Scale bothering and social engagement

To steal Peridot’s phrase, I’ve been doing a spot of scale-bothering myself recently. Having been good for a week or so, it was frustrating not to see any real change all of last week so I hopped on and off on the offchance that the scales would relent...yeah right…. I hovered within half a lb of the same weight ALL week. Grr. But, I did manage to stick to my guns, didn’t have a blow-out this weekend and did a fair bit of exercise too and, finally, I’ve been rewarded with a 2 lb drop this morning! This is unusual for me. I have consulted my chart and see that I tend to go up most Monday mornings. So, I’m very pleased but not complacent. The beauty of the chart is that I cannot fool myself with a one-off drop nor should I be too down-hearted if I go up temporarily. Trends are what counts.


I suspect that the fact that we didn’t go out on Saturday evening has something to do with it. We were invited to a wedding reception evening do locally which would probably have been a riotous evening. The couple and their friends tend to party hard. Generally we would be well up for that but Richard wasn’t feeling well and I was feeling tired and lazy. So, we bailed. No guilt as they’re not particularly close friends, it was a big do and only an evening invitation. And no regrets.


I would have liked to see her dress in the flesh as I’m sure it was spectacular but Facebook will be littered with pics soon. It would have been nice to see my mates and have a dance but that’s generally only fun if you’re in good form anyway and we weren’t.


As it was, we had a lovely evening in – light supper, no booze and a cuddle on the sofa in front of a mildly entertaining rom-com, his suggestion, not mine! (The film was “Valentines Day” in case you’re wondering. It’s a big-cast ensemble piece with a gazillion pretty actors and actresses all chirping away about love and marriage. The “goodies” all fall in love and find each other and the “baddies” slink off to their lonely fate, just as it should be...tee hee. A total rip-off of “Love, Actually” transported to LA with prettier, younger (and less competent) actors but with high smile-factor.) It was perfect.


In the past, the idea of spending a Saturday night in would have been a total and utter non-starter, especially if there was a big Valley function to go to. I would have dressed up, however tired and uninterested and stayed out ‘til the bitter end, probably driving or, if drinking, with the nagging worry about how we were going to get home. I would sometimes have ended up really enjoying myself, got through the tiredness and had a great night. But many times I would have gone through the motions and drunk my way into enjoyment. Who knows, maybe we missed a great night out but I know that I’m happy to have the choice. To be able to have a great night in too.


And our night in meant that we felt energised and rested on Sunday. Hence we went to the gym as I reported in my post yesterday.


We have a busy week coming up. Dancing this evening. An away football match in Tranmere tomorrow night. (I’m not a Wednesday Ultra by the way; wouldn’t usually go to an away match mid-week but this was a re-arranged match from Boxing Day.) Gym on Wednesday night. Across to my parents on Thursday for my Dad’s birthday on Friday. Then back on Friday evening for a surprise birthday party in Bamford. Then away to Birmingham City for Sheffield Wednesday’s big FA Cup tie (and exit from the Cup no doubt…) on Saturday before collapsing in a quivering heap on Sunday! Yikes….

The Gym

Well, the Great Gym Plan, which we have been speaking about but not actually implementing for some time, has finally begun. Rich joined last week and got his programme on Friday so it's all systems go. The idea was that, if I give up one session per week of personal training (very expensive), I will go at least twice a week with Rich instead for a quarter of the price. I generally struggle to go to the gym when there's someone relaxing at home or waiting for supper but it's a lot easier if we go together.

So, a cold rainy Sunday afternoon was a perfect time to test out this theory. It seems to work! We took the dogs out for a rainy hilly walk then left them sleeping it off and headed straight to Hathersage. I really enjoyed it and hopefully we can make it a regular thing. I did a mixture of pilates based free weights and aerobic stuff - treadmill, rower and cross trainer.

Now I can enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon before heading off to the pub for the quiz. I've missed a few weeks of the quiz and they've won handily every week without me so I'm having to justify my spot!! Possibly the fact that I'm driving will help....

So, I'm all fired up for lots of exercise next week followed by a week off to work on my old house to start the job of getting it ready to be put on the market. That'll be a hard week but it's got to be done. In a way it's good to be moving on but I know it'll be a pretty tough time emotionally as well.

I just keep on runnin'....

A few pics from our walk last weekend up Lose Hill. Views of Mam Tor and the Great Ridge to one side, Win Hill to another and the Hope Valley below us. Lovely but too windy to enjoy!!

Why do certain forms of exercise appeal at different times? I’ve been avoiding running like the plague for months, having no interest in it but suddenly am keen again. Maybe there is a hint-ette of spring in the air (although that could be me being pretty optimistic here) and it is just slightly lighter in the evening so the idea of running does not seem quite so ridiculous. Having said that, I went out on Tuesday night at 6pm into the dark with a head torch wearing a fleece and gloves so it was hardly balmy!!


