I think its important to take time to stand back, look, and appreciate how far you’ve come. There are times when I’ve just wanted to give up and revert back to my diet of junk food, but when I see the picture above I’m so glad I haven’t. I still realistically have around a stone left to lose, but I’m getting there

Not only do I think I look better, I feel better inside. I’ve always been a smiley happy go lucky person but my weight gain did leave me feeling very insecure and unattractive.With each pound off those insecurities have faded away.

If you’re on a weight loss journey I’d love to hear from you, have you taken progress pics along the way? Do you think its helped?

xoxox

I nearly didn’t go today……

I missed the 9am meeting and had no intention of going to the 10.30am one either….. I’ve had a bad week food wise. I’ve totally lost control of the snacking and I didn’t want to see my leaders face when she told me I’d gained.

You’d be forgiven for thinking Easter has been and gone.

Not in my house. While my husband was out late last night I “found” a forgotten Creme Egg Easter Egg belonging to one of the kids. I ate it in front of Eastenders, every last morsel. I think it took me about 5 mins tops. I’ve been a nightmare this week with chocolate.

I think we all have our bad food whether it be cheese, chinese etc, mine is and always has been the chocolate. I can’t just have a little, and so I have none (other than WW substitutes), but last week I bought a Curly Wurly, and I kidded myself it was a one off. I then had one four days in a row, topped off with the creme egg. Ugh. Devil chocolate.

So after dropping the kids to school I settled down to watch Claire Richards “My Big Fat Wedding” on iPlayer.

After that, I practically ran to the later meeting to get weighed. If you haven’t had the chance to watch it you really should. From a weight loss perspective it is truly inspirational.

Anyway, in summary, I gained 1lb. It could have been much much worse. So I’m really glad I went to the meeting, without the pep talks from my WW friends, I think a bad week would have turned into a bad fortnight or perhaps even a complete wagon dismount. I was feeling that bad. Don’t underestimate the value of your Weightwatchers meetings!!

I came home renewed, did 10 mins on the trampette, then cleared the house of a few other eggs that were hanging about in cupboards. The kids don’t want them, and I don’t need them.

I went out to Tesco and did a shop for some ingredients, I’m going to get back into cooking from the WW Recipe books, they really are fab. It’s just so easy to get out of the habit, so I’m taking control back.

I got the “Weekdays” one today. £7.99 at meetings.

It has 60 recipes but the beauty being that none of them take longer than 30 mins to prepare and cook. Its a good design too, the book sits up and the pages are laminated so it can be wiped down, great for a messy cook like me

Hope everyone else had a better week than me weight wise

xoxox

Last night I went to the Girls Aloud gig with my brother’s girlfriend and it was a brilliant night.

We went to a bar first and I was very naughty and had a few pints of Tennents and some red wine. So I was very pleased today at Weightwatchers when I lost another pound! Happy days

I wore my new Max C dress and my all time favourite Rudey 3-strap heels which were a much loved present from my husband. I felt very glam, girlie & suprisingly svelte once I was ready.

*Pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them

Makeup was pretty lazy tbh, a staple go to for me. Basically MAC Woodwinked, Mulch, Lovestone and a smidgen of Urban Decay Oil Slick for added depth. I was also sporting my “Nicola” from Girls Aloud Eylure Falsies. Lips are MAC Angel topped with Soft & Slow.

While I like the shape of the lashes, I’m not overly impressed with the actual band on the eyelid. It is very spacey and required quite a layer of gel liner to conceal it. On a plus though they peeled away easily after wear and I will be able to re-use them at least one more time. I didn’t use the glue they came with, I prefer Duo Adhesive, it works best for me.

All in all the concert itself was fab. They all looked a little stiff and nervous for the first two songs but after that they were in full swing and rocked the place. Nadine’s legs are like tooth picks in reality and Sarah Hardings body is amazing (even if she was sporting very dodgy hair extensions), and Nicola is even paler than I could ever have imagined but still my favourite!

Below are a few snaps taken with my piss poor camera. Sorry for the quality but you get the idea

If you’re lucky enough to catch the girls on their tour, enjoy xoxox

Unlucky for some…..

