I wants...

one of these

This comes care of Etsy via Wild Card Pottery

I reeeeeeeaaaaaaalllllllyyyyy wants one!!!

Meal Planning Monday

Mon:
B: Cereal Bar
L: chinese chicken spring onion & carrot stir fry/mandarin & raspberry mixup
T: Chicken enchilada/rice/salad

Tues:
B: soreen banana bar
L: pork meatball ragu/mango
T: fish finger sandwich

Wed:
B: ham & cheese wrap
L: chicken stir fry/raspberries & yogurt
T: Chicken Mushroom risotto

Thurs:
B: Ham & cheese wrap
L: chicken mushroom risotto
T: supermarket healthy choice meal

Fri:
B: ham & cheese wrap
L: beans on toast
T: pineapple coleslaw burger & chips

Sat:
B: Beans on toast
L: Subway roll!/crisps
T: Cauliflower and potato gratin

Don't forget to check over at Mrs M's for more meal planning monday madness! 

And I'm also going to having some of this during the week...

I love me some frozen yogurt :)

Fear factor

This week hasn't been so great.

I want to blame it on so many things, some bad news, frustrations at work, less exercise, more chocolate, hormones, being lazy, not being honest about what i put in my mouth and making silly choices overall.

But really, whilst it's all of those, they're the side effects.

What it is really is fear.

image from: http://www.beinglatino.wordpress.com

I've had counselling in the past and fear was one thing that cropped up time and time again, particularly in relation to my weight loss.

Anyone who really knows me or has even read this blog for any length of time, knows that every january for the last five years or so i've spent four months losing 2-3 stone and then over the next 8 months i've always put it back on with added bonus pounds and stones.

And ultimately, its because i'm scared.

So what am I scared of?

1) i'm scared of metres of excess skin
2) i'm scared of not achieving a healthy weight and dying young
3) i'm scared of the attention weight loss brings
4) i'm scared of reaching a healthy weight and still not being happy
5) i'm scared of the financial consequences of having to buy more clothes
6) i'm scared of the impact this process will have on my relationships
7) i'm scared of being considered selfish, because these decisions take up time
8) i'm scared of how long this journey is going to take
9) i'm scared of being thin - i've never been thin
10) i'm scared of this process needing more time and changes than i can give right now in my life

Okay, so how can i break these down?

This needs to be more manageable, because yes this will be a long journey with many steps but there is no point in thinking about the 100+ pounds i still have to lose.

"First say to yourself what you want to be; and then do what you have to do." - Epictetus

Therefore, I want to be able to reach my goals one step at a time, I want to be healthier and fitter and aware that weight loss is not going to cure all my problems but it will not be the cause of them either.

GOAL ONE
I want to lose another half stone and i want to do this by the end of april as I have a week away during this time frame and whilst I plan to make healthy decisions, i also want to have a good time
That includes weighing in every saturday no matter whats happened during the week
GOAL TWO
To take regular measurements, linking into clothes sizing one every two months, being aware of whats in my wardrobe in smaller sizes (again, by the end of april) ebay/charity shop whats useless, put aside what you hope to wear again
GOAL THREE
This week, start to look at the changes you can make in your life to fit in more fitness and different types - have a list by thurs eve for the next month
GOAL FOUR
the next two weeks worth of food by thurs eve
GOAL FIVE
When you have reached another half stone (298 lbs) then take the time to draw up some new short term goals

And on that note, I'm going to spend some time with my mum, it being mothers day and all here in the UK :)

 

source: http://www.cr8agift.co.uk

Meal Planning Monday

Tues:
B: sandwich thin/peanutbutter/banana/danone activia yogurt drink
L: chinese chicken spring onion & carrot stir fry/choc philly & raspberries
T: fish finger sandwich

Wed:
B: ready break/banana
L: beans on toast
T: chilli taco salad

Thurs:
B: sandwich thin/peanutbutter/banana
L: goats cheese tart/fruit/yog
T: chicken pasta

Fri:
B: sandwich thin/peanutbutter/banana/danone activia yogurt drink
L: goats cheese tart/fruit/yog
T: garlic kiev/baked beans/potato

Sat:
B: Beans on toast
L: Subway roll!/crisps
T: Lamb Hotpot


I am soooo annoyed with myself, I had beautiful lovely fishcakes with scrumptious cheese sauce in the middle - all pp'd and everything!

And...... I left them in my partners fridge :(

Dammit!

Which resulted in me throwing a bit of a strop and having a fish finger sandwich instead - meh! At least it was all pp'd!

