I did alright last week. The big Valentines night out took its toll somewhat so by Sunday morning I'd gained back most of the 4lbs I'd dropped but I stuck to my guns and clawed them off day by day so that by Thursday morning I managed to achieve a 2lb drop. Yay me!!
So I'm teetering on the edge of my first half stone off for a while, admittedly from a higher starting weight than I would have liked but 6lbs is 6lbs.
I feel a lot more focused, as though I'm back on track and have both a long term goal (3 stone off in 2014) but also a nice short term aim - drop 21lbs before we go to Malaysia.
The difference seems to be the class I'm going to in Rotherham. Jovita (the mad Russian lady leader) is supremely enthusiastic and quite stern. She is not afraid to cajole, encourage or just plain tell off and sometimes that is what you need. Possibly her level of, erm, enthusiasm might seem a little unseemly in a Brit and it would be most alarming coming from an American or Canadian but somehow it's okay from a Russian. I think the key is that she genuinely does care about whether we drop weight or not. And she is even more concerned that, when we do, we KEEP IT OFF!
In other news, my pal Nat is visiting from London for the weekend, arriving late this evening. As our new pad is not open for guests just yet, she is staying with our mutual friend Stacey but I'll be picking her up tomorrow morning for a day of walking, nice lunch and tea and full on gossiping. I am foregoing an away trip to Huddersfield for some girly time (Rich is going with his father and our other pal Richard). Sometimes, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do...
Anyway, back to watching the golf on Sky....I'm not THAT girly....
Friday, 21 February 2014
A sunny Sunday!!
Rats- typed this up last weekend and didn't post it - what a muppet!
It is so nice to see the sunshine after all these grey, rainy days. I hesitate to moan considering the trials being suffered by so many in the south but this weather really upset our applecart yesterday. We were all set to head off into Sheffield to watch Wednesday against Charlton in the FA Cup. Despite Wednesday's atrocious season we are actually doing reasonably well in the Cup and, with Charlton being an eminently winnable game, quite fancied the prospect of the Quarter Finals.
Then the heavy rain intervened and the game was called off at 11am due to a waterlogged pitch. From a diet point of view, this was no bad thing. Having enjoyed a lovely but indulgent Valentine's Day, I had been determined to say no to pints of bitter and no to steak sandwich and chips (my usual pre-match routine) but determination does not always win out when I'm standing in our lovely Sheffield local to be honest.
So a cancelled match meant the removal of temptation and an opportunity to get on with some decorating. So, I headed into town to do a supermarket shop and then pick up supplies from B&Q while Rich made a start stripping wallpaper in the scuzzy second bedroom. We really cannot wait to clean it up and we are especially keen to get rid of the carpet - blegh. It's great to make a start.
We continued with putting up curtains and preparing walls today and are feeling quietly satisfied. However, the postponed match from yesterday has comeback to bite us now. The draw for the next round took place this afternoon and the inevitability of fate drew us (if we beat Charlt
on that is) against our Sheffield rivals, Sheffield United (if they were able to beat Nottingham Forest whom they were playing this very afternoon). At the time of the draw, United were a goal down to Forest but in a total upset they first equalised then went ahead to win 3-1. How exciting.
So, we now have to wait for at least 10 days until our rearranged game against Charlton to find out whether we can match United and meet them in the Quarters. The PRESSURE! How much nicer it would have been to be safely into the next round and be looking forward to the big game against United??
Anyway, I'm in the mild dieting zone - I'm not being terribly gung ho or anything but I'm quietly focused which makes a nice change from the last few months when I didn't seem to be able to string 2 weeks together. We shall see....
It is so nice to see the sunshine after all these grey, rainy days. I hesitate to moan considering the trials being suffered by so many in the south but this weather really upset our applecart yesterday. We were all set to head off into Sheffield to watch Wednesday against Charlton in the FA Cup. Despite Wednesday's atrocious season we are actually doing reasonably well in the Cup and, with Charlton being an eminently winnable game, quite fancied the prospect of the Quarter Finals.
Then the heavy rain intervened and the game was called off at 11am due to a waterlogged pitch. From a diet point of view, this was no bad thing. Having enjoyed a lovely but indulgent Valentine's Day, I had been determined to say no to pints of bitter and no to steak sandwich and chips (my usual pre-match routine) but determination does not always win out when I'm standing in our lovely Sheffield local to be honest.