Not for me it seems, as I lost 0.5lbs today. Weight Loss so far 16lbs.
Not a huge amount I realise but pretty damn impressive considering the absolute diet hell that was the Easter Holidays.

It was a living chocolatey nightmare, yummy eggs everywhere, and I’m not sure whether my paranoia just reached new heady heights, or if its simply a coincidence that all the eggs the children received were my favourites. Mini Eggs, Creme Eggs, Maltesers, Buttons *drool*.

Then there was the ice-cream, copious amounts of the stuff, daily. I didn’t want to be a spoilsport, so of course to make others feel better I forced several 99′s down my neck……. (thats my excuse and I’m sticking to it).
My eldest also couldn’t finish half his Candy Floss and there wasn’t a bin in sight. So with litter dropping carrying a hefty penalty and Candy Floss not being something you can fold into your pocket for later it was down to me to dispose of it……. nom

The weight loss disaster hit a peak at my mother’s house, and the feast that was Easter Sunday Dinner. At some point (many years ago) it appears my mother must have taken a blow to the head, its the only logical reason I can think to explain why she cooks army sized portions for a family of 4.
Out the plate came, if it was patterned it was impossible to tell, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, veg, chicken simply covered every available mm.

Totally impossible to actually point a meal like that, but you can guess it ain’t pretty. It’s quite laughable then that for afters she had bought in specially a little Weightwatchers dessert for me. Bless her. She didn’t realise that the dinner had completely negated the need for a “diet” dessert, as I had already consumed my daily quota of points for the entire week in the previous 20 minutes. Sigh.

At this point I was feeling more than a little ill, and wanted to slope off to the privacy of my home where I could down half a bottle of Gaviscon or all else failing stick a pin in myself, but no, the tea came out, and in Northern Ireland tea is never served alone. Its tea and a “wee” bun, or tea and a “wee biscuit”. Nightmare.

So here I am 3 days later, still feeling full and never wanting to see a potato again, ever. I also have a raft of spots thanks to the small amount of chocolate I did comsume.
Thank god, literally, that Easter only comes once a year. Don’t get me wrong, the time with family and the break from routine is brilliant but the sheer over-indulgence and general pigging out I can happily forgo!
Today is a fresh start!

How’s everyone else getting on?

xoxox

As promised, this is my FOTD using Estee Lauder’s Sand & Sea Eyeshadow Palette from the recently released Bronze Goddess Collection.

I’ve kept the blue to the lower lashline and the warm golds to the main lid. I have tried a number of different combinations but find that mixing the main turquoise with any of the other colours actually turns it quite an unattractive muddy green.

Therefore this palette isn’t as versatile as I had first thought, however the two blues on the main lid still look amazing together & any of the other colours work well on the lower lashline.

I love this particular look though, I instantly feel summery and bright & I think it works well with my dark hair

Products Used

Face

• Estee Lauder Doublewear Foundation in Desert Beige
• Estee Lauder Doublewear Concealer in 02 Light Medium
• MAC MSF in So Ceylon to contour
• NARS Orgasm Blush
• MAC Belightful to highlight

Eyes

• UDPP with MAC Painterly Paint Pot on top (base)
• Gold Nugget (main lid)
• Ginger Drop (inner 1/3 of lid)
• Bronze Cube (crease & outer corner of lid)
• Tea Biscuit (brow bone)
• Turquoise (lower lashline)
• L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara

Lips

• Prestige Lightshine Sheer Gloss Liner (all over lip) in Lily

xoxox

Just a quick post as nothing groundbreaking to report.

I stayed exactly the same this week, I’m not complaining at all though as I have the PMT from hell and basically feel like Moby Dick.

I’m also been very snacky and have been indulging in probably 3 times the RDA of Weightwatchers chocolate rolls & cheese puff (wotsit rip off) crisps, so I’m encouraged that I haven’t gained anything. I think the exercise bike is working its magic

Hope everyone else is having a good week xoxox

As I said earlier in the week I am now starting to incorporate “light” exercise into my daily life in an effort to tone as I continue to shed the pounds.

I’m not a gym person in the slightest, I had a years membership a few years back and it was pretty much the biggest waste of money. The odd times I did grace LA Fitness with the presence of my fat ass I tended to favour the arm cycle & the exercise bike.