Whereas the swimming which has been my fave for a month or so now seems more trouble than it is worth. I failed to make myself go on Wednesday – I employed all the chimp trickery I have at my disposal and she still won out. Admittedly I had been thwarted by a last minute meeting which meant that I would have been racing to get to the pool in time for lane swimming and would not have had a full lunch break but even so….


But I’m pleased to report that, in missing my swim, I felt rubbish; fuggy, ratty and in need of exercise. This is progress – I’m actually missing exercise!!


I suspect running is what I need to be doing anyway. I don’t think you can beat it for weight loss and fitness. It definitely gives you more bang for your buck compared to swimming or walking although I’m not knocking either of those. I think it’s the weight-bearing element which burns those calories, especially when one is carrying MY weight that is!! From next week, we’ll have the option of the gym to add to running, swimming, hill walks and personal training. Rich has joined now and gets his new programme this afternoon so we’re going to try to go at least twice and hopefully 3 times per week for a short, sharp 3 month trial to see if we get value out of it.


My running distances are not particularly stellar. Compared to what I was achieving while training for my half marathon, they are paltry but at least I’m getting out there and including some hills into the routes. I’ve just plotted Tuesday night’s route on Map My Run and discovered that it is a slightly disappointing 2.8 miles (4.5km). I had hoped to sneak over 3 and ensure that I’m running 5km but not too bad I suppose. I did it in just under 40 minutes so there is considerable room for improvement to be honest….must try harder…..


Hopefully I will go again tonight and maybe add that extra few hundred yards to take me over the magic 5km…wish me luck!!

Update - I typed up this post yesterday (Friday) and I did manage to go running last night. It is getting slowly better. I added a small extra corner to my route so it is now just over 5km and I did it in the same time (although that could have been because it was not as cold or windy as on Tuesday). My back troubled me again this morning though so I'm obviously going to have to watch that.

Anyway, went for a lovely sunny walk with my friend Paula this morning while Rich was at work - muddy as hell, hilly and tiring but very life-affirming!! Lazy afternoon ahead and then a wedding reception locally this evening....what a nice day!

I’ve bemoaned before the fact that you can acquire a bad habit instantly and without any effort whatsoever but trying to cement a good habit into your lifestyle is like trying to nail down jelly. It remains the same and I remain frustrated by this….


But, I have been slightly better at the good habits, or at least resisting the bad ones.


On the bad habit front, I was hungry one morning last week and didn’t have anything in for breakfast (no milk, no bread, fruit not enough…) so, when I bought my morning cappuccino from McDonalds, I also bought a (low-fat – ha!) blueberry muffin. Not too bad for brekkie, no harm done. Trouble is, having done that once and with justification, my chimp now assumes that I will have a blueberry muffin every time I stop for my coffee or, if I don’t, with lunch instead!! I fell for this crooked thinking twice and thus was born the great “Blueberry Muffin Habit of February 2011” which looked set fair for a good run.


Fortunately I have managed to nip this in the bud. Yesterday I so nearly bought one at lunchtime but walked away and this morning, in McDonalds, the scene of the original crime, I agonised briefly before thinking “resist” and sticking to my capp. It was funny actually; just as I was thinking “resist” the nice lady from McD’s saw my face looking at the muffins and said “resist” to me!! I know she should be selling etc but she’s really friendly and sees me most mornings so helped me out there (although I WAS going to resist without her, honest…).


I also resisted all sweet stuff while walking round town today despite there being a great deal of temptation.


And, on the good habit front, went for a brisk walk around town in the first place and took the stairs too. So, small good habits are creeping in to replace the little bad ones. But I must stay vigilant as those pesky bad habits are out there lurking trying to latch on like a calorofic limpet if I weaken for a moment.


The next one to tackle is the curse of the new couple….drinking at home…. I am trying to cut back on the empty alcohol calories. I don’t mind the “night out” or “good glass of wine with nice meal” booze but could live without the casual bottle of beer/half bottle of wine here and there. Well, that’s the theory anyway. Last night though, despite having no intention of drinking, Rich just said “fancy a beer” and without thinking I said yes! Pathetic. Engage brain when there’s food or drink involved Lesley!!


And the other topic which has been exercising my attention recently is romance. Being a bear of very little brain the fact that Valentines Day is imminent has set me thinking. I’m not a sucker for expensive gifts: 2 dozen roses, chocs, over-priced meals out or other such formulaic rituals. I know some are and good luck to them. I prefer going out when and where we chose to; having romantic meals in from time to time; sending sweet or raunchy texts and all the other day-to-day nice gestures which show attention and love. But, and there’s always a “but” isn’t there, I can’t help but feel wistful about flowers.