So a cancelled match meant the removal of temptation and an opportunity to get on with some decorating. So, I headed into town to do a supermarket shop and then pick up supplies from B&Q while Rich made a start stripping wallpaper in the scuzzy second bedroom. We really cannot wait to clean it up and we are especially keen to get rid of the carpet - blegh. It's great to make a start.
We continued with putting up curtains and preparing walls today and are feeling quietly satisfied. However, the postponed match from yesterday has comeback to bite us now. The draw for the next round took place this afternoon and the inevitability of fate drew us (if we beat Charlt
on that is) against our Sheffield rivals, Sheffield United (if they were able to beat Nottingham Forest whom they were playing this very afternoon). At the time of the draw, United were a goal down to Forest but in a total upset they first equalised then went ahead to win 3-1. How exciting.
So, we now have to wait for at least 10 days until our rearranged game against Charlton to find out whether we can match United and meet them in the Quarters. The PRESSURE! How much nicer it would have been to be safely into the next round and be looking forward to the big game against United??
Anyway, I'm in the mild dieting zone - I'm not being terribly gung ho or anything but I'm quietly focused which makes a nice change from the last few months when I didn't seem to be able to string 2 weeks together. We shall see....
Thursday, 13 February 2014
Helloo!!
I don't quite know where to start. Do I try and catch up on the last month or do I talk about the newer stuff?
Well, as you know from my last quick catch up, I have gone back to Slimming World albeit a new class in Rotherham. I'm not really sure what prompted that decision except that I have been trying very hard to bed diet and exercise back into my life and, on the evidence of the last few months' blogging and the scales, getting absolutely nowhere. To be honest I was working hard to stand still then getting disheartened and gaining a couple of lbs to the point that, by last Thursday, I was the biggest I've been for years. Only by a few lbs, but a very significant few lbs. My work trousers were becoming uncomfortably tight and other clothing options limited. I was starting to feel bad about myself, which hasn't happened for ages.
So, I must have been mulling over my options and idly checked out SW classes in Rotherham. The 2 classes locally are on either Monday night (no good - dancing) or Tuesday (not much good - football and the leader is not particularly inspiring). So, I picked a class in Rotherham not too far from the office at 11.30 on a Thursday. I can usually take an early lunch and she does have other classes if I can't make it. I put it in my diary and then forgot all about it. But on Thursday morning my trusty Outlook popped up a reminder and I couldn't think of a reason not to go!
The class leader is a rather formidable Russian woman. Tall, angular, short bleached blonde hair, very slender and sometimes tricky to understand but so enthusiastic. She lives and breathes to help us drop the weight and then stay slim. The last part is crucial to her. She does not just dial it in and can be a bit, erm,stroppy assertive about attending class and staying for the talky bit rather than just getting weighed and leaving (which has always struck me as a waste of money too).
I like her style. I like the fact that she is willing to say the hard things rather than let people coast but, when people come to class and stay or have family troubles she is full of support and enthusiasm. To be honest I don't think I have a lot in common with many of the other women as most are not working women, lots have children or are retired. But I do admire a lot of their determination and stoicism.
It was very inspiring today. Firstly I dropped 4lbs which is good although not brilliant for a first week. (I know I pushed my luck last week through being disorganised and slightly complacent so I must work on tightening up significantly this week.) However, the main source of inspiration was the other women in the class. So many of them were receiving awards (which you receive for hitting a stone or half stone loss milestone. Jovita had a veritable handful of books but she saved the best til last. A woman who had dropped 3.5lbs that day to reach a loss of 10 stone!!
She seemed lovely and determined (and very short - she must have been a like a beachball with the extra 10 stone on her frame!) and I got quite teary. It reminded me of how I dropped that 9 stone. Now I have gained HALF of what I dropped which is not great. But seeing that woman and her steady progress made me feel that I can get this sorted. I joined last week desperate to drop a stone or so before we go to Malaysia but NOW I want to get this sorted, for life. Jovita has got her work cut out for her!!
