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

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

The wanderer returns!!

Well to be completely honest I returned late last Thursday night but I haven’t had a chance to blog since.
Unfortunately I was unwell over the weekend, if you follow me on Twitter you’re probably sick of reading about my ailments but fear not, I’m much more chipper now!!

As the cunning detectives amongst you might realise by now, I was in London last week as a VIP (ooooer get me) Invite of Barry M’s Exclusive Beauty Bloggers Event! And as if that wasn’t exciting enough, I also arranged to meet my online Weightwatchers buddy Kelly for the very first time! We met just outside Kings Cross Station & I honestly felt like I was meeting a blind date, minus the red rose and copy of the Times!

Kelly & I

We spared no expense with our hotel and ended up at the 5 star Easy Hotel in Earls Court……… ok ok so its probably the cheapest hotel in London but in its defense it was clean & comfortable and left us plenty of wonga to spend on Make-up!! Our room was 9ft square I believe, and that included the bathroom. Bijou!!! We both agreed that although a bit “orange” we would definitely stay in an Easy Hotel again. It was 15 mins on the Tube from the city centre and the area itself felt friendly and safe, really what you want as females.

The Tuesday night Kelly and I went to Fire & Stone in Convent Garden where we had delicious pizzas and drinks and took joy in not counting a single Weightwatchers point! We were totally off duty

The Wednesday was the day of the Barry M event and en route we met up with Emma and took a detour to Harrods where we wandered aimlessly ooohing and aaahing at various luxuries, and generally behaving like tourists. We also took the opportunity to go to MAC Pro in Fouberts Place, our thinking behind this being that it would be quiet and we’d avoid the inevitable squash after the event. This paid off, MAC Pro was all but empty and I managed to be restrained and only purchase one thing, I’m sure I would have spent more if I’d been in the company and under the influence of lots of other bloggers

Emma & Kelly

Soon after that we walked to Piccadilly where we had arranged to meet a lot of the others, as we rounded the corner I couldn’t help but feel a bit awed. After all, the people I was seeing and meeting were Guru’s and bloggers that I’ve been watching and reading for almost a year now. I think it’d be fair to say I was a little star struck

We all dandered around to Madame Jo Jo’s in Soho where the event was being held and thats where the real fun began! Barry M quite literally spoilt us, with an array of delicious cupcakes, finger food, drinks and cabaret.

We met Barry M himself, who I had always secretly been convinced was Barry Manilow! Oooohhhh Mandy!!…. but no, he is in fact a regular Londoner who much like Alan Sugar, started out with a market stall (except his sold make-up) in the 80′s and built that into a successful business and the booming brand it is today. Although his son now officially runs the company Barry is still very much hands on.

Barry M was warm, friendly and fun, much like the brand. Although no giant, I can’t help but link him to the phrase “larger than life”. Every time I clocked him, he was either laughing raucously, cracking a joke or simply beaming from ear to ear. He’s certainly no boring big wig. I met a family man with a zest for his brand and life!

We were treated to an exclusive preview of the new Barry M TV Advert & an introduction to Club M. Barry M’s new and exciting social networking site aimed specifically at us Beauty Junkies! If you haven’t already you can sign up here to be part of the unfolding fun!

Some how (I blame you Lisa!!!) I managed to get involved in the makeover competition which was a great ice breaker and a general all round giggle. The lovely Caroline made me up beautifully using an array of Barry M products, along with 3 other bloggers who were doing the same with their victims volunteers. The Winners Natalie and Samantha Chapman (of Pixiwoo fame) were treated to coverage by NOW Magazine, so keep an eye out for that! Only slightly jealous girls!

Make-up by Caroline

Samantha & I with our sizeable heads.....

I also met Anna Saccone of the Style Diet, who was an absolute doll (as I knew she would be), and her equally adorable boyfriend Jonathan Joly who was snap happy throughout the event!

At the end of our lovely afternoon we were all presented with a Barry M Goodie Bag. I have to confess to randomly shouting “Goodie Bag” while clapping my hands like some kind of demented seal when it was announced they were about to hand them out. You can take me nowhere!

Goodies consisted of;

• Barry M Skinny Tee
• Make-up Bag
• Mirror Compact
• Purple Eye Candy Kit
• Nail Polishes in Block Orange, Fuchsia, Bright Purple, Mint Green & Acid Yellow
• 4 Dazzle Dusts including a very special VIP one created exclusively for us VIP’s
• 2 Fine Glitter Dusts
• Natural Dazzle Bronzer (which I have misplaced….. oops)
• 3 in 1 Intense Black Mascara
• Electric Purple Mascara
• Black Eye Kohl
• Aqua Green Eye Liner Pen
• Turquoise Liquid Liner
• Silver Glitter Liner
• 4 Lip Paints
• Glossy Tube in a Nude Pink

I really shouldn’t complain but the Skinny Tee…… Am I alone in thinking Size Medium???? Medium Toddler is all I can assume, its tiny!!!!