I don’t mean big bunches on your birthday or on Valentines Day or the routine “I always buy her flowers on a Friday” bunch (which are great but somewhat lacking in imagination). I mean a pretty bunch of daffs or a mixed bouquet from the supermarket (or even the garage – much maligned these days…) bought for no particular reason other than they were thinking about you and given as a surprise…. In 41 years it’s never happened to me and I know I would love it. (That’s sad isn’t it? I’ll treat this as a public service to make you lucky women out there with romantic other halves feel even happier with your lot!!).


I blame the cynical tide of popular opinion that seems to have made it a “fact” that, if he buys you flowers out of the blue, he feels guilty for something!! Maybe this is true in some cases but surely not all. I also blame the essentially lazy menfolk out there who have seized on this “fact” as an excuse never to buy flowers.


And it’s frustrating ‘cos you can’t TELL him you’d like flowers as then it wouldn’t be spontaneous.


I’m just going to stick to my guns: carry on with the little gestures to show him I appreciate him; try to notice all the little things he does in the same vein; and only be a little wistful about the non-appearance of flowers.


What is your idea of romance??

Too much food isn't good for you....

A few pics of me and my old school pals from our weekend a couple of weeks ago. We have known each other for 30 years now since we all shared a dorm in that first week!! God, how old does that make us sound....



Thankfully though, it wasn’t me who inspired this realisation!! It was poor little Minty the Thief. I spotted a small patch of doggie sick when I came home on Friday afternoon but was confused to see that it contained mixer biscuits. Neither of them had had biscuits in their food for a few days as they eat mostly raw chicken wings. On deeper investigation we could see Minty looking uncharacteristically hangdog and lying sprawled on her back with her tummy, looking fuller than its usual svelte self, in the air. If she could groan she would have done and if you patted her tummy she was decidedly not impressed…. Ah ha, we had a culprit (big shock it was Minty not the saintly Shelagh…).



But how did she get to the biscuits? They are kept either in a jar in a kitchen cupboard or in a sack under the stairs in the back room, the door to which is kept shut to stop them going upstairs when we’re out. Apparently, unbeknownst to us, she has now mastered the art of opening the door to the back room and creeping under the stairs (no door) and sticking her head into the sack of mixer biscuits and chowing down like a horse with a feedbag!! I think this must have been the first time though, and the last.



I hope so because picking up after her was not a pleasant task for a day or so!!



Anyway, it made me ponder on the topic of over-eating. I, unlike Minty, know full well that eating too much does not make me feel good. Either it makes me feel sicky and bloated or I feel unhappy a day later when I step on the scales. But I still do it from time to time. My pesky chimp still fools me into it when my resistance is low. I suppose the trick is to enjoy the sensation of having a blowout without going too far. To build the odd splurge into your lifestyle but ensure that it doesn’t do any damage by otherwise eating healthily and doing lots of exercise….oh yeah, simples…



I’m trying though. We had a great weekend. A few early door drinks on Friday in our local (which we would ideally like to remain our local so we really hope we can find a new house to rent in the same village....). Then a busy Saturday of hospital appointment, chores and football. Not the greatest match but a draw and a new manager so at least there's hope now. And a quiet night in....yay! Then on Sunday a blustery wet walk up and down Lose Hill, a run (how virtuous) and into town for Madness!!



Such fun (as Miranda's mum might say, although probably not about a night at a Madness gig...). They haven't changed in the 25 years since I first started to like their music. Rich is more of a fan than me and has seen them before but I really enjoyed the whole night. I haven't been in a mosh pit (an old-fashioned one at that) for years....come on Lesley, be honest, decades...and it was FAB! So exhilerating and sweaty. Just being carried around on a tide of jumping, happy humanity. It was not so big a venue that I might have felt a bit scared but big enough that you could have a proper laugh. We emerged into the night, sweaty, tired out, buzzing on adrenalin and with ringing ears....felt 18 again!



Monday was more sedate - it was Rich's birthday so we both had the day off. He seemed to like his present from me (a couple of the designer jumpers that he likes but can't usually justify as so over-priced but which I found on double-discounted sale!!). He said he liked them of course but the acid test was whether he would wear one straight away - and he has - and he looked good in it - phew!! It's such a trial picking out that first birthday present of a new relationship....stressful stuff. We were so tired though from Sunday night that going to dancing was almost a step too far. We went but started to flag about half way through, around about the time the teacher decided we should start learning a new dance - the Jive! High energy or what! I'm going to love it but last night I thought my legs were going to seize up!!