Ideally I wanted an exercise bike for the house, somewhere I’m a lot more comfortable sweating, panting and generally looking crap. However space is an issue for us, our house is compact, bijou and an exercise bike taking up yet more room we don’t have would frankly be mad.

However as with most things I want, I generally find a way to make it happen.

Delight then when I saw a foldable bike in Argos yesterday. Tbh I always thought these would be a bit feeble and light, however the reviews were some of the most positive out of all the exercise bikes on sale there. So I took the plunge and bought it.

Now it does say on the catalogue listing that “A different brand named item may be received of similar specification, but cosmetically different.” and thats exactly what happened. My bike is branded as a “Roger Black” rather than a Pro-fitness but I’m not complaining as this one is all black and looks a bit better sitting out.

Now when they say foldable, it doesn’t fold flat, but it folds enough to make a huge difference in the actual floorspace it eats up. I have it sitting neatly at the end of one of our sofas and its great.

I’ve been using it on tensions 4/5 (it goes up to eight) until I build myself up a bit and the resistance is fine for someone of my fitness. Put it this way, I’m sweating like a pig within 10 mins, attractive…

It is very steady, and most importantly for me, its incredibly quiet when in use. You can literally (i know because I did) watch GMTV without having to increase the telly volume in any way. Seat height is adjustable just like the gym style bikes, however word of warning, I am almost 5’7 and I can only comfortably use it at its lowest setting, so for anyone 5″5 or under I’d give it a miss, you’ll only end up over-stretching.

So if you’ve been hankering after an exercise bike but worried about the size or paying through the nose this just might be what you’re after

Link to the Argos listing here

xoxox

I’ve got my first STONE off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was achieved by losing another 2lbs this week taking me to a weight of 11 Stone 7.5lbs
Which is actually half a pound happily under my Stone threshold (Sorry prepare for lots of smilies & exclamation marks in this post!!)

Its taken me 10 weeks to get there but I’m confident that because I’ve lost it at a sensible rate I’ll find it easier to keep it off

Apart form the biggest grin and the best feeling in the world I also got a little symbolic stone from my leader Jackie awwwwww

I’ve still got a long way to go to reach goal weight but I’m setting myself little achievable milestones instead of getting too hung up on the bigger picture and that seems to be working. To date I’ve just been relying on healthy food and smaller portions to provide the weight loss, this week I’ll be introducing some light exercise. It would be fair to say you will never find me running in the gym, it just bores me rigid. However I have a trampette, a dog to walk and children to collect from school

I took pictures in my underwear at the beginning of my weight loss journey and at regular intervals, I highly recommend doing this. I cannot believe the difference in my Week 0 pictures and my Week 9. Without the photographic evidence I think I’d still be in denial that my shape is changing at all. But it is!! And I’m loving it!

I took front, back and side views and I’ll continue to do this. I don’t feel its appropriate to post the actual pics (thats a view for my hubby only, although I may re-consider if I hit goal) but the difference losing this stone has had on my whole well being both physically and mentally has been incredible. I want everyone to feel like this xoxox

Below is a candid picture taken at Christmas by my hubby, I am a size 16, I am in denial, and yes thats wine in the box
This was the picture that made me realise I had to get a grip on my weight, for my health and my own self esteem. (Although it has to be noted throughout all this time my husband has never once commented on my weight and was forever telling me how beautiful I was, I <3 you baby)

This is me today, sorry for the poor lighting, but I’m on my todd and self timing on a camera is just too much like hard work with me!

I am beginning to see definition at my waist, 10 weeks ago I was much more “barrel” shaped!
I’m feeling sexier, more confident and more interested in my whole body, not just from the neck up!
I find myself buying lots of body lotions & moisturisers with hints of tan. I’ve also been buying clothing which I had lost all interest in!!!
In the pic above I am actually wearing a size 12 top and size 14 leggings!!

What a difference a stone makes!

xoxoxox

Skipping to week 8 as last week I took a holiday from Weightwatchers due to my birthday excesses.