Don't forget to check over at Mrs M's for more meal planning monday madness!

29x29

I have a birthday coming up over the next couple of weeks and its hit me that i'm heading to other stages in life that I haven't thought about before and there's so many things I want to do before I have be all grown up and think about grown up things!

So, I have taken a leaf out of Miranda's very wise book (i recommend following her if you don't already as she is amazeballs!) and I'm doing 29x29 which is 29 things I want to achieve before I'm 29.

Here's the list in no particular order:

1. Take another evening course in something utterly random and not career developmentally minded
2. Read 12 more books
3. Reach 233lbs
4. Incorporate exercise into my week regularly
5. Clear out my wardrobe and either ebay everything I don't need/haven't worn in six months or give it to charity shops
6. Continue to work towards clearing my debt - regular payments
7. Sit my driving theory test
8. Re-new my provisional licence
9. Attend a cup-cake lesson
10. Start taking multi-vitamins regularly
11. Have at least one more stamp in my passport
12. Go out to dinner all dressed up
13. De-clutter my finances - get rid of things I don't need
14. Attend a zumba class
15. Making proper savings
16. Buy a bike
17. Walk up Glastonbury Tor
18. Complete a coastal walk
19. Start going vegetarian once a week (buy Food for Friends to help with this!)
20. Incorporate Kundalina Yoga into my life
21. Wear more colour and accessories
22. Go camping again and eat healthily whilst doing so!
23. Start creative writing regularly again (and Nanowrimo!)
24. Take a multivitamin daily
25. Moisturise/face care daily & trim hair bi-monthly
26. Buy quarters to start quilting properly
27. Laugh more
28. Give up alcohol for a set period of time...
29. Give blood

Hmm, an interesting mix with a variety of things to achieve...

I will give myself until the 30th April 2013 - this isn't my exact birthday but its thereabouts :)

2 stone weight loss - fat or skin?

I am extremely happy - I have lost 2 stone 1lb :)

I've reduced my BMI by five points

I am extremely happy - super happy - over the moon

BUT.... and there's always a but isn't there?

Its made me more aware of .....

Thats it: EXCESS SKIN.

It freaks the hell out of me.

I'm realistic, its gonna happen to some extent and I'm aware I've spent nearly 15 years essentially abusing my body beyond its capacity but gosh it scares me.

I've done a bit of googling and have found out these suggestions...

- Loose weight slowly and steadily – one to two pounds at a time
- Strength-training - lifting weights gains lean muscles contributing to fat loss
- Hydration – 2 litres a day – helps to maintain skin elasticity
- Collagen & Elastin help keep the skin plump – protein rich foods achieve this as well as oils
- Taking care of the skin – daily exfoliation removes dead skin cells and increase skin circulation to hydrate and increase collagen and elastin
- Dry brushing – gently brush skin prior to showering – increase circulation
- Moisturise daily – body-firming as this keeps skin supple and smooth
- Multivitamins – ensure you’ve got zinc, selenium, copper, vitamins A, C, E and K, as well a B-complex vitamins
- Weekly massage – effleurage improves skin circulation

And finally....

- Weight loss surgery – usually for people who have carried a hundred or more extra pounds for many years - expensive if NHS won't stump up (i.e. most of the time!), side effects, possible weight gain whilst healing, psychological effects but the body you've been working for on your weight loss journey.

I think I'm going to be trying all of the initial 9 points before that 10th one.

One step, One day, One choice at a time

All the thinking behind this came from buying some ebay clothes as my size 28 jeans are hanging off me and need a belt to stay on and here's my conclusion, after losing nearly two stone..

- size 22 next top, baggy/neat fit
- size 24 marks and spencers top, tight round waist
- size 24 matalan shorts - no freaking chance

I'm going to take my measurements this weekend, because whilst I know i'm making progress, i can't say i'm not annoyed at things taking forever to fit into, i have a wardrobe full of clothes i'd love to be able to fit into, and then I went on the weight watchers message boards and some one had put this quote on there:

'Just because you don't see results after a day, or even a week, don't give up. You may not see changes, but every smart choice you make is affecting you in ways you'd never imagine.'

This makes me happy, things have changed and positive changes are continuing to be made, some may just be on their way to building up to big things.

Because just like i'm going to fit into these shorts, i'm going to feel comfortable in a smaller skin in the future as well.

One step at a time.

And on one final quick note, this:-

is freaking lush - 4 pps per 150g and soooooooooooooo yummy with fruit and I managed to grab the last one on the shelf!