So, dragging myself back to my "splurge but in moderation" analogy, I managed lots of exercise both planned and impromptu, I drank too much on Sunday night but also had some quiet nights and sensible suppers as well. Overall a balance was achieved and no damage has been done on the scales. I'm back to my start of January weight and heading in the right direction again....and we had a good time....

A start (well, another start...)

Sometimes you need a bad spell to show you where you're going wrong and to sharpen your resolve. I feel much more focussed now and have a little time to be focussed too which helps.

On the mini-targets front, I did go for my swim on Friday and managed 50 pretty fast lengths and no biscuits in the office either (they were M&S cookies so the deprivation should give me extra points I think...). But I still felt fat and bloated which is sooo annoying. If you exercise you should get instant gratification in the form of at least feeling thinner??

I didn't manage to fit in any exercise on Saturday. I just had too much to do in the morning and by the time we got back from the football I felt knackered and we both just wanted to slump on the sofa. But food was not bad and no booze in the evening. Not baaad.

I'm glad I rested today because I feel so much more spritely. The extra couple of lbs have turned out to be TOTM water weight and I have lsot that horrible bloated feeling. I'm back baby....thank God.....

We went for a training walk up Lose Hill which was a bit of a bust really. It was sodden with mud after the deluge yesterday and very windy too. So, although we did a 90 minute steep up and down tramp, I wouldn't call it class A training or anything. Still, when we got back I took myself out for a 30 minute run and managed to persuade my chimp not to stick on the flat and to take in a few hills. I feel much better now as the run wasn't as painful as I anticipated.

I reckon combining running with swimming, gym and evermore gruelling hill walks should get me there both in terms of fitness for the Three Peaks and of losing some weight too. It will certainly be a lot easier to climb those mountains if I'm carrying less dead weight...

We're off to see Madness in Sheffield tonight - will probably burn off a few calories there too! Then a day off tomorrow and hopefully some exercise be it golf, walking or a run/gym session. It all depends on the blasted weather....

I'm back, definitely feel like I'm out of the January fog now....

Aaargh!!

Well, January was not the most successful month ever! I tried to get going but have not lost a single lb. In fact, I have gained, as at this, morning 2! I am NOT happy about this.

Reasons for miserable washout of January push to lose half a stone?

Too busy. Had something on every weekend, usually involving travelling (helloooo triggers!!) and food/drink based socialising. In the summer, socialising is often walks, salads etc. In the winter it’s sitting around chatting, eating and drinking….nightmare.

Not enough exercise. During the week when I could have been going to the gym or for a run, I chose to stay at home in my cave, probably because we have been away at the weekends. So my exercise has stuck at 2, maybe 3 times per week rather than the 5/6 I aim for.

Eating too much rubbish during the day. I haven’t been bad at home although there have been a few too many heavy, comfort food type meals and a few too many bottles of wine. But during the day I have allowed “extras” to become part of my everyday routine again. So a sandwich AND a cake or sausage roll at lunch. An extra piece of toast on top of my usual breakfast. A bar or something when I buy petrol. A snack on the train etc etc. Things which were rare treats have become almost daily occurrences.

This must stop. (Three Peaks Challenge a mere 5 months away – eeeeek!!)

But, true to form, what positives can I find?

The exercise has not been dropped entirely by any means, is coming back in the last couple of weeks and my need and desire to do it is clear. Richard is joining my gym (induction booked for next Tuesday so there is no escape) so that will help.

I have had a fairly stressful time recently. I feel that there is a lot going on in my head (money, divorce, work, health) and, although the weight thing hasn’t helped, I haven’t fallen into the “woe is me” depression of old. It is categorically NOT an issue for Richard so there is no additional pressure on me from that quarter.

I have weighed myself frequently and written my weight on my chart so there has been no hiding or denial. I’m still “on it” just not making any progress. (I sound like a football manager who is explaining that the players are playing good football just not getting the results….even though they’re not really playing good football….).

In conclusion – January was rubbish, always is rubbish and probably always will be. But I’m ready now and things are going to change.


Mini-targets anyone?

• Swim at lunchtime (Friday)
• No extras today (Friday)
• Some form of exercise on Saturday. This will be tricky as I have a hospital appointment first thing, then back home, chores, football. Perhaps no drinking before the football so I can go for a run when I get back? Or maybe time for a run before I go to the footie? Gym shuts at 4pm on Saturdays so no good to me then.
• We’re going for a long, hilly training walk on Sunday – Hurrah!
• It’s Richard’s birthday on Monday so we’re off work and hoping to play golf but the weather is not looking good. It might have to be the gym, a short sharp hilly walk in the sleet or a run instead.

That’s enough to be getting on with. But at least I have a plan. Wish me luck.