I wasn’t going to blog about this, but I decided I kinda needed to, just to get it off my chest. Maybe then it’ll stop annoying me.

I’m a Weightwatcher. We parted company for some time last summer but I recently rejoined, and for the most part I think Weightwatchers is the best way of losing excess weight easily and sensibly.

Every now and again I treat myself to the official Weightwatchers magazine, and every time I wonder why I bothered my arse. It’s honestly nothing like the classes and I find it for the most part contradictory.

Each month they feature a “success story”. Now I could be alone here but a success story for me is anyone who WAS overweight and goes on to lose a sensible amount of weight, thus leaving them at a “healthy weight”. Seems fair, right?

So imagine my delight when I spotted the month of September’s vital statistics.

I’ve removed the WW member name, that’s not what this about. It’s about the hypocrisy within Weightwatchers magazine HQ.

So she’s 5ft 6″ tall, above average height for a woman, and she weighed 10st 7lbs and was a UK dress size 12 when she decided she needed WW help…. doesn’t sound overweight to me…. also sounds like she’s more likely be a size 10… although we have to allow for the fact that she might have freakishly large child bearing hips or something… (which she doesn’t btw).

One little google later and I’ve worked out her starting weight BMI

23.7 =  Normal

So I sought reference in my little blue WW file (every member has this, it’s like the WW bible). Someone who 5ft 6″ tall as you can clearly see would need to be 11 stone 2lbs to be classed as overweight.

Making this woman, at 5ft 6″ tall and 10 and a half stone a COMPLETELY HEALTHY WEIGHT. In fact she was 9lbs CLEAR from ever being even slightly overweight. You with me?

So this COMPLETELY HEALTHY WEIGHT woman slims down with the help of WW to 8 stone 13lbs.

Let’s check the file again. Hmmm minimum joining weight for a woman of 5ft 6″ tall is 9 stone 3 lbs. This woman is now 4lbs under that. Not only that but WW tell us (right next to that figure) that a MINIMUM HEALTHY WEIGHT for someone of 5ft 6″ tall is 8 stone 12lbs. This woman is 1lb above that. She arguably and with the help and backing of WW is now MINIMALLY HEALTHY. She’s 2lbs away from being underweight and in turn unhealthy.

Why does this gall me so much?

Is it jealousy? Auch y’know who wouldn’t kill to be a little slimmer. Of course I’d love to lose a stone BUT the difference is that at 5 foot 7 and 11stone 11lbs I AM ACTUALLY OVERWEIGHT!!

To my mind Weightwatchers have taken and glorified the story of a woman who was never underweight to start with, in fact she was perfectly healthy and turned it into some kind of modern miracle that she’s now a bony size 8.

I think it’s an absolute insult to everyone who is struggling with real weight issues and pays almost £6 a week to the Weightwatchers franchise in the hope of perhaps some day becoming the subject of one of these success stories.

The difference is that those people would actually be deserving of such a story.

*Gets down off soap box*

xo

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

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

Get In!!!!!!!!!! 2lbs off!!!!!

Total Loss so far = 17.5lbs

This is just the boost I needed. I’ve been yo-yoing the past few weeks and it was frankly doing my head in. So back to basics I went this week, cooking from scratch, smaller portions, dinner before 7pm, and lots more activity.

I have power hosed, gardened, walked the dog etc….. and none of it has been a chore. Exercise really does make you feel good, and it proves you don’t need to be sweating it out at a gym. Gyms aren’t for everyone, and they certainly aren’t for me.

Plans for this week are more of the same coupled with a little bit of power walking. I’ve always wanted to try this but didn’t want to look like a knob on my own. Thankfully my chum at Weightwatchers has agreed to join me in being pointed at & laughed at 2 nights a week. I’ll let you know how it goes

How is everyone else doing? xox

Ugh. Hating myself. I gained a half pound.
I realise it could have been worse, but I still feel like an elephant

I don’t want to go backwards, I want to go forwards!!!! I’ve had a look over my tracker for the week and I honestly was very good. The only thing different was later breakfasts due to the kids being off school and no major morning rushing (love that), and also later dinners, between about 7-8pm, rather than my normal 5-6pm. I’m thinking in there somewhere lies the problem.

So I’m thankful for a change that the school routine returns this week. I seem to need the routine to keep me on the straight and narrow. This means a return to earlier breakfast and I’m going to make sure I eat with the kids at around 5pm each evening and see how I get on.
Fingers Crossed!

Special thanks to my friend Kelly this week, she helps me to keep it all in perspective!!

How’s everyone else doing?!

xoxox

I did a “What’s in my bag” post a while back, but now its time to have a little peek in my kitchen cupboards.

This is especially for Hannah who requested some meal ideas, and others who are on or hanging off the back of the Weightwatchers wagon and are feeling a little blank when it comes to food.