Amazingly I have only gained 1lb, I am delighted, I’m sitting at 11 stone 12lb to date, still an overall loss of 10lbs. I really haven’t been tracking my points at all the past fortnight, but I think its testament to the fact that I’m getting to know what I can and can’t eat, I also think my metabolism is recovering the more weight I lose, so although I wasn’t terribly good a few days last week, when I exercise its actually getting burnt off. Hooray!!

Back to being good this week and aiming to hit that stone off mark next Wednesday. Can I do it?

xoxox

Have a smile as big as Zippy’s, slightly concerned if it gets any wider my head will split in two (ok maybe not, but I’m very very happy!)

I lost 5lbs this week

Which means I have lost a total of 10lbs so far, passed the half stone mark and obtained my silver 7 sticker (manically exciting if your a fat fighter like me!). I had to literally stop myself from sticking it on my forehead, apparently thats a little too in your face….

w00t!

I’m even more delighted because of my disappointing zilch loss last week. I’ve put that down to the devil Domino’s pizza and water retention at the tail end of my time of the month.

Would love to hear how you’re all getting on!!

xox

Well to be frank, there is none, no weightloss to speak of, nada, zilch!

I have stayed the same.

How do I feel about that?
Pretty cross with myself to be honest, I kidded myself that a Saturday night of excess which included my own Domino’s pizza, 2 bottles of red wine and some bubbly wouldn’t affect the outcome this week.
It clearly has, as I’ve been angelic since and before that incident.

Do I feel like I want to go and raid the bsicuit tin in self pity?
No, not at all, I actually feel more determined to get the 2lbs I wanted off this week, off next week. The level of disappointment I felt at the scales told me what I don’t think I was 100% sure of until then. I’m not just talking the talk, I actually truly am ready and want to lose the weight, I want it more than anything.

I feel healthier, happier, more confident thinner, so thats where I’m headed and this week is just a blip.

How did everyone else get on this week?

xox

I am grinning like a cheshire cat, I weighed in at Weightwatchers this morning and I have another 3lbs off!!!! Taking my total weight loss so far to 5lbs
I’m especially pleased because I did manage to enjoy a few beers and some bubbly at the weekend!!

Today I also bought a points calculator. This does more than calculate points in food (I have spent ages thinking it only did that), it also acts like your paper tracker and records your 7 day week, you can deduct your points throughout the day. I’m loving this already, I really don’t have the time or the inclination to keep writing down what I have had to eat, this is a quick and easy way of recording my points.
Another purchase was the Shop book and this has already proved invaluable. I did the weekly shop also this morning and would never have thought of things like Quorn and soft noodles as being low in points but they are. Its a pretty bulky book with most brands and foods pointed out, so I’m very pleased with that too.

Hope everyone else has had a good week xox

My MacBook Air was off being fixed today, hence the late night posting. I missed it loads but have to say that I got a hell of a lot more housework done

My mum lives in Belfast (a.k.a The Big Smoke) and came down to lend a hand with a bit of a premature spring clean. Funny how company in distasteful things such as HW makes it much easier to do, not to mention a hell of a lot quicker!
We did manange to banjax the garage door in the process of our vigorous cleaning tho, its one of those old type, I believe its called an “up and over”. Managed to eventually get it shut, not sure if we’ll ever get it to open again tho…….

After dinner we played Monopoly “The Electronic Banking Addition” with my eldest son, if you haven’t already but love the old Monopoly this is a must. Totally negates the need for the paper money thing, you still have a designated Banker but its all done using little credit type player cards and a calculator that adds or subtracts money from your total. Really very cool.

Tomorrow I have a ton of errands to run and then on Wednesday morning I get my weigh in at Weightwatchers. I had orginally intended to update my blog with my weight every Monday but seeing as the meeting is Wednesday that seems to make a lot more sense!!!

I have been very good and I am hoping I have got 2lbs off, I am slightly worried I will be de-motivated if I’ve stayed the same, or worse yet put weight on… eeeeek! Hopefully not!
For me variety is key if I am to be successful and also making sure that the house is well stocked with healthy food. The minute I have to start thinking about what to make or pop to the shops for ingredients is when my resolve starts to slip and my hand reaches for the cookie jar.
I also need my treats, at the moment my faves are the WW Almond Slices £1 in Tesco and the WW Chocolate Rolls, yum!

Speak soon peeps xox