In one interesting postscript, Richard doesn't seem to have noticed that I'm the heaviest he has known me,although he must have done. When I mention it, he just says I'm always gorgeous to him. And conversely, when I texted him this morning to say that I'd dropped 4lbs, he just said "well done". It seems that it really doesn't matter to him beyond how I feel about it. I must say, I do like that it a man and it makes a refreshing and happy change from my previous life.
Well, as you know from my last quick catch up, I have gone back to Slimming World albeit a new class in Rotherham. I'm not really sure what prompted that decision except that I have been trying very hard to bed diet and exercise back into my life and, on the evidence of the last few months' blogging and the scales, getting absolutely nowhere. To be honest I was working hard to stand still then getting disheartened and gaining a couple of lbs to the point that, by last Thursday, I was the biggest I've been for years. Only by a few lbs, but a very significant few lbs. My work trousers were becoming uncomfortably tight and other clothing options limited. I was starting to feel bad about myself, which hasn't happened for ages.
So, I must have been mulling over my options and idly checked out SW classes in Rotherham. The 2 classes locally are on either Monday night (no good - dancing) or Tuesday (not much good - football and the leader is not particularly inspiring). So, I picked a class in Rotherham not too far from the office at 11.30 on a Thursday. I can usually take an early lunch and she does have other classes if I can't make it. I put it in my diary and then forgot all about it. But on Thursday morning my trusty Outlook popped up a reminder and I couldn't think of a reason not to go!
The class leader is a rather formidable Russian woman. Tall, angular, short bleached blonde hair, very slender and sometimes tricky to understand but so enthusiastic. She lives and breathes to help us drop the weight and then stay slim. The last part is crucial to her. She does not just dial it in and can be a bit, erm,
I like her style. I like the fact that she is willing to say the hard things rather than let people coast but, when people come to class and stay or have family troubles she is full of support and enthusiasm. To be honest I don't think I have a lot in common with many of the other women as most are not working women, lots have children or are retired. But I do admire a lot of their determination and stoicism.
It was very inspiring today. Firstly I dropped 4lbs which is good although not brilliant for a first week. (I know I pushed my luck last week through being disorganised and slightly complacent so I must work on tightening up significantly this week.) However, the main source of inspiration was the other women in the class. So many of them were receiving awards (which you receive for hitting a stone or half stone loss milestone. Jovita had a veritable handful of books but she saved the best til last. A woman who had dropped 3.5lbs that day to reach a loss of 10 stone!!
She seemed lovely and determined (and very short - she must have been a like a beachball with the extra 10 stone on her frame!) and I got quite teary. It reminded me of how I dropped that 9 stone. Now I have gained HALF of what I dropped which is not great. But seeing that woman and her steady progress made me feel that I can get this sorted. I joined last week desperate to drop a stone or so before we go to Malaysia but NOW I want to get this sorted, for life. Jovita has got her work cut out for her!!
In one interesting postscript, Richard doesn't seem to have noticed that I'm the heaviest he has known me,although he must have done. When I mention it, he just says I'm always gorgeous to him. And conversely, when I texted him this morning to say that I'd dropped 4lbs, he just said "well done". It seems that it really doesn't matter to him beyond how I feel about it. I must say, I do like that it a man and it makes a refreshing and happy change from my previous life.
Tuesday, 11 February 2014
Prodded into action!!
I can't believe how long it's been! But I'm mostly fine and have lots to catch up with and a routine to get back into. This is just a very quick post to say thanks for your comments and me and mojo will be back soon!!
PS. I'm giving Slimming World another go, this time with a very scary, very slender, very Russian lady called Jovita in Rotherham!! Yikes. My first weigh in is on Thursday so watch this space.
PPS. Nice to meet you Blod! Your comment was lovely and gave me a lift. Cheers chuck!!
PPPS. If you ever read this Mrs L, hope you're not flooded out! It looks terrible down south-east.
PS. I'm giving Slimming World another go, this time with a very scary, very slender, very Russian lady called Jovita in Rotherham!! Yikes. My first weigh in is on Thursday so watch this space.
PPS. Nice to meet you Blod! Your comment was lovely and gave me a lift. Cheers chuck!!
PPPS. If you ever read this Mrs L, hope you're not flooded out! It looks terrible down south-east.
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