This is by no means a definitive guide, it’s more of a general overview of what I repeat buy whilst on WW

I won’t insult you either by taking pictures of raw meat and fruit & vegetables, I’ve just photographed what I have in addition to those meal staples. Pictures can be clicked on throughout to enlarge if necessary x

Breakfast

I like to keep breakfast very varied, I really do find that a good breakfast can keep me full until 1pm. I usually have more points at breakfast than at lunch. I think the key thing is to eat most when you feel you need it. If you snack like a maniac between lunch and dinner then have a heavier lunch.

Favourites are grilled breakfast (tomato, beans, scrambled egg, lean bacon, mushrooms, toast), bagel & jam or marmalade, Special K Red Berries, 2 Weetabix with hot milk, 2 Shredded Wheat with cold milk, 2 rounds of wholemeal toast. Always with a medium glass of orange and a cup of tea or two

Lunch

You can’t beat a Subway which are suprisingly low points even with a little squirt of dressing. I also like to make my own Tuna & Light Mayo sandwiches on wholemeal. Baked potatoes with various fillings, chilli or beans and low fat cheese/ philly being faves. Baked beans on toast, beans rock, super tasty and very very filling. Soups! So many choices of tasty low fat soups about now, from time to time I make Zero points soup to snack on. Fresh pasta, WW do their own which is available in Asda/ Tesco with a choice of sauces. Ready meals, needs must sometimes and Asda’s Good For You range has some tasty options, handy for work if you’re office/ canteen has a microwave.

Snacks

Some people have a savoury tooth, others a sweet…. I’ve every blooming kind going. If I didn’t snack or more importantly was told I couldn’t snack on a diet I would fail immediately. I need my treats. I think thats why WW works well for me, nothing is banned. If I want something I save up some extra points or exercise so that I can have it and more importantly enjoy it!

Yoghurts, any low fat kind. Muller Light do a delicious range of fat free ones in Rhubarb, Orange with Dark Choc Sprinkles & Vanilla. WW Snack bars, only available at your meetings but a good selection, I like the toffee and the Forest Fruits. WW Chocolate rolls, Carrot Cakes, Cherry Bakewells, an excellent range in Tesco. Asda Good For You slices. Tesco Light Choices Dutch Melba Toasts, pointed on the back, I have perhaps 5 of these loaded with low low cheese/ philly & salsa.

Dinner

Chicken Fillets are great as they are low in fat and filling but also give you numerous meal choices. Asda stock the WW Cooking Sauce range and they are all delicious. Try the Sweet & Sour with wholegrain rice. Or the Tikka Masala if you like Indian food.

Lean Mince Beef used for Chilli Con Carne with rice again, or perhaps a baked potato. Spaghetti Bolognese with a WW Garlic Dough Balls from Asda, or the Tesco Light Choices Garlic Bread Slices.

Make you own pizza, use pre made bases from Napoli and a tomato base. Half fat cheddar. Toppings of mushrooms, corguette, onion, sun dried tomatos, spinach, some goats cheese. Everything in moderation

Don’t shy away from Carbs like rice, pasta, potatoes, these things will keep you full the longest and therefore help you eat less overall.

Again keep some ready meals in the fridge, great for when you can’t be bothered cooking, Tesco’s Light Choices range is especially good as they WW point all their food on the packaging. Handy

Vegetarian food is also good, Quorn Sausages, M&S Vegetarian Kievs are two tasty options.

Desserts

I wouldn’t have a dessert every night but its nice at the weekend as a treat. Meringue nests are super low in points but tasty. Top with WW flavoured dessert, or fresh fruit salad, even a yoghurt.

WW do a complete dessert range themselves, Banoffee pots, creamed rice, ice cream. Tesco stocks most of them.

Additional Must Haves

I couldn’t be without my Olive Oil Cooking Spray which is Zero Points and available in Tesco. Don’t use Fry Lite, it is made with chemicals and also contains points.

Flora Light, my must have margarine, all manner of uses.

Coleslaw & Potato Salad, lunch and dinner may need a little extra sometimes, a tablespoon of these gives a nice little added yumminess.

Silver Spoon Sweetness & Light sugar substitute. I didn’t think I’d ever wean myself off sugar and the taste of these substitutes can be awful, but I am fully converted now and this is a staple on cereal for me. Even the kids don’t mind it!

Condiments! Whether it be sugar and salt free ketchup or marmalade & strawberry jam I need it! I’m all for the toppings and sauce Asda’s Good For You Marmalade is tasty and low fat.

Last but not least you’ll always find me with my WW calculator. Hannah mentioned how she hates recording the points of everything. I must admit I was much the same when I had to record everything on my paper tracker. Now I don’t write anything down, I simply flip open my Calc and deduct points as I go from my daily allowance. Its a must have, as long as food packaging displays the calories and sat fat this little device can tell you the points you’re about to consider buying/ eating. It’s great if your a busy person and always grabbing pre packed sandwiches etc.

So there we go, as I said these are just some ideas and examples.

Please feel free to ask me anything on the subject and I will try my best to help

xoxo