My favorite item so far (I’ve yet to open half of it) is definitely the VIP Dazzle Dust. They made 2 VIP colours especially for us, a lilac and a blue, both of which will never be available in the shops. To a Make-up Addict like me, thats a pretty cool thing to own

Afterwards I think everyone was in agreement that shopping was the order of the day. Sadly we couldn’t stick together as there was quite simply just too many of us! I also didn’t fancy wandering about following people like some kind of lowly sheep, so we all seemed to break off into smaller groups. I couldn’t have went shopping with a nicer group of girls; Saskia, Kelly & Holly. We did have another Holly with us for a short period but she went AWOL in Topshop!

L-R; Me, Holly, Kelly & Saskia

We pretty much shopped until we literally dropped into a Garfunkels for a re-fuel & a goodbye to Saskia who had to catch her train home to Scotland. We didn’t stop there though, after waving her off we were shopping again!!! Finally we holed up in the Slug & Lettuce Bar with tender feet & in Holly’s case actually distressed shoes! until it was time for her tube home.

Then Kelly and I headed down to Convent Garden where we had a few more drinks in the Punch & Judy on what was a gorgeous balmy night in London.

Overall it was such a brilliant event. I feel very privileged to have been invited and it was lovely to put names to faces and to geek out together on our shared passion of Make-up

xoxo

Pssst! Competition looming

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

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

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

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

Back on track

This week I have 1lb off, taking my weight to 11 stone 6.5lbs & a total weight loss so far of 15.5lbs

I’m really pleased, the kids are off on their school holidays and I normally find that plays havoc with meal planning etc, but its been pretty ok, the larder is well stocked and I’m avoiding temptation.

The talk this week at Weightwatchers revolved arounding the impending diet doom day(s) that is Easter. She very helpfuly brought in a number of eggs and pointed them for us. Did you know that a small Nestle Kit Kat one contains 32 points?? lol me neither!

I’ll be sticking to a Cabdury’s Creme Egg and making do, at 3.5 points thats pretty much guilt free!

How’s everyone else doing this week?

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

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

I wasn’t for going to Weightwatchers this week, and due to feeling slightly under the weather this morning (self-inflicted) I really couldn’t get dressed never mind in a car to the 9.15 meeting.
Few hours later and feeling more chipper I thought I’d catch the later meet and get weighed. I couldn’t stay for the meeting as my eldest is off school sick today, and I’m not sure about everyone elses WW leaders, but mine isn’t child friendly at all. She tuts at babies gurgling ffs.

So I weighed in at……. 11 Stone 9.5 llbs!!!!!!!!! Another 2.5lbs off!!!
I’m grinning from ear to ear, I didn’t make my stone off this week but its well within reach now with only 1.5lbs to go

My whole shape is visibly changing, its just fab. I had to buy a belt for jeans that I couldn’t even manage to button at Christmas. I also bought my first Size 12 dress in two years a few days ago. I did as I normally do, took the Size 14 into the changing room and it was noticeably too big, the 12 is perfect!
Normally I tell them to ditch the hanger as I like all my clothes on matching hangers but I kept this one, purely because it says Size 12!!! on it, and everytime I look at it it makes me

How is everyone else doing??
xoxox

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

We are back on track, I lost 2lbs this week, taking my overall weightloss to 11lbs and I now weigh 11 stone 11lbs

I actually wasn’t for going this week, I’ve “felt” fat this week and was was convinced I had put on and just couldn’t face it. Luckily an AIM conversation with my good friend Kelly gave me a bit of perspective and I re-thought the whole skipping a week thing.
I think that really highlights how important it is to have support on your weight loss journey, without it I’m 100% positive I wouldn’t have weighed in this week. It also proves that in the weight loss battle the mind is either your best pal or your worst enemy.

Psychologically it was a bad week, stress clouded my judgement and tricked me into thinking I was going to disappoint. An in actual fact I’d been very good and there was no real solid reason for me to think I should have gained, but I “felt” big and therefore…

So happily I am 2lbs lighter and sticking 2 fingers up to the little devil on my shoulder.

What about everyone else? How did you get on?

xox